travel
Barcelona
SLEEP
SEE
TASTE
BUY
Casa Camper is a quirky
boutique hotel opened by the
eponymous, eco-friendly shoe line.
The hotel claims to be the first in
the world to install solar panels
for heating water and to offer a
water-recycling system in every
room. It also supplies hammocks
and free bikes for guests. Be sure
to notice the cheeky signs placed
throughout: Use the Stairs , Recycle, Stop Smoking, Slow Down,
Conserve Water, Use Condoms,
and Just Go for a Walk. For those
who prefer a more plush setting,
Neri Hotel & Restaurante is a
restored eighteenth-century
palace that retains period décor,
including a lounge/library overlooking the Gothic Quarter—but
the solar panels on the roof
are quite modern.
Barcelona is one of the most
walkable cities in Europe, so it’s
easy to get around with nary a
drop of gasoline. For a pedestrian
introduction to the city’s boho
charm, stroll under canopies of
trees, starting from the oceanview end of Las Ramblas (above),
a street where artisans sell their
wares and mimes entertain
passersby, and then head up to
Antoni Gaudí’s great, unfinished
Sagrada Família basilica.
Afterwards, catch the sunset
at his nearby psychedelic hilltop
garden of mosaics, Parque Güell
(below left). (Gaudí was a big fan
of preserving natural light in his
structures because of its positive
effect on the spirit.) Or traverse
the city by bicycle. Barcelona’s
spacious avenues allow an
extensive system of bike lanes to
accommodate Bicing, a public
bike-sharing system started last
year. It’s currently only available
for residents, but you can rent
your own bike for around 25€ a
day from Bike Rental Barcelona.
Too weary for biking or walking?
Hydrogen buses are on the way.
After successful trial runs, the
city plans to expand its hydrogen
fleet. (For now, you can take an
ordinary public bus for 1.25€.)
The city has a hopping market scene with plenty of food
vendors to inspire its nouveau
Mediterranean cuisine. The
Mercado de la Boqueria
(above), which opened in 1840,
is the city’s oldest market; its
250 stalls offer a wide array of
produce, meats, and fish. You
can also grab a bite or a beer
at one of the ten restaurants
inside. Fresh, organic foods
can also be found across town
at the new Mercat de Santa
Caterina, which features an
undulating roof of colorful tile
and wood designed by the city’s
hottest architects. Barcelona is
reputed to have more than half
of Spain’s vegetarian restaurants, too. One of the most
popular, La Báscula, is a hippiechic, co-op café located around
the corner from the Museu
Picasso. Order an organic caña
(beer) and check out the progressive flyers in the front hall
as you wait for your table. For
a trendy take on the ovo-lactoveggie menu (there are vegan
options as well), head
to Sesamo in the Raval
neighborhood, where you can
listen to ambient music while
sipping natural fruit juice.
Barcelona’s city dwellers are
both stylish and eco conscious
to the max. Visit La Manual
Alpargatera for a pair of
traditional Catalonian espadrilles
made with natural vegetablefiber (hemp, jute, esparto
grass) soles and cotton or linen
uppers. They’re heavenly for
both street and beach walking.
Or take home a cool messenger
bag from Demano (the name
means handmade, see below).
The patchwork pop art design is
comprised of recycled materials like PVC polyester from
banners promoting cultural
events. Everyone in Barcelona—
where refashioned design is
called “trashion”—has one. One
person’s trashion is another
person’s killer souvenir. ✤
46 | february-march 2008
photos by Juan Antonio Monsalve (below); Carlos Lorenzo (above left); Courtesy of Curtain Bluff (opposite, far right)
living
> going places
With its rehabilitated gothic buildings, hydrogen bus pilot program, and liberal use
of solar power, Barcelona is one of the most eco-friendly cities in the world—and one of
the most stylish. The approximately 113,000-square-foot solar panel located on the Forum
Esplanade (below right) is the perfect symbol of the city’s unique blend of aesthetics and
sustainability: The architectural jaw-dropper supplies enough electricity for the public utility system to reduce carbon emissions by 440 tons per year. Check out what else Spain’s
natural sweetheart by the sea has to offer.
—Adriana V Lopez