The 'B' Word
Welcome to the 18th edition of ‘The B Word’, a newsletter for everyone who loves Barcelona. Whether you live here, are planning on living here, are visiting or are simply a fan of the city, I’m sure you’ll find lots here to interest you.
This newsletter is compiled by Esme Fox, a Barcelona-based freelance journalist. If you love 'The B Word' please show your support by
buying me a virtual café con leche (coffee).
Welcome, Bienvenidos and Benvinguts to all new and regular subscribers of The 'B' Word.
Firstly I want to thank everyone for their support in starting this newsletter back up again. It now has over 250 subscribers and I hope you will all continue to enjoy it and learn something new about the city every time you receive it.
This issue I want to talk about a topic that is drastically affecting Barcelona and its wider metropolitan area, yet one that no one seems to be talking about. It's also one that as a journalist, I've been researching about this week and writing several stories on. This is the city's ongoing drought, which has now reached alarming levels.
Yes I know, it's not a cheery topic, but it's one as residents or lovers of this city, we have a responsibility to be aware of.
If you live in Barcelona, you will of course be aware of the summer heatwaves, the lack of rain, and the fact that the city's fountains haven't been operating for at least the past year, but I've found out that unless you really dig down and do the research, there really isn't enough being said about just how bad the situation has gotten.
Today, the Ter-Llobregat reservoir that feeds the city and its surrounding areas is at its lowest level since records began in 1915 at just under 19 percent of its capacity.
In the last few days, we entered a new pre-emergency level and by December, just two weeks away, experts are predicting that Barcelona will enter the highest emergency situation and that levels will be down to a critical 16 percent.
Several minor restrictions have been put in place such as not being allowed to wash cars, fill swimming pools or water gardens, but as of yet, they're not really affecting most of us who live here.
The consumption limit is currently 230 litres of water per person per day in the city, but this isn't noticeable at all because according to the Ajuntament de Barcelona, on average Barcelona residents use 106 litres per person per day.
Samuel Reyes, director of the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has said the ideal consumption level we should really be aiming for at this time is 90 litres per person.
How many of us are currently really thinking about the water we use every day? Just to put it into perspective, a 5-minute shower uses around 75–90 litres of water, while a bath can use more than double, and brushing your teeth with the water left running for two minutes wastes around 12 litres.
I mentioned in one of my earliest newsletters a couple of years ago about how I visited Cape Town, South Africa in 2018 during one of the worst droughts they'd ever had. At that time, the limit for both residents and tourists was 50 litres per day. This meant that showers were limited to one minute, baths were not allowed at all and water was turned off at sinks - hands had to be washed with sanitiser instead.
Hopefully, if we all do our part, it can begin to make a small difference and we won't have to get to that situation, in the meantime, I'm off to do a little rain dance.
Business Hot Spot
Viet Kitchen
It's just about getting cool enough to start thinking about soup, and when I think of soup, I usually picture Vietnamese pho. One of my favourite places to get this in the city is Viet Kitchen. As well as the hot and steamy traditional bowls, where you get to add your own coriander and beansprouts, they do sizzling Vietnamese pancakes and bún bò cold noodle salads. They also offer a great value menú del día for €13.50.
What's On
There's always something going on in Barcelona. Check out the events this week.
World Press Photo (until Dec 17)
One of the world's best photography competitions, World Press Photo is now on in Barcelona at the CCCB. It brings together all the very best photojournalism of the year. Tickets can be bought here.
Dau Barcelona Games Festival (Nov 18-19)
Taking place at the Fabra i Coats gallery and creation factory in Sant Andreu, this festival is perfect for board game lovers of all kinds. It offers the chance to play the classics, as well as discover new and innovative ones.
Barcelona's Christmas Lights Switching on Ceremony (Nov 23)
It doesn't seem like we should be getting ready for Christmas just yet, as it's simply not cold enough, but nevertheless, Barcelona will be switching on its Christmas lights in one week's time. This year's ceremony will take place on Passeig de Gràcia to celebrate 200 years of one of the city's most iconic streets.
Catalan Phrase/Word of the Day
Sequera — Drought
If you think a friend would like to receive this newsletter, send them this link to sign up: eepurl.com/g_Ye9z