Exploring Bustling Barcelona

We had no plan for today other than to let our feet guide us around the bustling coastal city of Barcelona. Still jet-lagged from the 24-hour travel time from Hawaii to Spain, Boyd didn’t get up until after 10am. As we exited Hotel Pulitzer, we headed in the direction of La Rambla (the main street in Barcelona full of shops, eateries, street entertainers, and countless tourists from all over the world). Hotel Pulitzer is in a great location, right off of Placa de Catalunya (a main piazza in the center of the “Old Town” of Barcelona). Luckily, we were given a “quiet” room on a high floor off the main road. So even though it is so close to La Rambla and Placa de Catalunya, the city noise didn’t keep us awake at all hours.
The tree-lined and jam packed street of La Rambla has a median pedestrian-only walkway that we shared with thousands of other tourists. As we were walking, we noticed the countless outdoor cafes and restaurants. We found one right near the Cathedral and took a seat. It was a beautiful clear, sunny, and slightly breezy day with a temperature in the low 80’s. Boyd ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese and I ordered a few tapas (Squid Andalusian style), a Spanish tortilla (not to be mistaken with a Mexican tortilla; instead the Spanish one is thicker and is made with eggs and potatoes), and Manchego cheese (my most favorite Spanish cheese that Alex introduced me to). The service was terrible and the food was nothing to write home about, but it did the job.
We headed straight for the Cathedral and paid 5 euro each as an entrance fee. The compact Gothic cathedral was originally built in the 13th century, and completely finished in the early 20th century. Prior to this trip, Boyd’s only international travel had been to Canada. A true local boy, he has always preferred to stay back in Hawaii while I traveled the world with friends or family. However, I am so excited that he decided to join me on my journey and experience firsthand why I love to travel to foreign lands. Walking through the Cathedral, he was amazed by the ornate architectural details and the fact that it was originally built hundreds of years ago. A civil engineer by education, Boyd explained to me how its structural design allowed the pillars to carry the weight load. After seeing European duomo after duomo during this trip, I have gotten a little jaded so I enjoyed hearing how fascinated he was because it made me appreciate being there with him.
After Boyd’s first Cathedral visit, we decided to walk down towards the marina. On our way, we stumbled upon the only Quiksilver store in the city center of Barcelona…wouldn’t you know it. To know Boyd, is to know that he owns probably all styles of Quiksilver t-shirts and board shorts. One would think that he gets paid to wear Quiksilver, but he doesn’t. Unfortunately, his quest to find a Quiksilver Barcelona shirt was unsuccessful, because apparently there are no XXL men in Europe. It’s funny, but all of their male clothing looked like it could fit me!
As we walked further down, we came upon the Mercat St Josef La Boqueria, the fresh produce, seafood, and meat market in the heart of Old Town. If you love cured meats and hams, fresh fruit and juices, and fresh seafood like me, than this is the place that you should visit while in Barcelona. The restaurant within the market is somewhere that I definitely want to try before we leave. After watching some local street performers break dance (back in the day, Boyd was into breakdancing…funny huh?), we passed Monument a Colom (Christopher Columbus) and walked the marina. Platja Barceloneta (the beach) came into view and Boyd’s first comment was that it reminded him of Waikiki. During peak sun hours (which is when we were there), it is difficult to find an empty spot on the sand. We sat down at one of the many beach bars, had a couple of afternoon beers and glasses of sangria, and took it all in.
Once we left, we passed the Port Olympic, completely rebuilt for the 1992 Olympics and now includes shops, nightclubs, and restaurants on the marina. The Arc del Triomf (reminded me of Paris) and the Parc de la Ciutadella were also places we hit along our walk back. The park was absolutely beautiful, showcasing a grand cascade at its entrance. We decided to take the metro back to the hotel…Boyd’s first European metro ride. I explained the ins and outs of figuring out which platform and what line to take. Two stops later, we were back at Hotel Pulitzer.
After taking advantage of the traditional Spanish siesta, we were ready to experience the Barcelona nightlife that I’ve so often heard about. Andrea, the concierge desk lady, made us reservations at the waterfront restaurant Posit (known for their paella - a traditional Spanish rice dish made with saffron and usually a variety of seafood). Her recommendation was perfect. From the Penedes Cabernet Sauvignon, to the lambchops for Boyd and seafood paella for me, the meal was incredible. Our table also overlooked the water, so the fresco dining completed a perfect first dinner in Barcelona. We debated on if we were going to head back and check out this jazz bar next to our hotel, but as we walked past the other waterfront restaurants, one intrigued us. The 30-something crowd, the modern classic loungy décor, and the open bar at Shoko drew us in. It was 11pm and for Barcelona, the nightlife was just on the verge of beginning. By midnight, the place was packed and Shoko transformed into a nightclub. While sitting at the bar, Boyd and I met Marco, who was originally from Buenos Aires but who has lived in Barcelona for 4 years now. A bartender at the Hilton Barcelona, Marco was at Shoko because his friend, Rico was the bartender that night. Although Marco couldn’t drink (he said the DUI laws in Spain are really strict), he bought a round for Boyd and me, while we talked story with him about Barcelona. We didn’t leave Shoko until after 2am (which is early for Spanish standards). I can now attest to the nightlife in Barcelona. We couldn’t have planned a more perfect first day.

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