Wednesday 25 June 2014

Barcelona - Mosquito, Fastnet and Nick from Colorado.

Barcalona what a city! Due to good planning or maybe good fortune we arrived on the fiesta of St Joan or mid summer solstice. Fireworks, fires and drumming bands.
When we arrived we went for a walk round the old quarter we saw the Sagrada Familia, Arc de Triomf and walked up Las Ramblas. In the early evening fireworks were randomly being let off and drumming bands with crowds following them were sambering through the streets. A great atmosphere was starting to build.
We decided to have something to eat and found a restaurant called Mosquito, with a Chinese tapas menu and a range of beers from around the world. Both the food and beers were excellent, and the staff very helpful. They told us to go to the beach to see the best of the festival.
We followed the crowds. Thousands of people on the beach, friends and families just having a good time. Fires and fireworks being let off everywhere (no health and safety or follow the fire work code here!). We walked along the beach and just savoured the artmosphere, it really was a great experience, something I'll never forget. We started to head back to our hotel about 1am, and we struggled against the crowds still walking to the beach - amazing.
After a good restful night's sleep I awoke to Bob opening the room door and advising some American guests to 'be quiet' - I'm paraphrasing! I think the kids were running riot in the corridor. I dont think it did much for our 'special relationship' as next time we saw them they were asking to move room! 
After the festivitiesTuesday was a public holiday, so it was all earily quiet on the streets of Barca, definitely the morning after the night before. We set off for the Nou Camp and the stadium tour. 
The Nou Camp was excellent really enjoyed it, the stadium is impressive with a capacity of around 100,000. You get to come out of the tunnel to the pitch. Its hard to imagine how electric the atmosphere must be when the stadium is full and the players enter the arena. 
There is a restaurant over looking the pitch, so we stopped to savour the experience. We were debating where we were going to watch England play their final match as we hadn't seen many bars showing the football, and any that were would surly show the Uruguay v Italy game. Just then we met a guy called Nick, who originates from Liverpool but now lives in Colorado. He recognised Bobs Utd shirt as he went to university in Sheffield. Nick told us about a bar called Fastnet that was showing the football. 
We made our way back to the hotel, quick change into the final outing of our England shirts and off to the Fastnet where we joined joined Nick and his two sons Harry and Eli to watch the match. You wouldn't say we ended the world cup on a high, but at least we got a point. Good company and thanks for the beers Nick.
After the match and some Tapas in the Fastnet, we made our way to back to the Mosquito, our final beer was called Beer Cat Further Westward IPA, beer of the holiday so far, a cracking hoppy beer. If ever you are in Barca make time to visit this restaurant its fantastic, and judging by how busy it is I think the locals agree.
Don't think I've done the Fiesta or Barca justice but it was a great couple of days, I think its got to be added to the must return list.

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