Sacred Spaces and Spirited Nights

This weekend we visited the Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar, a beautiful church right here in our neighborhood. We also saw a street performer put on the equivalent of a solo cirque du soliel show that was amazing! Dave and I enjoyed a drink at a very popular local bar, and we have all been soaking up the beauty of Barcelona at night.

Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar

The Basilica Santa Maria Del Mar is a Gothic style cathedral built between 1329 and 1383. The name means “Saint Mary of the Sea,” a nod to Barcelona’s maritime community who built and worshiped there. During our walking tour of the city, our guide told us about this church and said it was her favorite in the entire city. She also told us there is a five year wait list to get married here!

What sets this church apart from others I’ve seen is its simplicity. Inside it feels open, elegant, and almost minimalist. It was truly stunning!

Paradiso

Paridiso is a bar in our neighborhood that we walk past nearly every time we go outside and there is always a line to get in. It has a plaque out front stating that it is one of the Top 50 Bars in the World. This weekend Dave and I decided to check it out. One thing it’s most famous for is its front door. When you walk in, it looks as if you are entering a pastrami sandwich shop, and the bar is hidden behind a giant refrigerator door in the back (not something we knew prior to going). When we walked in the guy behind the counter said, “pull the top right refrigerator handle”. Dave and I stood there stunned for a minute and then opened the door.

Walking in was a little disorienting as our eyes adjusted to the low lights. The aesthetics felt like you were in a jungle, with fake plants everywhere. The menus lit up when we opened them, featuring very unique drinks. I got something that was some version of a piña colada and Dave’s was sort of like an espresso martini, which isn’t what he thought he was ordering. Both drinks came garnished with fancy coconut chocolates that were absolutely delicious.

 Dave engaged the guy next to us in conversation. He was from the UK, but had lived in Hong Kong for the past 8 years, and worked in the bar industry. He told us this place was the number four bar in the world. I have no idea what criteria they judge that on. We didn’t stay very long, but it was definitely fun to check out!

Barcelona at Night

I always love how a city changes at night. We often go on walks after dark and the city feels intimate and cozy. There’s still a lot of people, but far less than during the day. The weather is perfect, and the lights make everything look like it’s glowing. Most stores feature garage-style or solid doors for locking up at night, and nearly all of them are painted. Once the stores are locked up for the night it’s like walking through a local art museum.

Last week I told Dave I want to make sure I go to beach every day before we leave. Last night as we walked, I added walking at night to that list as well. We have all said so many times recently, “I can’t believe this is almost over”.