We’re back! Yep, being here is like our second home. Each time we stay in a different apartment, in slightly different areas, each time becoming a bit more familiar with the city. We haven’t strayed very far— always somewhere in the Eixample or Gràcia neighborhoods. This time, we’re in the left side of the Eixample, the Esquerra. Previously we’ve been on the right side, or Dreta.

Here’s a video walk through of the current apartment.
Click here to view on You Tube.

Things we did this week

First off, I want to mention that despite not arriving with one of our bags, the structure of our flight this time turned out to be great! We hardly experienced any jet lag. This route, 7 hours from Seattle to Rekyavik then 4 hours to Barcelona, seemed to work for us. We arrived late afternoon, were able to run to the store for some provisions, then Robert and Nina came over to deliver our Rolser (our wheeling market basket they store for us!) and they so kindly brought us tasty snacks and wine! A great arrival.

I mentioned the “Passejada amb Barret”— the Hat Stroll, in my first post. Here are photos from the fun event. So many crazy and creative hats and costumes!

For all the photo grids, clicking on thumbnails brings up larger gallery.

Bob, Lynn, Robert and Nina go to the Botanical Gardens on Montjuic

More fun stuff

Earth Day at the Abaceria Verda and Sant Jordi

The first time we visited the Vila de Gràcia neighborhood, in 2018, this old market building was boarded up, graffiti all over it, weeds growing around, and fenced off. It was quite a blight in the otherwise charming old neighborhood. We’d learned that the market, the Abaceria, had been moved to a “temporary” location on the Passeig San Joan, several blocks way. That new building and market was all spiffy and modern, in the way Barcelona is rebuilding its traditional markets all over the city.

A few years later, we saw that they’d torn down most of the structure, and it is as you see it now. The plan was always to rebuild a market on the spot, perhaps salvaging the beautiful 19th century iron skeleton. But when tests identified that it was not structurally sound, it would need to be torn down.

This is a very long story, about neighborhood factions wanting to see the project be constructed in different ways. Our friends are advocating for additional green spaces, in addition to a new market structure. And NO international chain supermarket! They are doing events like what we saw on Saturday to spread awareness and support for the city altering the current plans that are in place. They want to see an “Abaceria Verda!” — a green marketplace. Where the community can enjoy some green space in an urban area as well as grocery shopping. And no parking garages!