Barcelona City Break

Just when I felt I was getting to know the ropes and making progress with the hosts, they dropped the charade. At a group meeting, they made it clear that some of us had to leave. Fair enough, there were too many people. However, this poor organisation was solely their fault so it was very disappointing to be indirectly asked to leave via unfair criticism and backhanded insults.

This is always the risk with non-contracted work. Objective fairness has to be observed by all parties otherwise it simply won't happen (or exploitation will occur).

With no alternative farm immediately arranged, we chose the logical course of action: city break! So off we went on our merry way to Barcelona.  

A few days in the city provided an impressive contrast to the previous ten on the farm. In particular La Rambla, which is bedlam. After the warm tranquillity of Sella, I felt like I'd been dropped into an icy whirlpool of noise and confusion. It's amazing how loud people can be.

Following a stroll down the slightly calmer Passeig de Gracia, past two of Gaudi's buildings, we wound up in El Barri Gòtic - the old city. We entered the quarter through a gap in the ancient Roman wall. Still preserved are the remains of the aquaduct which watered the settlement Barcino, as it was known.

The area now is a labyrinth of narrow passages which open onto plazas crammed with cafés, tourist shops and quaint artisan boutiques. We found a tapas bar and sampled some chorizo, tortilla and sangria. Pricey but delicious. A perfect madalena bun with apple and cream from a tiny bakery, followed by coffee and "focaccia xocolata", rendered the indulgence complete. 

It was a struggle to get back to my feet after that, but I was restored by the slow walk back up the hill to our hostel. That and the sight of a rigid yuppie fellow marching along with a tiny white fluffball of a dog trailing apathetically behind.