I suppose he’s right. But I want to do so many things today that, just in case, I decide to finish my drink and ask for the bill. We leave Superclàssic together. It’s another temple, but this time to the tradition of enjoying vermouth that has permeated Barcelona so thoroughly.

Emerging into El Raval – the former Chinatown of Barcelona – we make our way through La Boquería, the market which offers up the best of Barcelonan cuisine. Its dizzying 300-plus stalls are more than worth queuing for – exquisite fruits and vegetables, cold cuts and cheeses, croquettes and cod, and artisan vermouths. Outside, La Rambla offers no relief. Every time I’m in Barcelona, I like to stroll along the city’s most famous boulevard to feel its unique pulse.

In the late afternoon, there is a throng of passers-by, flower sellers and visitors looking for the Canaletes Fountain, as legend has it that whoever drinks from it will return to Barcelona. I wait my turn and drink. Jorge, meanwhile, has picked up two bicycles in Plaza Cataluña. Much flatter than other Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona has been investing in sustainable mobility for years. It now has more than 1,050 kilometres of road suitable for biking. Numerous apps allow you to easily rent bikes by the minute, with hundreds of pick-up and return stations.