Ay Barcelona......

It's too long I haven't been to Barcelona and the very few days we stayed there were just not enough....It was hot and literally infested with tourists - well just like us - who obviously gathered in the same places seen in Vicky Christy Barcelona.

Plaza Real was still the same delightful square where no doubt I would love to rent a flat in spring, in spite of the noise. We had a drink at 2 am there, in one of the cafés surrounding the square. What time do they close then? Never mind, I was quite envious of that young man, smoking on his balcony, slowly taking in the pulse of the square.

To avoid being distracted by the crowd on Las Ramblas, I often walked with my eyes looking up. I loved how this exhibition about Indian contemporary photography was presented

But walking on Las Ramblas during the day was fun too because of the various performers. I must confess, at times, I just stood there fascinated, so much creativity and patience, too....

In the morning, around 11am, we headed to el mercat de la Boqueria off the Ramblas for a quick fruit snack and some embutido

then find a bench to sit in the peaceful garden of the Catalan library. I was so surprised to find this place nearly void of tourists.

Next to it is the Center of Catalan studies
Catalan sounds a bit like French but still, at times I find it hard to understand

A Spanish friend of mine who is studying fine arts in Barcelona told me, he had to take classes of Catalan as every course is taught in Catalan. In that case, a good dictionary is really needed. I was quite impressed by this old edition of a Catalan-Spanish-Latin dictionary, in the Catalan library.

I'll come back next friday with more pics of the beautiful Barcelona.....

Psst....In the mean time, you can hop to my other blog Un mariage au soleil which I've just updated with ideas for gifts and favours...

and...thank you so much for your comments on recurrent dreams. Yes, I guess, this is it, I'm working on various projects at the moment and find it hard to control....Mmm...me thinks I need to go back to Barcelona for a real holiday !