Barcelona - here we come!
We had left Paris around 10:30 in the morning after some good sleep and after having a strange experience at the parking next to the hotel!
The day before we had entered the parking equally strange actually. We had driven up to the cross bar indicating that we could not get in. Jacob went out of the car to see if there was someone at work inside because the parking house look a little abandoned. He returned and said that he could not see anyone, but when he came back to the the gate suddenly opened. We looked at each other and hmmm... lets go for it!
We still could not see anyone and there was no ticket machine.
Next morning the place was open and there was still no one there! We picked up the car and waited down in front of the office with the sign; I will soon be back, in order to have them open the gate and so we could pay for the stay. We waited 5-10 minutes and still no one. Jacob went out and looked but again when he passed the gate it opened! I drove outside the gate and we still waited 5 minutes and nobody came! Well, then we decided to drive. We could not wait all day! Thank you Paris - I guess that it was the first time I got something for free there.
We had approximately 1000 km in front of us, so it was just a question about getting out of Paris as soon as possible.
The hotel Onix was situated 2-300 meters from La Ramblas and we were very positively surprised when we entered the lobby. The room was equally nice and the bathroom modern and nice in size too. I still wonder why it only had 3 stars but it is recommendable anyway.
We hurried out to taste something of the Barcelona ambiance which can to us immediately after we left the hotel. This town is amazing. This city was a first time for my friend Jacob and it didn’t take him more than few minutes to understand that it was a mistake.
When you sit on the front row facing the open space, many performers will seek your attention with their special skills. In the time we were there we had a young guy playing guitar, which he did fairly good, there was a small band as well and finally some Brazilian dance Marshall Art fighting while they sang and played a coconut instrument, all very impressive. On top of this there was a loco lady biking around smoking and swearing towards all. It was entertaining.
I wanted to show my friends some of the nice narrow streets in Barri Gotic and around the Cathedral de Barcelona so we walked around and enjoyed the ambiance and the fabulous tension that is there.
We stayed there until 11.30pm and walked back towards La Ramblas along the small and most narrow streets we could find. In one of the most narrow streets we found an extremely small bar where the bar was approximately 1,60 metres long but there were 3 guys working behind it. The bar was very popular with Spanish girls and us because these guys could serve some great Mojito’s. After this place we walked yet some time before we decided to call it an early night and walk back towards the hotel.
But Barcelona goes on and on, so we ended up visiting a lot of other nice places before we finally entered the hotel feeling pretty good and ready to sleep after a long day with loads of impressions.
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We sat down at the bar close to their tapas and I need to taste their Chorizo Diablo; which turned out to be somewhat of an experience. The served 6-8 small sausages in a small plate and poured a lot of alcohol on top and put the whole thing on fire. I waited for a while and the sausages started to swell up and the heat was noticeable. I ordered also a tortilla in order to supplement my Diablo, but it all tasted great.
We talked a lot to the waitress Maria and we ended up tasting a lot of strong but good local brandies. It was a great way to end the first night in Barcelona.
Well; we had already had our fair share of the liquid in this wonderful city but anyway we entered with an attitude saying what the heck.
The bar was small and not very appealing. There were 3 guys standing in the bar looking at the two young British girls behind the bar. Otherwise we quickly found out that the place had no ambiance. The girls tried to do what they could but it didn’t really work. We took our beers and tasted the sweet drink that we were offered; none of them tasted really good, so we left without finish them.
The bar reminded me of a novel by the Danish writer Dan Turèll where he describes a bar that only had 3 persons in all the time; the barman who was working; the one who just got off, and the one that was going to work later.
Good luck in making this place better - it will need it
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We were lucky to find a table at the Cerveceria Canarias which is situated in one of the western corners of the square, which I find the most interesting. We ordered two half litre beers and paid 4€ each. The waiter wanted money right away which is seldom but maybe he was one of the few who forgets who pays or some people had ditched him over the years.
We enjoyed the beers, the entertainment that constantly appears in front of you working hard for coins but surely when the day is done, they have done well.
You sit on small tables or in the bar; I have always preferred to sit in the bar, close to the huge display of the wonderful and tasty tapas. Sitting in the bar make it possible for you to easily choose the tapas one by one, but beware that you eyes can be very hungry. They don't have a huge selection of wine but what I have tasted have been good. I like their local cava a lot.
The girls behind the bar and the waiters are swift and friendly.
