Bordeaux and Palmiers

Barcelona is a large city that is spread out over a vast amount of land. Coming from Manhattan, seeing a city that is so large is always surprising. Especially after the city hosted the Olympics not long ago, even the previously run-down sections of town are being built up, and it’s difficult to pick a must-see true city center.

However, for years now, tourists and locals alike have been drawn to the Plaça Catalunya, the huge square that sits at the head of La Rambla.

La Rambla is a boulevard that runs all the way from Plaça Catalunya to the sea, and now it even extends onto the sea, with the walkway that is known as La Rambla del Mar: the Rambla of the sea.

While cars are certainly permitted on La Rambla, they will have a hard time getting anywhere: the street is always covered with pedestrians. Checking out the shops, stopping for a bite to eat, checking out the street performers or simply walking and enjoying the scenery, people are drawn to the vivacity of La Rambla.

When I was recently in Barcelona, we walked on La Rambla every day that we were there. Yes, the shops and restaurants on this very touristy street are expensive, but it’s worth it to simply walk down the street and see what there is to see. Street performers here take their task very seriously, and the typical metallic-painted mummies are kept company by people dressed in full princess, pirate or “chiquita banana” regalia.

While all of these performers were fun to watch, I have to say that my favorite thing I witnessed on La Rambla was this.

A pet store had set up a large area on La Rambla to sell, of all things, pigeons. I don’t know of any city that needs more pigeons.