Las villas de Barcelona, menos bonitas que las de Italia, sus carruajes anticuados

After riding through the lively village of St. Andreol, we found ourselves in the fertile and populous vicinity of Barcelona. The city, backed by Monjoich, has a pretty look on this side; and though it was impossible for us, whose eyes had been so lately feasted with the charms of Naples and Genoa, to be struck with the villas of Barcelona, yet returning from monastic solitude [they had been to Montserrat], they delighted us extremely. We hastened lest we should be too late for the gates, which are always shut at eight o’clock.
[…]
We found the Rambla (the parade of Barcelona) crowded by all the middle orders of the citizens ; men, women, priests, and monks. It was the double holiday of Whit-Monday and Saint Renpands. After the opera, about thirty carriages moved in procession: they were generally shabby, both as to the vehicle and the equipage; and many were of the ancient square form. The general’s (which was preceded by two dragoons) and that of the governor, were in the Parisian fashion: the harness of both was handsome, and decorated with silver; the latter had plumes on the horses’ heads.