content |kənˈtent| (adj.) in a state of peace

Sundays in Barcelona are truly meant to be a day of rest. With the exception of most cafes and restaurants...nearly everything is closed, the metros are noticeably less crowded, and people generally stay indoors to catch up on the sleep that they don't get during the week. However, because I have been cooped up in the house for several days (thanks to a nasty cold), I needed to get out.

Nicole and I took the metro to the Barceloneta stop, which places you rather close to the water. Armed with our iPods, we leisurely strolled along the boardwalk for quite a while...admiring the views and the happy people around us. There were people rollerblading and riding bikes, and lots of little kids chasing each other around. It was a charming walk.

Once our appetites kicked in we decided to stop at one of the beachside restaurants for lunch. We chose a place called O'Beach (I think), which turns into the club Opium at night. It was adorable...with a lovely lounge-like atmosphere, a sunny patio, big cozy chairs, fantastic ocean views, and delicious food. We chose this restaurant because, despite its ambiance, it offered a reasonably priced paella. Surprisingly enough, neither Nicole nor I had tried a traditional Spanish paella until today...ummm, what was I waiting for...it was magnificent! We shared a caesar salad, the seafood paella (even though our server warned us that one portion would not be enough for both of us...he was wrong, it was perfect), and bottle of red wine. Such a scrumptious meal, and a new Sunday tradition I think.

After lunch we walked a bit more and then hopped on the metro with intentions of going to Caelum, my favorite cafe in the Gothic Quarter, for a coffee (well Nicole had more wine, God bless her). We sat and chatted for a bit, and then felt it was necessary to get a gelato. Yes, I know what you are thinking...how can these girls eat so much!? Please note that we did quite a bit of walking and spent a decent amount of time at each stop, thus a gelato was beyond necessary. Anyways, we went to this one gelateria that always has a line, which in my opinion must mean it is quality. I got mint gelato in a chocolate dipped cone, and it was perfection.

In short, my Sunday was filled with remarkable food and fine company. I am thrilled to be living here in Barcelona, and I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. In other words, I am quite content.