Fast food isn't always a smart choice for a meal when traveling, but I had KFC on my first night in Barcelona. I walked around by myself around the La Rambla neighborhood trying to find a decent place to eat authentic Spanish or Catalan cuisine, but maybe I was too intimidated or I just didn't find any that I liked, which is why I ended up at Col. Sanders' place. That's also where I met up with Pedi, who is my near-constant European travel buddy.
My first impressions of Barcelona were of its touristy areas, so naturally, I thought the city was loud, lively and filled with laughter and excited chattering. We walked around La Rambla and ended up at a bar where we had a couple of their treasured Estrella beer.
There was, perhaps, some feeble attempt to string an itinerary together, but part of the thrill of traveling (and traveling
with Pedi) is not having a definite plan and just see where our whims take us.
That first full day, we had lunch at a buffet spread for 10 euros. We stuffed ourselves with as much salad, pork ribs,
gazpacho, paella and other stuff as our tummies could carry. From the comparatively more staid and straightforward cuisine in Deutschland, the food in Catalonia was decidedly more exciting.
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| Hanging out at the local La Boqueria |
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| I feel ya |
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| Barcelona Cathedral |
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| Gaudi's Casa Batllo |
We needed all that sustenance for the walk from La Rambla all the way to Barceloneta beach. The sun peeked behind gray clouds, but by the time we got to the water's edge, it was out in full force. Summer was pretty much over, and there was already a slight nip in the air, but that didn't stop locals--and likely more than a few tourists--from sunbathing and taking a dip in the Mediterranean.
But within a few minutes, the intense afternoon sun gave way to dark clouds and strong gusty winds and a light drizzle. I had to admit it was funny seeing the half-naked beachgoers try to quickly change back into clothes as the wind whipped their sarongs and their towels.
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| Hanging out at Barceloneta beach with Pedi |
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| Goofing around |
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| I forgot what this building is called |
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| Surveying downtown Barcelona |
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| Dinner |
Pedi and I decided to buy a few things in the supermarket for dinner--bread, sausages, cheese and cokes (we should really have gotten wine, but we were going out to drink after anyway). We finished everything off back at the flat and rested for a bit before heading back out for a nightcap.
Spanish people supposedly have dinner at 10 p.m. and go out until the early hours of the next day, so that's exactly what we did. When in Rome...(Or Barcelona, in this case)...
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