Waking up in a new city is like stumbling across a shoe sale at your favorite store that you weren't expecting...it's exciting, a bit overwhelming, and full of wonder. I woke up in Barcelona this morning, and first impressions are completely favorable. It's charming. I haven't ventured very far away from my immediate neighborhood yet - I'm at Balmes Hotel on Carrer de Mallorca, in the L 'Eixample district. This means I'm six blocks from Placa de Catalunya which is where La Rambla starts and makes its way one mile to the coast. La Rambla is meant to be a Spanish version of the Champs Ellysees in Paris, but even better ;).
So far, my surroundings include tree-lined streets, outdoor cafes, a lot of bicycle and motor-cyclers, and big buildings that have tall, narrow french doors with slatted shutters as coverings - and one immediately calls to mind a spanish woman standing on the balcony, dress flowing against the wrought-iron rails, a painted fan in her hand and eyelashes fluttering.
My short history of the Spanish language is only partially useful here as they speak Catalan in Barcelona - but I've been successful so far as I know how to ask if they speak English ;). In addition to further foot exploration tomorrow - I have an evening at Palau De La Musica - which Rick Steves says is an often overlooked gem. I'm taking in a Spanish Opera and Flamenco show and am really looking forward to it. Monday, I will board the tourist brigade and hop on one of those Barcelona City tour buses...my saving grace is that I see all the things I want to see in one day, and can then decide where I want to go back to for more. The bus tour is one thing - the walking tour with the orange umbrellas held up, the foreigners following like a parade of ducks, and yellow stickers on your shirt are a completely different ball game - that I want no part of!!
My evening holds more perusing of Spanish history and reading of places of interest in Spain's second city. It's lovely already, and I'm looking forward to getting to know her even better.
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