From budget shopping at Barcelona Airport to a sweet discovery at Les Gourmandises in Paris.
June 21, 2025
Lunch at El Fornet Near Our Hotel
We had lunch at El Fornet (see on map), a café within walking distance of our hotel, Hotel Violeta Boutique (see on map). We had passed by it earlier and thought it looked stylish and cozy.
As soon as we entered, the staff told us “No English,” but we managed with pointing and gestures. We ordered an Iberian ham sandwich, cheese-filled bread, and freshly squeezed orange juice for 18€. The staff were friendly, and while the food and atmosphere were average, the overall experience was pleasant.
After leaving that café, we happened to find another branch of El Fornet and realized it was a chain café. We felt a bit disappointed—on trips, we usually prefer independent local shops. But Taco Bell doesn’t count; I love Taco Bell.
Visiting a Flower Shop and Market
We visited Flors Navarro (see on map), a flower shop we had seen from the bus the day before. Behind the flower shop was a small market(see on map). It was hard to tell whether the place was closed for the day or shutting down entirely, but it felt like the market was slowly declining.
I’m not an expert on European cities, but Barcelona seems full of modern supermarkets now. Maybe fewer people go to traditional markets these days.
Flying from Barcelona to Paris
After returning to the hotel and packing, we took the airport bus from Plaça de Catalunya (see on map) to Barcelona–El Prat International Airport (see on map). The fare was 7.45€ per person.
At the airport’s Terminal 1, we visited the Sala VIP Pau Casals Lounge. The lounge was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of food and drinks. Nothing was mind-blowingly delicious, but there were so many options that we didn’t get bored.
A Pleasant Surprise at ALE-HOP
Near our boarding gate, we saw ALE-HOP, a store we had noticed several times around the city. We went in and were surprised—hats were only 6€! I immediately bought one on impulse. Just a few days ago, I had paid 45€ for a cap at RSVP (see on map) in Paris, so this was about one-seventh the price.
When I asked the cashier to remove the price tag because I wanted to wear the hat right away, she tore it off with a quick, strong motion. I couldn’t help thinking, “That was wild.”
Arrival in Paris and Settling In
After landing at Orly Airport (see on map), we called an Uber. There’s a designated pickup area at the airport, and each section has lettered signs like “F,” which makes it easy to tell your driver where you are.
Our Airbnb apartment was new, functional, and comfortable. Since we had stayed in hotels during our trip in Spain, we couldn’t do laundry for a while, so the first thing we did after checking in was wash a huge pile of clothes.
An Ice Cream Gem: Les Gourmandises
We picked up a suitcase we had left with a friend in Paris and stopped by Merci (see on map), a shop within walking distance. Unfortunately, the hat I had wanted was sold out.
Later, we visited a nearby ice cream shop called Les Gourmandises, Glaces maison (see on map). I ordered milk chocolate chip and lemon, while he chose pear and passion fruit. Both were absolutely delicious, and the two cups together cost 9€.
Maybe the Paris heat made the ice cream taste even better, but I’m sure it would be just as good on a cold day. That’s how amazing it was.
While we were eating on the terrace, a man who seemed to be the owner came over and asked, “Where are you from?” When we said “Japan,” he smiled and greeted us in Japanese, saying, “Konnichiwa. Arigato.” He had seemed a bit distant when we ordered inside, but in reality, he was a very warm and friendly person.
On our way back to the apartment, we stopped by Carrefour City Sedaine Paris (see on map) and bought some gratin and other food for dinner.
