September 11th is Catalunya's National Day and a public holiday here. But instead of hitting the motorways and heading to hills or beach in the rain like us Brits, more than a million people took part in a "human chain" to demand independence from Spain. It stretched 400km (250 miles) from the Pyrenees down to Valencia and really was an incredible sight! I have never seen so much red and yellow and it was a great atmosphere, with drums, strange models of giants, dragons and eagles, and a few more human towers to boot! Needless to say I felt very foreign and out of place without a pro-independence t-shirt, face paint and flag, but it was great to witness the event!
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| We started our day off in Montbrio - the usual sleepy village square filled with people, flags, drummers and huge model "giants" |
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| Even the dogs are pro-independence! |
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| Into Reus... where a street has been decorated with umbrellas. Not sure it's anything to do with pro-independence movement but pretty cool nonetheless! |
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| Floral tributes to those that died in civil war |
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| The flag fairies had been very busy - no statue left unadorned! |
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| More "giants" or pro-independence gnomes... |
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| And a pro-independence giant chicken too... |
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Starting them young!
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| More human towers! |
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| The chain winds around a flag in Reus's main square... |
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| Guns firing to mark the beginning of the chain! On time too ;-) |
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| Dolls uniting for independence... |
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| Lots of mexican waves and chanting! "IN, IN-DE, INDEPENDENCIA!" (repeat lots) |
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| Heading home... |
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| The final word! Do NOT forget! |
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