Travel tips: Barcelona City, Spain

I was pretty lazy long ago, putting all Spanish travels into one blog but I think I should re-do it and dig up old photos, as the blog, is not only for readers, but also a reminder to me of where I've been because axing (lol, aging), excuse the pun, does fade memory.  The main reason for this trip was to see the progress on La Sagrada Familia, and naturally, the progress of this bustling city since my visit in 1999. Barcelona has been in the news many times recently due to protests of tourism and now I understand why. It is home to 1,625 million people but I have never seen such a busy city in my life. Barcelona is HUGE, I mean really spread out with so many places to go, you need a good three weeks to enjoy it in its entirety.  Even on a Sunday on my 4 trips on the metro, after rush hours, there was no place to sit for a full 8 stops. This gives you an idea. First pic, flying in, and this is just a portion.

Taxis are cheap in Spain but I like travelling with the locals, feeling city life and don't like planned destinations.  If something catches my eye, I wander off from the main track, get lost and then learn my way around.  Taxi is very much A to B.  Talking about taxis, many main roads have lanes only for taxis and even there it is just one long line and traffic jams. Quite something! But to the sights! Here is a map of the sights to see and there are plenty. The hop on hop off bus is a must. I took it from the one of many main squares, Placa Catalanya. Note, Catalanyian, Barcelonian Spanish spells plaza with a c. Also note, all Gaudi’s work will be in a separate blog as there was just too much to see! I took the green route first  to see the south and east part of the city.  Then the orange bus. I recommend zooming in on some photos for detail otherwise you miss a lot.  

The first monumental buildings are the Arc de Triomf which after conquering the Arabs, was placed as a welcome gate in medieval times. The old city walls were destroyed and Barcelona started expanding from its Latin gothic quarter and typical winding narrow European streets, into the modern wide straight kilometer long straight Avenidas that run logically through Barcelona today. Next to the Arc are the courts, Palacio Justicia,  which are really beautiful buildings, running the avenue length which is a huge long palm avenue boulevard that gets you to Ciudad Parque (city park).  Difficult to photograph due to its size and the palm trees in front.  

The route then moves to one of the marine areas (there are three) and Barconleta which is a rich area, beach boulevard and the iconic tower building where you can go for panoramic views. Here up close and from far away.  Along the way also some lovely monumental buildings to see. I simply cannot remember them all.  

                                                            

                                                            

                                                       

                                                      

                                                            

                                                          

One really needs to stop at all these places just to walk around, have a coffee and spend at least an hour. The next major attraction is Gaudis' Sagrada Familia (separate blog) and Park Guell.  As I spent a whole day in Guell in 1999, I skipped it this time.  Also, due to tourist amounts, there are now dedicated slots of entry time so plan in advance!  The tour then moves to Montjuic, the Eastern high mountain where there is a beautiful church, but the time to get there and back in a dedicated public bus is two hours, so that's for next time, as I will definitely visit again in the future.  

Heading back towards the coast are the beautiful long Avenidas, Career de Gracia, high end shops, beautiful mosaic tile city benches, orange trees and wrought iron massive lights arching over the wide roads with xmas lights and then kilometres of them!! Here is the Casa Batlo, famous Gaudi house where there are always crowds of people. (another blog) It's another stop where you need at least an hour.  Here some night pics en route. 

                                        

These massive wrought iron light poles arch over the main avenues from both sides way up high and some have these beautiful tiled city benches.  Streets have many trees also, always in Mediterranean big cities for shade of course in hot hot summers.  

Back through town you hit the main Marine area to the left and quite a way off (not really doable by foot unless you have 30 mins at least with one way walking....  as you'll probably have walked a few hours by now...  There are 100's of boats and a massive modern architecture building with shopping malls, restaurants, cafes etc.  It is here that I noticed the immense expansion because I was here in 1999, and loved it.  It is now about 10 times bigger.  Again, spent a lot of time there in 1999, it was in November and even then you could bask in the sun on day boat cafes on the water for tapas.

                                           

You can walk from Casa Batlo to the Las Ramblas and Gothic quarter, but I did it after the next mountain stop.  The Ramblas can be walked from the Christopher Columbus roundabout at the beach in the opposite direction too.  It's about 20 minutes to the Latin quarter, which is where I stayed last time. It's the old city, rambling narrow streets, squares upon squares and xmas markets. Placa Reail, Espana and another one or two.  I noticed how the Ramblas has become downgraded in comparison to the rest of the city.  Don't spend much time there.  It is completely different! But you'll need it for orientation if you're walking to the Gothic Latin quarter.  It is at the beginning of the Ramblas that you can switch bus routes to Orange, to explore the northern eastern part of the city which is the natural side of Barcelona.

  

Placa Espana

So from the beach, there is the massive landmark Columbus statue and a huge traffic roundabout. You will pass the Big Wheel and see the cable cars.  Actually the route is enroute to the cable car station on top of the other mountain, which in 1999 I hiked to.  It also has a little mini castle tower.  Wow has Barcelona changed!!!  There are some beautiful buildings on the way, the Archelogical Museum and also on the other side of the mountain through town, she massive monuments at roundabouts.  It's also where the olympic village was built for the games and some monuments for it.  

On the way to the cable car 

Driving to Valencia the northern Bus station, we drove on the other side of Montjuic and we drove past something that caught my eye and I had to google.  I'd never heard of it  In the distance, so photos aren't sharp, Montjuic Cemetry Barcelona. Trip advisor has great reviews and photos. It's absolutely massive! So massive, that from the road you can see hundreds upon hundreds of cremated square tombs but also burial tombs that actually hold mini chapels! I kid you not.  Definitely google it.  Even from afar it was impressive.  

Bus station 

The Catalans have been wanting independence for a while and I think I understand why.  They think they are the best :). Maybe they are.  Their tourism must be raking in millions.  This photo is special to me because it was at a huge xmas stall at the Sagrada Familia, about 20 metres in length of only these natural xmas decorations.  They were not only pretty but the scent of the dried oranges, cloves and cinnamon sticks was AMAZING!!! I WAS SO SAD I COULDN'T CAPTURE THE SMELL THROUGH THE CAMERA. LOL!

Bye bye beautiful adorable BARCELONA!!