Barcelona
Barcelona is an old industrial city that is the capital of
El Raval
At the top of la Rambla is Placa
Catalonia (Catalunya in Catalan). The official language
Catalunya, a public square that is
is Catalan, so you will see it on most signs, but don’t
also a major bus and metro inter
worry as all the locals speak Spanish and many people change (you can get the airport bus speak English.
here). Going away from Placa Catalunya the area off La Rambla to the right towards the sea is El Raval, an ethnically diverse neighbourhood with a high Asian population (and thus lots of yummy Indian sweetshops, including my favourite, on Carrer de l'Hospi tal, pictured on the right). It is also quite bohemian there are lots of small bars and cafes (especially on Carrer Joaquin Costa), small art galleries and record shops and vintage shops. There are many, many 99 cent stores. There is a large modern art gallery called MACBA in a modern white cube building
Barcelona’s most famous street is La Rambla, which leads down to the har
outside which lots of skaters congregate (Barcelona is very famous for skateboard ers!).
bour (pictured seen from a cable car).
La Ramba is extremely crowded and touristy and lined with mime artists, flower stalls and
Most of the streets are very, very narrow. This heart decoration is suspended
pet stalls. Be aware of pickpockets and prosti
between two houses in one street. It has been there for years, gently flicker
tutes!
ing.
Barcelona’s famous Bouqeuria mar ket, which sells lots of cheese,
Nightlife
sausages and hams, vegetables,
People in Barcelona eat late, go out late, go home late and sleep late. Many bars
seafood, etc is on La Rambla backing
are underground (ie, illegal/unlicensed/unofficial, sometimes selling homebrewed
onto El Raval.
alcohol, sometimes literally underground and sometimes hidden in people’s houses).
Born/Barri Gotic Going
away from
There are many nightclubs and drug fuelled dance raves in squats (okupas in Cata lan/Spanish).
Placa
Sidecar, An indie club, Placa
Catalunya
Reial.
towards the sea the area off
Moog, Carrer Arc Del Teatre, El
to the left is Barri Gotic and Born. Barri Gotic is the Gothic
Raval. Alternative/electronic club.
area, housing the old cathe
Razzmatazz, Carrer Pam
dral as well as small, pictur
plona, Massive club with lots of
esque squares and churches.
different rooms, from dance to
Closer to Placa Catalunya is
indie. Main gig venue for Ameri
an area with lots of high
can/English indie bands.
street shops, whereas further down towards the sea, Born is like a slightly more upmarket version of El Raval with nice cafes and bars and small boutiques.
Eixample and Passeig de Gracia Directly above Placa Catalunya at the top of La Rambla is Eixample. Unlike the hig gledy piggledy streets below Placa
Apollo,
Carrer Nou de La Rambla. Another big club and gig venue, just outside
El Raval.
La Pastis, La Ramba (just off to the right further down towards the sea). Tiny, at mospheric French themed bar playing Edith Piaf etc, sells port etc. Sometimes has acoustic live music.
Catalunya, it is laid out on a grid system
El Mariatchi, Carrer Dels Codols, Barri Gotic. Owned by famous FrenchSpanish
with very long, wide streets, the main
singer Manu Chao. Tiny, very colourfully decorated bar tucked down a very small
street being Passeig de Gracia, which is
street in Barri Gotic (about 5 mins from La Rambla off to the left further down towards
lined with exlusive designer clothes
the sea). Sells its own range of olive oils, honey etc. It’s just off meeting place Placa
shops. The famous architect Gaudi de
George Orwell more commonly known as Placa Tripi (the Spanish name for LSD).
signed the paving stones, which have
Manchester,
an elaborate interlocking pattern. If you want a free souvenir, buy some cheap paper and crayons from a 99 cent store and do a rubbing. Two of Gaudi’s most famous buildings are on Passeig de Gracia. Although they are very expensive to enter, you can look from the outside.
Carrer de Milans, Barri Gotic, and Carrer Valldonzella, El Raval.
Chain of Manchester themed and decorated indie bars I think there may be a third somewhere.
Eating and drinking
Juicy Jones, Carrer de l'Hospital, El Raval. An amazing vegan smoothie bar and cafe which is decorated with brightly painted murals. The curry and smoothies are a must, and reasonably priced.
Maoz, La Rambla. A falafel chain (there is also one in Born). Often give out free
Must see/do
Look out for graffiti Barcelona is famous for it (although the authorities are clamping down)! Climb the steps to Parc Guell, a colourful, mad park designed by Gaudi on a hill overlooking
falafel at closing time (around 3am).
the city featuring his sculpture and mosaics on
In my opinion, the best falafel is from small Asian takewaways, and it is far
a lage scale.
cheaper. The best I have ever had is on Carrer Joaquin Costa in El Raval although be warned, it’s very messy expect to get covered in mayonnaise!
Visit the big park Parc de la Ciutadella in Born
BarcelonaReykjavik, Carrer de Dr Dou 12, Raval. My favourite ever bak
which also contains the zoo. It’s also near the
ers. If the weather’s warm enough, buy some bread here, get some cheese and fruit from the market and have a picnic in a quiet spot such as the gardens outside the old library on Carrer de l'Hospital
to Catalonia: “A modern cathedral, and one of the
a Catalan speciality potatoes with a spicy, creamy sauce.
Churros (Xurros in Catalan). A must especially from a van parked out side a nightclub on you way home at 7am. Batter funneled then deep fried. Can be purchased with a cup of melted chocolate for dipping (churros con chocolate).
Chocolate
hot chocolate. Very thick and rich rather than milky, served in a
most hideous buildings in the world... I think the Anar chists showed bad taste in not blowing it up when they had the chance.” Take in the atmosphere in Placa Reial, a popular meeting place just off La Rambla, a square with lam posts designed by Gaudi.
glass!
Cava.
Go and take a look at Gaudi’s famous unfinished cathedral Sagrada Familia (George Owell, Homage
Backlava from Asian sweetshops in El Raval. Patatas bravas
impressive monument Arc de Triomphe.
Needs no introduction. I used to go to a Catalan cafe on Carrer San An
toni that sold it for 3 euros a bottle.
Absinthe. There are a couple of absinthe bars in El Raval.
Basic vocabulary
Go to Placa d’Espyana in the daytime
uno one
for Catalonia’s big museum of national
dos two
art and at night time for a light show
tres three
where the big fountain changes colour.
cerveza beer
agua water
cuatro four
naranja orange
queso cheese
cinco five
manzana apple
la cuenta por favor the bill please
See the city from a cable car at Mon
seis six
vino tinto red wine
de nada it’s nothing
tjuic mountain.
siete seven
vino blanco white wine derecho right
ocho eight
pequena/o small
izquierda left
Browse the vintage shops in El Raval
neuve nine
grande big
cuanta cuesta? how much does it cost? diez ten
around Carrer de Tallers/Carrer de la Riera Baxia.