The most famous street in Barcelona is also the liveliest : the charming, tree-lined pedestrian mall La Rambla is always humming with unique shops, buskers, late-night tapas bars, street markets and the best of the city's cultural landmarks.
Picasso Museum is stunning but keep your wits about you and beat the pickpockets, who eat trusting travellers for breakfast along the
barcelona beach.
Barcelona is also famously kind to artists. Picasso related of the city where he spent his formative creative years and would often return for extended visits [*CO]'There is where it all started ... Look closely for the tile signed by the artist. Where else could you rest your feet on a Miro?
Flowers, fresh fruit and lobsters. Barter over the price of some spicy sausage, savour a sliver of Spanish blue cheese and meet the vendors of the often family-run stalls. In addition to cupboard basics, you may also find local wine, drenched olives and hand-crafted chocolates that are most definitely not from the Weight Watchers cookbook.
Talk about dedication : every day since 1929, when it first opened its doors, cafeteria de L'Opera has welcomed guests into an environment that has been depicted as horny, cosy and cool. Renovated a few years back, the heritage-listed cafe-restaurant does a roaring trade in all types of beverages ( think sangria, spirits, wine, savoury teas ) and tapas.
Follow La Rambla for more than a kilometre to where it turns into Rambla de Mar at the harbor and you'll be rewarded with pretty perspectives and a wooden jetty that stretches out to the wharf opposite. Here, near the old shipyards, is a 60-metre statue of Christopher Columbus built to commemorate his return to Spain from America. The corporation's somewhat ambitious mission statement claims helping shoppers feel stuffed instead of wanting'more, more, more' personal goods is the goal. In practical terms, that implies everything from airers to lamps to umbrellas are designed with a minimalist cultured. So if this hasnt conviced you that Barcelona is a superb city for all, then it's not that I am sure what will. Get out there and enjoy this wonder.
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