I somehow doubt any of you are AVID readers of my blog and so have been checking every other day for ANY scrap of news of my life. However, if you have been - I am alive - and I apologise for the lack of posts. It just seems that life in Barcelona can be quite hectic! And what I mean by that is... the sun has come out, and I want to be tanned.
For those of you with a smaller Spanish vocabulary, Pascua is the word for Easter. You may have, instead, heard of Semana Santa, which refers to the whole week of Easter celebrations in Spain. Well, essentially the Spanish celebrate Easter wholeheartedly - even more than just stuffing their faces with chocolate (weird right?) - and I had my own, sort of, celebration. My dear Ma and Pa and big brother William came out to visit me.
Therefore this post is less informative about Easter in Spain, and more about my family...in Spain.
On the first night the fam arrived, we were lucky enough to stumble upon an Easter parade. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos as we were sheltering from the rain but it was quite something to behold! If you search images for Spanish Easter parades you could be forgiven for thinking that the nazarenos (people who are part of religious brotherhoods) bear a striking resemblance to a not so popular group of people, the KKK. They can be quite scary looking, especially if you don't know what they are. Huge floats with images of Jesus were carried by men completely out of sight, seemingly their only way of knowing where to go was a man shouting "DERECHA, DERECHA, NO ... IZQUIERDA". There were also men and women dressed in robes, barefoot and carrying large wooden crosses on their backs - no prizes for guessing their fancy dress - but it just stuck me how much the Spanish enjoy being flamboyant and dramatic. And hey, why not?!
As an already practised tourist guide, I had planned to take the fam all around the big sights of Barcelona and so it was a great opportunity to visit La Sagrada Familia - otherwise known/referred to as the unfinished cathedral, the melting cathedral, that cathedral that has something to do with Gaudi. If you only ever get to visit Barcelona once, you really must visit it - you'll never see anything like it again.
These next few were taken in a pretty park up on Montjuic near the Olympic Stadium. Whilst admiring the sights, we were all certain we could smell bacon sarnies and so were very intrigued to know if there is a flower that gives off this scent, and if so... WHERE can I buy one?!
But let's be honest, we all know that when parents visit you it means one thing: great food. We even refer to places as "parent restaurants" - you'll know the type, the prices tend to come in double figures, they have uniformed waiters and potentially even a pianist playing you Adele tunes (well one of ours did!) I therefore use this opportunity to give you a run down of places you really should try if you ever find yourself in this wonderful city.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and when you're eating at Milk (or its sister restaurant Marmalade), it definitely is. I've visited three times now and have not been disappointed. Really good sized portions, really scrummy food. I also love the fact they put cocktails on their brunch menu - what a great country - although I'm yet to try one.
For a nice spot of afternoon tea we had to return to my flat to enjoy a good PG tips brew, but for added decadence I bought macarons from La Colmena - a bakery just next to Jaume I metro stop. This bakery is what dreams are made of; gorgeous displays in the window, rows and rows of chocolates and cakes inside and really friendly staff. I would kill for their macarons - they are delish.
As it was both Ma and Pa's birthdays whilst they were out here, I'd chosen a fancy looking restaurant for the Sunday evening: El Gran Cafe. It was fully booked the night we were there and so is obviously a popular choice. Although the service wasn't amazing, the food did make up for it. I had the onion soup, followed by the duck and rounded off nicely with some crema catalana (essentially creme brulee) - not a scrap was left on my plate. Its 1920s decor and in-house pianist create a really nice atmosphere too (I feel like I'm writing an advert).
On one of the sunnier days we headed down to gaze across the sea and were quickly drawn in to Maka Maka by the smell of their burgers. Its such a fun place to sit and eat, I like to pretend I'm in The OC when I eat there and that Seth will walk in any moment. Its a fab location for people watching and their chips with wasabi mayonnaise are incredibly moreish.
Lastly is Alcoba Azul. I have to say I cannot claim any of these places as my own finds (apart from the beauteous macarons) and kudos for finding this cute little tapas place goes to my wonderful pal Filipa. It is exactly the kind of place you want to find when you go on a year abroad. Not too touristy, friendly staff who will actually speak to you in Spanish, a slightly secretive location with an unassuming look and of course, really good food.
In other recent news:
I saw my resident tramp reading a book this week. I was impressed, although not as impressed as when I saw him with an iPad - 21st century tramp indeed.
I went for ice cream and a walk along the marina this evening and it was BALMY.
I have just spoken to my brother on skype and been told to say how lovely he is... even if he does rub it in my face that he has a GORGEOUS puppy.
I am getting very excited about going to see The XX soon.
And lastly, I promise to write more regularly - time just flies here! Refer to Dolly Parton for further evidence (although she only had to do 9 til 5 for her way to make a living).
For those of you with a smaller Spanish vocabulary, Pascua is the word for Easter. You may have, instead, heard of Semana Santa, which refers to the whole week of Easter celebrations in Spain. Well, essentially the Spanish celebrate Easter wholeheartedly - even more than just stuffing their faces with chocolate (weird right?) - and I had my own, sort of, celebration. My dear Ma and Pa and big brother William came out to visit me.
Therefore this post is less informative about Easter in Spain, and more about my family...in Spain.
On the first night the fam arrived, we were lucky enough to stumble upon an Easter parade. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos as we were sheltering from the rain but it was quite something to behold! If you search images for Spanish Easter parades you could be forgiven for thinking that the nazarenos (people who are part of religious brotherhoods) bear a striking resemblance to a not so popular group of people, the KKK. They can be quite scary looking, especially if you don't know what they are. Huge floats with images of Jesus were carried by men completely out of sight, seemingly their only way of knowing where to go was a man shouting "DERECHA, DERECHA, NO ... IZQUIERDA". There were also men and women dressed in robes, barefoot and carrying large wooden crosses on their backs - no prizes for guessing their fancy dress - but it just stuck me how much the Spanish enjoy being flamboyant and dramatic. And hey, why not?!
As an already practised tourist guide, I had planned to take the fam all around the big sights of Barcelona and so it was a great opportunity to visit La Sagrada Familia - otherwise known/referred to as the unfinished cathedral, the melting cathedral, that cathedral that has something to do with Gaudi. If you only ever get to visit Barcelona once, you really must visit it - you'll never see anything like it again.
 |
| Just for you Beth. Love the squashed turtle. |
 |
| Pasty Brits enjoy the lesser-known "sun". |
But let's be honest, we all know that when parents visit you it means one thing: great food. We even refer to places as "parent restaurants" - you'll know the type, the prices tend to come in double figures, they have uniformed waiters and potentially even a pianist playing you Adele tunes (well one of ours did!) I therefore use this opportunity to give you a run down of places you really should try if you ever find yourself in this wonderful city.
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and when you're eating at Milk (or its sister restaurant Marmalade), it definitely is. I've visited three times now and have not been disappointed. Really good sized portions, really scrummy food. I also love the fact they put cocktails on their brunch menu - what a great country - although I'm yet to try one.
For a nice spot of afternoon tea we had to return to my flat to enjoy a good PG tips brew, but for added decadence I bought macarons from La Colmena - a bakery just next to Jaume I metro stop. This bakery is what dreams are made of; gorgeous displays in the window, rows and rows of chocolates and cakes inside and really friendly staff. I would kill for their macarons - they are delish.
As it was both Ma and Pa's birthdays whilst they were out here, I'd chosen a fancy looking restaurant for the Sunday evening: El Gran Cafe. It was fully booked the night we were there and so is obviously a popular choice. Although the service wasn't amazing, the food did make up for it. I had the onion soup, followed by the duck and rounded off nicely with some crema catalana (essentially creme brulee) - not a scrap was left on my plate. Its 1920s decor and in-house pianist create a really nice atmosphere too (I feel like I'm writing an advert).
On one of the sunnier days we headed down to gaze across the sea and were quickly drawn in to Maka Maka by the smell of their burgers. Its such a fun place to sit and eat, I like to pretend I'm in The OC when I eat there and that Seth will walk in any moment. Its a fab location for people watching and their chips with wasabi mayonnaise are incredibly moreish.
Lastly is Alcoba Azul. I have to say I cannot claim any of these places as my own finds (apart from the beauteous macarons) and kudos for finding this cute little tapas place goes to my wonderful pal Filipa. It is exactly the kind of place you want to find when you go on a year abroad. Not too touristy, friendly staff who will actually speak to you in Spanish, a slightly secretive location with an unassuming look and of course, really good food.
In other recent news:
I saw my resident tramp reading a book this week. I was impressed, although not as impressed as when I saw him with an iPad - 21st century tramp indeed.
I went for ice cream and a walk along the marina this evening and it was BALMY.
I have just spoken to my brother on skype and been told to say how lovely he is... even if he does rub it in my face that he has a GORGEOUS puppy.
I am getting very excited about going to see The XX soon.
And lastly, I promise to write more regularly - time just flies here! Refer to Dolly Parton for further evidence (although she only had to do 9 til 5 for her way to make a living).
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