Leisure Activity - Avinguda de Gaudi

Leisure Activity - Avinguda de Gaudi

April 9, 2014

One of my favorite places to go and relax near my apartment is Avinguda de Gaudi.  I live 2 blocks away from there, right near the Sagrada Familia.  There are so many cute stores, cafes and it is a great people watching place to go when I need a leisure activity to get my mind off of things.  I love going and sitting there in the sun when it is a nice day and drinking a cafe con leche or eating a croissant.  I have been to a few restaurants along this street and I wish I had more time to go to the ones I haven't been to yet!

One of my favorite parts about sitting on Avinguda de Gaudi is the atmosphere.  There are always people there of all ages: young children playing in the wide sidewalks and walkways, older couples sitting with their partners and people my age enjoying the surroundings.  I have never seen this part of the area empty; there are always people walking down the streets, going in and out of stores or heading to the metro station that is at the end of the street or going to the Sagrada Familia.  There are so many outsides cafes where people sit and drink coffee or read the newspaper and there is even a big awning so that if it gets too sunny, people are shaded from the sunlight.  Although this area is close to the Sagrada Familia, many people who walk along here and relax here are locals.  I like seeing what they are up to and how much they enjoy being in Barcelona.  It's such a nice area to hang out with friends or enjoy some alone time.

I have a few favorite places that I like to go to.  One of them is called Forn de Pa.  There are many of these places around Barcelona but the one on here is nice because you can sit outside at their chairs and tables and enjoy coffee, pastry or desert.  I have sat here a few times.  Many places back at home don't have outdoor seating so it is a nice change of environment.  You can see the Sagrada Familia from here and it is nice to really take in all of Barcelona and its surroundings.

Another place I like to go to is called Chocolate-Box.  They have all kinds of chocolates and chocolate drinks.  The inside is really cute as well, with dangly lights and tables and chairs to sit at.  It is nice here to go and get some work done when I don't want to go to a cafe that is too far from my apartment.  It also gives me an incentive to buy myself a piece of chocolate after I get some work done!

A good pizza place along Avinguda de Gaudi is called La Piazzenza.  I went here on my first night in Barcelona with my roommates.  Their pizzas are a relatively good price and they even have good tapas. The staff there is really friendly and there is a lot of outdoor seating.  It is located at the corner of one of the streets so you see a great view of Sagrada Familia while you are eating lunch or dinner.  Whenever I walk by here at different times of the day, there are always many people there.  Down the next street is the take-away place of this restaurant.  I would recommend this place for a quick pizza meal.

Who doesn't like ice cream right? The Jijonenca has gelato and desert that look amazing.  They also offer drinks as well.  There are places to sit outside here too which is what most people do because the inside is pretty small.  This place would be great to go after your pizza meal!

I'm really happy I live near Avinguda de Gaudi because there is always a new store or restaurant I can try.  It is so nice to sit around there and relax and sometimes even mingle with the locals.  Sometimes I take the longer way home so I can walk through these streets and see what is going on.  I think this is a great place to have a leisurely afternoon and I would tell other people who are coming to Barcelona to spend some time here when it is nice out.