Barcelona *****
After our shopping in Andorra we took the small roads to Barcelona. The road is nicely surrounded with beautiful scenery. We drove via la Seu d'Ariege, Bagá, Berga, Puig-reig, Navas and Ruby. I was again looking forward to Barcelona beacuse I think it is one of the most fanatstic cities I have been in - and I really enjoy just walking the streets of the city.
I had booked a hotel over the internet and this time I had been nice to us - I got a fantastic deal on a room at the The Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel that was down from 545€ a night to 175€. The Grand marina hotel Barcelona is about 10 - 15 minutes walk from the Southern most end of the Ramblas, near Monument a Colum - the memorial to the great explorer Christopher Columbus.
When we came to the hotel, there had been some mistakes so we even got an upgade again - I didn't think you could upgrade a room at 545€ a night, but we got a fantastic room and my son was overwrought by it.
We quickly left everything in the room and went out for a walk in the streets. Walking around in Barcelona is for me a treat. I just love the scent of this city and the mix of different styles - it is like everything is build into each other and it loos like it always have been ment to be. We started at Placa Reial which for me is just a lovely space in the middle of the center. The market place is just the spot for a cold beer and a place to sit and just watch people go by.
This awesome hotel in the heart of Barcelona lies at the end of La Rambla and forms a significant part of Port Vell (the Old Port). There is easy access to La Rambla and from there to Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona´s hub, and on to the prestigious Passeig de Gracia, home to two of Gaudí´s most famous buildings, Casa Battló and the Pedrera. This route is also great for shopping, with many of the streets lined with nice boutiques.
This visually huge hotel is facing the sea, and with a total area of almost 2 hectares. The hotel rises up on the western side of the rectangle that constitutes the World Trade Centre complex and dominating the entire peer of dock 18.
The architectural structure of the hotel is designed to reminiscent the bridge of a large ship. The hotel also has a lobby lounge and a piano bar, featuring live music every evening of the week.
The Grand Marina has a gymnasium with a sauna and Jacuzzi, as well as an outdoor swimming pool with great views of the city, both of which are on the eighth floor. The hotel has a total of 235 double rooms on eight floors, including 38 suites.
I was lucky to get and upgrade to one of the suites and it was probably one of the best hotel rooms I ever staying in. The suite was fairly large and +40m2 in areas, I guess. The bathroom was equipped with water massage bathtub, and separate shower stall. The decoration was elegant and classy, rich on woods in relaxing tone.
Awesome, expensive and well organized
WOW
The food is very modern and I have always enjoyed their meat dishes. The situation of the restaurant is very chic and nice, if you can get a table outside it is preferable. Service is swift and honest, not pushy and you can find in many of this tourist spots.
The restaurant is situated in an old taxidermist shop in a picturesque square - it is said that Dali used to buy his stuffed animals from this former shop.
Sitting eating outside overlooking the square with all the action and the people is just a must and it will make your evening in Barcelona even more enjoyable.
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