The Gotic

So let's continue the series of posts on Barcelona barrios with probably the most popular and touristic one: the Gotic.

The Gotic reaches up to Plaza Catalunya and it's bordered by the Rambla, so includes some crowded shopping streets and very commercial places which I won't talk about. I prefer the labyrinth-like tiny hidden streets with small cozy bars and interesting shops. Of course, nothing here is ever tourist-free, but at least this part is tolerable.

Cacti Expo

I love cacti and succulents. And apparantely Barcelona loves them too, which I'm so glad about.

They are being sold everywhere, from tiny ones as cheap as 1 euro, to big exotic ones that cost over 40 euro. And then there is this aqesome cacti garden in Montjuic, where I go every now and then to marvel at huge, scary south-american ones.

And today, while having a relaxed Sunday and enjoying free concerts, danses, spontaneous markets and all other fun at the Ciutadella, I stumbled upon a cacti expo!

This made me so happy. It was small but I still spent a good hour wandering around.

Barceloneta

Starting off with a post on my barrio – or at least the barrio in which I’ve stayed the longest so far – beachy Barceloneta! 

 

















There is so much to love about this place, at least for me. It has such a relaxed atmosphere, even when it’s brimming with tourists in the summer. Walking around here for the first time about a year ago, the first thing that caught my eye was that people would leave the doors to their houses open, and stand outside having a coffee or a cigarette, or just enjoying the sun. And since for most houses in Barceloneta the front door leads straight into the living room, I could actually see the families inside having lunch or relaxing on the couch. And not just that – they would also leave their laundry to dry out in front of the house, on the street, even if they were not around, without being afraid someone would steal it. That’s just how chill and friendly the atmosphere is in this neighborhood. 

Hello World

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Welcome to the blog of yet another guiri that travelled to Barcelona somewhat randomly, fell headfirst into the allure of this city, and – like so many others – returned and is not leaving anytime soon. 

All I’m offering is an inside glimpse of life in Barcelona. A glimpse that is just as chaotic, random and unexpected as that life. I’ll be ranting about places, people, bars, crazy nightlife, chill hidden cafés, dark narrow streets, beaches, cactuses, streetlights, cervezabeer, calcotadas, castellers, art, festivals, nationalism, street music, and other Barna-ish things, and if you’ve just skipped reading this long and somewhat random impressionist list, I forgive you. 

So if you’re planning your first trip to Barcelona, or your second, or your third, or you’ve just arrived here with the intention of staying longer and are looking for some useful info, or if you’ve been living here for years already but would like to get to know someone else’s crazy life – and if you think you can handle my unnecessarily complicated manner of writing and weird sense of humor – this blog might be of interest.