BARCELONA! A city of history, intrigue, and romance. From Port Olympic and the Mediterranean Sea to the hills of Tibidabo, there is much to be seen. I found myself racing to see and experience as much I could and yet realized that it was an impossible task. One trip to Barcelona is not enough.
Port Olympic is a community directly on the Mediterranean Sea and was revamped and renamed for the 1992 summer Olympics. What was once an undesirable location for prominent Barcelonans has become a highly popular location to stroll and dine on popular Mediterranean dishes. The big metal “fish” erected just for the Olympics, sits proudly by the sea at the base of the Hotel Arts (Ritz-Carlton) and the casino. Popular restaurants and night clubs lie underneath lining the shore just steps from the beach. The local marina is loaded with sailboats and provides a beautiful view for one to see while basking in the afternoon sun eating tapas and drinking Sangria. The atmosphere is lively, especially in the late afternoon as people stroll up and down the concrete walk. March is not season, and so it was noted that the restaurants are somewhat quiet or even totally empty on an American time frame of eating (Barcelonans are noted for their 10pm dinner hour and many restaurants don’t even open until about 8pm).
Las Ramblas is a beautiful, less than a mile, tree-lined street located in the heart of Barcelona. It is a popular tourist destination and one that should not be missed, day or night. The Monument a Colom (a 200 ft monument with Christopher Columbus at the top pointing to the sea, erected in 1888) lies at the east end which is located at the old port. The 360° view of Barcelona from the top is amazing, but does require a very tiny elevator (lift) ride. At the opposite end is Placa de Catalunya, the heart of the downtown or the city centre. The entire length of the street is a bustle of activity lined with street vendors, artists, and shops. At night, the lights of the buildings are amazing.
There are also many historical buildings, cathedrals, museums, parks, and endless apartment buildings with fabulous balconies over-looking the busy streets of Barcelona. The many balconies particularly caught my attention and I just imagined having one of my own sitting on a little chair, again sipping sangria and watching the active city life. Bus tours, which let you get on and off for one fee is a great way to explore, as is walking. One of my favorite areas to stroll and eat is Barri Gotic which is situated alongside of Las Ramblas. Here, there are many tapas restaurants and quaint, little shops to explore. I found the prices reasonable, except for the conversion of dollars to euros.
Much of what I have described you will see in my photographs and I hope I have done them justice and you are able to feel the city vibes and the quiet, relaxation of the parks. Barcelona is a very cool city and one I would definitely travel back to. Enjoy the photos!
Port Olympic is a community directly on the Mediterranean Sea and was revamped and renamed for the 1992 summer Olympics. What was once an undesirable location for prominent Barcelonans has become a highly popular location to stroll and dine on popular Mediterranean dishes. The big metal “fish” erected just for the Olympics, sits proudly by the sea at the base of the Hotel Arts (Ritz-Carlton) and the casino. Popular restaurants and night clubs lie underneath lining the shore just steps from the beach. The local marina is loaded with sailboats and provides a beautiful view for one to see while basking in the afternoon sun eating tapas and drinking Sangria. The atmosphere is lively, especially in the late afternoon as people stroll up and down the concrete walk. March is not season, and so it was noted that the restaurants are somewhat quiet or even totally empty on an American time frame of eating (Barcelonans are noted for their 10pm dinner hour and many restaurants don’t even open until about 8pm).
Las Ramblas is a beautiful, less than a mile, tree-lined street located in the heart of Barcelona. It is a popular tourist destination and one that should not be missed, day or night. The Monument a Colom (a 200 ft monument with Christopher Columbus at the top pointing to the sea, erected in 1888) lies at the east end which is located at the old port. The 360° view of Barcelona from the top is amazing, but does require a very tiny elevator (lift) ride. At the opposite end is Placa de Catalunya, the heart of the downtown or the city centre. The entire length of the street is a bustle of activity lined with street vendors, artists, and shops. At night, the lights of the buildings are amazing.
There are also many historical buildings, cathedrals, museums, parks, and endless apartment buildings with fabulous balconies over-looking the busy streets of Barcelona. The many balconies particularly caught my attention and I just imagined having one of my own sitting on a little chair, again sipping sangria and watching the active city life. Bus tours, which let you get on and off for one fee is a great way to explore, as is walking. One of my favorite areas to stroll and eat is Barri Gotic which is situated alongside of Las Ramblas. Here, there are many tapas restaurants and quaint, little shops to explore. I found the prices reasonable, except for the conversion of dollars to euros.
Much of what I have described you will see in my photographs and I hope I have done them justice and you are able to feel the city vibes and the quiet, relaxation of the parks. Barcelona is a very cool city and one I would definitely travel back to. Enjoy the photos!
W-O-W! The architecture and statues are incredible. The colors and the mosiac tiles are beautiful. I love the beauty of Spain. I especially loved your night photos. You were able to capture the way the buildings truly looked with their lights on. "Beautiful." How do you do what you do. You are my idol. Hugs and kisses, your BFF xoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks BFF! Yes, the city at night is beautiful and it was not easy to capture the beauty of the lights on the buildings. It is very mysterious there at night walking through the tiny streets. Just magical!
ReplyDeleteLindy
Hey wait I thought I was your BFF?
ReplyDeleteYes the pictures are lovely...I hope to go back to Spain. You made me miss it so much with your beautiful photos.
I was really interested in hearing about your funny little stories of the people of spain that you encountered...such as the euro flinging man...or the man that you almost left John for...starts with Sir and ends with Branson...these are the stories I look to you for. Much Love