Atlantica - 01.06.2002, Page 20

18 A T L A N T I C A
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BARCELONA P
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The best thing about Barcelona is the fact that you can stroll from the city centre to the sunny beach and the fish-
ing harbour without shedding so much as a pearl of sweat. Barcelona is also the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia,
which means that it lies on both sides of the border between new fashion and old culture and history.
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY
FOR A TASTE OF CATALONIAN CUISINE TRY THE FOLLOWING:
Breakfast: Served until noon
Chocolate croissant with coffee – The Spanish are not big on healthy,
nutritious breakfasts, so go with the flow and start your day off by eat-
ing chocolate.
Lunch (from 1 to 4 pm) / Dinner (from 9 to 11 pm)
Most locals eat a fixed three-course menu at lunch and a lighter meal
at dinner. Try the following dishes:
GEZPACHO – A cold tomato soup, which is popular all around Spain.
Each area has its own special Gezpacho recipe, so even if you’ve tried
it before, you’ll have to try the Catalonian version.
JAMÓN SERRANO – A dark piece of ham with melon. Sounds strange,
but tastes good.
ZARZUELA – A seafood casserole with all sorts of weird and wonderful
bits and pieces.
BACALLÀ A LA LLAUNA – Salted cod cooked and seasoned in a metal
boiling-pan.
PAN AMB TOMAQUET – Pizza-like slices of country bread with ripe
tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and salt will accompany most meals.
Dessert:
Crema catalana – A sweet egg custard topped with caramelised sugar.
Mel i mato – A chunk of white cheese with deliciously sweet honey.
Parc Güell
This park, designed by Gaudí him-
self, will make you feel as if you
have followed Mary Poppins into
Burt’s chalk sidewalk painting.
Don’t be surprised if you also
meet Alice in Wonderland on your
travels. The park is situated on a
hill overlooking the city and is full
of swirls, columns, mosaics,
ceramic lizards and decorative
accessories which are puzzled
together with imaginative flair.
MARKET VALUE
If you go to a market or mercat,
you will get an interesting cross-
sectional glimpse of the people of
Barcelona. Most families in
Barcelona still do their shopping
at markets, which provide a sneak
peak into everyday family life. You
might find a unique relic, cross or
religious portrait to take home.
Els Encants is an open-air market
held on the Plaça de les Glories. It
sells a lot of junk as well as collec-
tors’ items and antiques. The mar-
ket is open from sunrise to sunset
on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays.
GRÀCIA
Plaça del Sol is surrounded by
cafés and 19th century architec-
ture, and is a pleasant place to sit
during the day. At night, the plaza
also becomes a popular meeting
place.
Around the Feast of the
Assumption (15 August), the
Festa Major de Gràcia lights up
the streets of Gràcia with dance,
music, theatre and celebrations.
FROM THE CATALONIAN KITCHENPLACES OF INTEREST
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