Barcelona Reflections

Last night, we came across the travel show I'll have what Phil's having on Netflix. We watched two episodes of the travel show; in each, he skypes his parents and reports his experiences in the new city. In Seinfeld fashion. No wonder. The host Phil Rosenthal is the creator of the hit TV comedy Everybody Loves Raymond (1996 to 2005), and it was our favorite show at the time. The episode on Barcelona is the inspiration for this post. We were there this time last year.

It was our first visit to Barcelona and we were very impressed with the city, from the architecture to the people and its food. It is ornate, vibrant, friendly, and full of surprises at every turn. Architecture buffs will rejoice in ambling along Passeig de Gràcia, where three Modernista buildings - Casa Amatller, Casa Batllo and Casa Lleó Morera - stand in the same block (between Carrer del Consell de Cent and Carrer d’ Aragó).

Casa Amatller

Casa Molera

Casa Batllo

Alleyways are fun to wander around

Fancy street lighting

We walked along La Rambla, from Plaça de Catalunya to Maremagnum, the distinctive waterfront mall at Port Vell. 

Mirrored entrance to the mall

Reflection of us in front of the car in the middle

Barcelona is a food lover's paradise. The array of tapas was amazing. The churros were incredibly light and airy, and so delicious! While exploring the Sagrada Familia neighborhood, we discovered Vicens, a store that makes some fantastic nougat and chocolate. They were perfect souvenirs to bring home.

Tapas at Taverna Basca Irati

The Boqueria, the market along the La Rambla is a feast for the eyes. We tried the ubiquitous jamon but found it too gamey for us.

Endless varieties of seafood at the Mercat de la Boqueria

You can eat at a bar at the Boqueria

Serendipity brought us to the Mercat de Mercats on Avinguda de la Catedral on a Saturday morning.  We were on a bus that was headed for the beach, but the hustle and bustle at the Gothic Quarter caught our eye, and we got off to check it out. Many stalls from various Municipal markets of Barcelona had set up shop here for the food fair. We had a blast, wondering around, sampling the various food and cheeses, listening to music and getting lost in the narrow alleyways.

Jamon at a food festival

Cheese, anyone?

Roasted sweet potatoes and chestnut near Parc Ciutadella

The only thing we missed was a good paella meal. We'll have to come back. Meantime, we look forward to watching more of Phil's travel show. Are you a fan?

This post is shared on Weekend Reflections and Our World Tuesday. 

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