Barcelona (Spain)
03 September - 06 September 2019
It’s quite easy to
fall for the charms of Barcelona. Sun-drenched beaches, the deep blue Mediterranean
sea in its front yard, stunning architecture, a magnificent culinary landscape
and outstanding bar culture – distilled influences of other global centres inhabiting
hidden corners of alleyways and secret squares. Vibrant, dynamic and lively. A
24 hour city who is equally as comfortable under the rays of a beating sun as
it is with guidance of dimmed moonlight. It has everything you want from a
European city, as well as being Spanish (…sort of…but lets not get into the independence
debate).
It’s always pleasing to come to Barcelona. If feels like a city that’s on perpetual vacation and the atmosphere of the city doesn’t do anything to dispel that myth from any of its visitors.
On this occasion with Inga’s family and a little 6 month in tow, access to many of the things that I love about this city had to be tempered. Not that I’m complaining but it does shut down a lot about the late-night culture that makes this part of the world so quintessentially Iberian. Afternoon siestas, late night dinners, late night drinking, bar hopping and having the early morning sun guide you home. There’s something liberating about having such a great time that the sunshine demands your attention as it casts aside the veil of nighttime inhibition.
Barcelona wasn’t born with a gold shoreline. The dearth of anything resembling the beautiful carefree spot of Barceloneta and accompanying beaches heading north on the shoreline was something of a black spot prior to the 1992 Olympics. The area had in fact been quite the neglected corner of this one city. Having turned its back on the pot of gold that standing at its doorstep it took the impetus of global focus to inspire the transformation which activated a change that would add a new, inspirational dimension to this city. So with all that said, it was quite easy to identify where three Latvians would spend their daylight hours in this town. Being Australian and quite sensitive to the dangers of anything UV related, 1.5 Australians spent their time in the relative safety of shaded bars supported by various concoctions of alcohol that obviously substituted the fear of sun damage for an equally damaging vice.
The little guy - Barcelona - Spain
Our time in Barcelona whilst different to what I’ve usually been accustomed to was still full of most things that you’d expect out of a visit. Visits to Gaudi inspired buildings, gawking at the fabulous wares in markets, judging the various types of sangria on offer and tapping into the plethora of tapas that that accost your senses.
Barcelona is one of the great cities of Europe, that is undeniable. I’m already looking forward to our next visit.
