Try Try Again

Our trip in Barcelona can probably best be summed up with this title.  There were at least two destinations where we had to return at least 3 times before it was open.  One of them was the Plaza Espanya, where from the palace at the top of the stairs you can look down to an amazing fountain and from there down to one of the largest round-abouts and avenues of the city.  The view is pretty incredible, especially at night.

However, unfortunately (or I guess it could be fortunately if you liked cars a lot), there was an auto-show while we were there that chose to take place bang smack in the heart of all that was worth seeing in that plaza, and also completely blocking our entry to see the fountain.  We had to return twice before figuring out that they only allowed in tourists at 9pm to see the fountain show.  Luckily for us, our ride up to the mountains of Montserrat also gave us 7 free rides on the metro so we didn't spend a fortune in transporting ourselves from one closed monument to another.  [I will post some photos later]

The second spot is a bar called El Xampanyet.  It is on the same street as the Picasso museum, but for some strange reason, it closes at an ungodly early hour for a bar.  So the first three times that we went there, it was closed because it was a Monday, and then the latter two because we fancied a drink at 11pm.  Good grief.  And when it's closed, it becomes so dark and the entrance is already so small that we always miss it completely and wander around hopelessly looking for the thing that is right under our noses.  And to think that it's rated as one of Europe's best bars!  The reason I was dying to go so much was because it was where I went on my last trip 5 years ago with my friend Marina, who told me that it was one of her best kept secrets and not to leak it to anyone for fear that it would be over-run with tourists.  I guess tourists will sniff out Cava (a.k.a Spanish champagne) for only 1.20 euro even if it is a secret.  Eventually we did make it while it was open, and it was incredibly crowded with tourists - a marked difference from 5 years ago.  However, that glass of Cava remained just as good and refreshing, and only about 20 centimes pricier!

But because of our persistence with going to Xampanyet, we also ended up trying the tapas restaurant across the street that had been recommended to us, which we probably wouldn't have actually sought out on our-own after being so tired with taps.  The place is called Tapeo - and Marco and I found this to be the most delightful Tapas bar in all of Spain! Better than anything we had tried in Sevilla AND Madrid.  The Rabo de Toro (bull-tail) was so tender that it practically fell apart, and the foam of Catalan Creme (like a creme brulee) is the only food foam that Marco likes.  And the service was also impeccable, despite it being very busy.  The waitress actually listened (although I saw the shock in her eyes) when I said that I did not want any olive oil over the food and we did not want anything fried.  We liked it so much that we even went back the next day, and I even ate something fried for once!! Even that was delightful, and I haven't really gone for fried food for years.

So I guess all in all, that old adage does apply in Barcelona -- if you find something closed, do try try again!!