I don’t know if you have experienced this situation in the past.

This story begins with something really unusual: a whiskey shot.

For just one whisKey

I don’t know if you heard about The Dubliners & The Pogues. They are an old Irish music formation, who played in all the pubs and great music venues in the late 20th century. Some of the musicians are still alive.

Such a great bunch of gentlemen! If you are not used to what happens in a real Irish Pub, just come to Barcelona. Here there are real Irish pubs, full of people coming from all over the world: UK, Ireland, Russia, Germany, Colombia, Spain and even Catalonia. They just come here to have some drinks, meet new people, and have some fun enjoying the finest beers, soft drinks and spirits that the Mother Earth brought to the bars —ironically, here in Spain we say bar referring to the pub.

We just say nos vemos en el bar, in Spanish, or ens veiem al bar, in Catalan. We even say salut when we say cheers in Catalan, and fot-li cap a dins, just for toasting our cups or glasses when we want to drink a great Spanish verdejo in a special occasion –have you ever tried a bottle of Perro Verde from 2022? I recommend just to have one glass, because this is a really really expensive one.

What’s inside the sandwich

Coming back to the story, the thing is that people go to the pub or the bar or whatever it is called to meet each other and speak to new people. And the greatest place to do it in Barcelona is… yes: karaoke.

There are ancient karaokes in Barcelona, specially considering that the origin of the word is Asian. The only time I was there, in 2006, we went to Vietnam. It was a wonderful place full of welcoming people. We travelled all over the country on our own, from the South - Ho Chi Minh, old Saigon— to the North —Hanoi, the current main City—. The travel led us even to the Sapa mountains for two days of whole-day hiking, including a homestay at the top of the mountains. There, an old lady was carrying woods in their backpack. She was about 1,50 m high (International System). In other words, or numbers, shorter than my big one is today, at the age of 11. After our long walk, we drank a freshly brewed mountain beer, one of the best I ever had. We split it with my wife, because the bottle was bigger than 1 L, directly to the table.

In the pubs of Barcelona, today, you can even find people from Vietnam, some of the most respectful cultures I ever met, even when you go visiting them in their own country. A sad story is the opposite of what happens in a real Irish Pub if you come from Barcelona. You are sometimes banned from the pub, because alcohol comes with a counterpart.

The last whiskey shot

It is frightening listening to a whole court singing together this song.

I almost don’t drink, only on special occasions. A family meeting, cheering up with real friends, or on a special night with the woman I love. I used to ask for a beer —for example, a Guinness— and sparkling water –Vichy, Sant Aniol or whatever they have in the fridge. If there is no sparkling water in the fridge, I just ask for a glass of water, but I often have to pay for it, especially in the Barcelona Irish pubs, which are really expensive.

But I am a cheap person. I just like to pay as little as possible for things. I just spend money when the occasion requires it. And then, it is an all-in.

I used as well to play rugby in one of the most awesome teams in Catalonia: Alella. I remember those years with affection. I started playing rugby at the age of 18, at Barcelona Universitari Club (BUC). I was not a great rugby player, but I remember seeing flying chickens, and trying to tackle Diego Fucks, from Argentinian Pumas, or our 3-day stage in Bristol. My favorite tournaments were the sevens on the beach, just in front of the Menyo chiringuito, or in Badalona, during the Summer. Of course, shit happens, but it is all about life.

Welcome to Barcelona, and have all the fun you can, and remember that heavy alcohol comes with a counterpart.

Sincerely yours,

Marcel