August in Barcelona

I've been in Barcelona before in August but this year it seems to be even more barren than usual. Vacciones. OK the tourists are still thronging around the the barrio gotico and the Ramblas but up here in the Eixample it seems a little lonely. The market is pretty much closed as is the bakery across the street. It seems that the only places that open are the second string bars that are bound and determined to squeeze the last euro out of the tourists and the few locals that are left. It's telling how much the day to day rhythms mean to me. Spain is all about rhythms.