Bugaderia in Barcelona

 Saturday, August 15, 2026

Do you wonder what a bugaderia is?  It's a laundromat!  And we found a bugaderia autoservei (self-serve) just around the corner from our hotel. 

We loaded up a week of dirty clothes in a suitcase and hauled it to the laundromat to prepare for our next adventure.  We were surprised it was so busy!  One guy from Australia had just come in from a cruise, was out of clean clothes and was spending 3 more weeks in Spain.  There was a family and a few young guys that were all vying for a washer and/or dryer.  We got everything done in two loads for under $20....At least we'll arrive at our next trip with clean underwear!

With the clothes done, we set out to do some souvenir shopping and more exploring in the city.  We got the required Starbucks mug after a debate on whether to get Spain or Barcelona. 

Barcelona is a huge port city, so we walked a few kilometers to the waterfront.  Yesterday there were three cruise ships moored at the port, surrounded by stacks of containers.  

At the harbor plaza sits the Christopher Columbus monument overlooking the harbor.  The 197 ft tall monument was built for the World's Fair in 1888 in honor of Columbus' first voyage to the Americas. 

The monument points to the harbor filled with sailboats which are steps from city buildings.

There is a lot of activity around the area, including a huge shopping mall across the boardwalk, and of course we checked it out. 

We found the most interesting store...a mystery package store...lost parcels.  I was tempted to try my luck but decided to stash my cash and preserve any extra space in my suitcase.  I wanted to hang around and see if anyone was going to open their package, but didn't find anyone ready to open.

The city is filled with interesting buildings and designs.

It was really hot and humid again today, so we stopped for iced tea and iced cappuccino.  

We noticed the rest rooms had names but no pictures...how do you decide which one to pick?

We went to evening mass at the Parish of the Virgin of Bethlehem.  It was a beautiful church and the first time either of us have been to a Spanish mass.

We met friends for dinner and then headed to the hotel rooftop.  The temperature has cooled and there was a nice breeze, along with some good music and great views of the city.  It was the perfect nightcap for a great day. (16,000 steps!)

We have an early flight tomorrow, so it's time to pack and see if everything fits back in the suitcase!