If you want to know why there are no pictures of La Rambla, one of Barcelona's most famous sights, that's because improvements are turning it into a giant road works. But there's another Rambla across from there, in a quarter called El Raval. Rambla, by the way, takes its name from Ramal, an Arabic word meaning seasonal stream, although there are few other signs of the Moorish occupation. This Rambla was part of a project around 2000 to clean up a sleazy neighbourhood. Partly successful, the area retains an authentic look little visited by tourists.
The giant cat is a creation by the Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero, and nearby I get a break for tapas in a local bar. The area is no stranger to street art and ordinary graffiti, and it has a vibrant covered market, the Sant Antoni. Also notable are signs of immigrant cultures, from the Arabic and sub-continental worlds.
Back in the Gothic Quarter, the high life carries on untroubled. 7 days in Barcelona? More like 7 weeks!Read more
September 16, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C