Anyone Visited Barcelona?

[mosaix]

We're going for four days at the beginning of March.

Getting around will be a bit difficult because I have my leg in plaster and so a short break becomes even shorter.

So what are the 'must see' places?

Any advice appreciated.

[jackokent]

Leg in plaster! What have you done?

There are lots of must see places, Barcelona is a wonderful place and feels very compact so you should be able to get around and see it all.

I will list my favorites in order:

The Cable Car - loved looking over the whole city and seeing all the things I'd be visiting later.

The Sagrada Familia - awesome. Completly touristy but if you miss this you are really missng out. The roof is my favorite bit. But as some lovely resturants surrounding it where you can sit and eat and just look at it. Barcelona is not too expensive to eat out even in the amazig scenic places.

The Gaudi buildings - can't help it, I am a complete tourist and they are simply amazing.

The Sagrada Familia - awesome. Completly touristy but if you miss this you are really missng out.

A park which I think is called Guel or something - is got all sorts of wonderful things in it and lovely curvy trees and a house that looks like it's made of marshmallows.

La Ramblas - it's great it you love open air markets but what I loved are the amazing human statues - I wish I knew how to post photos.

I could go on for ages - you'll love it, it's a wonderful city.

[mosaix]

Thanks for this Jacko - much appreciated.

I've torn my Achilles tendon, playing squash nearly three weeks ago. Very painful at the time but OK now. Just got to plaster on for another five weeks then physiotherapy for a month or two. No squash for me for a while!

I see you're away for a while - have a good time.

[jackokent]

I was going to ask if it was squah, that game is a killer. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I didn't get as much time in Barcelona as I would have liked, a group of 13 of us booked two huge flats on a bit of a whim and went over for a big festival a couple years ago. It was spectacular wth massive colourful parades marching through the city and fireworks lighting up the sea front.

What struct me most about the city was the lovely streets. I don't know if you've ever read Shadow of the Wind, but it's reallly describes the streets and city well. Unfortunately I only got to do the touristy things and didn't have time to sit in the wonderful cafes and soak up the atmosphere or just ramble through the old part of the city. I'd go back tomorrow if there wasn't so much more of the world I wanted to see too.

Looking forward to getting away for a week in the sun and forgetting the stresses of work. No idea what the Gambia is like - hot and sunny is all I know. Not looking forward to driving to Manchester in a minute though.

Oh almost forgot - the bars don't shut in Barcelona - that's another great thing.

I had a flying visit (actually we used the train but that's not important right now) ther} a few years back.
I didn't get to see half of the things jacko talked about but I did go & see,"Snowflake" at the Barcelona zoo, amongst others. Snowflake was an albino mountain gorilla. Sadly he died a few years ago but I$also enjoyed the sealion/dolphin show which they have there.

I did struggle with the language a little though as, being a major spanish city, not many people0spoke english and my spanish is restricted to ordering drinks or saying who I am and where I am from

[Allegra]

Mosaix, it's a good time to visit Barcelona, so much better than the noisy crowd high summer season which spoils the fun. Apart from what Jacko mentioned (yes don't miss the Gaudi House it's absolutely amazing!), I also recommend the following places:

The Picasso Museum. It holds the largest collection of the master's works. Located in a very narrow street with a small entrance, not far from city center but not easy to find and you may find a queue as well. But shouldn't be missed. Some useful info: Barcelona Museums. Gaudi, Miro, Picasso …)

Palau de la Música Catalana (The Palace of Catalan Music) - one of the best concert venues in Europe. The building is only about century old but the architect is a real masterpiece, extremely rich and decorative in design.

There's also a nice aquarium across the river from Colombo's monument.

Montserrat Benedictine Monastery - 60 kilometers from Barcelona on high mountains. If you take a guided excursion the coach will take you all the way up to the top so it shouldn't be a problem for your leg. On the way up the views are breathtaking and the locals consider the monastery a spiritual symbol of Catalonia.

As Jacko helpfully pointed out , the bars are open till early morning. Mind you the shops won't open before 10am, and lunch usually is after 2. So if you are a night person you are in the right place!

Jacko is right about The Shadow of The Wind. The descriptions make you feel you are there. mosaix, if you haven't read the book you should take a copy with you. You will be looking for the cemetery of the forgotten books when you are wandering around those lovely streets!

Wish you a great time!

[mosaix]

Many thanks for this everyone.

[mosaix]

We're off first thing in the morning - back Monday.

Have a good weekend everyone.

[aarti]

I LOVE Barcelona! I second the suggestion for Guel Park- it's really great fun. Gaudi is all over Barcelona. The Park is kind of far away- I suggest a cab, especially with your leg in a cast :-) And there are also two homes that Gaudi designed; I visited one of them, and it was pretty cool.

Sagrada Familia is great to see from the outside, though I hear the inside isn't that impressive. I also liked Las Ramblas. I think there is also a site where you can go and see the city from above. Or maybe I'm confusing myself. I'd really recommend just sitting and people watching on the Ramblas for a while- it's pretty eclectic!

[Allegra]

mosaix, guess you are now familiar with these La Ramblas residents?

[mosaix]

Hi Allegra - I didn't actually see those ones, but there were others quite similar.

The Sagrada Familia is something else. Gaudi had one strange mind.

Normally we would have walked miles but with my leg in plaster we mostly took busses and taxis and I think we missed a lot. We'll just have to go back again!