Tastes of Barcelona

I thought I'd write a post about how Barcelona differs from my hometown and perhaps many other places in the US. So here's a random sampling of the good and bad:
People here put much more emphasis on social activities and less emphasis on work than we do. Here you are expected to go out or at least spend time with friends over dinner and/or drinks. This contributes to a more laid back atmosphere that seems much more common in Europe than in the States. It's always refreshing to remember that we work to live and not the other way around.

• In school today, the teacher referenced as an aside the typical, average work day as being from 9 to 1. This brought a smile to my face. Many businesses here work from 9 til 1, then re-open from 4 to about 7 or 8.


• The architecture is completely different. First there are the older parts of the city including El Barrio Gotico, El Borne, El Cuidad Viejo and El Raval. Then there are the more modern buildings of L'Eixample that somehow remind me of Paris. There are also other styles that can be seen in some places such as other residential areas, Barceloneta an Gracia.


• The culture is hugely open culturally, with a kind of beautifully organized social chaos. People generally do what they want. On the downside this leads to such things as public urination, but on the upside allows the sense of freedom and public authenticity that somehow seems lacking in most (not all) of US cities.


• Part of being open, there is public alcohol consumption everywhere. There are even roving people selling cans of Estrella (the local beer). People drink on the streets, in the plazas, even on the beach. Even as walking home at 5 in the morning you can still see the vendors.


• The cars are smaller, the garbage trucks are tiny even delivery trucks are smaller than our mid-sized vans. Apartments are generally smaller as are washing machines and almost everything else. They seem to put a higher value on effective us whereas we tend to live by the "more/bigger is better" motto.


• Similarly, it amazes me how energy conscious they are here. For example, lights in the lobbies of most apartment buildings turn off automatically. There are buttons throughout that will turn them on for a few minutes after which time the halls will again go mostly dark. Even many power outlets have switches designed to stop the small flow of energy that escapes even when a device is turned off. Lights are fastidiously turned off at every opportunity. Curiously however, I'm amazed at how much water they use. Their shower heads, faucets and toilets seemingly use much more water than we consume in the US. Go figure.


• Owning car or even having a license to drive one is not nearly as common and public transportation is great. Also, there are bicycles and motor scooters everywhere. There's even a "zip car" -like service called "bicing" where any member can just pick up a bike almost anywhere in the city, ride it to their destination and leave it there. I've seen similar racks in DC and think they're going to try the system there too, but wonder if our mindset is quite the same. Perhaps it's a case of "if you build it, they will come".


• The nightlife is incredibly thriving. It's common for people to arrive at a club at 2:30am or even later and party until 6am. For those wishing to continue, there are after-hour places that keep the partying going through the morning.


• The atmosphere is filled with a feeling of open sexiness that I believe comes from the liberalness and openness. There are bars where you can go nude (at least gay bars anyway). Half of the gay bars and clubs have back rooms (cuartos oscuro), where play is not on allowed, but expected. A few bars are nothing but one big back room.


• People generally live a little more simply. For example, I have yet to see a Bluetooth headset on anyone. They don't even know what a TiVo is. The technologies that most people have include a modern cell phone, iPod and a computer. Many people even forgo the computer and visit Internet Cafes, which are everywhere in this city.


• Generally, people tend to dress a little more fashionably, although there are a few places in the US that I think would compare.