Leisure Activity - The Beach

Leisure Activity - The Beach and Barceloneta

March 17, 2014

One of my favorite parts about being in Barcelona is the nice weather.  For the most part since I've been here, the weather has been great!  There has barely been any rain and the lowest the temperature has been is in the 50s Fahrenheit.  Coming from Boston where at this time it is always snowing and very cold, this has been such a nice change.  One of the best parts about being in this climate is the ability to go to the beach so easily on nice days.

This past weekend, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the beach on Friday and Sunday.  I took the metro to Barceloneta and walked down the strip where all the restaurants are.  I have been to a few restaurants down here so I am familiar with the area.  However, this time when I went here, it was different.  Everyone was outside talking, eating and drinking at the restaurants, roller blading down the sidewalk and just hanging out.  I came across a group of people sitting down on some stairs that over looked the harbor.  I walked over to see what they were looking at and it was a band singing Bob Marley songs.  People were singing along and dancing to the musicians who were playing the drums and guitars.  It was such a great environment to be a part of and with everyone enjoying the weather, it really started to feel like spring and summer time.

Band singing

After I had listened for a few minutes to the band, I continued to make my way down the beach.  There were tents set up along the sidewalk with vendors selling souvenirs, meats, cheeses, falafel and chocolates.  I had never seen them out here before - it was probably because it was one of the first really nice days here in Barcelona this season.  I looked around the tents but didn't see anything I wanted this time.  I know if I go back, they will be again soon and hopefully something will look appealing!

Tents selling foods and souvenirs 

Finally, I arrived at the beach.  This beach was much different than the beaches I am used to back home. To start, the sand is very different. It is really rocky and rougher than the beaches I am used to back home.  However, I have never seen such blue and green ocean water.  It was so beautiful that I couldn't get over the color.  I kept staring at it because this is not what the beaches look like back at home.  At the beaches where I go to, the water is a little murky and grey.  It is blue but definitely not as green as the water here.  I was so amazed by this.

Another thing that was different about the Barcelona beaches is that people can be nude! I have never been to a nude beach and the beaches I go to back home are not like that.  Although I only saw a few people like this, I had heard from other people that it gets to be like that more when the weather is nicer and warmer.  This is not an unusual thing here in Barcelona but someone would have to go to a specific nude beach back at home if they wanted to be a part of that environment.  This weekend, most people were in bathing suits or in shirts and tank tops enjoying the weather.  

Both days that I was at the beach, I was approached multiple times by people asking if I wanted to buy mojitos, tapestries, beers or if I wanted a massage of a tattoo.  Again, at the beaches I go to back at home, there are no people selling anything.  I found this to be a little distracting with everyone always coming up to me trying to sell me things.  This is one part of the beach I didn't like and know I will appreciate more once I get home.  I like the quiet, peacefulness of the beach back at home instead of the constant selling of things and being harassed by people trying to make easy money.

Overall, my experiences at the beach and Barceloneta was a positive one.  I know for sure I will be going back there again to enjoy the weather and to take in the views.  The beach is one of my favorite places to be and I plan on fully taking advantage of the beautiful weather and the close proximity to the beach while I am here.