Beachside Tapas
The weekend after orientation week I did not go to Tarragona and I decided to stay in Barcelona to take advantage of some of the activities IES organized. We met mid-day to take the metro to Poblenou to have a tapas snack along the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day and the sky and the sea were the same color blue.
Each table was given a couple pitchers of sangria which is red wine, sweetener, and citrus fruits. I enjoy a glass of sangria from time to time, however it can be a bit too sweet and I prefer just a regular glass of Spanish wine. They brought green pickled olives to the table, which I always enjoy because they remind me of summers at my grandparent's house in Girona. We also ate fried cubes of potatoes called patatas bravas. They were covered in an delicious aioli sauce made of olive oil, saffron, and garlic. Steamed mussels and fried sardines were brought to the table, however I could not eat any because seafood makes me sick. Some of the girls sitting with me had never eaten this seafood before and they were hesitant to try it. The sardines were whole fish with their heads, scales, and bones. My friend Otilia tried mussels for the first time and they became a new favorite food of hers.
Due to the coastal location of Barcelona, there are many fish markets, restaurants, and traditional dishes cooked with fish. I wish I could try some of these dishes, but since it makes me sick many of my options are limited when I go out to eat. I have been told that some of the best seafood dishes can be found in Barcelona.
