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maltatoday SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2018 39 Travel You needn't go winching yourself in David Attenborough style up a hundred metres into rainforest canopy to see orchids, there are probably some in your nearest rocky valley right now! So if you want to spot some of the most fabulous – if not exactly the largest – of our wild flowers, now is the time to look. One of the more common orchids out at this time is the fan-lipped orchid (M. orkida ħamra). It grows in garrigue areas with plenty of soil pockets, and a cluster of these tiny beauties is a true joy. Despite Malta's small size and ever-shrinking habitat, our countryside still boasts more than two dozen species of orchid. Some are common, some are rare, but they are all pinnacles of flowerhood. Indeed orchids are among the most evolved flowers in the plant kingdom. One word of caution, if I may: if you find one of these beauties in miniature there's usually others around, so please tread lightly. And never EVER pick any! For Valentine's Day, how about getting some delicious honey for your loved ones? The bees will love you too! We need your support to help the bee population thrive. This year we will be having our first harvest of honey from the beehives! How about getting an ethical gift this Valentine's Day? By sponsoring one of our bee hives, you will in return receive a gift back from our bees. 596. FAN-LIPPED ORCHID Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 499: Find out more: http:// http://www.foemalta.org/honey Text Victor Falzon Photo Desirée Falzon BEST PLACE TO EAT Barcelona is a food lover's paradise. With over 20 Michelin starred restaurants, the city is home to Ferran Adria, the mastermind behind the Catalan restaurant elBuli, that was the world's number one restaurant in it's hey day. Rising stars also make Barcelona their home, with chefs like Jordi Curz of ABaC, who is famed for being the torch-bearer of Barce- lona's modern cuisine. You can't eat Michelin star everyday and this is not the culinary area in which Barcelona excels. Almost every restaurant serves a vari- ety of quality tapas, whether Catalan or from other parts of the world. Ten's is Jordi Cruz's interpretation of what a tapas bar should be. Expect tapas like squid with citronella aioli as well as dishes from ABaC. El Jabali is perfect for people watching on the terrace while sip- ping on some delightful Spanish wines and indulging in favourites like patatas bravas and cured sausage. A trip to Barcelona is not complete without a stop at La Boqueria. Barcelona's best food market is packed with permanent stalls sell- ing fresh fruit and veg, cheese, cold meats and olive oils. These are all laid out around the central fresh fish market. La Boqueria isn't all about buying and selling though, you can just as easily sit down for tapas and cold beers while taking in the Spanish delicacies. BEST PLACE TO STAY The best place to stay in Barcelona re- ally depends on what you're looking for in your holiday. The district of Barce- loneta is where the city's six kilometres of beaches begin. Expect to find lively beach shacks (xiringuitos) and upmar- ket seafood restaurants – perfect if you're planning a beach holiday in the city. If you're a Gaudi fan, then the place to stay would be the Eixample district, the construction of which coincided with the Modernista Movement. This is where you'll find most of Gaudi's build- ings, such as Sagrada Familia and the Casa Batllo. This is also a great area for shopping with flagship stores of many of the high street and designer stores. Raval was once the haunt of the city's lowlife, until a great modern art mu- seum was placed in the centre. Today there are shops and restaurants all around the museum and though not as pretty as some other areas in Barcelona, it has a certain charm. The Gothic Quarter is a maze of narrow alleyways opening up into large sunny squares. This is where you'll find the Catedral de la Seu. El Born was traditionally the textile and clothing district and is still home to plenty of atelier boutiques. This is the spot if you're looking for elegant clothing or cool bars and restaurants and Palau de la Musica concert Hall. BEST SPOT FOR SHOPPING Though Las Ramblas is avoided by many locals as it is a bit touristy, it is an experience that should not be missed. This sequence of promenades runs from Placa de Catalunya all the way down to the Columbus Monument at the waterfront. Lined with trees, this is the perfect place for a stroll through the city taking in the live statues, street performers, flower stands and bird sellers. On either side of the promenade you'll find all the big names in shops from H&M to Zara and every- thing in between. The market La Boqueria is jam packed with permanent stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, cold meats, cheeses, olive oils and fish and also has plenty of spots to indulge in tapas and cold beers The Gothic Quarter is a maze of narrow streets that open up onto sunny squares The Gothic Quarter is a maze of narrow streets that open up onto sunny squares