The ultimate secret of the Rambla

The fame achieved by the main artery of the Catalan capital within and beyond our borders is already a cliche. However, perhaps the ultimate secret of its appeal has never been discovered or explained convincingly. Ignasi Torralba had also pondered this question and, upon reflection, he explains an anecdote that impacted him and, in a beautiful and allegorical way, allows us to open the door to the mystery. An anecdote that, in a conference, was narrated by Miguel Carballeda, a nearly blind person and high-ranking official of the ONCE. Mr. Carballeda said that, for him, La Rambla was the ideal street or promenade and suggested to those listening to him to try it by walking the route, holding onto a friend's arm and closing their eyes. "At first, you feel the flutter of birds, coming from the bird stalls. As you walk down La Rambla, suddenly you perceive the diverse scent of flowers. Then you smell the ink of newspapers, magazines, and books. Next, you become aware of the animation of chairs and tables and then you know you are passing by the terraces where people sit to watch passersby. Finally, you start to notice the salty smell of seawater. You are at the end, where all paths converge."