Nightlife: OPIUM MAR

In March, I was lucky enough to see one of the top DJs perform at 

one of the leading clubs in Barcelona, Opium Mar. Located in Port Olympic right on the beach, Opium is a favorite among young adults. They simply know how to entertain. 

On top of that, it is a good crowd--a combination of both tourists and locals. Although my ticket said Afrojack came on at midnight, I knew better. By this time, I had been out enough to know that the nightlife in Barcelona does not really reach its peak until around four or five in the morning. Although I had been to Opium prior to this event, I had not seen the club go off like this. When we finally arrived around 2 AM, Afrojack was coming on stage. 

Formerly known as Nick van de Wall, Afrojack is a DJ from the Netherlands. Perhaps his best song "Take Over Control", featuring Dutch singer Eva Simons, charted in a number of countries, and tonight, it was his encore. My friends and I were lucky enough to score VIP after talking with some Swedish guys for awhile. Certainly, we had some of the best seats in the house. But I wanted to dance, and dance I did. As perhaps one of the best nights of my life, I know now that the nightlife in Barcelona surpasses even the Vegas strip. Its more than just entertainment--its the culture: the cava, the dancers, the sparkling costumes, and of course, the music. 

AFROJACK @ OPIUM 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0138EAGLKs

Restaurant: La Champagneria

By far, my favorite "restaurant" in Barcelona is La Champagneria. Located in the heart of Barceloneta, La Champagneria is a small tapas bar that no matter what hour, is always packed with people--usually locals. Interestingly enough, there is no sign outside indicating what its called. However, I was lucky enough to hear about it from a friend that studied here previously, or else I am sure I would never have found it. There are no chairs to sit, but the menu is aboslutely fantastic!  My personal favorite is the "bocadillo con lomo, cebolla, y queso". In addition to your sandwich, you get three glasses of champagne on the house. 

After your third, you have to order another tapa to get more champagne. The menu includes an array of foods including: cheese, sardines, olives, sandwiches, frankfurts, among others. And although you have to stand the entire time, this tapas bar is the absolute best the I have found in the city with perhaps some of the best people I have met here in Barcelona. 

Salud!

Restaurant: Sardina

February 23, 2010

I spent the past week in Barcelona trying to focus on improving my Spanish and I definitely think I am making some headway. I have found it is much easier to speak a different language after a couple of drinks because you are less self conscious about whether or not you are saying things correctly. I asked some locals if they felt the same way when attempting to speak English and all of them agreed. I suppose after a drink or five, it just rolls off the tongue.

Although, I made progress this week in regards to language, I still find the culture barrier to be very much present. For instance, on Saturday, my friends and I went to a tapas bar in Barceloneta with a Catalan local.  He suggested we order the menu of the day—chorizo, fried fish, and a glass of wine for eight euros. The chorizo was delicious, as well as the vino, but when the fish was placed in front of us, I was immediately speculative—fried sardines, head and all. 

Normally, I am not a picky eater—not at all but this seemed extremely abnormal to me. Still, I did not want to be rude or fall into the typical American stereotypes, so I ate one. It was absolutely repulsing, but he suggested I try another. After my second or third one I was forced to call it quits, as I began feeling queasy and nauseated. Before leaving, I ordered another glass of wine to reward myself for the effort and then went for a crepe with strawberries and nutella. Now, there’s a food that crosses cultural barriers! I felt a wave of relief as I settled back into my comfort zone with my absolute favorite comfort food—chocolate. Maybe in a couple weeks those little sardines won’t seem so intimidating.

 

Restaurant/Marketplace: La Boqueria

January 26, 2011

Monday I took my first trip to La Bosqueria—the open market in the middle of La Rambla. I had been told by many people, especially the locals, how fresh the fish and produce were, and how flavorful the meat was at this particular market. It surpassed my expectations entirely. The first thing I noticed my friend and I approached the open market was its size. The selection was incredible—far better than anything I have seen in America. 

There was fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, wine, and an assortment of sweets. Although it was a little before noon, I noticed a number of people seated at the market’s bar, sipping on beer and wine while eating tapas. For lunch, I tried my first pallela dish with rice, vegetables, and a variety of sea-food. It was absolutely delicious. Afterwards, I walked around buying avocadoes, tomatoes, grapes and other fruits and vegetables. I was shocked at the price—3 euros for perhaps some of the freshest produce I have ever had. On the other hand, the meat was very expensive. 

I got thirty slices of the highest quality prosciutto for 42 euros! This got me wondering why some food seemed so cheap while others seemed so incredibly pricey. However, two days and thirty slices of prosciutto later, I did not doubt that I had gotten what I paid for.