…..Now,……this city is incredible!…..no doubt….. “BUT”….it has two serious problems…..one,….
TOURIST…..They are everywhere…..even the locals bitched about how many there are…..it’s like watching ants attack a sugar cube…..just take a walk down Grande de Gracia/Passeig de Gracia…..that’s the street you shop when you want to max the hell out of your credit card…..or you can walk over one block…..to Rbla. Catalunya…..and watch ants eat at trendy…..what I considered tapas fast-food look at me joints…..and those ants are everywhere…..museums…..the lines are crazy.….stores…..cafes…..name it…..filled with ants…..ok, there are ways to travel…..and there are ways to travel.….Nicole and I travel…..she yells “Road trip”…..I say where are we going….. “WE TRAVEL!”…..we are not….. “Ants”…..we don’t do tours…..or tour busses…..unless we’re hungry…..we don’t do lines…..we want to know the people, the real culture.….screw “Tiffany’s”…..and I love to walk…..Nicole’s getting used to it…..but “I walk!”…..our first day there.….when we arrived back at the hotel…..Nicole took off her shoe and told me I killed her socks …..the best way to see a city……walk!…..now, number two…..
CELL PHONES…..Please pay attention to Quasimodo’s cousins walking around…..because damn near everyone is hunched over their phones…..and not paying attention…..in time it will piss you off…..and get you off of your phone.
CATALONIA.….Yeah, that’s where you are…..and yes it’s in Spain and considered a part of Spain…..just like Sicily is considered a part of Italy…..and I’ve yet to hear a Sicilian say he’s Italian…..Catalonia is an autonomous community and is designated as a nationality by its statute of autonomy…..so, you’re not in Spain when you visit…..you’re in Catalonia!…..the chosen language.…..not Spanish!…..but the people are cool…..and it’s all good when you need a question answered.….ask a cop…..really!
GRÀCIA…..Is the place to stay.….that area is a combination of the Latin Quarters in Paris, parts of Berlin, areas in Roma, the East and West Village areas of NYC…..and the vibe and “smell” of Amsterdam.….filled with young and old people.….hipster and young families…….hanging out until 12 midnight.….now, we spent a few days at Hotel La Casa del Sol (www.hotellacasadelsol.com)…..right next to Plaza del Sol…..where people hangout…..restaurants, stores, shops surround the place.….people eat, drink and sit on the ground and talk.….yes, they sit on the ground…..wanna know why?…..because the city is freakin’ clean…..they have 24/7 crews cleaning the streets…..garbage cans are everywhere and people use them…..anyway,…..the subways, U-Bahn, Metro..…you pick one…..is about a really nice five minute walk from the hotel…..trust me, you won’t notice it on your second day being there…..oh, if you want a coffee and a cinnamon bun……Candela Pasteleria Rolleria – Ros de Olano,48.….what this dude creates is so good.….he should be arrested…..Nicole bought one and it didn’t make it to the next corner before she was back at the shop.….and ordering two more…..it’s the perfect neighborhood to say in…..it’s quiet, the streets are narrow…..and it feels like a village…..it was until the city took over in the late 1800’s..…the traffic is light..…but pay attention to Vespas….and yeah, pickpocket people exist….like everywhere else..…but they don’t hang out in Gracia……and the “Ants” don’t either…..what you need to do in this area is.….walk!…..they’re benches to sit on everywhere…..you tired.….sit…..munch……look…..and then go…..art galleries, dance, theatre, yoga, mama-yoga, The Ist – Hair & Yoga (www.theist.cat – IG@theistyoga) reiki…..and more……is in this area…..vegan bakery, traditional tapas, vegetarian, Syrian, African, Turkish, Italian,…….Olokuti is all Eco-Bio and a beautiful store.….(www.olokuti.com) an afternoon lunch maybe..….Amelie Placa de La Vila de Gracia, 11…..(www.amelie-restaurnat.com)…..is a nice spot…..and say hi to Junior…..he comes from a small village of 300 people…..we told him we have that many people living on our street…..so, the subway L4…..is a good line to hook-up with…..you can go straight to the beach..…and hangout…..if you don’t want to work on your tan…..Arenal Restaurant is right there.….great wine list and good food…..once getting skin cancer time is over……head for the…..
EL BORN AREA.….This was my favorite……medieval area..….lots of winding streets and alleys..….and plenty of shops, cafes, stores……everywhere..…and artist.….from leather crafts, paintings, jewelry, food….it’s all there……to be honest..….we spent most of our time there..….if you want “TRUE” Catalonian culture……you have to get a table at El Xampanyet Montcada 22…..it’s been around since 1929.….the place is history, family owned into the 4th generation, the workers are wonderful……and you have to try the tuna..…with red wine……or you can head out to Pork Consolat De Mar, 15…..Llamber C/Fusina, 5..….Tapeo Born Montcada 29…..Tapeo Gracia Topazi, 8..….or Sagardi Argenteria, 62……once your belly is full..….keep walking down the alleys and checkout the street art.….much of it can never be replaced so take pictures……don’t forget to stop by Art Gallery Workshop C/Mirallers, 5..…and take a good look at Dario Sigimondo’s art work……you want a coffee…..or whatever?…..Bornet…..C/Barra de ferro,3…..it’s right at the crossroad…people coming towards you…..people passing by right in front of you…..a different reality…..you can contact Born To Cook and schedule a cooking lesson in the traditional dishes…..hook-up with Toni Cami (he organizes the night)…..(www.borntocookbarcelona.com)…..and he’s pretty cool…..not bad for a guy from Texas..….and hates the Cowboys….my kinda guy……you could spend days walking around in Born…..if you are into churches and museums..…do it..…but it’ll cost ya…..you want to see some of Gaudi’s work….dig deep in your pockets..….to see Sagrada Familia.….for two people……it’s close to 70 euro and up…..that’s a nice dinner and a shit load of sangria……if you look up once in a while…..you will see his work hidden within the cities architecture……the Picasso museum is also in the Born..….I’m a Salvador Dali kinda guy myself…..anyway,…there are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Catalonia you can do day trips to.….if you wanna…..most of them are in Barcelona……now, we were lucky…..we happened to book everything when…..
LA MERCÉ 19…..The annual festival was jumping off…..The Born street food event was happening…..Devils danced in the streets.….night parades.….the fire run…..and we stared in awe…..watching the Castellers…..the human towers.….we missed the Giants Parade.….before you come.….do some research first…..a guy told me.…. “Barcelona don’t need an excuse to party!”…..the street food thing is kicking off again next June/July.
SO…..That was our trip.….and we’re going back.….if you plan on stopping in….and want a five-star hotel…..Gràcia is not your spot..….go away……that area is for people who live their lives…..and travel!