I Heart Barcelona

Couple plugs: for some amazing tapas for not much money, go to Las Flautas. It's on Aribau St, not sure of the number, but it's on your left if you're walking down Aribau Street towards Arago St, (not too far away from Arago.)

For some nightime flavour, head down to El Parallel!

posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 1:41 AM

Barcelona News

Until my lazy butt can put up some cool links to useful information, you might as well read the Barcelona News...

posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 2:25 AM

Accomodation

I highly recommend Hostal Cisneros in Barcelona...you can make a reservation via e-mail or you can call them. They're fairly close to where you would pick up the tour bus I describe way down below and they're close to a Metro stop. If any of you crazy friends of mine need help constructing an e-mail in Spanish, let me know. If you decide to call, you should be fine. Everyone I met there could handle English. I spoke Spanish most of the time to get better at it, but they are used to people speaking English. (The address below means it's on Aribau St, number 54, at the corner of Aragó.)

Héctor (hc@hostalcisneros.com)
Hostal Cisneros
Aribau 54 (esquina Aragó)
Barcelona 08011
España
Tel.: +34 934541800

Tour Bus Info: Check out the website and read my comments down on my 2nd entry.

posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 5:19 AM

p.s. Any suggestions/comments, send to Lori

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posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 4:04 AM

La Pedrera: It's a wavy shaped building that's as cool inside as it is outside. The 360 degree views of Barcelona from the roof as well as the roof itself are musts. Beware of the gift shop - there's too much to choose from.

Park Güell: I spent 2.5 hours here and still didn't see it all. If you're a writer or an artist, this is a good place to bring a notepad/sketchpad. Yes, it's just a park, but it's not just a park. It's a fantastic marriage of architecture and nature, both making each other look even more beautiful than they would be on their own. Tip: Keep climbing, the views only get better.

La Sagrada Familia: It's an amazing church that has been under construction forever and will probably be under construction for ever. The outside is mind-boggling, but the inside if my favourite part. The columns in the centre are build like trees with branches and there are sunflower ceilings with light shining down through the centres of the sunflowers. Gaudi was very much influenced by nature and it comes through even in the middle of this church. Take your time walking the perimeter of the outside. It's worth it taking the elevator inside and then the stairs to the tops of the towers. Don't forget your camera for the views, though do take deep breaths and patience with you as there will be idiots who think they can squeeze past you on the tiny staircases.

Port Vell: The heart of Barcelona's Harbour, it's a romantic display of sailboats. You can check out the Aquarium and if you're desperately need to shop, MareMagnum is right there.

Tibidabo: This is one of the best ideas I've ever seen or heard of - build a church and an amusement park on top of a mountain. The highest point in Barcelona, you feel like you're on top of the world here. Climb up to the top of the Church for the best views of the city below mixed in with ferris wheels and rides. You'll need to take a trolley/cable car (just like in San Francisco) and then the 'Tibidabo Train' - Funicular Tibidabo - to get to the top.

Sitges: This is definitely the best swimming experience I've ever had in saltwater. The turquoise Mediterranean sea feels fantastic in July. You can see straight down to the sand below your feet, with enough waves to keep you in shape. The beach goes on for quite a while, which is good as it's super crowded on a beautiful day. Sitges the town looks and feels old and lovely - like you're caught in some sort of romantic time warp. Friendly people, hot sand. It's a 40 minute train ride from Estacio Sants - Sitges stop.

Mount Juic: Time for some real cable cars now - as in the tiny little red ones that fly you across the sky. Take the cable cars to the top of Mount Juic for yet another panoramic view of Barcelona. Don't wait until you get to the top to take photos - definitely take some while you're dangling in the air.

Cactus Gardens: Yes, Cactus Gardens. You feel like you're on another planet for some reason. It's quiet, beautiful, and a great place to think and gape at some of the funkiest plants I've ever seen. Plus, more great views of the city below.

Las Ramblas: These are a collection of streets that seem to go on forever. You can't just take a walk down the entirety of Las Ramblas, I think I read they extend 12kms. If you get to the end, and I suggest you do, you can do your victory dance and salute the statue of Colon.

Port Olympic: Revamped in time for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, this is a great friendly beachy area. However, if you've got time to go to Sitges, go there for the ultimate beach experience.

posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 3:08 AM

Butterfly Does Barcelona - July 2002

Intro: I Heart Gaudí, I Heart Barcelona

Gaudí
Tourism Barcelona loves architect Antoni Gaudí. Tourism Barcelona hearts Antoni Gaudí. And who could blame them? I knew a little bit about Gaudí's work before heading to Barcelona, but pictures did not prepare me for the beauty and majesty of his works. If it is possible to be in love with an architect you've not only never met, but one who died more than 50 years before you were born, then I fit the bill. One day I hope to win a trivia contest for knowing that Gaudi was sadly hit by a tram on my birthday (June 7th) 1926. He died 3 days later (according to the Gaudí museum, but other sources say 5 days later). I am in awe when I wonder what else he could have come up with had he lived longer.

Gaudí's structures made me nearly fall over - from both their size and their dream-like alienity. (I think I just made that word up.) They were so alien, so foreign, so different to me. Granted, I haven't seen that much of this world, but I've never seen anything like Park Güell, Sagrada Família , Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, etc. They're amazing pieces of architecture that made me feel like I was in Alice in Wonderland. They're beautiful. Fantasy films should be shot within/outside them. Writers should flock to them to overcome writer's block. Artists of every type should visit them to feel inspired. People of every background should look at them to feel alive. (Okay, you can stop gagging now, I'm getting off my soap box.)

Neither my pictures nor my words will do either Barcelona or Gaudí's works justice, so please go see them in person.

Barcelona is big. Barcelona is beautiful. Unlike Paris, Barcelona is not comfortably walkable, especially not if you're short on time and big on seeing a lot.
You're going to have to learn how to take the Metro. Do not be afraid - it's a bit more confusing than the London Underground or the Paris Metro, but you'll figure it out. If you're really pressed for time and want to see as many cool things as possible, take a tour bus that allows you to get on and off at the sights you want to see the most. Accept that there's no way to see everything and just marvel over what you do have time for. I wasn't disappointed by anything that I went to. My only regret was that I couldn't stay in town longer.

2002 is the 'Year of Gaudí' according to every sign and bus in the city.

Tourist Bus
I highly recommend this bus - it lets you on and off as much as you would like and it gets you to all the major
hot spots. I would recommend getting on at Placa Catalunya and getting a 2-day pass. It's got to be two consecutive days but it's worth it. 1-day unlimited is 14 euros, 2-day unlimited is only 18 euros, so you might as well go for it. You still have to pay for entry to a lot of the places the bus takes you to, but you get discounted entries on just about everything and nothing is outrageously priced. Park Guell is free and if you want to go into the museum, it's only 1.50 euros.
If you have a good week in Barcelona, you might want to just use the tour bus to go to the stops that are most difficult to get to via public transportation and then go back and see the stuff that is easier to get to on your own. I know it's a bummer but to really get your money's worth, you're going to have to get your butt up reasonably early. If you can get on the bus by 10.30am, you'll be fine. You can start in the afternoon if you're lazy, and even though it's light until 10.30pm in summer and the last bus leaves the later points on the track from 8-9ish pm, many museums etc close by 5 or 6pm, so you've been warned.
The earlier you get in, the more you'll see.

I'll have links and recommendations for nightlife/clubs/restaurants etc. coming ASAP.

posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 2:33 AM

Hola!

Welcome to my temporary Barcelona blog - I plan to move this all to my website as soon as I have a chance, but I wanted to get some info up ASAP for my friends heading to lovely Barcelona within the next month or so...

posted by Lori @ Verbalicious @ 2:26 AM