Lodge Vela and Barceloneta Seaside
My good day in Barcelona begins early. I wish to benefit from it, so I stand up earlier than dawn, at round 5 am. Bleary-eyed, and nonetheless half asleep, I wander into the kitchen and refill the moka pot that sits on the hob.
As I look ahead to the espresso to bubble up into the highest a part of the pot, I hurriedly pull on my board shorts and a long-sleeved rash vest earlier than dragging my inflatable SUP down from on high of the wardrobe.
I half fill a mug with steaming espresso, then high it up with chilly milk in order that it’s cool sufficient to drink. It doesn’t style nice, however I haven’t time to attend for the bar on the nook to open, and I would like my early morning caffeine repair.
I guzzle down the brown elixir and shortly pack the pump, 3-part paddle and a bottle of water into the outsized rucksack with the paddleboard. Flip flops on, and I’m out the door, hurrying downstairs to the road on my solution to the metro.
It’s early Saturday morning, and the metro is nearly abandoned. I share a carriage with a small group of late-night revellers on their means dwelling. I take the yellow line to Barceloneta.
It’s nonetheless darkish as I depart the station, and there’s an early morning chill within the air. Hurrying alongside Passeig de Joan de Borbó, I swing my arms to maintain heat as I make my solution to the seashore. As soon as on the seashore, I roll out the inflatable paddleboard, match the fin and begin to inflate it.
Ten minutes later, I’m able to go. I assemble the paddle, bundle up the board bag and safe it on the entrance of the board. I put my pockets and keys into a water-proof pouch and strap the leash to my proper leg, just under the knee.
The ocean is sort of a mirror and, as I paddle slowly out to sea, the primary rays of dawn replicate off the Lodge Vela. As soon as out previous the breakwaters, I can see just a few huge container ships anchored offshore, ready to enter the port. I flip left and slowly head north, considering the waking metropolis as I paddle parallel to the seashore.
Because the solar rises increased, a delicate breeze fills in from the south, serving to me on my means. The view of Barcelona from the ocean is like no different. I marvel on the metropolis’s skyline and the hills of Montjuïc and Tibidabo. Paddling steadily, I’m making good progress.
Paddle surfer at dawn in Barcelona
As soon as previous the Olympic Marina, I head to the shore, leaping off on the final minute and lifting the board up earlier than it touches the sand. I shortly carry the board throughout the seashore to the promenade, the place I let it dry within the solar for a couple of minutes earlier than deflating it and packing it again into its bag.
It’s mid-morning now as I stroll from Bogatell seashore to the Rambla del Poblenou the place I meet up with my accomplice. We discover an empty desk outdoors one of many Rambla’s many bars and cafés and sit down for breakfast, presumably at Blu Bar (Rambla del Poblenou, 11) or Tío Ché (Rambla del Poblenou, 44).
After breakfast, we head dwelling to our condo, the place I bathe and alter my garments earlier than we head out once more to fulfill some pals within the metropolis centre. It’s about one o’clock by now, time to “anar a fer un vermut”; the Catalan custom of getting a drink and a snack earlier than lunch.
We meet our pals at Plaça de Catalunya and stroll two blocks to La Masia (Carrer d’Elisabets, 16), a small bar within the Raval neighbourhood that serves comparatively robust vermouth and wonderful patatas bravas.
Vermut and bravas at La Masia (Carrer d’Elisabets, 16)
A few drinks later, it’s time for lunch, and we determine to eat at L’Hortet (Carrer del Pintor Fortuny, 32), one among my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona. The weekend set lunch is nice worth, and the place is often busy.
After lunch, our pals head to the seashore, however my accomplice and I determine to go to an exhibition on the MACBA.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona (MACBA)
Upon leaving the museum, we cease for a fast espresso outdoors one of many bars on Plaça de Viçenc Martorell. From right here, we take a wander down Carrer dels Tallers, the place we cease at Revólver Records (Carrer dels Tallers, 11) to buy vinyl.
A small whiteboard on the entrance to the store lists upcoming concert events, and it seems that Weapons N’ Roses can be enjoying at Sala Razzmatazz (Carrer dels Almogàvers, 122) tonight. I briefly kick myself for not listening to about this sooner earlier than hurrying inside to see if there are any tickets accessible.
After all, in actuality a gig like this could have offered out months in the past, however that is my good day and fortuitously there are nonetheless just a few tickets left. We purchase two tickets and head dwelling to our condo the place we sit back on the balcony, listening to the parakeets chattering within the bushes under.
Two hours later, we’re in Sidonie (previously Pepe Bar, Carrer de Pamplona, 91), having fun with a pre-gig beer and a bocata. It’s not the most effective meals on this planet, nevertheless it’s proper reverse the venue and has turn into a little bit of an establishment. The tiny bar is packed to the rafters and persons are spilling out onto the road.
As soon as contained in the venue the ambiance is electrical. I’ve seen lots of concert events in Barcelona, however by no means one fairly like this. The band’s in good kind and play a set which encompasses their total profession. In the course of the encores they’re joined onstage by former bandmates Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler.
After the live performance, we stroll dwelling alongside Carrer dels Almogàvers. The final strains of Paradise Metropolis are nonetheless ringing in our ears once I flip to my accomplice and proclaim: This has actually been an ideal day!
Richard moved to Barcelona in 2001 and arrange Barcelona Lowdown in 2013 as a spot to share his data and enthusiasm for his adopted dwelling city. The weblog is an insider’s information to Barcelona with a various mixture of posts geared toward each vacationers and locals.
You can too discover him on Twitter and Instagram the place he shares his greatest images and fascinating stuff about Barcelona.
Should you’d like to write down your ‘Excellent Day in Barcelona’ then please get in contact through the e-mail tackle on the backside of this web site. I’d love to listen to from you. The extra now we have the higher!
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