Barcelona: An Unconventional and Needless Guide

In the garden the delphiniums were flowering.

Barcelona, bustling Latin chaos swarmed in with royal Catalan air. Two nights is better than none and with that in mind I headed to BCN on the way back from oh so lovely DC. The best way to take in a city is to dive right in. Forget the taxi cabs and special buses. Act like the locals albeit a lonely
planet wrested under the pits. Keep in mind, a visit to a city is not a visit to the country. New York is New York and not the USA. Mexico City resembles little of the great country that is Mexico. Similarly, Barcelona, though Spanish, is still a state of its own little state. All cities boasting a dozen cafes with rickety wooden chairs and a few plazas (not the Raja Center variety), or a thriving red light district (hear hear Phajey) are countries in their own might.

From the Aeroport heading to the Center is simple. Hop on the train and 20 minutes later and 2 euros shorter you end up in Estacio Sants. Venture the right way out and you come upon an impressive square, come out the backside and its immigrant heaven. In case you ever come out of the central station be it Termini in Rome or in this case the Estacio in Barcelona and feel just like you are at the adda in Lahore then I venture you turn right back in and come out from the side with the facade. No need to discover the gritty Europe!

I arrived rather early and made it to Olmans without a single wrong turn. The good thing about going to college in the US, provided you step out of the MSA (Muslims Supposedly on Acid) is that with somecultivation you can have access to a host of B&B’s around the world. The roomie was very friendly and
after a chat walked me over to the Plaza Catlayan via the University. As I see the learning minds holding hands, smiling, and enjoying life, I hope that our own campuses could sport happy faces and showering of affection on members of the opposite sex, for once. La Rambla is truly a shopping heaven--lower market in the middle, flanked by street front shops and alleys of hidden treasures. De Gracia may host the D&G’s and CC but think it better to stick to no frills. Walked and walked and walked a bit more, and what more can one want (the Iberia girl left little to the wanting). Met up with Carlos and took in a euro models life, work, search for work, beautiful friends, and work. Formalities over, jet lag hitting, I hoped to head 41 Carer De L Auraro and doze off. But sadly and fortunately that was not to be. The night out environment around the world varies but nothing matches the Spanish.

Olman wanted to meet up at Cerveza Cantayna Hailing a cab (green means libree) I got there just in time to get my share of the Tapas: pure red meat with peppers and pan (bread), add on Jamon Serrano, Gambas, a potato omelet a few pints and volla that is dinner. You don’t sit on a table you just stand round the bar eating, chatting what have you. This being a Thursday, a I head home a few hours later.

I woke up early and fortunately 20 minutes later I was fast asleep again. Wanted to take in the Carrer de Montcada (art street) and the Els Encantas Vells (the Old Chamrms market) ,the beach, the Cathedral and what ever else came along. Mix that with a downpour and am glad to note that did all that. You can tell that Barcelona is quiet a doable city on foot.

The Cathedral was nice, not as nice as one would expect. However the green shroud over it did add some mystery and misery, debated going inside yet always felt if you seen one cathedral you have seen them all (the 16th Chapel not included) I skipped and decided to feed the howling stomach. Good thing about Spain is that is easy on the pocket. 8 Euros can get you a soup, entrée, vivo and a flan. I ventured over to Montcada to see the art; spent quiet some time in the shop of the opera masks, after galvanizing how nice they would look at home I settled on a key chain. Yes I know that Museu Picasso is a must see regardless of how artistically-challenged you are. You will appreciate the architecture of the museum. Also see the marina, the sight of boats in dock against the back of sky scrapers is something that is a lasting impression. Though the gelato was missing, the Italian kick or the lower east side’s girth was palpating enough. Platja de Sant Sebastia with the rocky waters and art work should not be missed. In summer time senoritas and senoirs may make it more pleasurable. Yet the grey October skies have a charm of their own against an isolated beach. Try not to walk to the flea market and take the Metro, smart as I am, I decide to hike just to get there after closing yet those the three spirals of La Sargada Familia make it worth it.

Spotted an Art Gallery on the way back and a capturing image of a Fat Catalan women smoking a fag. Art is one thing one should always buy as it lasts longer then Gucci glasses (for those head to Chinatown) however having said that its also worthwhile to add that backpacking and carrying 3 feet long paintings across continents is a chore. Somehow got home and was able to get a rejuvenation nap right before a Friday night out. Being in Spain I knew that venturing out before 12 was pointless. Being impatient I stepped out at 11 after failing to connect with a few acquaintances. Settled for a donar kebab with a cervaza on the side. Pakistanis abound in Barcelona and most of them seem to belong to Gujrat as did the owner of my dining place. They blend completely and are happier in Spain then they were in other countries. Most Spaniards exemplify them as very honest and hard working unlike the bloody Moroccans. For a country as lovely as theirs the Moroccan Diaspora does ignite a lot of passion. Going back to Friday night in Barcelona, the funny thing is if you have a decent group with you meaning a few guys that look decent and girls that hike up their skirts then you will be beckoned to countless bars and given your first drink free. If you are as shameless as I know non of you are then you can keep jumping from one bar to the next killing one bird with two stones. And at the end you just sit on the fountain edges in the plazas, if you were in Madrid you would be having Churros (sweet bread dipped in melted chocolate, equivalent to the Halwa Puri in fat and satisfaction content).

The next day was the time to head back, with a heavy heart and a heavier bag . I managed to get some stuff for the bro and some good CDs. Foreign music is better when its bought in that country. The day went eventless yet sitting in the middle of the square munching on a too fishy salmon sandwich, seeing the happy faces and pigeon feeding kids I knew this is one thing I miss back home regardless of how nice it is to be home.

I cannot go one and tell you where to go and not to go in Barcelona but think its best you discover yourself. Just remember: no in Spanish is ‘no’ and for yes you can just use the index finger.

Enjoy and live on!