Records were broken, despite the initial forecast that this heat wave would be milder than the last one, as coastal temperatures reached a scorching 36ºC and further inland saw them hover dangerously around the 40ºC mark. Today, we can expect highs of 33ºC, not quite record-breaking, but enough to leave you in heap on the side of Las Ramblas if you're not careful.
To visitors and residents alike, it's pretty obvious that football is to the Spanish what music was to Duke Orsino in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. "Play on" indeed is the attitude many Barça fans are waking up to this morning following the loss to little Sampdoria in last night's Joan Gamper cup (0-1). After a raucous victory (5-1) over Real Sociedad to kick off the season, not to mention arch-rival Real Madrid's lukewarm performance (ending in a draw) in their first match, a renewed sense of optimism filled the Camp Nou stadium and the living rooms and bars of those watching. Though last night's loss was somewhat disappointing, the competition really kicks off on the 23rd and 29th of this month as Real Madrid and Barça face off for the Supercopa.
If all this excitement and anticipation is too much to handle, just take a deep breath. If that doesn't help, try 23 minutes of pure oxygen inhalation. Make that 99.995% pure oxygen. Apparently, it's a growing trend presumably amongst stressed and health-conscious people, willing to fork out to fill their lungs. At a cost of €25-a-session the Zen Zone Spa in Hotel Florida on Tibidabo offers a quick kip in what can only be described as a plastic bubble pumped full of brand spanking new air. If you're thinking of trying it out, just know you'll be in the greatest of company, figuratively speaking of course. Michael Jackson was rumoured to have slept in a similar bubble to fight ageing, and then there's Bubble Boy (2001), a personal favourite, based on a true story.
The festes of Sant Roc may have ended while those in Gràcia conclude today, but the party rages on in the Sants neighbourhood. So if you missed the chance to see gegants, capsgrossos and other quirky Catalan traditions, they will be paraded along the lovingly-decorated streets of Sants until Sunday.
I'll be back tomorrow for more Summer in Barcelona, until then, I'll be avoiding the heaps on the side of Barcelona roads.