It has been a dream of mine to visit Spain for many, many years. When a great cruise deal came up sailing out of Barcelona we jumped at the chance to spend a week “scratching my Spanish itch” so to speak. We found a great, affordable hotel on La Rambla smack dab in the middle of things. More on this later.
There are so many things to do in Barcelona, it could make your head spin. The birthplace of Gaudi, Dalí, and Miró is a visual showcase of artwork and architecture. Barcelona is in the heart of Catalonia, cultural pride being their food…eating and drinking are a regional pastime so I fit right in. There is the beach, the shopping, the cathedrals, the museums, the street art but most of all their architecture.
The Architectural works of Antoni Gaudi dominate the city. His modern buildings are impossible to avoid. As we wandered the streets of Barcelona, they just seemed to pop up. It is a walking city so we walked and walked and walked.
La Rambla is one of the city’s main pedestrian streets. Cars still have a small lane so Watch Out! We were nearly hit a few times. It’s also one of the most touristy streets. At just about any hour of the day, La Rambla is filled with people souvenir shopping, having a bite at a café table, or watching the costumed “human statues”. We even viewed a protest walk from our hotel room. So a walk along La Rambla provides great opportunities for people watching and enjoying the city’s touristy ambiance.
Hint: we didn’t eat at any restaurant on La Rambla but always looked for a restaurant one or more blocks off of the busy touristy street. Seemed we could find a more authentic, affordable and enjoyable meal.
Hop On Hop Off
I find when I arrive in a new city the Hop On Hop Off bus tour gives me a great overview. It helps me decide where I want to spend my time after the HOHO tour. It was a cold day in December, but had lots of fun seeing new and exciting sites.
Look Up
Our hotel on La Rambla was adjacent to the Gothic Quarter. It’s worth taking at least a day to just walk around and look up. I took a couple of days, one when my girlfriend was feeling under the weather, and went from cathedral to cathedral, one amazing building to another, wandering and looking up. The cathedrals are amazing inside and out. Take the time to do this. I felt totally safe and really enjoyed myself.
Montserrat and the Benedictine Abbey
This was a wonderful day trip from Barcelona. We didn’t take an organized tour but figured out which train to take out of Barcelona and saved a lot of money. A train, then a cable car up the mountain and then the funicular railway to the top.Visiting Montserrat is worth it, not only because of the landscape, but also to learn about the historical importance of this site. It is one of the holiest places of Catalonia…the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery, a Benedictine abbey originated from the 9th century. The Virgin of Montserrat (the black virgin), the favourite Saint of Catalonia in the Montserrat.
Hint: Try and time your visit to hear the boys choir. We were lucky to be able to sit in the amazing sanctuary and listen to the short concert.
Park Guell
A definite highlight of our trip was Park Guell – a UNESCO heritage site. It is a public park system composed of gardens and architectonic elements located on Carmel Hill overlooking the city. The park was built from 1900 to 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926.
The park was originally part of an unsuccessful housing site, the idea of Count Guell, who hired Gaudí to design.
We enjoyed about 3 hours wandering the paths, seeing the buildings inside and out and generally being awed by the park.
We took the bus up the hill and then had to walk a very steep street to the park entrance.
Hint: Stop in and visit some of the fun shops on the steep street and catch your breath…the street is very steep.
Sagrada Família
The Sagrada Família is a MUST SEE.
Everything we read said to prebook your ticket for this amazing tour. We didn’t, but went late in the day and didn’t have to wait in the ticket line at all.
We paid for the audio tour and learned lots. Nothing I can write here will do this place justice. Just go!
Hint: try and go late in the afternoon on a sunny day. The sun coming through the stained glass windows is truly breathtaking.
Favourite Eats
Bar Canete
Just off of La Rambla. We found the restaurants on La Rambla are focused on feeding the masses of tourists. We walked off La Rambla a block and found two treasures. At Bar Canete we sat at the bar overlooking the chefs cooking the most delightful tapas we found all week. They were helpful recommending choices and we had a lot of fun. It was the most pricy meal we enjoyed all week but it was worth every euro.
La Perla de Oro
I’ve eaten here twice. Our hotel staff sent us here and what a find! It’s kind of a grimy, neighbourhood eatery with cheap beer and amazing tapas. Friendly staff with an English menu so they must get some tourists….not just us.
Where We Slept
The Oriente Atiram was a budget, no frills hotel. The front desk staff were exceptional, friendly and helpful. The location was the best, directly on La Rambla which had a down side…noisy. Our balcony was directly on the street so maybe, if you like it quieter, ask for a room away from La Rambla. We found it interesting to people watch from one floor up. Our room was very large, sparsely furnished but clean.
This hotel was an easy 3 or so blocks from a Starbucks where I’d wander for my morning coffee. Also, the famous Boqueria Market is very close.
Old Ladies Who Travel 