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Barcelona

Trip brainstorm

Barcelona is a big city with gazillions sights to see and things to do. 1 day will get you only a fraction of it unless you buy one of those bus tours which take you to all major sites in in a half a day and a full day to give you time to hop out, explore a little bit and take a few snap shots. 2 days will make you hungry for more. 3 days, now you’re start talking.

Being the city’s transportation hub, Placa de Catalunya, a large, busy plaza dividing Barcelona’s Old town (Ciutat Vella in Catalan) and the New district, is likely to be a spot where tourists first find themselves wandering around upon their arrival in the city or often returning in order to connect to other part of Barcelona. If you are not in a rush, stop, find a bench and sit down like the locals and start watching people. From this plaza, your feet will somehow get you down to Las Ramblas (The streams), Barcelona most famous street. This 1 km long stretch takes you past souvenir kiosks, street mimes, stalls selling pets (chicken, birds, turtles to name a few) all the way down to the waterfront. On the way, you won’t be able to resist a quick stop at La Boqueria market, a huge indoor market offering colossal legs of smoked ham, dead rabbits, bags of snails, dead birds hanging above your head in addition to big fresh, fat, handsome fish and seafood of various kinds. The scene will either scare the heck out of any vegetarian or make him regret the vouch of never to eat meat. You don’t need to be hungry to feel your stomach calling by the sights of many food stands serving Spanish most celebrated delicacy, tapas. Sit down and order a small portion of olives or potato omelets. Further down the La Ramblas, a few blocks away from the main street is Placa de Reial (Plaza Real), a modern 19th century plaza adorned by palm trees and elegant street lamps. Continue all the way to the end of Las Ramblas, you will arrive at Port Vell harbors, a mega shopping complex Maremagnum, a cinema and an aquarium. Can be seen from far away, Christopher Columbus’ tall monument stands in the exact location where he returned to Spain in 1943 after having discovered the New World. The iconic man points to a direction which we would think the toward the New World, but in reality he points to Italy, his home country.

Back tracking on Las Ramblas or wandering northward to Barcelona’s web of small alleys, you will walk into Barri Gotic (Gothic district), the center of the Old town and the city Cathedral. Take a walk on the sidestreet Carrer del Bisbe Irurita, a tiny street under a beautiful archway. Other relaxing spot to hang out are the lovely Plaça Sant Felip Neri and Plaça del Pi.

La Ribera, a charming, bike friendly area, is a popular tourist spot by having Picasso museum in neighborhood. [Picassco] The world most famous artist of the 20th century, Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Clito Ruiz y Picasso. Jesus Christ, this is his real name but anyway, he spent his teenage and early adult years (14-21) here in Barcelona and painted a lot during this period. The museum has the largest collection of Picasso artworks showing his earlier paintings, transition to his later masterpieces. Picasso started out painting typical dull-color, depressing portraits and countryside landscape familiar to him. Later, his artistic style changed dramatically which can been clearly seen in many of his abstract paintings and his pioneered cubist art.

Barcelona’s other must-see are fairytale like buildings designed by Antonin Gaudi, the greatest Catalan architect. Even if art is not your cup of tea, you can not help but to be amazed by the magnificence of his work of arts sprinkling in various parts of the city. Gaudi broke away from the symmetric design convention of his time and developed his own styles. Because of that, Barcelona’s architect is probably the most unique Europe; you will not see anything like this elsewhere. Top Gaudi’s masterpieces are the Sagrada Familia , La Pedrera , Casa Batllo and Parc Guell. The Sagrada Familia, started in 1883, is still a work in progress and won’t be finished in another 50 years. La Pedrera, Casa Mila, a bulding designed without a single straight line, was originally planned to provide housings and offices. The project, however, failed because potential renters were afraid of the difficulty of refurnishing the irregular space. The beautiful facade provokes images of ocean waves, ice-cream cone, caves carved into rock cliff or even holes for giant pigeons. The colorful Casa Batlo is a head-turner with its skull-like balcony support pillars resembling human bones. Parc Guel, a huge park, resembles a Walt Disney film set. You will be surprised to know that this park was intended to be a housing complex which turned out to be a complete commercial failure. Perhaps the artist’s bold vision is still light year a head of his time.

Eat

- Seafood Paella: colorful yellow rice dish served in a round pan and sprinkled on top with pink shrimps and other kinds of seafood.
- Ham (jamon) sandwich: at first look can be very plain with just one or two thin slices of smoked ham in the baguette. It was the best ham I have eaten.
- Of course you can not miss tapas, a wide variety of snacks (olives, shrimp, squids, calamari, ham, potato omelet, cheese, salad) you are served for free as complements to your drink or you can buy them at any markets, bars and restaurants. Not only food, tapas represent Spanish lifestyle, socializing with friends and eating in small portion. Tapas are best eating with a group of people because you can order many different kinds and sample them all.

Accommodation

Sample cost

Being a popular tourist destination, Barcelona is not overly expensive. Even if you do spend money, you feel somehow it’s worth it in this city (and Spain). With so many beautiful sights to see and things to do, good food, plus the warm weather and the pleasant Spanish personality, travelers get a good value of every euro that they spend.

Accommodation
Hostel: from €8
Apartment, guesthouse: from €12
Budget hotel: from €15 / person (double occupancy)

Transportation
Metro: single-ride €1.45, 10-ride €9

Food
Paella plate: from €10
Ham sandwich: from €2
Tapas: from €1.5-8

Transportation

International Barcelona airport have flights to other major European cities. Easy transport to the city via direct train and bus. Lowcost airlines Ryainar and Wizzair operate from Girona and Reus (Ryaniar only) airports, 100 km north and south of Barcelona. Bus transfer from Girona airport to Barcelona city center cost €12 oneway, €21 return. From Reus airport, take a bus Reus train station and then a train to Barcelona (€2, €6) or use a Ryanair shuttle bus which costs €13 oneway, €22 return. The trip takes 1.5 hours. Keep this in mind when you have connecting flights from different airports.

Well connected bus and train network to other major cities in Europe.