Impressions about La Rambla

 Barcelona, capital of Catalonia, is more than 3000 kilometers away from Lithuania. And before decision to come here for erasmus i didn't knew much about the city, maybe that in 1992 there was olympic games and that it has famous football club. With a population of 3.2 million people, it has basically same number of people like my whole country. But Spain is far more religous, and has 97% of Roman Catholics. And what i noticed in newsstands around La Rambla, that maybe one third of the press is related with erotics. Maybe it's because of catalonian temperament, that tells not to save money for literature like this, or maybe it's tradition like this, because Barcelona is famous for one more reason, in this square there's famous in the world erotic museum. The reason, why the streets are so full of erotic literature - varous magazines for all kinds of fantasy, posters, videocassettes, CD's for about 10-15 euros, may be popularity of the street between tourists too. The street, like pedestrian walkway, starts in the center of the city - Catalunya square, and lasts till magnificent monument for Columbus near Barcelona port. Monument for famous traveler Christopher Columbus was built because, after discovering America, he came to Barcelona, and told about this for king Ferdinand and queen Izabela.

Rambla street surprises not only with exclusive free behavior representing literature, but with central avenue with lots of flowers and various animals shops, street vendors, artists, painters, shows of cards masters in it. I was warned before, that pickpocketers in Barcelona working very professionally, and they are not stealing stuff by passing by, but very delicately can even open inner pockets, to take what they need, and when close them.
Barcelonas La Rambla street is open for traffic. Cars rides at the edges at the street, so central avenue is open for pedestrians. In a narrow streets, like in rest of Barcelona, there's parked many motorcycles, driven by young people. This kind of transport thieves likes as well, so many of the motorcycles is chained near sidewalkes.

Ramblas in spanish language means dry river. It's historically related with protection canal, which was around the fortress. In this place, 300 years ago, when city was expanding, appeared pedestrians avenue. Dry river associates with some kinda mess. Even in this famous street you can see some leftover trashes. But fun and parties is taking place in the street, so there's not much concern about this.

After midnight you can meet some youngsters with eccentric hats or clothes. From La Rambla street usually they are heading to Barcelona port. It's a surprise, but in port near big yacht dock there's famous “Maremagnum” shopping mall, where every night you can visit discos here. It's kinda strange to see flower sellers between youngsters. In Lithuania it's more normal to have a drink before disco. But it's nothing strange, when you know spanish temperament and they attitude to womens.