Flash visit

No, I'm not flashing but I'm making a quick visit to Barcelona tomorrow. In and out in a day. Just time to have me some of that delicious food and perhaps a glass of wine. Or two.

On the train in Barcelona

Don't you just love the attention to detail, like the 5 cents. Personally I think the Swiss and Spanish are like hand in glove...

Las Ramblas

This is what they sell at Las Ramblas, the touristy area in Barcelona. And I was thinking. Yes, why don't I go out and buy a bird? Or a hamster? Isn't that what people do on a Sunday?

20 minutes

Yes, zwanzig minuten exists in Spanish too...

Stone cold

...was the floor in my flat in Barcelona. Which is why I had to invest (EUR 9,99!) in new slippers. Which may not be a completely bad idea since my other blue fluffy ones have gone to see their maker.

Masts

Ok, so some people have bigger boats...

Perspective

Now which one is taller? The palm tree or the building...?

Skyscraper

Lotsa tall buildings in Barcelona...not at all as I remember Spain in the 70's. Was it indeed better in the old days?

Dinner

Gonna do something I haven't done before. Posting a pic when I haven't asked approval from the people. But since none of them ever read the blog I'm taking a chance.

One evening in Barcelona I invited some people over for dinner. Which turned out nicely (I wasn't the cook). We had a good time.

Cava

Ok, so in France it's champagne, in Italy it's spumante, and in Spain it's cava...same shit if you ask me. I just don't like that bubbly thing. Yes I have to drink it on new years eve and other so called festive evenings, but I just don't like it.

Sorry. But it looks good...

Cafe Zurich

Yes, Zurich is popular everywhere. Even in Barcelona...

Can Culleretes II

Ok, so this is kinda cool. But I still think it doesn't replace a website...

Can Culleretes

This is the place that is the second oldest restaurant in Spain...but who knows? They don't even have a website...

Lunch in Barcelona

Yum! One of the (few) things I miss...

Smart

Lotsa Swiss things in Barcelona like a smart car. Love the way you're allowed to eat and drink in the car, but not smoke...

PS. Notice Mediamarkt in the background...

Christmas present

10.12.2007 21:11 Somebody had this stupid idea of “let’s all team up for Christmas lunch and buy presents”. And equally stupid I signed up for this idea of picking a note with a name of one in the group, ending up having to buy a present for somebody I really do not know. What was I thinking? Another somebody I know said “it’s easy. It’s a guy. Just buy a Playboy magazine and a box of tissues”. Which indeed is an idea that appeals to me. Only I just don’t know this guy at all. But I did pick up on the theme. So tonight when I was shopping in “Al Campo” for the last time I passed the household area and spotted this very Spanish carafe/flask, you know the one with the pour-thing that pokes out of the actual bottle. And an ashtray. I know for a fact that this guy doesn’t smoke. So the message to him will be: you should drink some more. You should smoke at least some. And then when back in Zürich I will buy a pack of condoms. I just wanted to avoid being known around here as “remember that blond woman who wanted to buy condoms?”. If I had known what the word condom is in Spanish no problem, but I really didn’t want to demonstrate… Think he will appreciate the gift? He’s German and doesn’t appear to have a sense of humour. This can be really ugly…

CNN strikes again

10.12.2007 20:05 Quote from CNN “and there is this country with 2 million people and everybody knows each other”. HAHAHAHA! I want to ask these people, “do you know 2 million people?”. I have a quite big circle of friends and acquaintances, but 2 million? Hello…

Calamares

10.12.2007 19:03 One of my favourite dishes here is calamares (octopus or whatever it is in English). I know, it’s tacky and common and touristy but I love it. And I’ve seen lotsa Spanish eat it, so maybe not so touristy. Bought a portion over the counter in the local supermarket here and nearly fainted when I saw the bill. 79 eurocents. Is that a steal or what? Mental note: must check if this is available in Zürich and what the cost might be.

Spanish service – an oxymoron?

10.12.2007 18:53 Like most places I’ve been to (with the possible exception of the US of A, but on the other hand you’re not expected to dish out 15-20% tip) the service leaves a tiny bit to be desired here. Yesterday I took a stroll on the beach (that sounds kinda cool doesn’t it? In December) to a place I spotted which serves paella for one. Normally you have to be two people to order this dish. So ordered a quite delicious mixed paella plate and a litre of Sangria. They first served me a bottle of water – agua minerale sin gas (see, I’m being half fluent already :) which I sent back. Then they had to come back to confirm that the whole litre of Sangria was just for me. But hey! Half the carafe consists of ice, and the other half of fruit. Very little drink. And guess what? The agua ended up on my bill. Which I tried to pay with several times, and ended up having to go to the counter with. Needless to say I didn’t leave even a small tip.

For security reasons not happen

10.12.2007 18:46 Sometimes you have to laugh about the darling Spanish (yes, some of them are pretty nice actually). Around where I am there is some maintenance going on, so a poster was placed to warn people, along with plastic tape sealing off the area. It was announced in what I believe to be Catalonian and “proper” Spanish, with somebody who tried to translate into English. It turned out to be “For security reasons not happen”. I do understand what they’re trying to say, but it sounds funny, doesn’t it?