This Story developed in one the most magical places visited during our F8 travel journey . Park Guell , is located in Barcelona Spain, is a place where we spent a day enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the City , from above you can see the city, its charms and the Ocean . The real treat is to walk within the admirable work and life of Antonio Gaudi , sublime architecture , ahead of his era, his vision in architecture , and furniture design are spectacular , and the colors he utilized are outstanding !!
I urge you to discover this amazing artist, perhaps you already know about him, his life , a man of faith and extreme humility. His most famous work is La Sagrada familia, Basilica , and Parc Guell among many . I could spend hours talking about him, he fascinate me , for his unique talent , and beautiful art , but moreover for the stories of true compassion and humility , told by the nuns who clean his house , his legacy to the world has no comparison.
Having described the green and unique architectural scenery i will now tell my little story about buying earrings in the parc. As we were walking in the paths of Parc Guell , between the restaurant and the museum and shop , the street vendors spread their clothes and items for sell . from Scarves , ornaments, to lizard replicas and all ,
Buying from a street vendor is something that for many years has been very controversial and an insight fight within my values , It is in a gray area for me , in one hand you don’t want to support illegal business , perhaps tax evasion , Selling Cheaper without overhead cost, In the other hand, the tempting items with irresistible price !! it hurts to pay double or triple somewhere else.
I know everyone has to do what It feels good in your heart . In mine in this case, I gave in. so here i was immerse picking my 3 for 10 euros sets, My Pakistani vendor had all this earrings pinched in an umbrella , fascinated I was picking them , These were not just any earrings they are “the” earrings. Perhaps explaining why I wanted them so bad , you can understand me better. They looked like a pair my bff and colleague Izabella from Munich bought while we visit Incredible India. I always loved them , rounded golden earrings, very simple yet makes you feel life a million dollars . (Only women can understand this feeling ) .
These earrings were similar to hers , so I indulge and lost myself in time picking and looking round and around on his big umbrella , a few seconds before I finished picking the last pair , I hear : “excuse me , excuse me , I will be back and in a split of a second , he closed the umbrella And started running for his life , as well as all the street vendors , here I was empty handed , no magical Indian earrings standing in the middle of the road in and empty of vendors path , seconds later a motorcycle police patrol with bright lights looking and chasing the street vendors . When you observe the scene , I was paralyzed in shock not so much for being left without the earrings I long to have, but for the almost inhuman way the street vendors were chased , and run to hide in the upper bushes, hiding, while the motorized police are circling the path chasing to get them , and looking up for the prey, I couldn’t get over the scene, there I was speechless seeing the police swiveling, waiting for them, and the street vendors looking through the branches. I was so sad, in one hand, how frustrated for the police officers, I imagine they didn’t plan after a hard police training to end up in such an unflattering job to chase the street vendors all day, and then this guys, dozens of vendors, knowing is not allowed they just don’t bother, break the rules,have spotters, and do it because they know “we” would buy!!! Big dilemma! I decided to tell the guy , better say send him signs, because he was up hiding in the hill, that i would buy only if he get outside the park.


Only then, i got my earrings with bittersweet feelings, sort of embarrassed, not too proud of supporting the illegal vendors, but thinking that is their ” modus vivendus ” but also know everytime I wear them, i will think of a beautiful park that hold the most amazing architecture, history and many many secrets.
Cessy Meacham
what do you think of my story? how do you feel about street vendors? your thoughts and comments are appreciated!
Love the earrings!! Rules of Business…many times I think, as long as it’s makes people happy and people are being honest and ethical….let them be! Have a blast
I too just bought earrings from the vendor outside Park Guell. I just love them and would like to get more. We were rushed because of time so I just picked out 4 pair. Any ideas on how to find them without a trip to Barcelona. There were no police bothering them when we were there. They are just making a living.
thanks for your comment Mimi, I find similar stuff in events,like Farmers Markets and small stores here in Florida, where do you live?
probably online shopping too. Have fun enjoy your earrings 🙂
Hello! Cool post, amazing!!!