Barcelona - The City
July 23, 2008
barcelona - arc de triomph
i was never in spain before...
i only knew it from pictures, or from hearings of my friends... stories they told me about spain.
i'm a fan of big cities... so i decided to visit barcelona...
lots of movies play in barcelona, it's famous for it's rock'n'roll scene, clothing fashion, and it's cultural side..
the first day when we arrived...
we imediately left the hotel...and went straight the middle of the city...the gothic part, and old-town..
i somehow was decieved... it wasn't beautiful at all...
the old houses looked very nasty, strange people were in the streets, and all the small alleys stank!
the scent was awful...it smelled like trash, garbage, piss... ok you gotta admit it's very WARM in summer ...
but if you visit a huge city, you might imagine its center somehow different.
well we ran through the streets, saw lots of shops, bars, small restaurants...and some bigger spots like
the "ramblas" (actually it's not a nice spot, the shops aren't interesting, but it's always terrible CROWDED)...
the plaza reial.. surround by shiny palmtrees and lots of restaurants...
but the next days i discovered the more cheerful sides of barcelona...
the modern part at the harbor...
it's more like a tourist attraction... the outside design looks very modern... surrounded by lots of boats, the ocean, a big shopping mall..
and close to it there's an aquarium attraction....and on the otherside you can walk to the beach...
the walk next to the beach is pretty nice...lots of charming bars, and beach shops..and of course modern architecture...
a little bit in the north.
barcelona shore
you could visit the parc guell famous for gaudi's art works...
i loved it... it's a beautiful place with a skyline of the city of barcelona...
a nice spot to take lots of pictures..
in the center of barcelona... there are several parks...beautiful parks with lakes, beautiful sceneries..
the sagrada familia...is the most beautiful cathedral i've ever seen...and i'm REALLY NOT A FAN of churches and cathedrals.
....... well i don't wanna list all the things i've seen it barcelona...
but during summer time it's a very nice place to visit..
it's got a lot of cultural attractions...a nice beach... hot weather... very tasty (and cheap) food...and TOO MANY shops...
too bad i didn't go out at nigth in barcelona...
but there were LOTS of pretty girls...i can imagine that it has got a amazing nightlife as well..
lots of tourists too! all the tourists go out at night! :-p
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barcelona - arc de triomph
barcelona shore
plazza de reial
city parc
barcelona - shore
barcelona - plazza reial
downtown
oldtown
hairdresser in barcelona
the harbor area
nice shopping mall in barcelona
the shopping mall "DIAGONAL MAR" is little bit outside the core of the city... but you can reach it easily with a 10-15 minute subway-ride...
take the yellow line (subway) and get out at the "El Maresme" station...
- lots of different restaurants : mexican, german, korean, chinese, burger king, ben&jerry's, american pub ...
- lots of fashion brands : pepe jeans, desigual, jack&jones, esprit, energie, esprit, quiksilver...
- dvds, cds, book stores : fnac, mediamarkt
i'd recommend that mall, beside the more popular one at the harbor area... (which actually isn't any better)
take the yellow line (subway) and get out at the "El Maresme" station...
- lots of different restaurants : mexican, german, korean, chinese, burger king, ben&jerry's, american pub ...
- lots of fashion brands : pepe jeans, desigual, jack&jones, esprit, energie, esprit, quiksilver...
- dvds, cds, book stores : fnac, mediamarkt
i'd recommend that mall, beside the more popular one at the harbor area... (which actually isn't any better)
arty, classy, clean BUT cheap hotel ! i highly recommend it.
i stayed 4 nights in this splendid hotel.
it was my first trip to barcelona, so i didn't really know what it would be like over there.
compared to most parts of the city, the hotel was super CLEAN.
the lobby looks pretty arty, with a wire-like neon light that cover the whole ceiling.
the guys at the desk were pretty friendly, but they weren't the best english speaker...
like most of the spanish people i've talked to in barcelona, they hardly knew a few english words...
but of course it wasn't a problem at all, to let him know that you're checking in or out:)
the bed room (1 double bed) was rather big. very nice & arty rooms! modern indoor design..
1 shower & a bath in the bathroom. also pretty modern. the room had a tv, phone, air conditioning, safe,
1 big shelf... lots of lights...
the breakfast was the best one i've had so far in a hotel...
they had a buffet with lots of spanish food : salami, different cheeses, hams, chorizo, several breads, toasts, 3-4 sorts of fruits, cakes, pies, coffee, warm milk, oj, juices, cornflakes, eggs, bacon, sausages...
and of course it was "all you can eat"... the dining room was clean, and the staff was friendly (only spanish speakers)...
the only "not so good" thing about the hotel, was the location...
actually it was located in a very friendly block...
- 3 minute walk to the next metro station ("arce the triomphe" subway station)
- 10 minute walk to the placa catalunia
- 10 minute walk to the sagrada familia church
actually we always took the subway, even for going to the catalunia place...
a 4 day ticket, was like 15-18 euros... which was pretty cheap. it's as easy to use as the
london subway... the rides are always crowded, so it's also safe at night.
i would always again book a room at the hotel ayre caspe...
if you wanna meet young people, and wanna party at the hotel...you should try another one...
this one's got a more quiet athmosphere... young and mid-aged people... but the blocks around the hotel aren't the best party spots...but as i said... use the subway and it will bring you to all the different spots
BIG + for the cleanliness, modern design, and price of this hotel!
highly recommended!
it was my first trip to barcelona, so i didn't really know what it would be like over there.
compared to most parts of the city, the hotel was super CLEAN.
the lobby looks pretty arty, with a wire-like neon light that cover the whole ceiling.
the guys at the desk were pretty friendly, but they weren't the best english speaker...
like most of the spanish people i've talked to in barcelona, they hardly knew a few english words...
but of course it wasn't a problem at all, to let him know that you're checking in or out:)
the bed room (1 double bed) was rather big. very nice & arty rooms! modern indoor design..
1 shower & a bath in the bathroom. also pretty modern. the room had a tv, phone, air conditioning, safe,
1 big shelf... lots of lights...
the breakfast was the best one i've had so far in a hotel...
they had a buffet with lots of spanish food : salami, different cheeses, hams, chorizo, several breads, toasts, 3-4 sorts of fruits, cakes, pies, coffee, warm milk, oj, juices, cornflakes, eggs, bacon, sausages...
and of course it was "all you can eat"... the dining room was clean, and the staff was friendly (only spanish speakers)...
the only "not so good" thing about the hotel, was the location...
actually it was located in a very friendly block...
- 3 minute walk to the next metro station ("arce the triomphe" subway station)
- 10 minute walk to the placa catalunia
- 10 minute walk to the sagrada familia church
actually we always took the subway, even for going to the catalunia place...
a 4 day ticket, was like 15-18 euros... which was pretty cheap. it's as easy to use as the
london subway... the rides are always crowded, so it's also safe at night.
i would always again book a room at the hotel ayre caspe...
if you wanna meet young people, and wanna party at the hotel...you should try another one...
this one's got a more quiet athmosphere... young and mid-aged people... but the blocks around the hotel aren't the best party spots...but as i said... use the subway and it will bring you to all the different spots
BIG + for the cleanliness, modern design, and price of this hotel!
highly recommended!
lobby
our bed
bathroom
once again, delicious, good looking tapas, for a few bucks!
this one belongs to my favorite small restaurants in barcelona...
the tapas are pretty cheap around 3-5 - 6 euros...
they're very delicious, and you can have a complete meal, 2 plates + dessert + water for 14-16 euros.
the staff is very friendly..and most of them speak at least 3 languages...
the interior looks very stylish, sober but classy wall designs...
i'd always turn back again..to have a good charming diner..
the tapas are pretty cheap around 3-5 - 6 euros...
they're very delicious, and you can have a complete meal, 2 plates + dessert + water for 14-16 euros.
the staff is very friendly..and most of them speak at least 3 languages...
the interior looks very stylish, sober but classy wall designs...
i'd always turn back again..to have a good charming diner..
