• E N R O U T E / / D E S T I N A T I O N P I C K
© CAFE RACER / SHUTTERSTOCK
Clockwise from above : Barcelona from the top of the Gran Teatro del Liceo , as seen through the eyes of angels . A city of mermaids and bicycles . Barceloneta beach , where art , architecture and sand all meet .
© KSL / ADOBESTOCK
me filling my shopping bags and emptying my wallet . Fruit stalls are piled high with fresh local produce , while fridges overflow with the famed Spanish jamon ( cured ham ). The local cheeses are excellent and there ’ s no shortage of bakery stalls for fresh baguettes . Put them together and you have a memorable Catalan picnic . Don ’ t forget to stop in at El Celler de la Boqueria , which stocks more than 500 Spanish and Catalan wines . If you ’ d rather settle in for lunch , tapas bars offering up superb charcuterie , seafood and grills surround the market . The city is famed for its culture of gastronomy , but you ’ ll need to book well in advance for a taste of the cutting edge cuisine at Tickets , run by the acclaimed Adrià brothers . Cal Pep in El Born is another good option , but I loved the casual local feel of simply dining on the streets at the laid-back Rambla del Poblenou .
HARBOUR AND BEACHES Down on the beaches the traditional chiringuito beach shacks have been given a facelift and now offer fine food with a sea view . Barcelona has a range of excellent beaches ( Barceloneta is perhaps the best ) so if you tire of sightseeing , the warm waters of the Mediterranean aren ’ t hard to reach from just about anywhere in the city . The nearby Port Vell is also worth a visit , not least for its world-class aquarium , harbour cruises and the cableway that soars above one of the busiest cruise terminals in Europe .
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