Brunch & Cake

My perfect day in Barcelona was always a Sunday. Sundays are fantastic wherever you live; a day that belongs to you and only you, a day consisting of a morning, an afternoon and an evening, with which you can do whatever you bloody well want to do.

Sundays in Barcelona were extra special. Sunday mornings were iced with slightly hazy memories of dancing til 5am in La Fira or Museum with my housemates. And the kitchen was lavished with the gossip from the night before.

But Sundays in Barcelona are not for hangovers. You can’t let your nauseous tummy and delicate temples take over your day of fun. With all the supermarkets closed the first thing you need to do is take yourself out for breakfast. My number one spot for a dose of carb-induced hangover recovery was always Brunch & Cake on c/ d’Enric Granados. Giant turkey bagels with a side of guacamole and a latte (and an orange juice and two waters – you’re on a recovery mission here). A stroll down c/ d’Enric Granados to play with all the dogs and daydream about someday owning a lovely little flat on this street is a must.

View towards Arc de Triomf

For me, Sundays are for walking around outside. Right down Passeig de Gràcia for a glimpse through the windows of Casa Batlló of tourists with an audio guide glued to their ears, up to Plaça de Catalunya to walk among (and duck from) the pigeons and right down an unusually vacant Portal De l’Angel. My destination was usually Parc de la Ciutadella to marvel at the inline skaters, accidentally get in someone’s Arc de Triomf photo and to lavish in some unusually strong rays for February. My walk home always consisted of getting just lost enough somewhere in Gotico to find the perfect place for coffee.

Life Drawing Barcelona class on Meetup

My perfect Sunday is rounded off by a life drawing class. The class I went to was with Life Drawing Barcelona – a group I found on Meetup, and it really is very good. Two hours of pencil to paper in a decadent high-ceilinged room with really fantastic models (and a few nibbles half way to keep you going). The perfect Sunday activity for those who draw (and those who don’t but want to try).

Life drawing finishes about 8, about this time the day is slipping away and the sky has darkened slightly and I’m filled with a feeling of satisfaction mixed with slight dread of the looming Monday. This means that it’s red wine o’clock so I treat myself to a glass or two in one of the bars on Rambla de Catalunya. I’d place myself outside next to a heater which is the perfect spot to people watch and I’d always find myself wondering whether the passers-by were tourists, when they are going home, and what they thought of Barcelona, and I’d think to myself how lucky I was to live in such a magical city.

Now I live in Granada and the weekends are different, but equally fantastic. I’ve just booked my flights to return to Barcelona for a long weekend and I know exactly how I’ll be spending my Sunday.

Dawn now lives in Granada. But she used to live in Barcelona and has had many perfect days there. You can follow her whimsical words on travel, life and trying to be a grown-up on her blog and on Twitter.

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