Running in Barcelona

Shortly after getting into the hotel here in Barcelona, I decided to try to fight jetlag by going for a long run, like I’ve done the last two years here.  Off with the airplane clothes and on with the running outfit.  Strap on iPod and lace up shoes.  Head out of the lobby doors, and turn right down Ave Parallel.  Somewhere during the run, I decide that I have three main goals while running in a foreign city:

1. Don’t get mugged.
2. Don’t get hit by a car.
3. Find my back to the hotel.

These goals are not as easy as they sound.  I can mostly avoid the first one by staying out of bad areas, but a few times, including last time here, I find myself in a very dodgy part of town – mostly because I have no idea where I’m going.

The second is pretty hard.  I keep losing track of whether cars are coming from the right or the left – like between London or Paris and whether it is a one-way street or two way.

Finally, I have to really try to look at landmarks along the way and go in a mostly straight line so that I can find my way back.  Today, I went down Parallel for a few miles and found a long perpendicular street that was long and straight and it worked out well.

I think I did about 6 miles or so, but since my GPS could not figure out where we were, I have no idea except for time.

The most interesting part of these city runs, besides trying not to get killed or lost, is to observe the locals and take notice of life in another town.

For some reason this afternoon, I started noticing scarves.  The count was about 1 in 2 at least – for both men and women – that were wearing scarves.  And they really know how to tie them and wear them stylishly.  Even though it was pretty cold out, I think it is both a fashion statement and just practical.

After I was pretty cold, it looked warm and sensible!