PEOPLE
Life in Barcelona is characterised by dynamic commercial activity and a vibrant social scene tempered, of course, by a dash of Catalan coolness

Catalans in general, and Barcelonans in particular, are famed for their business acumen, their passion for work, and their economic ability. In southern Spain they are seen as cold, tight-fisted and work-obsessed. The laid-back, manana attitude of the popular Spanish stereotype scarcely exists in Barcelona. But then, as the Catalans will never tire of telling you, and as the history of their nation clearly shows, Catalonia and its capital city are definitely not Spain.

In Barcelona, 10 o´clock means 10 o´clock, not half past 11, which is bliss if you want to do some serious business. Anem per feina! is a common expression, once pressed into service as a Catalan nationalist election slogan: Let´s get down to work!

Shop till you drop
Like the British, Catalonia has been dubbed a nation of shopkeepers and, indeed, Barcelona has a staggering number of shops. This is not so surprising when you consider that its background is purely mercantile, right back to the Phoenicians and Romans. This bourgeois city was built up through family enterprise and is now being promoted as one of the the places to shop. The slogan that once graced the carier bags of the famous Vincon design store puts it in a nutshell: “I shop, therefore I am.”

Barcelona exudes an air of prosperity and elegance and is no longer a particularly cheap city. The standard of living is high, but it has to be paid for, and the work ethic is especially noticeable if you come to Barcelona from elsewhere in Spain. You can see it in the comparatively early closing of bars and restaurants (early to bed) and the very long opening hours of shops. Efficiency, punctuality and deeply serious reliability are of the essence. Barcelona works very hard. It visibly bustles with immaculately dressed and groomed urban professionals striding in and out of shops, offices and banks with document cases, folders and parcels, all with mobile phones clamped to their ears – this is life on the fast track.

Prudence versus impulse
The Catalans call these apparently contradictory facets of their character el seny and la rauxa. The former is a combination of prudence, profound common sense and sensible judgement; the latter a fit, impulse or emotional outburst: a kind of attack of wildness.

You can see both sides of the Catalan character in the way they drive, for example. In contrast with other flamboyant cities, Barcelona traffic is, in fact, extremely disciplined and orderly. They keep in lane and are very good at indicating. They stop on red, and go on green – fast.