BARCELONA'S CULTU

Las R

“The Ramblas began as a small
stream, 2 seasonal river whose
channel was used in the dry
season as a roadway. In the
14th century ; Y grew it
was included within new wails,
and then in the 18th century
the stream was diverted and
became the street which
Federico Garcia Lorca hoped
would go on forever.”
— Colm Toibin,
Homage to Bareviona
“On those who step into the
same rivers, different and dif-
ferent waters flow.”
— Heraclirus

By Jchn Goodman
Contributing Writer

BARCELONA'S | five-block-
long Las Ramblas boulevard
acts as a cultural nerve centre
for the mediterranean port —
from its central location you
can enter almost any era of the
city’s fascinating history.

During the day kiosks line
the street selling newspapers
and Gowers; in the evening
hours entertainers and artists
set up shop to amuse the thou-
sands of strollers along the 2.5
kilometre route.

Each of the five blocks has
its own identity. Rambla de
Canaletes borders the Plaga de
Catalunya shopping area with
the giant El Corte Inglés
department store. Bars and
restaurants have outdoor arcas
for people-watching.

Rambla dels Estudios is
named after a university that
was on the site until the 18th
century, On the corner of
Rambla Sant Josep is the 18th
century Virreina Palace and in
the Rambla dels Caputxins is
one of the world’s largest
opera houses, the Gran Teatre
del .

Rambla Santa Monica
takes you down to the water-
front Plaga Portal de la Pau
with its statue of Christopher
Coiumbus.

Chino red light district which
is profiled in this month’s issue
otf Condé Nast Traveler (avail-
able ar McNews on Lonsdale).

Traveling in the opposite
direction one enters the Ciutat
Vella old town district with its
Roman ruins, Gothic architec-
ture and narrow medieval pas-
sagewa

street of dreams

NEWS photos Cindy Goodman

REPRODUCING
Botticelli’s Venus in
chalk on the sidewalk of
the Rambla deis
Caputxins (above) and
(left) a clown performs
for a captivated
audience near the
flower-sellers stalls.

* ISSUES
*HEALTH POLICY
*PUBLIC
DISCUSSIONS

Volunteers.

Needed

If you have an interest
in issues Concerning
seniors living on the

North Shore and want
ta help set up a wide
public discussion and

advise on policy
conceming seniors’
health and priotities,

The North Shore
Health Board Seniors’
Advisory Group is one
of seven groups to he
appointed by the Board

to assist in the
development of rhe
first regional health
plan for the
North Shore.

Seniors’ Advisory
Group members will
represent a
cross-section of the
community, ranging
in ages, cultures
and perspectives.

For more information
about this volunteer
opportunity, phone Lisa
Chu at the North
Shore Heaith Board:

Deadline for
xpressions of interest

is February 14, 1997.

NORTH
SHORE

Health
Board

PAV AUDA ETON BT HED Eg
http://wvevw.nsenews.con