Leaving Viking Jupiter and a few days in Barcelona

 20th September 2023

After breakfast on board, we disembarked at 9 am, picked up our bags and caught a taxi to the 4 Points Sheraton in Barcelona where we will spend the next 2 nights.

Of course it was far to early to check in, so we left our bags at the hotel and headed out exploring with a few directions from the hotel reception on where to find the nearest Metro Station. Fortunately for us, it is only about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. We had a landmark to walk towards, as the station is near Barcelona's version of the London Gherkin.

Mirador torre Glories

In the distance we can see Sagrada Familia

Next challenge is to get a 2 day pass for public transport out of vending machine that only speaks Spanish. After a few misfires, we managed to conquer this challenge, workout which line we need to catch to get to Mercado de La Boqueria on La Rambla, and head for the train. Initially we went in the wrong direction, but quickly realised this was the case, got off at the next station and changed trains.

The nearest station to our destination was Catalunya. It is a major interchange station with many exits. We didn't take long to get our bearings and ended up exiting the station on La Rambla facing the direction we wanted.

Once on La Rambla, we headed towards the water knowing we would see the market along the way

It is still quite early for locals and the streets are relatively free of crowds. Soon we reach  La Boqueria.

Even from the La Rambla entrance it is a feast for the eyes, with merchant stalls selling hams and charcuterie on either side of the main entrance. See for yourself below.

Once inside, we didn't know where to start, but managed over the next hour or so the see most of what was on offer in this amazing market.

It is time for a cup of coffee and we find a quiet little cafe in the backstreets off La Rambla where the coffee was pretty good, and we could sit down for a few minutes.

Refreshes, we hit the road again walking down towards the harbour and looking for somewhere for lunch. Many of the places are associated with hotels and are very touristy. The nice square below was lined with restaurants, all grossly overpriced and not really offering much to our taste.

Not a lot of people around off the main street

Eventually we found a nice restaurant where we could enjoy some tapas, a salad, and a cool drink.

Just as well we only ordered the medium sized beer

I am sure we have completed our 10,000 steps by now so we decide to catch the Metro back to our Hotel. It is also getting hot and a bit of air conditioning would be very welcome.

Siesta's seemed to be the group decision, but after cooling down, I went for a walk down the road to check out a large Westfield Shopping Centre, Glories, which is only a short walk from our hotel. It was also an excuse to investigate eating options in our area. The shopping centre is enormous, looks reasonably new, and the variety of stores and restaurants incredible.

An outdoor part of the shopping centre

Ham for sale in the Carrefour Supermarket

By 5.30 pm the team were rested and the temperature had dropped as the sea breeze had started to come in. 

Running perpendicular to our hotel, is a long tree lined avenue filled with restaurants. It is a about a km long and runs all of the way down to the sea. Our area is known as Poblenou and is mainly residential and quite a nice suburb that runs right down to the sea front.

Walking down the Avenue near our hotel on Rambla del Poblenou

Finding somewhere to have a drink and a meal is a bit overwhelming with the amazing range of choices available. In the end, we opted for one recommended by the hotel, Xorus Braseria. It is still quite early, around 6.30pm, so we settle in for some tapas and a drink. 

Very nice and filling tapas

After our tapas we thought we would go for a walk and maybe return later for a main course. We walked all of the way down to the beach, where people were out playing beach volleyball and there was the odd swimmer.

On our return, we arrive at our favoured restaurant and decide we have now earned a main course so head inside to get a table, as the outside tables are now packed. Dinner was good washed down with a quite acceptable local wine. 

Xorus Braseria

Everyone should sleep well tonight.