Barcelona: You 'Gaudi' See This!

This apartment is located on the edge of el Born, in an area known as Rivera; at a 3 minute walk from the main road, Via Laietana, the guest can access all points of interest in no time at all... Very central!

I love the private patio. Even though it has no view, dining outside on the big table was such a treat. Great for families (2 adults and 2 kids).

Apartment Features:

Apartment General Amenities: juicer, bed linen and towels, washing machine, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, air-conditioning, oven, fridge-freezer, blender, toaster, pots and pans, TV, DVD player, dishwasher, vitroceramic cooker, shower, microwave, heating, bathtub, coffee maker, kettle, ADSL Cable.

• Charming, elegant and colourful, central!
• Sleeps 4
• 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom
• 753 sq ft
• 750 sq ft private courtyard with outdoor furniture
• 2 single beds, 1 double bed
• Rates starting at €120 for 2 people per night

La Sagrada Familia – A cathedral designed by famous Barcelona architect Antoni Gaudì, in the Eixample district. An ambitious project: it has been under construction for some 120 years and there are another 50 remaining for the project to be completed. It is fun to see the miniature model inside, as you realize that the building is going to be a lot bigger when finished. Whether or not people find it beautiful, it is a bizarre piece like nothing else in the world. I recommend the trip to the top as you discover more eccentric details, as well as sweeping views of Barcelona.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_familia  

La Casa Batllò - Another building by Gaudì, a house that he built for the Batllò family. He used the theme of the sea all throughout the house, and everywhere you look reminds you of it: the roof looks like fish scales, the walls are curvy like waves, the balconies look like the bow of a boat… I personally find it glorious, and it has become such a symbol of Barcelona. My favorite is the tiles of the roof and the room at the very top with an interior fountain that reflects on the walls. Very cool. A completely eccentric building well worth a look despite the steep entrance fee (about 14 euros). Located at Passeig de Gracia, 43, a couple of blocks away from Plaza Cataluňa. www.casabatllo.es

Park Güell – Again by Gaudì (well, he is pretty much the most famous architect there). This time it’s a whole park. Really beautiful with crazy mosaics and funky structures everywhere, and a great view over the city. My favorite is the two houses down by the entrance that look like gingerbread houses. There is an entrance fee for that too, but the rate is reduced if you combine it with the visit of La Sagrada Familia. You can buy both tickets at either place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_G%C3%BCell

It's located in the middle of the Born quarter. No matter what time you go there, there will always be a long line in the street. No need to come back later, you will have to face it. The museum hosts mostly some of his early work. I might be a Picasso ignorant, but I discovered that before he entered his cubism days, most of his work was realism and completely different than what he is most known for. Interesting museum, especially the countless different versions of Las Meninas at the end.

True, you won't find many locals to practice your Catalan with on La Rambla. Nevertheless, Barcelona wouldn't be Barcelona without it. La Rambla is a sight to see for its entertainment such as human statues of all kinds, puppeteers, musicians, and dancers that line up the street to entertain the tourist and make a few dubloons. The big pedestrian boulevard connects Plaza Catalunya to Port Vell. Take a rest and sit at one of the cafés outside with a glass of Sangria and just do some people-watch. As long as you steer clear of the restaurants, which may just make your day.

At one end of La Rambla is Plaça Catalunya, the hub of Barcelona, and an enormous roundabout where all the main boulevards merge. It separates Las Ramblas and the Barri Gotic with the very large Passeig de Gracia and the area of Eixample, more frequented and inhabited by locals. Plaza Catalunya is always lively. This is where you will find the tourist office, on the center part of the roundabout. This is also where you can pick up the open roof two-level touristic bus for a tour of the popular places. Buy your passes at the tourist office for that. While you're there, also pick up the Barcelona Card (about 17 euros) which gives you discounts on all the major attractions that you will want to visit anyway. On the square you will also find the big and swanky department store El Corte Ingles which has about 8 floors of absolutely everything, all neatly presented for an ultimate shopping experience.

El Barri Gòtic (the Gothic quarter) is the medieval quarter of Barcelona. I recommend that you spend time just walking around in the maze of narrow streets and explore the many squares: I love the Plaza Reial, for example as it bears a kind of splendor when you enter through its arched gateways. The neoclassical facade surrounds the many palm trees on the square. Located just off the Rambla it is usually a little quieter, although late at night there are often a few drunk tourists who end up celebrating their vacation loudly in the fountain at the center.

Around 9pm, a line starts forming halfway to the center for the restaurant Les Quinze Nits. It is pretty decent, and despite the long line, the wait is not that long as they have people enter by groups of 20 people or so. My definite favorite hang out on the Plaza is Tarantos, where you can experience some excellent flamenco in a tiny room for 6 Euros + the cost of a drink inside, and it is a different show every night. It lasts about 45 minutes, but it is laid back and so much better than the big touristy shows that they try to sell you on La Rambla for 50 Euros.

Another main square in the Barri Gotic is the Plaça Sant Jaume, where the City Hall (or Ajuntament) stands proud. It seems like every street from the Barri Gotic merges onto this square. Apparently it is where the locals demonstrate and is basically an important meeting place. I was there during Christmas 2006 and they had a huge beautiful nativity in the middle, but I believe that they have that every year. Something to see.

The Plaça del Pi is interesting too, especially on Thursday morning when they have a little market of local goods such as cheese, meat, and cakes. On Calle Bisbe you cannot miss the "bridge of sighs" which is quite pretty and photographed but which was also apparently built in the 1920's... Quite a disappointment, but still a nice picture.
Don't forget to look up to see the gargoyles and gorgeous facades.

The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia certainly is a highlight of the Barri Gotic. You can enter for free in the mornings and late afternoons to visit the church and the cloister, however the rest of the time is dedicated to worshipers and ticket holders so plan your visit. Inside you can see the tomb of Santa Eulalia, a 13 year old girl and saint patron of Barcelona who, in 303 A.D, was said to be rolled down a hill in barrel full of broken glass and nails for protesting to the governor against his cruelty towards the Christians. Behind the Cathedral is the Baixada de Santa Eulalia, the slope where the horrifying event took place.

Barceloneta is the maritime quarter between Port Vell and la Vila Olimpica. The nice beach has been cleaned out for the Olympic games in 1992 and has since then remained the popular hang out on summer days. It can get crowded but the busy beach life is part of the fun. As pleasant an empty beach can be, it would somehow be wrong if it was the case in this town. Besides, no one goes to Barcelona for a quiet vacation, or if you do, I strongly advise you no to.

It is hard to believe that Barceloneta was once a rundown quarter inhabited by sailors and fishermen, as it is now a colorful place full of charm and restaurants. The popular Passeig Joan de Borbo, located on the peninsula facing Mare Magnum, is where most restaurants are located, offering Paellas with a view on the Med. Yes, mostly tourists hang out there, but with that in mind it is still worth a look and maybe a lunch, to experience one of the main quarters of the city.

Mare Magnum is the big mall that sprouted on a man made island facing the Ramblas and the Mirador de Colom. I have never found anything there worth my attention or money, which is always a disappointment considering the size of the mall and the shopping opportunities you think it would offer. However the air conditioning gives you a nice break from the heat in the summer. One of the only shops worth a stop there is called Barabu (on the ground floor) and sells funky "very Barcelona" customizable t-shirts of good quality and fun colors.

On the other side of the mall is a humongous Imax theater. I must say that even though it has nothing to do with Barcelona or even Spain, I thoroughly enjoy watching the permanent screening of "Stomp, Ritmos del Mundo", a journey through many rhythms of many countries that gives me shivers of pleasure every time. Watch the trailer at www.pulsethemovie.com.

The Mirador de Colom is a sight worth a visit. In the middle of a roundabout, at the very end of La Rambla and facing the bridge leading to Mare Magnum is perched a statue of Christopher Columbus on top of a big column. It seems hard to believe at first but you can actually take a very narrow elevator that takes you all the way up for a panoramic 360 degrees view. It costs about 2 Euros to get up, but on a clear day, you can take some pretty pictures and check out the surroundings.

Finally, on a nice day, you can try a pleasant boat ride with Las Golondrinas, located right in front of the Mirador de Colon. I liked it because it takes you way down by the Vila Olimpica and gives you a good view of the modern buildings. Watch out for that sun though, it can be tricky sitting out on the deck with the wind in your face...

Montjuïc: a hill overlooking the town and a big park with plenty of sights to see:

- Nice view from the top. From there you can catch the cable car down to Mare Magnum shopping center (near Las Ramblas).
- The Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña is on the side of the hill overlooking Plaça Espanya. It displays the art of Cataluňa throughout the centuries. The building, the Palau Nacional, is quite an impressive sight.
- The botanical gardens boast all kinds of plants from all the countries with a Mediterranean climate. They are worth a look, and it makes for a peaceful walk away from the crowd.
- From the botanical gardens you can see the site of the 1992 Olympic Games.
- The Mirò museum is also in Montjuic. I recommend getting in to take a look.
- In Montjuic, I particularly love walking down the park and stopping for lunch in the restaurant. It has a beautiful terrace in a peaceful setting and serves simple and delicious lunch.

As far as shopping goes, I like El Corte Ingles on Plaza Cataluna, it is a big department store with 8 or 9 floors of everything you could want, such as clothes, hi-fi equipment, tools, food, souvenirs, perfumes, crafts and what not. There is a supermarket at the bottom also.

For clothes in particular, you will find a wide range of locally owned small shops on Carrer Princesa, in the Born quarter, or in the Gothic quarter on Carrer Ferran or Carrer de la Portaferrissa.

For souvenirs, they are everywhere but the shop that I love the most is Art Montfalcon, located at Boters, 4 (at the end of Carrer Portaferrissa). It carries all kinds of artisan ceramics, jewelry, frames in all sizes, as well as typical souvenirs such as t-shirts and mugs, but the nice looking kinds.

One of my favorite shops is Xocoa, a chocolate shop that has a delicious selection. They have several shops spreaded around the city. The easiest to find is probably the one on Calle Princesa, 10, but you can locate the others at www.xocoa-bcn.com. Quite pricey but wonderful tasting and good-looking.

If you are looking for fresh produce and markets, I like the Mercat de la Boquerìa on La Rambla, even though it is always so crowded. I like to grab one of their fresh fruit boxes as a snack or if it is lunch time, to sit at one of the counters and order tapas. It can be a drag to get sit though.

I prefer the Mercat de Santa Caterina, a little bit more out of the way. First of all, the impressive colorful building is worth a look. The locals shop there, and there is also a little supermarket inside for the other items that you may need. There is also a restaurant, the Santa Caterina Cuines (see above).

If you want to see some Flamenco, do not buy any of these show tickets that they sell on La Rambla, it is for tourists. Instead, go on Plaza Reial to Tarantos. They host some Flamenco musicians and dancers every night (different band every night) and have two or three shows of about 45 minutes each. The room is tiny so arrive in advance, the entrance price is 6 euros and you can have a cocktail inside. It is always typical Flamenco, very cozy and intimate atmosphere. You can see the programming on www.masimas.com.

As far as restaurants go, anywhere you go will be crowded so be prepared to wait in line. Also please note that no restaurant opens before 9pm. This is pretty tough on the first night when you are jet lagged. If you happen to find one that opens before that (probably on Las Ramblas), it is for the tourists. I would suggest that you avoid all restaurants on Las Ramblas. They are for tourist and therefore expensive and sometimes not very good. Tapas is the main local specialty, it is part of the fun to wander the streets and discover a great little place yourself and feel like an explorer. However, if you are feeling lazy and don’t want to search, you can try:

- Txapela: My definite favorite! GREAT tapas in a fun environment. Even though it is located in a touristy spot, locals still go there, and it is really good… Try their white wine sangria to go with your tapas. Also great if you don’t speak the language as you point at the pictures of what you want. It is relatively cheap. It is located at Passeig de Gracia, 8-10. (Next to Plaza Cataluňa.)

- Taller de Tapas: Since tapas is what they do best in Barcelona, this one is a very good one. There are actually several of these in the Barri Gotic. One of them is located at Paza Sant Josep Oriol, 9.

- La Perla Nera: If you get tired of tapas (I know I do after a couple of days), this is a good Italian restaurant with good pasta and excellent pizzas cooked in a wood oven. It is out of the way from the tourists. I know it because it is right near where our apartment is so we went there a couple of times. It is on Via Layetana, 32.

- Les Quinze Nits: On Plaza Reial. Don’t be afraid of the long line outside, it goes pretty fast. The food is a little more diverse than tapas and the setting is nice. The service is not the friendliest but they have good fish and good soup. It is relatively cheap, and also convenient if you are planning to go to Tarantos afterwards (see below).

- Santa Caterina’s Cuines : Located inside the Santa Caterina Market, it is a nice restaurant, out of the way from the tourists with typical Spanish food as well as some simple but good dishes. It is a little pricey, but the environment is peaceful and the decor impressive: the ceilings are very high and they lined up some gigantic shelves on the side with all sorts of goods for decoration. The kitchens are right behind a counter so you can see all the chefs cook.

- Udon: A tiny and very hip Japanese restaurant. They lined up two big tables and everyone sits next to each other. They have a good choice of Udon (obviously) and some sushi. It is reasonably priced but can get expensive depending on if you order drinks. They are located on Princesa 23/ Montcada 6.