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Tómame, sol
by El Staff
It rained Saturday. It is supposed to rain Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It’s okay. It’s
spring. If April showers are substituted for March
ones, no big deal. But on the fine and aptly named
Sunday when this was written, the clouds parted
for 12 hours and the day was precious. Barcelona
is greener. Light lasts longer. Clothing layers are
fewer. While we might have a few more days (possibly
weeks) of rainy spring ahead, we are all already
looking over the greyish horizon to long parc strolls,
terrace cervezas, and, yes, even seaside sunbathing.
Get a head start. Here’s some help.
Petanca
Passeig de Lluícs Companys
 The crunch of gravel. The thud of the ball. The thud of the
other ball. The thud of the other ball. We’ve all seen petanca
happening around Barna. You’ve probably walked by it and
smiled to yourself once or twice. Well, the next time it’s nice
out and you have no fucking clue what to do, get your ass to
Arc de Triomf and get into the grandstands. Sit along the
pitch on the raised beds of grass watching this simple yet
skillful game and harken back to the days of horseshoes,
croquet, knitting and other pre-extreme sports. No, in all
seriousness, this is an awesome way to while away an hour.
Watch the old-timers in their salsa. Listen to them heckle
and, for lack of a better term, talk shit in catalá, castellano,
andaluz, y tó.
Underrated 'Guito
Parc del Nord s/n
 If Ciutadella sounds nice but you want a cortado with your
sol instead of the grass and you’re not terribly interested in
fighting tourists and pigeons for a bit of peace and quiet, head
up two short blocks to Parc del Nord, the city’s loveliest most
underrated park. There sits a little xiringuito just like any
other ‘guito with one exception, it’s normally empty (read:
peaceful, sunny and awesome). Approach the counter and
marvel at the utter lack of products on the shelves, then
order something simple like that cortado you were dreaming
of. Instead of stocking snacks for humans, the owners have a
large fish bowl filled with balls for doggies (1,50€), taking
advantage of the fact that Parc del Nord is the unofficial Dogs
Run Wild park. Also, hit it up during the week and take
advantage of the free Barcelona wifi. It’s an awesome place
Antic Terraza
Verdaguer i Callís, 12
 We’ve listed Antic Teatre before, but it’s been four years
since that and, besides, this time we’re listing the terrace,
not the teatre. This outdoor bastion for beer and buen rollo
is probably without rival in the category Biggest and Best
Terrace in the City Center. If you have a place in mind that
can top it, please email us. The Antic Teatre’s terrace is a
two-tiered monster tucked away in La Ribera. The lower
level sports a dirt floor and tables are arranged around a
large central tree (AWESOME!). The upper terrace is terracotta
tiled and not exactly small. It also has bombas de calor
for chilly nights and an extendable/retractable roof for
those pesky little drizzles we mentioned in the intro. Beers
are affordable, people are nice (don’t leave your ciggies on
the table or you’ll bum them all out before the night is
through) and the lighting is perfect.
Bosque + Bunker
Parc del Guinardó
 A lot of people complain that Barcelona isn’t green enough.
While we can always get behind more green, we’re also
tempted to tell those people to get off their asses and leave
the Raval. Pack up your bocadillo, little ravalero, and head
to Guinardó, where there’s an amazing hill with a goddamn
forest on top of it! ¡Olé! No matter your point of entry you’ll
soon find yourself immersed in a Mediterranean forest full
of pine, cactus and other succulents, wildflowers, vines, fruit
trees and more. Climb up and around and enjoy epic views
over Barcelona and fresh air (if done after a rainy day). Climb
a little higher still and discover the stuff that dreams are
made of – a two-street pueblo sitting atop this forest hill in
the middle of BCN. And, as if that weren’t enough, go all the
way to the top, to rest on (and explore) the Turo de la Rovira,
an old bunker and anti-aircraft missile battery used during
the Spanish Civil War.
Federal Café
Carrer Parlement, 39
 We’ve been too busy breakfasting here to list the place, but the
time has come. Federal Café is toted as a slice of New South
Wales in Barcelona. Whatever it’s reminiscent of, we’re fully on
board. Walk in and you’re met with a large wooden table, communal
style, where couples, strangers and friends come together
over their cafes, periódicos y desayunos. The front windows
open completely, creating small tables for one or two that
straddle indoors and out, restaurant and street. Up a level there
are smaller tables of different types and up yet another level, a
terrace that is so charming you may never get the chance to sit
there (it’s often full). Five small tables are surrounded by green
hedges on this little rooftop. On huge steps up to nowhere sit
more plants, herbs, etc. Sit under the sun and lime tree and sip
their great coffee, try bruschettas deliciosas (4,80€), huevos de
corral revueltos with all types of lovely ingredients (7,50€), y
mucho más. The cupcakes, while pricey, are the bomb.
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