2015

I would like to start the new year with a different type of post, a bit more personal. From the window I can still see the Christmas lights of the Ramblas, with the relaxing purple light that falls down like snowflakes. I really like this period and specially this year as we didn't have a lot of tourism and it was easier to walk up, down and around. New year's eve was concentrated, during the grape tradition, in Plaza España (Square) which

gave us, Ramblas residents', a quieter celebration. 

This year the City Hall has approved a new regulation for our antique street: Pla Rambla. It will deeply control the commercial activity and also try to bring again the locals to this old avenue. I must say, as resident since 1994, that during the past ten years it's been hard to live surrounded by so many tourists all around the year and what most worries us is how the old shops have been supplied by not traditional nor cultural souvenir shops. Even restaurants are basically commercial ones. We have also lived during 2014 the difficulties between the flower shops and the city's strategies.

I have been using this blog to share what the Ramblas offer to whoever, locals or foreigners, visit them as this street has been doing in the past four-hundred years or more, from the point of view of a Ramblas neighbour, Catalan and living in one of the oldest buildings in this avenue. This year, new year 2015, I will share also the concerns that affect this avenue, this area of the city, and also propose ideas on how to improve the place we live in, which is part of a great and fantastic city well-known around the world.

Happy new year!