A few days in Barcelona is a big change of pace to life in Mallorca. We send our time shopping (lots of sales on), wandering the streets in search of bars and tapas, taking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city and some more shopping. We spend a few hours wandering in the Picasso museum, a wonderful journey through Picasso’s life and masterpiece’s which has gone through some major changes since I was here in 1992.
On Friday we spend most of the day on a bike tour which takes us to all parts of this vibrant city. Barcelona has recently undertaken a major redevelopment of the city to incorporate bike paths throughout and we can take it all in at a very leisurely pace. We pass many of Gaudi’s architectural achievements as well as the crowds on las Ramblas and the port and beaches that were redeveloped for the 92 Olympics. We find a great restaurant in avery local plaza not far off las Ramblas for a long lunch ..... we loved it so much we were back for dinner on Saturday night.
The highlights of our time here though have to be Friday and Saturday nights where each night we manage to stumble upon local community fiestas. Friday night is literally on for young and old where we turn the corner into a plaza to find a 10 piece band, 4 singers and 3 dancers entertaining the locals. We join in the dancing (closer inspection reveals that any style goes) and occasional congo line between drinks at the makeshift bar. It’s still going strong when we wander off at 2am. Saturday night is a bigger affair in a plaza not far from the first and is more like a concert with plenty of local talent .... we had no idea that Spanish hip-hop and rap were so big. Despite the pumping music, we have to leave at 2am because tomorrow we’re heading to Bennicasim....
On Friday we spend most of the day on a bike tour which takes us to all parts of this vibrant city. Barcelona has recently undertaken a major redevelopment of the city to incorporate bike paths throughout and we can take it all in at a very leisurely pace. We pass many of Gaudi’s architectural achievements as well as the crowds on las Ramblas and the port and beaches that were redeveloped for the 92 Olympics. We find a great restaurant in avery local plaza not far off las Ramblas for a long lunch ..... we loved it so much we were back for dinner on Saturday night.
The highlights of our time here though have to be Friday and Saturday nights where each night we manage to stumble upon local community fiestas. Friday night is literally on for young and old where we turn the corner into a plaza to find a 10 piece band, 4 singers and 3 dancers entertaining the locals. We join in the dancing (closer inspection reveals that any style goes) and occasional congo line between drinks at the makeshift bar. It’s still going strong when we wander off at 2am. Saturday night is a bigger affair in a plaza not far from the first and is more like a concert with plenty of local talent .... we had no idea that Spanish hip-hop and rap were so big. Despite the pumping music, we have to leave at 2am because tomorrow we’re heading to Bennicasim....
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