A Prelude to Primavera 2009

It feels like a revolution. Thousands of flag-bearing revellers roam the night streets. Fireworks blast, bins are overturned, scooters knocked on their sides. Outdoor cafes are destroyed, phone booths shattered. The hordes shout, sing and occasionally fight amongst themselves. The resident tramps seem mildly amused by the unusual consternation on their normally quiet streets.

 

Large, ominous looking black police vans soon appear on every street corner, blue lights flashing, sending the revellers fleeing to the nearest alleyways. It soon becomes clear what they fear. Helmeted riot police pour out of the back doors, clutching rifles. They take aim and fire at the retreating crowds, with what seems to be a combination of rubber bullets and deafening firecrackers. We manage to escape just as they were threatening to trap us from either side.

 

The atmosphere is souring rapidly, so we navigate a way around the road blockades and eventually make it back to our hostel. The next day Barcelona is back to its sunny, vibrant normality. It felt like a revolution, but it was just football. Battle-hardened, we now have three nights of live music to look forward to. Bring it on.