Excerpts from Barcelona - 04
A weekly glimpse into my Catalan adventures
Week four… that’s one month! This week was super social compared to the first few. It started off with a group run-slash-coffee party with GIGANTE at Sando Cafe Sando. The meetup consisted of a warmup at Arc de Triomf and an impromptu 8km run (it was supposed to be 5km but we were rerouted), followed by coffee, treats, and goodie bags!
Arc de Triomf - maybe the coolest place I’ve ever done a running warmup.
I spent the rest of the day walking around and exploring Eixample and Ciutat Vella. I finally made it to Forn Mistral Cafeteria, a sit-in location of the branch of bakeries that I’ve visited far too many times already (they make a delicious ensaïmada). I made it to this location seven (yes, 7) minutes after they reopened in the afternoon and the line was already out the door! But, it was so worth it. I got a coffee and pastry to stay and even despite the long lines, I definitely plan on returning. By the time I had finished and got up to leave, the line was about three times longer than when I had arrived. Just like their ensaïmadas, the croissant dough was light and fluffy, yet buttery and rich.
Cappuccino and chocolate croissant from Forn Mistral Cafeteria.
Sunday was spent watching Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, drinking sangria on a terrace, and ended with delicious tapas at PaTapas with some of the girls I met last week! We ordered pimientos de Padrón, patatas bravas, croquetas caseras de la abuela María, and patatas con huevos estrellados con jamón. They were all super tasty and I enjoyed the variety we selected but the peppers are probably what stood out to me most!
Huevos estrellados con jamón: Cubed potatoes topped with fried eggs, sliced ham, and fried onions.
Pimientos de Padrón, patatas bravas, croquetas caseras de la abuela María.
The rest of the week was pretty quiet, mostly spent running, walking around my neighbourhood, relaxing, and thinking up different activities to prepare for the child I’m au pairing. I did, however, visit an incredible cafe/matcha spot that you can read about a little more below.
Highlights of the week
Niwa Cafeteria
I visited Niwa Cafeteria as a post-run snack and I am so happy I did. The black sesame pound cake was like nothing I’ve ever tasted before and the matcha latte was smooth, rice, and not bitter in the slightest. I’m eager to return and try something from their coffee menu!
Carretera de les Aigües
Warmer weather allowed me to explore a little more of this path this week and it’s incredible how this is so close to the city centre! A 10 minute run up from Av. Tibidabo brings you to this multi-use trail which, on a clear day, gives you an amazing view of the city and the sea.
A glimpse at next week…
I’d like to visit a few more of the coffee shops on my list in the coming week. I have so many that I need to check more of them off. A few of the ones I’m thinking of include La Cherry, Sitio, Nomad Frutas Selectas, and Bricks.
Now that it’s nicer out, I think it would be perfect to start visiting some of the parks and green spaces that Barcelona has to offer. I have yet to visit Ciutadella Park or any of the gardens near Montjuïc.
One month already! I keep feeling like I have forever to explore but it’s passing by quicker than I think. I’m so grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had since being here and I’m so eager to see what’s to come. Thanks for joining me on this journey!