Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Hola barcelona...
Tally ho and a big warm happy two thousand and seven to you.
So, what have I been up to I hear you ask.. well, lots actually! Pre Christmas was spent getting back into the swing of thinsg at work, and havin fun times at the squat including a great big banquet full of yummy food and lovely company!
Stayed in London for Christmas itself, but about 20 or so round at ours and co-cooked the christmas meal for everyone.. another huge feed (from a huge skipping mission.. alas no 200 bottles of beer like last year).. and then it was karaoke till the wee hours. In fact the karaoke was a constant feature in that otherwise dull lull between xmas and New Years - had a projection sceen up, microphone etc very professional.. but found out one can indeed have too much of a good thing in this case...
New Years was chaoic, messy and above all a great dance! Out and about cycling round various parties, having a merry old time and groovin away the start of another year in Europe... wonder where I'll be for the next one??
Janurary has been cold but thats cos its winter aye. had a big snow fall last week - made everything look very pretty.
Went to a lake near Oxford for the day to visit mates who have squatted a building near a lake to help stop it getting trashed by a power plant.. Caught up with some mates I met whilst in Italy... Saw Evita the musical.. and found a cafe in Soho called 'Olly Olsen'! (think NZ kids TV!).. and been doing lots of research and planning for the great cycle home tour... yes its still happening! WOO HOO!
But most exciting is my recent trip to Barcelona.. naughtily took advantage of near free flights to go visit kiwi mate Bell who is squatting over there.. and turned out she was also living with another friend of mine Mari, crazy Finnish gal whom I met in Ireland.
Arrived Saturday night to see there cool 4 story apartmet block squat, cook a lovely dinner and then head off down the road to another squat for a benefit party.. for a squat in Copenhargen facing violent eviction after 20 years as a social centre..
www1.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358463.html for more info on the battle for Ungdomshuset.
Anyways, the gig was pretty hardcore punk and not usually my cup of tea.. and of course the crowd was mostly Spanish, but twas a wicked night anyways and we all trundled back to crash about 4am.
Next day, a slow start, then Bell and her fella Mario took me to a 'commodore' (not sure if its spelt the same as the car, but sounds the same!) a communal cafe happening in one of the squatted socail centres in the city... I know the theme is getting rather repeditive - but squat is the name of the game over here - and its brilliant, so inspiring!! There was a gang putting on a scrummy vegan feast for donation and lots of folks chillin out, eating and chating, info stalls, and just a really nice vibe.
Back to Bells and hung out on the roof for a beaut sunset.. then in the evening out to, ummm, yup another squat!! This time it was for a film and food.. the network is much stronger than in the UK and the crowd are really pro-active about doing things, suppporting the community and each other, and consciously living out an alternative model to capitalism... or something!
Sunday we headed off to the coolest park ever.. Park Guell, a Gaudi vision of alternative living. Its full of random sculptures and bridges and tunnels and arches and grottos and mystery! We mucked round there for ages and climbed to the very top for panoramic views of the city and sea... it got quite warm too - got a bit of sun in which was well appreciated after grey ol London.
Then Bell and I had a brief wander round the city centre and the 'Barri Gothic' with its winding allys and creepy old churches and buildings and turrents etc before I had to make my way off to the airport and home...
All in all a fabulous mini break and great to hang out with such on to it and passionate people, Spain is where its at! Hopefully I make it back there for a more indepth stay.
But next stop - Salzburg, Austria in a few weeks time to catch up with old school mate and good buddie Debra. Looking forward to seeing her and hanging out in 'Sound of Music' country! Yup, will be a different trip all together but I say squating anarchy and cheesy musicals are a good combination ;)
Much love to my faithful blog readers and hope the summer is blissful for ya in NZ.. not that its really the said thing but have an eventfull Waitangi Day whether you are protesting or relaxing, I'll be doing something to mark the occassion over here, not sure if I'll attempt the hangi again or not though!
Aroha and Joy
Claire
So, what have I been up to I hear you ask.. well, lots actually! Pre Christmas was spent getting back into the swing of thinsg at work, and havin fun times at the squat including a great big banquet full of yummy food and lovely company!
Stayed in London for Christmas itself, but about 20 or so round at ours and co-cooked the christmas meal for everyone.. another huge feed (from a huge skipping mission.. alas no 200 bottles of beer like last year).. and then it was karaoke till the wee hours. In fact the karaoke was a constant feature in that otherwise dull lull between xmas and New Years - had a projection sceen up, microphone etc very professional.. but found out one can indeed have too much of a good thing in this case...
New Years was chaoic, messy and above all a great dance! Out and about cycling round various parties, having a merry old time and groovin away the start of another year in Europe... wonder where I'll be for the next one??
Janurary has been cold but thats cos its winter aye. had a big snow fall last week - made everything look very pretty.
Went to a lake near Oxford for the day to visit mates who have squatted a building near a lake to help stop it getting trashed by a power plant.. Caught up with some mates I met whilst in Italy... Saw Evita the musical.. and found a cafe in Soho called 'Olly Olsen'! (think NZ kids TV!).. and been doing lots of research and planning for the great cycle home tour... yes its still happening! WOO HOO!
But most exciting is my recent trip to Barcelona.. naughtily took advantage of near free flights to go visit kiwi mate Bell who is squatting over there.. and turned out she was also living with another friend of mine Mari, crazy Finnish gal whom I met in Ireland.
Arrived Saturday night to see there cool 4 story apartmet block squat, cook a lovely dinner and then head off down the road to another squat for a benefit party.. for a squat in Copenhargen facing violent eviction after 20 years as a social centre..
www1.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/358463.html for more info on the battle for Ungdomshuset.
Anyways, the gig was pretty hardcore punk and not usually my cup of tea.. and of course the crowd was mostly Spanish, but twas a wicked night anyways and we all trundled back to crash about 4am.
Next day, a slow start, then Bell and her fella Mario took me to a 'commodore' (not sure if its spelt the same as the car, but sounds the same!) a communal cafe happening in one of the squatted socail centres in the city... I know the theme is getting rather repeditive - but squat is the name of the game over here - and its brilliant, so inspiring!! There was a gang putting on a scrummy vegan feast for donation and lots of folks chillin out, eating and chating, info stalls, and just a really nice vibe.
Back to Bells and hung out on the roof for a beaut sunset.. then in the evening out to, ummm, yup another squat!! This time it was for a film and food.. the network is much stronger than in the UK and the crowd are really pro-active about doing things, suppporting the community and each other, and consciously living out an alternative model to capitalism... or something!
Sunday we headed off to the coolest park ever.. Park Guell, a Gaudi vision of alternative living. Its full of random sculptures and bridges and tunnels and arches and grottos and mystery! We mucked round there for ages and climbed to the very top for panoramic views of the city and sea... it got quite warm too - got a bit of sun in which was well appreciated after grey ol London.
Then Bell and I had a brief wander round the city centre and the 'Barri Gothic' with its winding allys and creepy old churches and buildings and turrents etc before I had to make my way off to the airport and home...
All in all a fabulous mini break and great to hang out with such on to it and passionate people, Spain is where its at! Hopefully I make it back there for a more indepth stay.
But next stop - Salzburg, Austria in a few weeks time to catch up with old school mate and good buddie Debra. Looking forward to seeing her and hanging out in 'Sound of Music' country! Yup, will be a different trip all together but I say squating anarchy and cheesy musicals are a good combination ;)
Much love to my faithful blog readers and hope the summer is blissful for ya in NZ.. not that its really the said thing but have an eventfull Waitangi Day whether you are protesting or relaxing, I'll be doing something to mark the occassion over here, not sure if I'll attempt the hangi again or not though!
Aroha and Joy
Claire
Barcelona Photos
In no particular random order (cos I don't understand this computer)
Underneath the arches of Park Guell,
The squat loo - shrine to Marilin (sic)
Myeself, Bell and Mari posing a top Park Guell - stunning views of the city and ocean
Pointing out unfortunately named cafe in town
Cool mural outside wicked squatted community cafe
Underneath the arches of Park Guell,
The squat loo - shrine to Marilin (sic)
Myeself, Bell and Mari posing a top Park Guell - stunning views of the city and ocean
Pointing out unfortunately named cafe in town
Cool mural outside wicked squatted community cafe
Barcelona Photos
The view from Bell and co's squat roof..
The Amazing Sagrada Familia... Gaudi's yet to be completed gothic church
And the funky Park Guell and view from the top
The Amazing Sagrada Familia... Gaudi's yet to be completed gothic church
And the funky Park Guell and view from the top
Photos yeah
Here are some pictures from the last few months....
Tabs, Hannah and I on Han's birthday.. we were taking photos whilst waiting fro a ride as Hannah had lost the key to the lock chainning all our bikes together.. doh
These two were from a big banquet we held at ours just before xmas..
The front of the squat morning of first snow fall..
Tabs, Hannah and I on Han's birthday.. we were taking photos whilst waiting fro a ride as Hannah had lost the key to the lock chainning all our bikes together.. dohThese two were from a big banquet we held at ours just before xmas..
The front of the squat morning of first snow fall..
