Barcelona - a city of 5 million people and 5 Kms of beach

Our first full day in Barcelona was started with something we have done before - a bike tour of the city. However this time we took all of 5 minutes to arrive at the bike shop. We seem to be close to everything here on the 'La Ramblas', or the main pedestrian shopping area in Barcelona. The shopping area around us is fantastic, with everything from a multilevel Nike shop across the road to the most amazing market place down the road. We even have a laundromat around the corner.

The bike tour was good in that it gave us a perspective to the city, however it wouldn't rate it as good as the two previous bike tours in Madrid and Valencia. It made Michael and I realised what a good area we staying in for location and proximity to what we want to see. The beach area has only been cleaned up and become a mecca for locals and tourists alike since the city won the rights to hold the Olypmics in 1992.

Our tour guide provided some interesting information, for example that Catalonia (which includes Barcelona) lost its separate identity 300 years ago in 1814, hence there is going to be a referendum in November this year to see how many of the 7 million Catalonians vote for independence from Spain. They have their own language and customs which remain of upmost importance to them.  Yesterday in Girona, and here in Barcelona, we noticed the Catalonia flags hinging from balconies.

Earlier this morning we had booked some tickets to a concert for this evening. Having previously had a successfully cultural / musical appreciation shift in Prague back in 2010, we had the opportunity to attend a concert by four well-known and respected classical Spanish guitarists. The concert started at 9PM in the most beautiful building that was acoustically perfect. The concert turned out to be much better than any of us envisaged. The four guitarists were incredibly skilled and their performance was full of humour which had the audience laughing and clapping throughout. It was truely amazing.  We left feeling it was well worth the money.  Embracing more of the Spanish culture we dined after the concert at 11PM. A good first day.