The reason the Romans settled Provence was to have a secure land route between Italy and Spain. Thus, all along our drive from Puyloubier to Barcelona there were signs declaring that we were following the path of the Via Domitia Roman route. We decided to come to Barcelona for our Christmas holiday. To emphasize the old Roman connection, there is a large Arc de Triomf in the extended garden surrounding the Catalonian parliament building. Like in Paris, this is not an actual Roman structure, but instead was built for the 1888 World's Fair. Interestingly, the outside is brick-covered, as you can see in the picture.
The Catalonians are certainly in the Christmas spirit, with a skating rink covering most of the Plaça de Catalunya and festive lights adorning the main streets. The ice was actually quite good in spite of the 10+ degrees temperature, since the rink was covered and perhaps also air-conditioned. Craig, Andrew, and David went for a skate (no helmets required for those over 8!); they also had Wii U consoles set up, a hockey-shooting area reminiscent of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and video screens showing highlights of the Sochi Olympics (perhaps to support a fellow Olympic alumnus city).We also took a stroll down La Rambla, checking out the market, which included a large fish market; stalls selling meats, candies, and fruit; and a "Dunkin' Coffee" (i.e. Dunkin' Donuts).
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