Fluent Fiction - Catalan: A Taste of Barcelona: The Allure of Vermouth at Noon
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.org/a-taste-of-barcelona-the-allure-of-vermouth-at-noon

Story Transcript:

Ca: Els colors i els sons de Barcelona bullien sota un sol de mitja tarda, vorejant el migdia.
En: The colors and sounds of Barcelona were buzzing under a mid-afternoon sun, flirting with noon.

Ca: La plaça estava viva amb venedors ambulant, músics tocant melodies vibrants i cafeteries esquitxades per l'ombra de les palmeres on la gent estava asseguda gaudint del seu vermut.
En: The square was alive with street vendors, musicians playing vibrant melodies, and cafés splashed with the shade of palm trees where people were seated enjoying their vermouth.

Ca: Per aquesta hora, si es parava una mica i s'observava a la gent, es podia veure un fenomen que és una part integral de la cultura de Barcelona.
En: By this time, if one stopped a little and observed the people, they could see a phenomenon that is an integral part of Barcelona's culture.

Ca: La Marta, una noia nativa de Barcelona amb els ulls encès com l'oceà atlàntic, parlava animadament amb dos dels seus bons amics, Jordi i Laia.
En: Marta, a native girl from Barcelona with eyes lit up like the Atlantic ocean, was talking animatedly with two of her good friends, Jordi and Laia.

Ca: Seu una taula a fora d'una cafeteria a la plaça, un lloc vibrant on transmetre'n la cultura local al seu amic que visitava.
En: They sat at a table outside a café in the square, a vibrant place to share the local culture with their visiting friend.

Ca: A la taula, se'ls unia un nou amic, David.
En: Joining them at the table was a new friend, David.

Ca: David era un foraster, nou a la ciutat i al costat del mar Mediterrani.
En: David was a newcomer to the city and the Mediterranean Sea.

Ca: Fascinat per la cultura local, tendia a absorbir tot el que li explicant els tres amics.
En: Fascinated by the local culture, he tended to absorb everything the three friends explained to him.

Ca: "Hem parat perquè és l'hora de fer el vermut", va explicar Marta amb un somriure enigma, decidida a introduir en David a aquesta tradició local.
En: "We stopped because it's time for vermouth," Marta explained with a mysterious smile, determined to introduce David to this local tradition.

Ca: David s'arronsà les celles, "El vermut?
En: David raised his eyebrows, "Vermouth?

Ca: És un tipus d'alcohol, oi?
En: Is it a type of alcohol, isn't it?"

Ca: " Va intentar esbrinar-ho.
En: He tried to figure it out.

Ca: Jordi rià i Laia explicà: "És més que simplement una beguda.
En: Jordi laughed and Laia explained, "It's more than just a drink.

Ca: Fer el vermut és, bàsicament, la nostra manera de dir que és el moment per agafar una beguda i un aperitiu abans de dinar".
En: Having vermouth is basically our way of saying it's time to have a drink and an appetizer before lunch."

Ca: Això es feia, usualment, amb un got de vermut, un vi fortificat amb herbes, acompanyat de tapes.
En: This was typically done with a glass of vermouth, a fortified wine with herbs, accompanied by tapas.

Ca: "És un moment per relaxar-se i gaudir de la companyia dels altres," va afegir Marta amb un somriure suau.
En: "It's a moment to relax and enjoy the company of others," Marta added with a gentle smile.

Ca: David es va relaxar amb un somriure, "M'agrada aquesta tradició.
En: David relaxed with a smile, "I like this tradition.

Ca: és veritablement una genial manera d'apreciar el dia.
En: It's truly a great way to appreciate the day."

Ca: El sol segueix brillant a Barcelona i aquest quartet continuà la seva conversació, rient, gaudint de la companyia i, per descomptat, fent el vermut.
En: The sun continued to shine in Barcelona as this quartet carried on their conversation, laughing, enjoying each other's company, and, of course, having vermouth.

Ca: Les vides de la Marta, el Jordi, la Laia i el David es tocaren tot transmetent una part essencial de la seva cultura, sent aquella tarda brillant un record especial per al David.
En: The lives of Marta, Jordi, Laia, and David touched each other while sharing an essential part of their culture, making that bright afternoon a special memory for David.

Ca: Fantàstic, o no?
En: Fantastic, isn't it?

Ca: Aquest, amics míos, és el poder d'una tradició, d'una beguda, d'un moment compartit: el poder de fer el vermut a Barcelona.
En: This, my friends, is the power of a tradition, a drink, a shared moment: the power of having vermouth in Barcelona.


Vocabulary Words:

• Barcelona: Barcelona
• Colors: Colors
• Sounds: Sons
• Mid-afternoon: Mitja tarda
• Flirting: Vorejant
• Square: Plaça
• Street vendors: Venedors ambulant
• Musicians: Músics tocant
• Vibrant: Vibrants
• Cafés: Cafeteries
• Shade: Ombra
• Palm trees: Palmeres
• Seated: Asseguda
• Vermouth: Vermut
• Phenomenon: Fenomen
• Integral: Integral
• Native: Nativa
• Eyes: Ulls
• Atlantic ocean: Oceà Atlàntic
• Animatedly: Animadament
• Good friends: Bons amics
• Table: Taula
• Café: Cafeteria
• Visiting friend: Amic que visitava
• Newcomer: Foraster
• Mediterranean Sea: Mar Mediterrani
• Local culture: Cultura local
• Explained: Explicant
• Tradition: Tradició