shopping, walks and gastronomy at very affordable prices

Although in many cases the need to spend less than 24 hours in a city can be a nuisance, weighing the convenience of a flight that is “well priced”the equation is positive.

I was in Barcelona (Spain) for a day and I loved it. It is a great option if the rest of the itinerary is through northern Europe, where the sun is not a constant. Starting a journey enjoying the light almost until night is glory. And hearing that they speak (almost) the same language also helps.

When I checked in online I felt like I was in Catalan lands. The Level airline (from US$ 930 for a round-trip flight in Economy) gives you the possibility of choosing the on-board menu and one of the dishes is the traveling omelet! Don’t ask how, but they manage to bring it to you warm, as if freshly made. And although I didn’t go in Business, I was able to rest because the seats in Economy class were very good (I’ll clarify that I’m not taller than five feet).

We arrived at 5.30 in the morning. Another key point, the location of the hotel. The NH Collection Calderón, almost on the Rambla de Catalunya and one block from the Gran Via (from 156 euros per night). We had breakfast for the second time and looked at the map to plan our purchases (a fact: Spain is usually cheaper in almost all areas).

Our favorite brands They were just there: Zara, H&M, Primark… So we checked times and minutes before 10 we were in the first one.

The prices – normal, not on sale – were a shock: silk shirts at Zara for 20 euros, jeans at H & M between 20 and 25, t-shirts at Primark for 3.5. Wallets from 15; and covered and trench coats, from 40.

The novelty? Used clothes but in very good conditionwhich is offered as “pre-owned” o “pre-loved”. Here, as with everything vintage, you have to find the bargain: mine was a dark green leather jacket, for 80 euros.

Towards the At noon the venues were already full of people.so starting the shopping tour early was a great goal.

Advice if one has more or less numbered minutes: estimate the time it will take to pay. The lines are long (sometimes more than 30 people) and there is nothing more disappointing than having to leave an item of clothing because they are waiting for us for lunch.

In that plan we did have to leave Gran Vía because the tapas bars They were exploited, I guess more than usual because it was Saturday. You had to reserve, but as already said, on a stopover it is not advisable to be tied to schedules. We quickly spotted Sagardi Muntaner on a corner (the same one that has a branch in Buenos Aires) where we were able to sit on the sidewalk. Again the prices were a surprise: pinchos of all kinds (Iberian ham, prawns, smoked salmon, croquettes, omelette with tuna) at 2.50 each and draft cider, at 4 euros.

The afternoon was for walking, half aimlessbecause the most attractive constructions of Gaudí It is also reached by walking: Casa Batlló, la Pedrera and the Sagrada Familia They are distributed in a radius of 10 blocks. It’s worth seeing them from the outside and even feeling relieved for not having to wait in that line that already exceeds 20 meters. It is not that it would have been possible to enter, for that it requires advance purchase, something that is left for a visit of several days.

Of course You don’t have to leave Barcelona without walking along the Ramblasbut Careful. Not only for the pickpockets but because the most representative avenues of Catalonia They are in work until 2027!with a renovation plan with a budget of more than 60 million euros.

Hay sections that already look newlike the one that goes from the Columbus monument and Portal de Santa Madrona street, with granite and porphyry sidewalks. But in others there are huge pits, dust and cranes.

And although you can go to the Mediterranean to see the sea from a bench and have an ice cream with the seagulls, in many places there are fences. It’s better don’t think about a taxi unless one is very well informed.

We returned to the hotel a little before sunset and everything was resolved there. We go up to Eleven, a rooftop with live music, gin and tonics and the best views of the city. With the last sun, you could see even Tibidabo.

The letter of Tablafinain the same NH Calderón, was a temptation for our palates and a relief for our feet that were about to blister. All you had to do was go down the elevator and sit down to enjoy the dishes signed by the Chef Alex Coblesaccompanied by crystal bread and starters with unexpected combinations such as cod with orange and spinach with blue cheese.

The closing was with three tremendous socarrat rice (dried, roasted over the fire): with red tuna, cuttlefish and shrimp; and with aged beef steak (prices between 23 and 27 euros, to share). Then yes, to rest, we had to leave at dawn to continue the trip to our next destination.