La Merce 2007: A fiesta of gegant proportions...

Exhausted and in total awe of Catalonia's cultural pride I emerge from the end of a week long fiesta in honour of Barcelona's patron Saint, La Merce 2007. With over 600 events happening over the long weekend, from a fiesty firework competition on the beach to smaller-scale local events, nobody could complain about being bored in Barcelona this weekend (as if they EVER could!). On the final evening of the celebration, heading back to my Gotico apartments, I stumbled across processions of traditional gegants (9 foot high figures with over-sized heads) in the Placa de la Catedral in the enchanting Barrio Gótico, accompanied by traditional music groups, enthusiastic flag wavers and even canons, which were duly loaded and fired along the procession route past the cathedral. No burst ear drums I hope - the sound was deafening but added to the electric atmosphere found not only in the centre but all of Barcelona for it's most important fiesta of the year.