Carrer de les Dames,
Jaume I

One of the many narrow streets to be found south of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar. This area, part of the city's medieval quarter, once bordered the shoreline thus explaining its name 'La Riberia', which means 'the waterfront'.

Sailor's superstitions are well documented, fear of rabbits, stepping ashore on the wrong foot, setting sail on a Friday and so on. But should the sea turn particularly nasty in these parts, an unmarried Catalan sailor had a very special 'ace card' hidden up his salty sleeve.

A promise to God to marry the very first woman he spotted on arrival back to terra firma automatically granted a safe passage for the ship and its crew.

The old, ugly and unwanted women of Barcelona soon became wise to this. Not wishing to be left on the shelf for ever, on stormy nights here they would gather prior to pacing the shoreline; longing for the arrival of a distressed seaman. The street became known as 'Street of the Women' and its name still survives; a reminder of their matrimonial optimism and the wish to stay afloat.

contributor: Nigel Hayler