I'm baaaaack! That was the longest I've disappeared from the blog since I started, but I think the break from everything was definitely needed. Even if that means I have loads of uni work to do now, which I'm avoiding by updating the blog instead! I had a great week in Barcelona: super-laid back, full of really dubious hairstyles, and I think I wore the same sweater for five days in a row, but it was awesome!
I had one of the famous Barcelona experiences, which people have been telling me about since I first went in 2007, but which I'd never managed to catch before--a calçotada. Calçots are large, sweet spring onions that are available for a short time in February and March, typically barbequeued and served with a romesco sauce. Albert and I went to eat calçots (and Catalan sausage and chicken and salad) one sunny Sunday with my ex-flatmate, high on a hill next to the castle and overlooking Barcelona's port. I didn't set my expectations too high, since we're talking about barbequeued onions here, but I thought the calçots were really nice and the tradition absolutely delightful. I'll definitely try to be here at this time of year more often!
You pull the calçots out of their skins, dip them in the sauce...
...and enjoy!
My ex-flatmate is French, and every bit as travel-happy as I (she just came back from a year in Australia). One of the best people I've lived with; we shared the worst living situation ever: two dark, windowless rooms in a flat with a completely insane Spanish landlord who had ridiculously dim energy-saving lightbulbs installed everywhere, and liked to turn down the water in the toilet to save on the water bill. He also liked leaving passive-agressive notes around the place: "Turn your computer off, don't just put it to sleep. It wastes energy." He was also a big Heavy Metal fan. Bah! Never live with your landlord.
Barcelona has the second busiest port in Europe, I'm told.
Anyway, after all this time in other countries, it was great to reconnect again in lovely Barcelona!
red jeans: Zara
cambric shirt: Pure by Alfred Sung
cardigan: Current
scarf: charity shop
sunglasses: Sanborns in Mexico
bag: vintage (Mom's)
Oh right. Photos by Albert!
YAYY!!! That sounds so fun!! And ugh....that place you shared sounds just lovely -_-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.closet-fashionista.com/
Cool stuff! The city looks so exotic and interesting. I envy your travels.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great time :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome ired & blue combo and that scarf is lovely
That flat sounds like a right adventure. I can't say I got on with my landlady when I was lodging but at least I had windows. I wouldn't have minded a bit of heavy metal in lieu of the constant sound of game shows though.
Calçotadas with friends are great!
ReplyDeleteI loved many beautiful photos
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I wish my "dubious hairstyles" came out looking that good! Looks like you had a wonderful time away - we all need to get away from everything sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI have never had Calçots before but you sure have my mouth watering right now :)
ReplyDeleteMe llamo Xavi y soy de Barcelona. He descubierto tu blog a través de Black Sheep . Interesante lo que cuentas de la ciudad. Creo que voy a tener que redescubrirla.
ReplyDeleteXavi
ps. My english is so bad. I've to study a lot.
Trip to Barcelona sounds dreamy and so much fun, getting away and taking some time off it's a great soul healer, glad youy're back, good luck with uni work! ;)
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I am glad you have such a nice time, sometimes is nice just to be away from the internet and enjoy life. That usually happens to me in the summer :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this before! My friend who was in Barcelona for a year (who I went to visit) had something like this in her backyard, I've seen some pictures in her facebook, seem like a barbecue right? Anyway, it looks tasty!
I have news for you! Going to London soon :) I'll e-mail you then.
From your description, calçots sound delicious. I could so go for some light, barbecued fare right about now. This is such a nice recap of your time away. The fun you had really shows through the photos.
ReplyDeleteI watched Brassed Off the other night and really enjoyed it. All that British slang! Hehe, always amusing. Anyway, in addition to Stephen Tompkinson, I was happy to see that Pete Postlethwaite was in the film, but saddened to hear of his recent death. It made the heart attack scene all the more tragic. Also, thank you for the latest round of recommendations. I have heard of Hamish MacBeth, but haven't seen it.
@Raquel: Yup, generally it's just a barbecue, but for those of us too lazy or without back yards, you can also have them in various restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering when you were coming... looking forward to it!
I love onions and that looks right up my alley. great pictures as usual!
ReplyDeletecalçotada- look pretty delicious. It makes me want to more adventuroeus with food. glad to have you back. your landlord sounds like an absolute pain! you look lovely by the way, your red jeans are amazing (i have an obsession with red right now)
ReplyDeleteI've been missing you! I began to read this post and saw the roasted onions...and realized I hadn't eaten all day. We went to the grocery store and will now try a very American version of these onions! A windowless apartment? Isn't that against code or something?
ReplyDelete@Terri:
ReplyDeleteOk, technically it had windows, but in our two bedrooms the windows were a) tiny and b) faced on to an interior shaft of the building, rather than the outside, so consequently there was no natural light, only energy saving lightbulbs. X (
I'll be interested to hear about the American calçotada!
Wow! first! the food looks deliciuos! and second! I love the outfit with red and blue, I never tought that It could look great, but is perfect!
ReplyDeleteSee you :)
Wow! how amazing! the food looks amazing, also. i'm afraid i'm getting hungry!
ReplyDeletei love your scarf too. super cute.
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it looks like you had such a fun time! those onions look so yummy and it must have been nice to catch up with your flatmate!! barcelona sounds like heaven.. ahh so jealous ;)!
ReplyDeletexo
Love your style! P.s. thanks for posting so many photos - it looks like a beautiful city! x www.lostinthehaze.com
ReplyDeleteI've missed your posts. These are so lovely. x hivennn
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics! And those spring onion thingies look delish :)
ReplyDeleteglad to have you back. Barbecued onions are a bit different but they actually look tasty. Oh and what a crazy landlord, they must have been a nightmare!
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely! And welcome back, there is seriously nothing better than getting away. Sigh. I am in desperate need of a vacation!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes! I am in Vancouver. My hubs and I were (up until recently) living in English Bay, Vancouver. We just moved outside the city, craving a wee change. I love commercial, we go there often for dinner & drinks. xx veronika
Welcome back. Nice pictures.
ReplyDeletei can't wait to go there!!! you didn't get pick pocketed did you? everyone i know that's gone there has!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a lovely holiday! As someone who is filled with insatiable wanderlust, I approve.
ReplyDeleteyay, welcome back! ummmm those sound amazing and i'm kind of an onion junkie so undoubtedly would adore them.
ReplyDeletei once had a similar living situation one summer in boston--three of my friends (two girls, two guys) and i shared a basement apartment in a sketchy neighborhood and that place was horrendous. we were illegally subletting so it's not like we could call our landlord when anything went wrong (like toilet flooding). i shared a room with my best friend and there were two tiny privacy windows practically on the ceiling that let in no light whatsoever. needless to say, we spent the entire summer drinking wine on the stoop. we probably would have slept out there if we didnt fear for our lives.
looks tasty actually!!! All these posts about Barcelona is making me want to visit!! haha. You are ALWAYS going there!
ReplyDeletelovely pictures Emily! So glad you are enjoying Barcelona... what is that you are eating ? how do you say it in spanish?
ReplyDeletethe food looks amazing! And what a crazy landlord, you girls must have the best stories to tell each other! How cool ;0)
ReplyDelete@Ana: I don't think there is a Spanish word, because it's a very typical Catalan thing. Calçots are like spring onions, but larger and sweeter, and I'm not sure if you can get the exact same thing elsewhere, but anyway you can just use normal spring onions...
ReplyDelete@Ashley: I am indeed always going there. British students get so much time off. ; D But I wish the bf and I could hang out in London sometimes instead, because this city is also pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteSounds and Looks like fun!!! Love your hair bun :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog always makes me want to jump on the first plane available! I need to get out of England for a while!
ReplyDeleteSophie
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Your pics are so beautiful - I yearn to travel!
ReplyDeleteThe colors in your outfit match the colorful port so perfectly! (did you plan that? hehe) I always love hearing about your adventures to Barcelona. I can't wait to get there one day!
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