1, 2, 3!

ALL: "BARE FEET!"

ONE MORE.

MORE ENERGY.

MORE ENERGY.

[LAUGHTER] COME ON!

1, 2, 3!

ALL: "BARE FEET!"

MICKELA MALLOZZI: I'M A DANCER... AND I'M A TRAVELER.

AND WHEREVER I GO, I EXPERIENCE THE WORLD ONE DANCE AT A TIME.

I'M MICKELA MALLOZZI, AND THIS IS "BARE FEET."

WELCOME TO GIRONA, CATALONIA, HERE IN SPAIN.

AS WE CONTINUE TO TRACE MY DNA ROOTS, I FIND MYSELF IN THIS BEAUTIFUL MEDIEVAL CITY TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SANT JOAN, THE FESTIVAL OF SAINT JOHN.

AND I GET TO DO IT WITH THE PROUD PEOPLE OF THIS REGION.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE CITY OF GIRONA IS IN THE REGION OF CATALONIA, AN AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF SPAIN THAT SITS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN AND BORDERS FRANCE.

CATALONIA HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR ITS INDEPENDENCE FOR OVER 600 YEARS, AND ITS DRIVING FORCE IS ITS UNIQUE CULTURAL IDENTITY AND OVERWHELMING SENSE OF SOLIDARITY.

[MUSIC PLAYING] THE SANT JOAN FESTIVAL, OR FEAST OF SAINT JOHN, IS THIS WEEK, AND IN PREPARATION FOR THIS ANNUAL CELEBRATION, I MEET WITH FAL-LERA GIRONINA, A FOLK GROUP ASSOCIATION HERE IN GIRONA.

THEIR MISSION IS TO CONTINUE THE CATALAN TRADITIONS THROUGH MUSIC, DANCE, THE MAKING OF THE CAPGROSSOS, OR GIANT HEADS, AND THE GEGANTS, OR THE GIANTS.

ALL OF THESE LOCAL TRADITIONS ARE BEING KEPT ALIVE BY THE MANY FOLK ASSOCIATIONS IN THE AREA, INCLUDING WITH FAL-LERA GIRONINA.

[HORN PLAYS] WHOO-HOO!

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI: HELENA IS PLAYING THE GRALLA, A TRADITIONAL CATALAN INSTRUMENT THAT FALLS IN THE OBOE FAMILY.

HER OWN FATHER PERE ALSO PLAYS THE GRALLA, AND HE LEADS THE GROUP'S WEEKLY LESSONS AND REHEARSALS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING?

AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING WITH THIS GROUP?

I'VE BEEN PLAYING 19 YEARS BECAUSE I'M 19.

OH, MY GOSH, YOU'RE KIDDING.

[LAUGHS] YES.

AND MY FATHER HERE HAS BEEN PLAYING 19 YEARS AS WELL.

WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE YOUR DAUGHTER GROW UP WITH YOU PLAYING THIS MUSIC THAT YOU LOVE?

[SPEAKING CATALAN] AWESOME.

EXTRAORDINARY.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO SIMULATE WHAT WE DO IN THE STREET.

BEAUTIFUL.

[HUMMING] OK.

GOT IT.

EXACTLY.

NAILED IT.

NAILED IT.

PERFECT.

NAILED IT.

NAILED THAT BACKWARDS PART.

THIS IS REALLY FUN AND AWKWARD.

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING, MUSICIANS CHEERING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THIS MUSIC IS DONE IN A PROCESSION, AND THE SONGS ARE A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL MELODIES AND NEWER COMPOSITIONS WITH INFLUENCES FROM OTHER CULTURES LIKE BRAZILIAN SAMBA AND VARIOUS CARIBBEAN RHYTHMS.

HEY!

WOW!

THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.

I'M A LITTLE DEAF RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S AWESOME.

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: FAL-LERA GIRONINA ARE PREPARING FOR THIS WEEK'S CELEBRATIONS AND PROCESSION FOR THE SANT JOAN FESTIVAL.

ALL OF THE ARTISTRY AND TRADITIONS ARE ON DISPLAY SIMULTANEOUSLY.

TELL ME AGAIN THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP, BECAUSE IT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT REPRESENTS, JUST A JOY AND FUN AND HAPPINESS OF THIS.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IT'S CALLED FAL-LERA GIRONINA.

FAL-LERA GIRONINA.

AND FAL-LERA, IT'S BASICALLY HAPPINESS AND ENERGY.

IT IS HAPPINESS.

IT IS.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE GROUP IS KNOWN FOR ITS ELABORATE PAPIER-MACHE CREATIONS, INCLUDING THE CAPGROSSOS, OR THE GIANT HEADS, THAT ARE CARICATURES OF PUBLIC FIGURES THROUGHOUT GIRONA'S HISTORY.

CAPGROSSO LITERALLY MEANS BIG HEAD, RIGHT?

BIG HEAD, YEAH.

OK.

SO WE HAVE TO TURN YOUR HEAD A BIT.

TURN.

OH, GOSH.

RIGHT, OK.

OK?

AND THEN YOU PUT IT NORMAL.

OH, MY GOSH, YOU CAN BARELY SEE ANYTHING.

YOU HAVE TO SEE FROM THE MOUTH.

OK?

AHH.

THIS IS BASICALLY A PART OF THE CATALAN POPULAR CULTURE.

EACH FIGURE REPRESENTS THE CITY.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE EAGLE YOU'VE SEEN REPRESENTS THE TOWN HALL AND THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY.

MM-HMM.

MALLOZZI: L'ALIGA DE GIRONA, OR THE EAGLE OF GIRONA, IS A PROMINENT FIGURE IN THE MAIN CELEBRATIONS OF THE CITY.

THIS DANCE AND ITS SYMBOLISM HAVE BEEN PERFORMED IN GIRONA SINCE THE 16th CENTURY, USED TO OPEN A CEREMONY AND GREET THE GUESTS OF THE CITY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S DANCING WITH A 45-KILO BIRD ON HIM, WHICH IS ABOUT A HUNDRED POUNDS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE BALL DE BASTONS, OR THE STICK DANCE, WAS ORIGINATED FROM SWORDSMEN WHO HAD PRACTICED FOR BATTLE USING WOODEN STICKS, WHICH WAS THEN EVOLVED INTO A FRIENDLY AND FESTIVE DANCE.

HERE IN GIRONA, THE DANCES AND THE MUSIC WERE LOST, THE TRADITIONAL ONES, SO WE BASICALLY MADE NEW ONES.

THESE GROUPS, SPECIFICALLY, WE CREATE OUR OWN DANCES AND OUR OWN MUSICS.

AH, OK.

THIS GROUP EMBODIES HAPPINESS AND THAT ENERGY THAT YOU GUYS WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

I HAD SO MUCH FUN DANCING WITH YOU AND MAKING MUSIC WITH YOU.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME GO THROUGH WITH THIS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: MY NEXT STOP IS TO PALAMOS, ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF EAST OF GIRONA IN THE COSTA BRAVA REGION OF CATALONIA, OR THE WILD COAST.

[MEN SINGING IN CATALAN] HI, XAVIER.

MICKELA.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SAME.

SO WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

IT IS PALAMOS HARBOR.

IT'S FAMOUS FOR THE LANDSCAPE AND ALSO FOR THE FISHERMEN.

THEY PUT FISH IN BOXES ON THE FLOOR.

AND THERE WAS A MAN THAT WAS SINGING THE PRICE, AND THE PEOPLE WENT AROUND NEXT TO THE BOXES.

THEY WERE LISTENING AND BUYING THE FISH.

NOW IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.

NOW THEY DO IT WITH THE COMPUTERS.

IT'S SMALLER, YOU KNOW.

MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

MALLOZZI: PALAMOS IS HOME TO A DAILY FISH AUCTION THAT HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.

BEFORE GOING TO A FISH MARKET, THE PEOPLE SELL THE FISH HERE.

THEY PUT THE FISH IN THE BOXES WITH THE ICE TO PRESERVE IT, OK?

RIGHT.

BUT BEFORE, ALSO THE AUCTIONEER PUTS THE PRICE FOR THE BOX.

THE RED SHRIMP OF PALAMOS.

OH, WOW.

FAMOUS FOR THIS REGION.

THEY CALL THAT THE RED GOLD.

RED GOLD?

YES.

SO THE RED SHRIMP OF PALAMOS IS THE MOST FAMOUS.

YES, IT MUST BE GUARANTEED WITH A LOGO.

YOU KNOW, A LOGO?

RIGHT, RIGHT.

LIKE A STAMP OF APPROVAL THAT THIS IS PALAMOS RED SHRIMP.

MALLOZZI: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WALL IS THE ACTUAL AUCTION WHERE LOCAL BUYERS USE AN ELECTRONIC COMMANDER TO MAKE THEIR BIDS.

YOU CAN EVEN PLACE YOUR BID ONLINE.

WELL, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THE FISH TO THEIR OWNERS NOW.

YES.

BYE.

SO LONG, FISH.

MALLOZZI: ADJACENT TO THE FISH AUCTION IS THE FISH MARKET, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, WHERE ANYONE CAN SHOP FOR THE FRESH CATCH OF THE DAY, INCLUDING THE INFAMOUS RED GOLD, OR THE RED SHRIMP OF PALAMOS.

MALLOZZI: WOW, THESE LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT DOESN'T SMELL LIKE FISH IN HERE.

THAT'S-- NO, BECAUSE IT'S FRESH.

IT'S FRESH.

THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S FRESH.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: RIGHT OUTSIDE THE FISH MARKET ARE A FEW LOCAL VENDORS WHO SELL DELICACIES MADE FROM THE LOCAL FISH AND OF COURSE THE LOCAL RED GOLD.

SO THIS IS THE MOUSSE FROM THE RED SHRIMP.

YES.

MMM!

MY GOD!

THAT IS REALLY GOOD.

[MEN SINGING IN CATALAN] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER, AND WITH THAT, PALAMOS CELEBRATES THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC OF CATALONIA, THE HABANERA.

[SINGING IN CATALAN] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: I MEET WITH PORT BO, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS HABANERA SINGING GROUPS HERE IN THE REGION.

[MAN SPEAKING CATALAN] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE FISHERMEN THAT LEFT CATALONIA TO WORK IN THE CARIBBEAN RETURNED TO THEIR MOTHERLAND WITH THESE FISHING SONGS IN THE 18th AND 19th CENTURIES.

SINCE THEN, THESE SONGS HAVE BECOME EMBLEMS OF THE REGION, SUNG IN THE LOCAL CATALAN LANGUAGE AND PERFORMED THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

HOW DID YOU 3 COME TO LEARN THESE SONGS?

AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU 3 BEEN SINGING TOGETHER?

YOU HAVE SUCH NICE GELLED HARMONIES TOGETHER.

YOUR VOICES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OF COURSE.

[SINGING IN CATALAN] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THIS EVENING'S PERFORMANCE BY PORT BO IS WELCOMED BY THE LOCALS OF PALAMOS, SINGING ALONG TO SONGS THAT HAVE BEEN SUNG FOR GENERATIONS, PROUDLY SHARING THE STORIES OF THE FISHING TRADITION THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE HERE ALONG THE COSTA BRAVA.

[APPLAUSE] THE STRONG IDENTITY OF CATALONIA IS NOT ONLY HEARD IN THE MUSIC OF THE HABANERAS, BUT ALSO SEEN IN ITS DANCES.

I MEET WITH GRACIA ARTIGAS, A TEACHER OF THE SARDANA, KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL DANCE OF CATALONIA.

ARTIGAS: YOU MUST COUNT THE MEASURES TO START.

AND FINISH IN THE LEFT HAND.

ALWAYS ON THE LEFT.

ALWAYS ON THE LEFT.

OK.

MALLOZZI: LEARNING AND DANCING THE SARDANA REQUIRES A LOT OF COUNTING.

AS WE BEGIN TO DANCE, GRACIA MUST COUNT THE MEASURES TO KNOW WHEN TO CHANGE FROM LONG STEPS TO SHORT STEPS.

ARTIGAS: SARDANA HAS TWO MELODIES.

THE FIRST OF ALL IS A CURT.

CURT.

WHICH MEANS SHORT.

SHORT.

WHICH MEANS SHORT.

CURT.

THE SECOND MELODY OF THE SARDANA ARE CALLED LLARGS, LONG.

LLARGS.

THE LONG POINT.

LLARGS.

LLARGS.

1, 2, 3, 4.

AND THAT'S ALL FOR THE CURTS.

WE WILL DO LONG, THE LLARGS.

OK.

HANDS HERE.

ARMS UP.

1, 2, 3, AND CHANGING.

IN A CIRCLE, ONE PEOPLE IS THE RESPONSIBLE OF THE CIRCLE AND IS COUNTING.

HE CALLS OUT, OR SHE CALLS OUT THE STEPS.

EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

CINC, QUATRE.

OOH.

CINC, QUATRE.

OOH!

WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW?

WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

DIFFERENT SARDANAS START THE JUMP IN DIFFERENT PLACES DURING THE DANCE.

UH.

OK.

OK.

OK?

[MUSIC PLAYING] IF YOU GUYS WANT A CATALAN WORKOUT, JUST DO THE SARDANA.

YOU'LL GET YOUR BACKSIDE IN SHAPE FOR SURE.

[MUSIC PLAYING] MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: FEELING LIKE I GOT A HANG OF THE DANCE, WE WERE JOINED BY SANTI FERREFABREGA, A COLLEAGUE OF GRACIA'S AND A SARDANA TEACHER AND ENTHUSIAST HIMSELF.

TONIGHT IN PALAMOS IS AN OPEN-AIR SARDANA DANCE EVENT, AND SANTI IS TAKING ME THERE TO EXPERIENCE THE DANCE IN ITS ELEMENT.

[MUSIC PLAYING] NOT ONLY IS THIS AN OPEN EVENT FOR ALL TO PARTICIPATE, BUT PROFESSIONAL SARDANA GROUPS ALSO PERFORM IN FULL COSTUME AND IN PERFECT FORM.

WHAT I FIND UNIQUE ABOUT THE SARDANA IS THE MUSIC, OR COBLA, WHICH CONSISTS OF WOODWINDS AND BRASS INSTRUMENTS WITH LA TENORA AS THE MOST ICONIC INSTRUMENT AND SOUND OF THE SARDANA REPERTOIRE.

MALLOZZI: HOW LONG IS ONE SARDANA?

HOW LONG IS THE DANCE?

USUALLY, IT'S, UH, 7 OR 10 MINUTES.

IT'S A VIGOROUS DANCE.

IT LOOKS VERY STILL WITH SMALL MOVEMENTS, BUT YOU'RE BOUNCING FOR 7-10 MINUTES.

MY LEGS RIGHT NOW ARE VERY SORE.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE SARDANA CAN BE TRACED BACK ALMOST 500 YEARS, AND DURING THE RULE OF FRANCO IN SPAIN, THESE DANCES WERE OUTLAWED.

IT IS A DANCE THAT HAS BEEN A SYMBOL OF COMMUNITY, SOLIDARITY, AND BROTHERHOOD FOR THE REGION.

SANTI: IS FOR THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

SO EVERY AGE, EVERY SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL, ANYONE IS WELCOME TO DO SARDANA?

YES.

ANYBODY, ANYBODY.

HEY!

MOLTE!

YEAH.

MOLTE!

[BAND PLAYING] MALLOZZI: MY NEXT STOP IS TO EXPERIENCE THE CASTELLS, OR THE HUMAN TOWERS, RECOGNIZED AS AN INTANGIBLE HERITAGE OF HUMANITY BY UNESCO.

THE PRACTICE OF BUILDING CASTELLS STARTED IN THE 18th CENTURY WITH BOTH ACROBATIC ORIGINS AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE.

THIS LONG-STANDING TRADITION IS ICONIC TO THE CATALAN PEOPLE, SIGNIFYING THE SOLIDARITY, THE COMMUNITY, THE STRENGTH, AND OF COURSE THE IDEA THAT EVERYONE IS THERE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER LITERALLY.

I JOIN JORDI GRAUS AND HIS CASTELL TEAM MINYONS DE SANTA CRISTINA, WHO LET ME JUMP RIGHT IN AND EXPERIENCE THIS UNIQUE TRADITION.

[GRUNTING] OK.

AAH!

HA HA HA!

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: JORDI WRAPS ME IN A FAIXA, OR A BLACK SASH, USED AS A CORSET TO SUPPORT YOUR BACK FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE CLIMBERS, AS WELL AS ACTING LIKE A LADDER RUNG FOR THE CHILDREN THAT CLIMB TO THE TOP.

MALLOZZI: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TWO TEAMS COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER?

USUALLY, IT'S NOT COMPETING, SO WHAT WE DO IS WE HELP EACH OTHER.

ONE TEAM WILL HELP THE OTHER ONE TO RAISE THE CASTELL BECAUSE USUALLY IN THE BOTTOM PART YOU NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE, SO IF YOU WANT-- AS MUCH HEIGHT YOU WANT TO REACH, MUCH PEOPLE YOU NEED ON THE BASE.

AH.

OK.

TO MAKE A CASTELL, YOU NEED A MINIMUM OF 60 PEOPLE.

WOW!

IF YOU ARE NOT AT LEAST 60, YOU CANNOT GO UP.

YOU CAN'T HOLD IT UP.

THE IDEA OF CASTELLS IS EVERYBODY IS PUSHING INSIDE.

IF YOU TRY TO TAKE YOUR HAND OFF, YOU WILL SEE YOU CANNOT.

YEAH!

SO THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING, PUSHING INSIDE.

AH.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THERE IS A LOT OF PREPARATION THAT GOES INTO BUILDING A CASTELL.

PRIOR TO EACH ATTEMPT, THE TEAM REFERENCES A CASTELL MAP, WHERE EACH MEMBER KNOWS WHICH OF THE MAIN POSITIONS THEY MUST HOLD.

THEN OTHER MEMBERS FILE IN AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE BASE.

JORDI: THE PILLAR, IT'S CONSTRUCTION OF ONE.

RIGHT.

A TOWER, CONSTRUCTION OF TWO.

RIGHT.

THEN WE HAVE 3 AND 4, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE COMBINATION OF THAT.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: BEING AT THE BASE OF THE CASTELL MAY LOOK EASY, BUT THE PRESSURE YOU ARE PUSHING AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR IS STRENUOUS AND OF COURSE NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CASTELL IS THE SAFE FOR THE CLIMBERS.

[MAN SHOUTING CATALAN] MALLOZZI: THIS MAN RIGHT HERE IS GIVING DIRECTION?

EXACTLY.

GIVING DIRECTION.

HE'S CHECKING THE POSITION OF EVERYBODY... YEAH.

AND HE'S GIVING INSTRUCTION.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CASTELL GOES TO ONE SIDE, HE'S GIVING INSTRUCTION TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE.

YEAH.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: MUSICAL CUES ARE GIVEN FOR EACH PHASE OF THE CASTELL BUILDING.

SO THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT THEMES.

IT'S GOING UP, DOING THE CASTELL, AND GOING DOWN.

JORDI: SO THE IDEA IS WE MAKE A MOUNTAIN, AND ONE CHILDREN JUST GOES OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

AHH.

OK.

THEY WILL GO UP, THEY WILL CROSS THE TOWER... CROSS THE MOUNTAIN.

AND THEY WILL GO DOWN FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

NOW THEY CHANGE THE MUSIC.

SHE'S ON THE TOP.

BECAUSE SHE'S GOING OVER?

DOING IT BY THE HAND, AND THEN GO DOWN.

YES!

[MUSIC CHANGES] WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP?

[SPEAKING CATALAN] HAPPY.

HAPPY.

VERY HAPPY, AND YOU'RE VERY STRONG AND BRAVE.

I LOVE THAT THERE ARE GIRLS AT THE TOP.

YEAH.

I LOVE THAT THERE ARE GIRLS UP THERE.

GIVE ME 5.

HIGH-FIVE.

YES, GIRL!

HOW YOUNG ARE THESE KIDS ACTUALLY THAT YOU SEE UP THERE?

CAN BE UP TO 3 YEARS OLD.

WOW!

WELL, YOU START THEM EARLY.

4, 5, 6.

IT DEPENDS.

HERE, THERE'S ONE GUY TWO YEARS OLD HE'S JUST RUNNING HERE... NO.

BUT HE'S NOT CLIMBING.

WE JUST--WHEN WE MAKE A CASTELL, WE JUST TAKE IT UP, AND WE PUT HIM UP BECAUSE HE'S SO SMALL, BUT THEY LOVE IT TO BE ON THE TOP JUST LOOKING AT EVERYBODY.

OF COURSE HE DOES.

FOR FAMILIES, USUALLY IF YOU MAKE AN ACTIVITY LIKE FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL, IT'S ONE GUY PLAYING AND THE OTHER ONE WATCHING, SO IN THAT CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHILDREN IS GOING UP, THE FATHERS MAYBE ARE ON THE BOTTOM, AND THE GRANDFATHER MAYBE IS PLAYING THE MUSIC.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: I OFFICIALLY BECAME A MEMBER OF THE MINYONS DE SANTA CRISTINA TODAY, TAKEN RIGHT IN AS ONE OF THEIR OWN IN SUCH A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.

HEY!

MALLOZZI: WHOO!

HA HA HA!

YOU GOT TO COME TO GIRONA.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

THIS IS CRAZY!

I MAKE MY WAY BACK TO THE CITY OF GIRONA TO MEET WITH MARC OF GIRONA FOOD TOURS, WHO WILL BE MY GUIDE THROUGH THIS MEDIEVAL CITY IN PREPARATION FOR THE SANT JOAN FESTIVAL, OR THE FEAST OF ST.

JOHN THE BAPTIST, TAKING PLACE TOMORROW.

MARC: I'M GONNA TAKE YOU TO ONE OF THE OLDEST BAKERY STORES OF GIRONA... WOW!

ANTIGA CASA BELLSOLA.

SO WE ARE CELEBRATING ST.

JOHN THE BAPTIST DAY... RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE EAT LA FAMOSA--THE FAMOUS COCA DE SANT JOAN.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE COCA DE SANT JOAN IS A TRADITIONAL SWEET BAKED EVERY YEAR FOR THIS FEAST, AND IT INCLUDES DRIED FRUITS, MARZIPAN, AND DRIED PINE NUTS.

MMM!

WOW!

YOU HAVE TO COME TO GIRONA AND EAT THIS.

IT'S SO GOOD.

MARC: GIRONA WAS FOUNDED BY THE ROMANS 2,000 YEARS AGO, AND THEY MADE A CITADEL LIKE A FORTRESS, AND THAT WAS A START OF A GIRONA.

WE ARE NOW IN THE RAMBLAS OF GIRONA.

IT WAS THE PLACE WHERE THE MARKET WAS, WHERE PROTESTS WERE HELD, AND NOWADAYS, FARMERS STILL COME DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO SELL THEIR CHEESES, TO SELL THEIR MEAT, OR, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FLOWER MARKET.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF VALUES, TRADITIONS, YOU KNOW, AND THIS MARKET'S ALWAYS BEEN HERE, AND YOU SEE THE LOCAL PEOPLE REALLY BUY HERE, AS WELL.

IT'S NOT A TOURIST TRAP.

MARC: GIRONA'S CALLED THE CITY OF THE 4 RIVERS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE HANGING HOUSES OF DE L'ONYAR.

THEY'RE QUITE COLORFUL... YEAH.

AND, UH, WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR CITY.

MARC: THIS BRIDGE WAS BUILT BY GUSTAV EIFFEL.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1877.

GUSTAV EIFFEL DIDN'T ONLY BUILD THE EIFFEL TOWER FOR HE WORLD EXHIBITION IN PARIS.

HE MADE SEVERAL PROJECTS FROM HIS COMPANY.

RIGHT OF COURSE, OF COURSE.

THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

WOW!

I FEEL LIKE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF PARIS HERE, HUH?

YEAH.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: CATALONIA HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE SINCE THE 15th CENTURY.

THE YELLOW RIBBONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY SIGNIFY SUPPORT FOR THE MOST RECENT CATALAN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF 2017, WHICH IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY SPAIN, NOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

MARC: IN GIRONA, MANY PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF INDEPENDENCE.

WE HAVE OUR OWN LANGUAGE.

YES.

OF COURSE.

WE HAVE OUR OWN IDENTITY, WE HAVE OUR OWN CULTURE.

WE ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF SPAIN.

YEAH.

THAT'S NOTHING BAD.

IT'S JUST, LIKE, BEING DIFFERENT.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: OUR NEXT STOP IS TO TASTE THE JAMON SERRANO AND THE JAMON IBERICO, OR THE BLACK IBERIAN PIG.

MY NEW JOB-- CUTTING HERE.

MARC: THIS ONE IS GRAY PORK.

IBERICO.

OHH!

THAT IS GOOD.

AND THIS ONE IS-- THIS ONE IS 100% ACORN.

100%--THE PIG IS EATING ACORN.

WHAT IT EATS, ONLY ACORN.

MMM!

IT'S, LIKE, MELTING IN MY MOUTH.

YEAH, IT SHOULD BE.

THAT IS DELICIOUS.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: LAST STOP IS TO TASTE THE FAMOUS XUIXO FROM GIRONA.

SO WHAT IS IN THE XUIXO?

WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS HEALTHY.

COVERED WITH SUGAR, IT'S FRIED, AND THERE IS CREME CATALAN INSIDE.

CREME CATALAN.

ALL RIGHT.

WANT TO TASTE?

HERE WE GO.

AHH.

AHH.

OH!

MMM!

MMM!

MMM!

YOU WOULD THINK THIS IS GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY SWEET.

NO.

IT'S NOT.

THE BALANCE IS REALLY FINE.

IT'S VERY NICE.

BUTTERY, FLAKY.

THE CREAM IS MORE CREAMY, AND THE LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR ON THE OUTSIDE GIVES IT A LITTLE BIT OF CRUNCH, BUT THAT IS DELICIOUS.

THIS IS OUR BREAKFAST AT 10:00.

MM-HMM.

I COULD EAT THIS EVERY DAY AT 10:00.

WELL, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT.

MALLOZZI: TODAY IS THE FEAST OF SANT JOAN HERE IN GIRONA, AND I AM SO EXCITED BECAUSE FAL-LERA GIRONINA, THIS BEAUTIFUL GROUP RIGHT HERE, THEY'RE LETTING ME JUMP IN IN THIS PROCESSION.

I'M PUTTING ON MY SHOES, I'M GONNA GET MY OUTFIT ON, AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

READY.

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: THE ENTIRE CITY OF GIRONA HAS ARRIVED TO CELEBRATE WITH US.

THIS IS, AFTER ALL, THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER.

STARTING FROM PLACA INDEPENCIA, ONE OF THE MAIN SQUARES IN GIRONA, WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THE COBBLESTONE STREETS TO THE CITY HALL.

HEY!

ONCE WE ARRIVE AT THE GIRONA CITY HALL, L'ALIGA DE GIRONA, THE BEAUTIFUL EAGLE, MAKES HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ENTRANCE TO GREET THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE REVELERS FOR SANT JOAN.

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE] THE DAY'S PROCESSION ENDS WITH THE PASSING OF THE FLAMA DEL CANIGO, OR THE FLAME OF CANIGO, A TRADITION THAT LEADS THIS WHOLE FESTIVAL.

THE FLAME IS KEPT BURNING ALL YEAR ROUND IN PERPIGNAN IN SOUTHERN FRANCE.

IT IS THEN BROUGHT TO CANIGO, BELIEVED TO BE THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN THE PYRENEES, WHERE ALL OF THE CITIES IN CATALONIA GO TO RECEIVE THE FLAME.

TODAY ON THE DAY OF SANT JOAN, CHILDREN FROM EACH OF THE FOLK ASSOCIATIONS HERE IN GIRONA TAKE THE STAGE AND LIGHT THEIR LANTERNS WITH THE FLAME OF CANIGO, PROUDLY CARRYING IT WITH THEM BACK TO THEIR TOWNSHIPS.

I'VE BEEN GETTING REALLY EMOTIONAL DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS BECAUSE... KNOWING THAT PART OF ME COMES FROM THIS AREA AND THESE PEOPLE LETTING ME COME HERE AND JUST BE PART OF THIS IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE, AND I FEEL SO WELCOME, AND, UH...IT'S REALLY BEEN AN EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

WITH A SENSE OF AUTONOMY THAT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR OVER 6 CENTURIES, THE LANGUAGE, THE FOOD, THE TRADITIONS, THE MUSIC, AND THE DANCES HAVE SURVIVED AND EVOLVED THAT ENTIRE TIME.

COMMUNITY IS THE BASIS OF THIS REGION, AND ALL ARE HERE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, INCLUDING A NEWCOMER LIKE MYSELF.

GRACIES I MERCI, GIRONA, FOR YOUR SONGS, YOUR STORIES, AND YOUR SOLIDARITY.

AND I'LL SEE YOU ON MY NEXT "BARE FEET" ADVENTURE, WHEREVER IT MAY TAKE ME!

WHOO!

MALLOZZI, VOICE-OVER: YOU CAN STAY CONNECTED WITH US AT TRAVELBAREFEET.COM, WHERE YOU'LL FIND EXTRA BONUS VIDEOS, JOIN OUR "BARE FEET" SERIES CONVERSATIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND STAY UPDATED WITH OUR NEWSLETTER.

OK.

OK.

OK.

NOW?

OH, YEAH.

OK.

SHOW THAT WAIST OFF.

YES.

WHOO!

YEAH?

OH, GOSH!

NOW YOU HAVE TO... OK.

AND YOU-- WHERE IS IT?

JUST FROM HERE.

OH, HERE.

OK.

YEAH.

JUST SHOVE IT IN THERE.

OK, JORDI.

THANK YOU.

HA HA!

ANNOUNCER: "BARE FEET" IS FUNDED IN PART BY... ANNOUNCER: THE ISLAND OF IRELAND.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.

FILL YOUR HEART WITH IRELAND.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN THROUGH THE YUEN FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES; AND BY THE ANN H. SYMINGTON FOUNDATION.

DIFFERENT ANNOUNCER: THE FARMERS AND PRODUCERS AT LANDCRAFTED FOOD IN GRAYSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, ARE DEDICATED TO SUSTAINING AND SERVING OUR FARMS AND COMMUNITY WITH A GOAL OF PRODUCING FOODS THAT ARE AS GOOD FOR THE LAND AS THEY ARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO EAT THEM.

LANDCRAFTED FOOD-- STUBBORNLY REAL, FARMER OWNED.

DIFFERENT ANNOUNCER: TAUCK--GUIDING TRAVELERS AROUND THE WORLD SINCE 1925 BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ONCE IN A LIFETIME ONLY HAPPENS ONCE.

HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD MATTERS.

[CHILD BABBLES]