Tossa de Mar

Hi Everyone!

So the rain has finally come! After months and months it's pouring rain today and likely tomorrow as well. It's good because it means that I have no desire to go outside, and on Friday the air, sidewalks and everything will be so much more clean!

This weekend was pretty busy. It was St. Patricks day so I went with Nima, Maricela and some other friends to a local bar (La Farianna) which is quite nice to have a few drinks. The next day I got up and took a little road trip outside the city to Tossa de Mar, here is the wiki history about it

"There is ample evidence of settlements dating back to the Neolithic period, and it is believed that the area has been continuously populated since that time. Between the 4th century BC and the 1st century BC appeared the first settlementsof the Iberians, followed shortly after by the Romans in the 1st century.

In 966 Tossa was ceded by Count Miró of Barcelona to the Abbey of Ripoll. Some two centuries later, in 1187 Tossa was granted its charter by the Abbot of Ripoll, coinciding with the building of a church atop Mount Guardí, the remnants of which can still be seen today.

Sometime in the 12th century the mediaeval town was walled off and a castle was built on the highest point of Mt. Guardí, this castle was to be subsequently replaced by a wind mill, and this in turn by a lighthousewhich is still operational.

By the year 1500 the first houses were built extra-murs to accommodate population growth. This process was greatly accelerated during the 17th and 18th centuries, shaping an urban configuration which was to remain practically unchanged until the arrival of mass tourism in the 1950s.

In 1989 Tossa de Mar was the first place in the world to the declare itself an Anti-Bullfighting City.

The "Vila Vella enceinte" is the only example of a fortified medieval town still standing on the Catalan coast. Its present appearance dates back to the end of the 14th century. It still has the entire original perimeter withbattlemented stone walls, four turrets and three cylindrical towers with parapets. At the highest point, where the lighthouse stands today, was, until the beginning of the 19th century, the castle of the Abbot of the MonasterySanta Maria de Ripoll, the territorial Lord of the town. The site has been declared a national historic monument in 1931."

Anyhow, it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and it was almost warm enough to be walking around in just a tank top and jeans if it weren't for the wind! It's definitely a place I want to go back to once summer is here and spend some more time at the beaches. Here are a few photos for you :)

As for the rest of the week, well I was asked to help do some more work for the company so I have committed to that, but we'll see how it goes. Seems to be an ongoing issue, being a Canadian citizen. Fingers crossed that I hear back good news this week about my NIE renewal!

In other great news! I got a scholarship for a portion of my tuition for this term! I'm so excited!

What else? Not sure at the moment, but I'll keep you posted!