august in Spain

It's done. they're all gone with family, kids, friends, pets, golden fishes and all those things. Who ? people. Where ? on holidays. Now the city empties itself from locals. The place you can find them is at the airport or train station. They all travel together. One month. It's now difficult to get a haircut, to find a shop to sew the beautiful trousers you just bought on sales (until end of the month) that you started to do because it's the best prices and the shops are empty, even sometimes having lunch or dinner is difficult (by the way list updated on the right side).

But the good part is : I have my own line at the pool at anytime of the day, I don't queue at the supermarket, and there are bikes to drive. Of course it means also that there are more tourists than the rest of the year and this city has already a lot (locals sometimes complain about it, but the welcome is so unfriendly that people do not come back). Anyway it's a city you only come once and after a while you want to go somewhere else to have a life. Even tourists are disapointed because for example of unsecurity in the city. I think all of my colleagues ' relatives or family were robbed at least once coming here on visit. It does not give a good image. So outside the city, you still have possibility :

Andorra : well known principat, no taxes, even cheaper than Spain. Nothing much to do except shopping (but at a good price) perfumes and clothes. The road in August is even worse than a motorway in Paris a Friday afternoon. I would not advise to buy electronics (or at your own risk) because no guarantee outside the territory. Nevertheless you can stay at Hesperia Andorra La Vella (www.hesperia-andorralavella.com) and try to be there on week ends because it's the only time of the week that something is happening : go to Buda (www.budaandorra.com). Either you go from Barcelona by car (for example cheap cars with www.pepecar.com) or by bus from Estaçio del Nord.

Otherwise la costa Brava is also very famous and one of the most beautiful coast, well preserved and wild. I would recommend anything between Palamos, Palafrugell, Begur, Tamariu.

Otherwise you still can enjoy Barcelona. To have a french dinner "le petit bergerac" (Aribau 141 entre Rosellón y Corcega, Example) is good food as well as my favourite Menjador (Valencia 193, entre Aribau y Enric Granados) : no need to book a table if you planned to have dinner before 23.00, highly recommended after. If you are in Raval, try my pizza Ravalo (plaça d'Emili Vendrell 1 (corner Joaquim Costa y Peu de la Creu). For example after your visit at the Macba and CCCB. If you are in El Borne, you can go to La Candela (plaça San Pere 12, it's my cantine) next to Arc de Triomf (entre San Pere més alt and San Pere més baix). Of course everybody wants to try tapas so the best ones would be Set de Born (c/ dels Ases 16, this one has air conditioned).