i'll be studying in barcelona this coming fall semester + i was wondering if any of you have any suggestions as to what things + places i should seek out in + around the city while i'm there.
i went there recently with my wife for a few days. it was by far the best city in Europe (in my opinion). while your there, get a good metro map. the train and bus system is pretty good and can get you anywhere in the city.
among the places to see...all of Gaudi's stuff of course. the Sagrada Familia is an amazing church to walk through, despite all the construction still going on. make sure to spend some time in the museum below the church. don't take the tour where there are crowds...you'll be walking up the spires really slowly.
see the Gruell park in the north part of the city (also done by Gaudi). there are grotto's where musicians set up and play...its a very relaxing area to experience. the nice thing is that the park is laid out in layers and each layer has a different theme. at the top you get a nice view of the entire city and port. there are a lot of great parks and each of them deserves some time to experience.
speaking of which, the beach is a great place to hang out. there is always stuff going on. its also nice in the evenings...esp along the dock.
if you want to party, La Rambla is the street to be on. there are open markets and street performers and night clubs. its a wide pedestrian street with very little traffic.
don't forget to see the Barcelona Pavilion and the Plaza Republica. in the Plaza there is a huge foutain and i think on every Sunday evening there is a light and music show...the fountain turns colors and shapes with the musical selection.
there is also a very beautiful medical school campus near the Sagrada Familia...worth checking out.
well, that's all i can think of off the top of my head. good luck this fall.
(maybe what firuz recalls is the modernista Sant Pau Hospital, several blocks away from GaudÃ's temple, which is definitely the most extraordinaire art nouveau complex in the whole city (just after most GaudÃ's works) by the best catalan architect from that time (after GaudÃ, of course): LluÃs Domènech i Montaner)
Go to the old city...of Las Ramblas...and just get lost...beautiful tiny winding streets and nooks and crannies to discover...there is a kick ass gelato (I know, not super spanish, but it's really good) somewhere in there...Also the Picasso Museum is a great place to go...
Gaudi Stuff is truly inspiring...sometimes, at the Casa Milo, they hold special events on the roof, which are great...especially evening ones, when you can watch the sunset across the city, and behind the spires of la Sagrada Familia....
thanks for all the input so far. i'm trying to make a list of places to go before i leave so i can make sure i see everything and do everything worth seeing + doing while i'm over there. i'm super excited but starting to get a bit nervous.
(maybe what firuz recalls is the modernista Sant Pau Hospital, several blocks away from GaudÃ's temple, which is definitely the most extraordinaire art nouveau complex in the whole city (just after most GaudÃ's works) by the best catalan architect from that time (after GaudÃ, of course): LluÃs Domènech i Montaner)
i had my appendix out there! it was fantastic, when they knocked me out for the operation i was staring up at the most amazing glazed brick vault, and each building ward had a fantastic sunroom on the southern end, i've never been so happy to be sick.
barcelona is the best city to never have any plans in, just walk out your front door and youl find something interesting
Do you know if you'll be studying at the Nau Ivanow? There is a really underwhelming Calatrava bridge nearby, but I'd be interested to see how the area has developed since 2001.
You should have plenty of time to see and do everything, so no worries.
Sorry that I can't be more helpful with the dates, but here are my highlights:
The Castellers! Find out when they show up at the Placa de Sant Jaume and be there. I saw them sometime in mid-September. They function on more of a competition circuit rather than a regular basis.
Tour the Palau de la Generalitat. Only open to the public maybe two days a year? It's one of the longest lines that I've ever stood in.
Check out the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar in the old part of town. See how the Catalans did gothic.
The Cloisters of the Cathedral. Maybe my favorite place to be at night, alone.
Maritime Museum near the Columbus Monument at the end of Las Ramblas. This was low on my list of museums, but I was so impressed by how well the museum told the story of the importance of seafaring throughout the history of Barcelona. It helps that you can smell the ocean.
Hike on up and through the incredible Parc Guell, down through another neighborhood, and into Parc de la Creueta del Coll. I went in November when the pool was drained and there wasn't a living thing in sight except for dozens and dozens of stray cats. You can then climb on up to the Chillida statue. I love Chillida.
I can't find the name of them, but the three towers near the mouth of the Besos are deceptively large. Take the metro way out to them.
orequal, i ended up in hospital while on an exchange studio to the nou ivanow about in 2003. we were all undergrads but we were using their studio space and attending juries.
Las Arenas by Rogers under construction now. You will see it when you enter the city or go to Montjuic area.
Montjuic - I esp like the Joan Miro museum
Torre agbar by Nouvel
Forum - H & de M's building and a very nice bridge.
Picasso museum is also quite nicely remodelled with good exhibition.
Palau de la Musica is worth to go for a show. It has very good acoustics for orchestra. ( I like it much better than Liceu)
Barceloneta is the beach area. It is also where Gehry's fish is located. Try out the restaurant underneath the fish or another one called Agua. That's my favorite.
Two of my favorite tapas place in Eixemple are also in Time out Barcelona book: one is on Mallorca to the west of La Rambla, another one is two blocks further down on Rambla from Mallorca. This one is old style and very authentic.
Don't forget to try the cafe con Leche(coffee with milk) and bocadillio. It's best with Jamon Iberico. Just try the different types of cured meat. They are great!!
ok, architecture related: before LAS ARENAS u will see from EL PRAT Airport to Barcelona the HESPERIA hotel by Rogers, the the construction site of the extension of the Fira by Ito, then Las Arenas when u get to plaza espanya....then yeah Montjuic also has the Ito Palau de Sant Jordi (the arena, next to the olimpic stadium) right there the calatrava antena, mmhhh.... yeah the MIRO museum is a must see... a house by catalan modernist Coderch (and close friend of Miro) designed specially to host the museum... i would take a look of the olympic pools too, and the botanical gardens by Ferrater at the top of montjuic....and of course in Montjuic the German Pavillion by Mies van der Rohe
then there's plenty other stuff... the Forum building by H & dM, be sure to go inside, to see the interior space and the exhibition about the city inside + the Mies Prize winners, u will also there get an idea of how many projects are under construction and planning at Barcelona, (in the same area) the forum park by FOA, the "natural water pools" of forum (dont remember by who, but local), then the photovoltaic canopy, first prize of the last architectural biennale of spain with lovely views (by Martinez Lapeña + Torres Tur), the convention center and AC and Hilton hotels by MAP (Josep Lluis Mateo), then next to this forum area the Diagonal Park by EMBT (miralles) be sure to go there while is still warm weather so u can see the water effect on.... and to the other side (going to the Besos River) and if brave enough (u can see this from the Forum explanade) walk to the recycling center by Abalos & Herreros with the beach front (also designed by them) in front of it...
ok so back to the city...plenty to see...Nouvel's AGBAR tower at Glories, arts Hotel at Olimpic Port, with the Ghery (first) fish canopy.... then all the gaudi stuff pedrera house, casa batllo, sagrada familia, Guell park, on ur way to the park guell be sure to check out the new public library (also by Martinez Lapeña i think, not sure).... what else?? the Siza meteorologyobservatory at the beach in Olimpic Port... mmhh im sure im missing important stuff...oh yeah Santa Caterina market also by EMBT (Miralles/Tagliabue) and be sure to have dinner at the restaurant inside it (Cuina de Sta Caterina), one of my favourites of the city....also if u wanna go to the movies in english and u end up at "Icaria" comercial center, u will see some Canopy by Miralles at Paseo Icaria...anyways...
museums: CCCB (the most interesting shows and activities) the FAD (in front of MACBA), then MACBA the skateboarding mekkah of the new millenium by Richard Meier....
paella is not that good, if u want paella go to Valencia (3 hours south Barcelona) or go to Plaza Orson Wells (a.k.a. plaza trippie) for paella, TAPAS my favourite i have to say its CIUDAD CONDAL (ciutat comtal) at Gran Via and Rambla Catalunya corner, best quality/price place for tapas....
BOOKS at CENTRAL bookstore close to MACBA....also at the JORDI CAPEL cooperative (at the Colegio de Arquitectos, like the Architects Union) almost in front of cathedral...
TO EAT also besides the ones i already mentioned: RA (behind boqueria), oh yeah go to the boqueria market, one of the top 3 markets in the world for quality and freshness of products, mmhh restaurants restaurants?? mmh i dunno plenty of good places at BORN area, also fro drinks try BORN area, my favourite the tiny MAMAINE, im there almost always zipping my mojito.... mmhhh what else?? oh yeah another favourite bar is AMBAR at the end of rambla de Raval.... Raval area in general is also fun to go out at.... and just in case u feel nostalgic and wanna meet more foreigners head to LA OVEJA NEGRA bar...
mmhhh yeah also to go out or dinner places around PLAZA REAL, centric, popular, conveniant....
oh and i have to disagree BARCELONETA is the best beach, is the most popular and dirty.... walk to Forum direction and after Olimpic Port beaches start getting nice... my favs, Marbella and nueva Marbella...
Hike on up and through the incredible Parc Guell, down through another neighborhood, and into Parc de la Creueta del Coll. I went in November when the pool was drained and there wasn't a living thing in sight except for dozens and dozens of stray cats. You can then climb on up to the Chillida statue. I love Chillida.
I can't find the name of them, but the three towers near the mouth of the Besos are deceptively large. Take the metro way out to them.
as far as I know the pool at the Creueta del Coll park is closed from September/October to May/June... don't mess with the Chillida concrete hanging piece, it once fell down (don't remember if there were any injuries), and the City council moved it to a corner of the park, out of the public pool..
the three towers at the Besòs mouth (chimneys of an electric power plant) are known as the Xemeneies de Sant Adrià (or Xemeneies de la FECSA) and are just outside BCN's municipal term (not that interesting in my opinion.. you can see them from the recently inaugurated Ãbalos&Herreros park at the Fòrum northeastern end.. actually you can see them from anywhere in BCN's metro area, they are the tallest structure around)
the trambesòs will take you there if you want to see them close..
had my appendix out there! it was fantastic, when they knocked me out for the operation i was staring up at the most amazing glazed brick vault, and each building ward had a fantastic sunroom on the southern end, i've never been so happy to be sick.
they are finishing a new building (not that architecturally interesting, but well equipped with high-tech paraphernalia) on the northwestern corner of the 3x3 super-Cerdà -block of the St Pau hospital... they will transfer all medical facilities there because the modernista pavilions are too old and most are on their way to be rehabilitated (they will remain for archives, R+D, classrooms, etc)... actually, a couple of springs ago a dome of one of the pavilions fell down (luckily no one was injuried)...
though I agree that place is amazing, I spent a lot of time in and around that complex when I was a kid (I had relatives working in the hospital, not that I was ill) and its one of most marvelous places of the city (the most "surreal" together with the Güell Park)... from the subterranean cave-like halls to the colorful tiled domes and gardens
I have been living here for the last 5 years and there is a lot to see...but it seems like all the tourists hang out near the Ramblas...so I would first suggest taking a bus tour to see the different neighborhoods that the city has to offer. You should check out the neigborhood of Gracia...which is not as touristy as the neighborhoods near Las Ramblas. Also it has some neat stores...and I recommend a small, interesting...and very good restaurant called "Goliard". Sarria is another neighborhood that´s worth checking out for a couple of hours...it´s also located near the U.S Consulate...which is rather stately. During a weekend you should try to head up north to the area of Costa Brava...most of the towns aren´t overdeveloped with beach front high-rises...Begur is always a nice town to visit.
Anyone interested in meeting up between September 6-12:
I will be joining some students and professors from my undergrad alma-mater who are touring Barcelona for a week (as a trip taken from the UFlorida SoA Vicenza Institute of Architecture - near Venice, It.)...
One of the professors is a native son (from Galicia), and he was a project designer (exact role?) on MACBA during his time at Meier's office, before coming to teach at UF...He's given this tour in the past, and myself and a friend decided the best way to spend our vacation would be to participate in this study tour.
Medit, I sent you an email a few weeks ago regarding^
you are also going to see some of the most well designed restaurants, bars, galleries in this city. definately walk around. get lost. i highly recommend the picasso musuem. it' a great space.
there is a design book store called "ras" which is about 2 blocks from the macba (and your studio, if clemson still works out of that space). you can blow hundreds of euros there in one visit. i used to go to the casino on the beach, try my hand at blackjack, live it up with my friends, and take all my winnings to ras the next morning.
you are also going to see some of the most well designed restaurants, bars, galleries in this city. definately walk around. get lost. i highly recommend the picasso musuem. it' a great space.
there is a design book store called "ras" which is about 2 blocks from the macba (and your studio, if clemson still works out of that space). you can blow hundreds of euros there in one visit. i used to go to the casino on the beach, try my hand at blackjack, live it up with my friends, and take all my winnings to ras the next morning.
Do you know if you'll be studying at the Nau Ivanow?
the program is actually a joint program with the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya. We'll be living in apts. for international students very close to Las Ramblas so i imagine there will be lots of activity around the area. i know i'll be looking for less touristy places to visit and hang out so all of these suggestions are very helpful!
Medit, I sent you an email a few weeks ago regarding^
sorry AP I didn't see it, I barely check out that account..
but, hey! I don't live/work in BCN (though I was born and went to school there) but somewhere else in Catalonia.. I just tour and visit the catalan capital regularly (not too much in the summer > too crowded) to see what's new..
I don't think I'll be there in September, by then I'll (hopefully) be refreshing my tired feet in the cold waters of a Pyrenees' river
Some great suggestions... since you'll be there for the fall you'll have plenty of time to take it all in. Since there are already a plethora of suggestions of sites and attractions above, I'll suggest a couple of my favorite places to grab a bite - both in the old city: L'Amistad, an Equadorian "hole-in-the-wall" on Carrer de la Ra Alta - not too far from where last fall's Group was staying. Another is Milk on Carrer d'En Gingas, a small little bistro (a bit on the pricey side - but worth it) with international stuff.
BTW - I still have a couple of mobiles from when I was there last year. Let me know if you (or anyone else) are interested in buying them.
definately take some weekend trips around barcelona. i recommend sitges, montserrat, figueres (wonderful dali musuem), girona, caques, and any little down along the costa brava.
i support sitges, cambrils and girona....nice towns.... by the way alvis chyld RAS is the gallery of the owners of ACTAR books, thats why u can blow ur cash there so easily....
AP yup i live here...not born here but already feeling quite local ;)
or else in deep Catalonia.. the Pyrenees are awesome and nearer as you move up the Costa Brava.. in fact, once you reach the Empordà region, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean, you have both mountains and sea in one place... southern Catalonia is great too (but not as great as the northern regions) .. central Pyrenees are less crowded but the variety of landscapes is superb..
hmmm to go out... my recommendations : go to space bcn across from the large miro woman and bird sculpture (also worth visiting). la paloma during the summer months is also pretty amazing. stay away from las ramblas when going out at night, the bars and discos there are touristy and expensive. the same goes for near port olimipica, near the arts hotel you will find tons and tons of small bars/discos, which cater to tourists, dont go there! Go out to gracia for some really chill bars, walk around the eixample for the larger discos. you will be living close to apollo as well, which has its good nights, right across from parallel and nou de la rambla. also on nou de la rambla theres london bar, which is pretty cool place to visit, good music!
I really liked Foster's tower on the mountain. I saw it and knew I had to go to it, took a cab up there and walked around. Nice church next to it, too. Looked like some good trails around there, if you have time to hike or bike.
thanks so much for all of the suggestions so far! every little bit helps - especially since i know very little about barcelona + spain in general. i'm compiling a list of all the suggested places, so hopefully i'll be able to see all the sights + check out the local culture as well.
i do have another question though. i'm not fluent in spanish, much less catalan. will this be a serious issue? i'm assuming that since clemson has had this program over in spain for quite some time that it must not be too much of an issue b/c obviously not everyone who goes over speaks the language. any thoughts on this?
BCN is as cosmopolitan as NYC for example, and u will find english a common lenguage to relate with others alike (meaning young people from other places) tourist hunters also will speak it, and of most of waiters in touristic areas (is any area of barcelona these days not considered touristic Medit??)... dont worry about catalan, try to learn some spanish at least and even if u feel stupid, try to order ur stuff in spanish (even if u realize waiters and bartenders are also not from spain) that will open u thousands of doors...
Learn som Spanish. I didn't learn enough when I was there. You can try this place: http://www.ihspain.com/barcelona/language_school.html
Once in a while they have some trial courses for 'student teachers' to practice and they charge very little. Or you can find some private tutor. Or you can go to Craigslist and try to make some friends by exchanging language. A lot of people like to learn more English.
@trace: what church? I hope you don't mean this one...
this is like Sagrada's ugly little sister, both churches were done around the same time, but while GaudÃ's temple is a key building in the history of architecture, Sagnier's temple on top of the Tibidabo is usually regarded as, and I agree it is, a quite unsuccesful pastiche of romanesque -inside- and gothic and eclectic style -outside- architecture... though its quite impressive by its scale and location, you can see it from anywhere in Barcelona and the cities at the other side of the Collserola mountain
@MADianito: of course there are areas not considered "touristic".. Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, el Guinardó, la Sagrera, la Marina, and some other parts of Sarrià -Sant Gervasi are anything but "touristic".. try to find people who speaks english fluidly in Gran de Sant Andreu street or some inhabitants of Sert's old Casa Bloc, or at Guinardó's public pool, or a civic center in Sants, or people wandering around the Maternitat gardens...
the "only" touristic places, where the chances to communicate with locals in english in a fluid manner will be somewhat feasible, are the Old City, the Eixample-Plaça Espanya-Montjuic continuum, the coastal area -from the Barceloneta beaches and the Vila OlÃmpica to the Fòrum area- and youngster dominated-areas like Grà cia and the UPC campus up the Diagonal... the rest of the city -less known, with no architectural monuments, no "touristy" activities-, either working-class neighborhoods -north areas- to the rich ones -western areas- is far from being anything like a hip cosmopolitan metropolis (and if in part they may seem like it, it is mostly because of the subsaharian, equatorian, peruvian, etc immigrants who don't know shit about touristy, expensive leisure activities and are here to earn some money to send back home... of course, they speak little to nothing english -subsharians in fact are more fluid in french- ... all this people have nothing to do with the bohemian argentinians or east-europeans that wander around the Born area or El Raval -- in fact, both El Raval and the Born avenue compared to the total population of the city are more of hipster ghettos than a representative community of the whole city , less alone the whole metro area -ever strolled in Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Bellvitge -Hospitalet, Badalona or Cornellà de Llobregat?)
btw, I find highly amusing, not to say highly insulting, that you claim to feel like a local and still dismiss the catalan vs. spanish issue with things like "dont worry about catalan" ... but then, you already spoke spanish before you came here, so why ever bother in learning catalan? -- you have the fucking Spanish State apparatus covering your ass in that aspect, in the end spanish is as "official" and "legal" as catalan is... I feel more empathy for those subsaharians that end up in the Girona province -where catalan is king-, knowing shit about Catalonia and her history and her language and have become relatively fluid with catalan (I can prove it, I've met some, and its a known fact), and know just the basics in spanish... hats off to them (especially since they don't come here as tourists but to live and work.. like a "local")
@sashley: regarding the language issue, if you do a search on 'Barcelona' in the Archinect discussion archives you'll find other threads that already discussed that... for example this one... if you hang out only with other foreigners and the local archi-educated world you won't have problems if you don't know a word in catalan or spanish ..
but if you want to transcend this context and find out what the hell is Catalonia -especially if you move out of BCN's metro area, like some of the less touristy places of the Costa Brava, and other places in the deep country- you'll need some catalan and spanish vocabulary.. most people don't speak english (and the same happens in certain areas of Barcelona city)..
and depending on what places you move on -mostly central Catalonia- you'll have, at least, to show some respect about catalan, our mother tongue, which is an attitude not too many "tourists" (from rude, uneducated bartenders -for example- that spend a week here to presumably highly-cultured university people that live here for quite some time) usually have... that doesn't mean that you have to be fluid with it, not even know the basics (but at least some words out of courtesy - 'hello', 'goodbye', 'thanks', etc) , you just have to be aware of that thing, because this is no "typical Spain" (knowing the history of Catalonia, besides the architectural culture, will help you understand where you're going to) --- in conclusion, this is no NYC frankly.. some areas of the city may seem like it, some definitely are as cosmopolitan as London, Paris, Milan, NYC or Berlin, but mostly -as you move out of the central areas- it is definitely not.. nor most "locals" even feel the necessity to be.
Archi-types like us, e.g. Archinecters and the like, usually try to be aware of what's happening around, we try to be hip and cool, we learn languages and travel (some more than others), we are mostly progressive people, etc.. but, as you know, we are a small portion of the society and pretending to expect the same attitude or assuming that other segments of this society have the same aspirations (or have been blessed with the same opportunities in life to do so) would make, absolutely, no sense. As they say, "don't believe the hype".
@Medit: "...btw, I find highly amusing, not to say highly insulting, that you claim to feel like a local and still dismiss the catalan vs. spanish issue with things like "dont worry about catalan" ... but then, you already spoke spanish before you came here, so why ever bother in learning catalan? -- you have the fucking Spanish State apparatus covering your ass in that aspect, in the end spanish is as "official" and "legal" as catalan is... I feel more empathy for those subsaharians that end up in the Girona province -where catalan is king-, knowing shit about Catalonia and her history and her language and have become relatively fluid with catalan (I can prove it, I've met some, and its a known fact), and know just the basics in spanish... hats off to them (especially since they don't come here as tourists but to live and work.. like a "local")...
are u finished with ur childish speech??, hope so, cause is a little bit boring and out of place, first of all i didnt said i dont speak, and write catalan, i work here, and i hand in all documentation in catalan, besides i have friends catalan, which they can speak catalan or not with me and im ok with that as also they r ok if i want to speak catalan or not... anyways dude, i was JUST ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM someone non cataln speaker, non spanish speaker, which is coming to STUDY ONLY A SEMESTER IN CATALUNYA, and was just trying to give her the best advice possible, but ur right, lets make her learn catalan, spanish, and maybe even about the caganeng... anyway Medit, i know u will never consider me a local but im happy here and ur not even living in Barcelona so, u know is like living in Jersey and criticize those living in Manhattan...sorry dude, ur a smart guy, but sometimes u make me sick with u trying to be the i-know-it-all catalan smart-ass...
...oh sorry should we get into the topic of how many inmigrants had come to catalunya and had helped to be what it is, feeling themselves embraced by the country and the city, making them feel like locals??, sorry dude, "i wish i could throw spaguettis outta my fingers*" right now...
*Cook, Dane, retailation, 2005
P.S. relax dude, if u want to get angry at somebody, go to La Rambla and start screaming to the brits and the germans who are peeing in your streets and puking in ur alleys... byt he way, guinardo, sarria, sans..c'mon dude, u have to live here to know more...i didnt meant "touristic" as a literally touristic, but u were already blinded trying to discredit my local feeling in order to understand what i meant...those neighborhoods are also filled by inmigrants...damn where is that graph which was on the newspaper just a month ago and the percentage of inmigrants in every neighborhood... know what stay in deep catalunya and we wont bother u dude...sorry we just like Barcelona
aha.. well, just to finnish this last ridiculous conversation (of a rather interesting thread though).. so its all about "how many immigrants have helped to do Catalunya what it is"?... aah man.. now I understand where you're coming from... you tell that to Josep Termes pal, to Joan B. Culla... don't make me laugh.. again you don't know what you're talking about, you're just parroting political bullshit, you need to read more about the "catalanisme obrer" pal... I bet Albertito would be very pleased to meet you .. you go urgently to Urgell, 249 and tell them you "feel" like a local... they do too.. (just that you seem to be a little bit more disoriented .. which its ok, you just need some more time to understand this place)..
[and don't tell where the fuck I have to stay chaval, "de fora vingueren i de casa ens tragueren" *rolling eyes*.. I still spent long stays in a couple of those neighborhoods I mentioned before and visit places and people -both from "touristic areas" and not- that have not changed a bit since the early 1980s.. but you probably dont' know them since they are several light years from being "cool", less alone "touristic"... maybe you don't understand that term.. having a high ratio of immigrants doesn't make them "touristic areas".. are the Lleida, Balaguer or other Segrià farms, filled with immigrants, "touristic"? .. what kind of argument is that? ...
and actually, I was pretty relaxed -and still I am ;) -, but I can't stand it when people start to say bullshit about this country and this city.. because "sorry, I just like my hometown" or maybe "sorry, I just KNOW my hometown"... en fi.. bon vent i barca nova...]
we walked as many gaudi projects as we could in a single day. including walking from downtown all the way up to parc guell.
stumbled onto a great restaurant about halfway up on a crazy sloping street. the table sloped at a fairly steep angle and sat at the curb side of a very narrow sidewalk - and my wife sat uphill from me. had an incredible tuna that was only slightly cooked and drank too much wine, making the walk back to our hotel quite an adventure.
after that day we didn't feel obligated to find any more gaudi projects and wandered around randomly.
Barcelona - places to be, things to see....
i'll be studying in barcelona this coming fall semester + i was wondering if any of you have any suggestions as to what things + places i should seek out in + around the city while i'm there.
i went there recently with my wife for a few days. it was by far the best city in Europe (in my opinion). while your there, get a good metro map. the train and bus system is pretty good and can get you anywhere in the city.
among the places to see...all of Gaudi's stuff of course. the Sagrada Familia is an amazing church to walk through, despite all the construction still going on. make sure to spend some time in the museum below the church. don't take the tour where there are crowds...you'll be walking up the spires really slowly.
see the Gruell park in the north part of the city (also done by Gaudi). there are grotto's where musicians set up and play...its a very relaxing area to experience. the nice thing is that the park is laid out in layers and each layer has a different theme. at the top you get a nice view of the entire city and port. there are a lot of great parks and each of them deserves some time to experience.
speaking of which, the beach is a great place to hang out. there is always stuff going on. its also nice in the evenings...esp along the dock.
if you want to party, La Rambla is the street to be on. there are open markets and street performers and night clubs. its a wide pedestrian street with very little traffic.
don't forget to see the Barcelona Pavilion and the Plaza Republica. in the Plaza there is a huge foutain and i think on every Sunday evening there is a light and music show...the fountain turns colors and shapes with the musical selection.
there is also a very beautiful medical school campus near the Sagrada Familia...worth checking out.
well, that's all i can think of off the top of my head. good luck this fall.
get some prostitutes on la rambla.
see some enric miralles-i forgot the name of the park, but it has the twisting steel poles. Also the market place with the colorful roof scape.
tapas and paella are good.
And most of all, pls dn't 4get to check the goldfish by Gehry for the 92 olympics..
after all that's what brought the disasters later on !! ;)
here's some stuff (though I still have to add too many things... I'll update the list this summer):
http://www.geocities.com/medit1976/index.htm
(maybe what firuz recalls is the modernista Sant Pau Hospital, several blocks away from GaudÃ's temple, which is definitely the most extraordinaire art nouveau complex in the whole city (just after most GaudÃ's works) by the best catalan architect from that time (after GaudÃ, of course): LluÃs Domènech i Montaner)
Go to the old city...of Las Ramblas...and just get lost...beautiful tiny winding streets and nooks and crannies to discover...there is a kick ass gelato (I know, not super spanish, but it's really good) somewhere in there...Also the Picasso Museum is a great place to go...
Gaudi Stuff is truly inspiring...sometimes, at the Casa Milo, they hold special events on the roof, which are great...especially evening ones, when you can watch the sunset across the city, and behind the spires of la Sagrada Familia....
check out the macba and the cccb right next to it. are you going with the clemson program?
that gehry goldfish was...like seriously lame
yeah, i am going with the clemson program. did you go/are you going to clemson?
thanks for all the input so far. i'm trying to make a list of places to go before i leave so i can make sure i see everything and do everything worth seeing + doing while i'm over there. i'm super excited but starting to get a bit nervous.
yea, i did the clemson program. get a let's go barcelona book. email me if you have further questions about the prgram and i can answer away.
(maybe what firuz recalls is the modernista Sant Pau Hospital, several blocks away from GaudÃ's temple, which is definitely the most extraordinaire art nouveau complex in the whole city (just after most GaudÃ's works) by the best catalan architect from that time (after GaudÃ, of course): LluÃs Domènech i Montaner)
i had my appendix out there! it was fantastic, when they knocked me out for the operation i was staring up at the most amazing glazed brick vault, and each building ward had a fantastic sunroom on the southern end, i've never been so happy to be sick.
barcelona is the best city to never have any plans in, just walk out your front door and youl find something interesting
Do you know if you'll be studying at the Nau Ivanow? There is a really underwhelming Calatrava bridge nearby, but I'd be interested to see how the area has developed since 2001.
You should have plenty of time to see and do everything, so no worries.
Sorry that I can't be more helpful with the dates, but here are my highlights:
The Castellers! Find out when they show up at the Placa de Sant Jaume and be there. I saw them sometime in mid-September. They function on more of a competition circuit rather than a regular basis.
Tour the Palau de la Generalitat. Only open to the public maybe two days a year? It's one of the longest lines that I've ever stood in.
Check out the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar in the old part of town. See how the Catalans did gothic.
The Cloisters of the Cathedral. Maybe my favorite place to be at night, alone.
Maritime Museum near the Columbus Monument at the end of Las Ramblas. This was low on my list of museums, but I was so impressed by how well the museum told the story of the importance of seafaring throughout the history of Barcelona. It helps that you can smell the ocean.
Hike on up and through the incredible Parc Guell, down through another neighborhood, and into Parc de la Creueta del Coll. I went in November when the pool was drained and there wasn't a living thing in sight except for dozens and dozens of stray cats. You can then climb on up to the Chillida statue. I love Chillida.
I can't find the name of them, but the three towers near the mouth of the Besos are deceptively large. Take the metro way out to them.
That's all that I can think of at the moment...
orequal, i ended up in hospital while on an exchange studio to the nou ivanow about in 2003. we were all undergrads but we were using their studio space and attending juries.
Let me mention things not listed above:
Las Arenas by Rogers under construction now. You will see it when you enter the city or go to Montjuic area.
Montjuic - I esp like the Joan Miro museum
Torre agbar by Nouvel
Forum - H & de M's building and a very nice bridge.
Picasso museum is also quite nicely remodelled with good exhibition.
Palau de la Musica is worth to go for a show. It has very good acoustics for orchestra. ( I like it much better than Liceu)
Barceloneta is the beach area. It is also where Gehry's fish is located. Try out the restaurant underneath the fish or another one called Agua. That's my favorite.
Two of my favorite tapas place in Eixemple are also in Time out Barcelona book: one is on Mallorca to the west of La Rambla, another one is two blocks further down on Rambla from Mallorca. This one is old style and very authentic.
Don't forget to try the cafe con Leche(coffee with milk) and bocadillio. It's best with Jamon Iberico. Just try the different types of cured meat. They are great!!
Have fun!
ok, architecture related: before LAS ARENAS u will see from EL PRAT Airport to Barcelona the HESPERIA hotel by Rogers, the the construction site of the extension of the Fira by Ito, then Las Arenas when u get to plaza espanya....then yeah Montjuic also has the Ito Palau de Sant Jordi (the arena, next to the olimpic stadium) right there the calatrava antena, mmhhh.... yeah the MIRO museum is a must see... a house by catalan modernist Coderch (and close friend of Miro) designed specially to host the museum... i would take a look of the olympic pools too, and the botanical gardens by Ferrater at the top of montjuic....and of course in Montjuic the German Pavillion by Mies van der Rohe
then there's plenty other stuff... the Forum building by H & dM, be sure to go inside, to see the interior space and the exhibition about the city inside + the Mies Prize winners, u will also there get an idea of how many projects are under construction and planning at Barcelona, (in the same area) the forum park by FOA, the "natural water pools" of forum (dont remember by who, but local), then the photovoltaic canopy, first prize of the last architectural biennale of spain with lovely views (by Martinez Lapeña + Torres Tur), the convention center and AC and Hilton hotels by MAP (Josep Lluis Mateo), then next to this forum area the Diagonal Park by EMBT (miralles) be sure to go there while is still warm weather so u can see the water effect on.... and to the other side (going to the Besos River) and if brave enough (u can see this from the Forum explanade) walk to the recycling center by Abalos & Herreros with the beach front (also designed by them) in front of it...
ok so back to the city...plenty to see...Nouvel's AGBAR tower at Glories, arts Hotel at Olimpic Port, with the Ghery (first) fish canopy.... then all the gaudi stuff pedrera house, casa batllo, sagrada familia, Guell park, on ur way to the park guell be sure to check out the new public library (also by Martinez Lapeña i think, not sure).... what else?? the Siza meteorologyobservatory at the beach in Olimpic Port... mmhh im sure im missing important stuff...oh yeah Santa Caterina market also by EMBT (Miralles/Tagliabue) and be sure to have dinner at the restaurant inside it (Cuina de Sta Caterina), one of my favourites of the city....also if u wanna go to the movies in english and u end up at "Icaria" comercial center, u will see some Canopy by Miralles at Paseo Icaria...anyways...
museums: CCCB (the most interesting shows and activities) the FAD (in front of MACBA), then MACBA the skateboarding mekkah of the new millenium by Richard Meier....
paella is not that good, if u want paella go to Valencia (3 hours south Barcelona) or go to Plaza Orson Wells (a.k.a. plaza trippie) for paella, TAPAS my favourite i have to say its CIUDAD CONDAL (ciutat comtal) at Gran Via and Rambla Catalunya corner, best quality/price place for tapas....
BOOKS at CENTRAL bookstore close to MACBA....also at the JORDI CAPEL cooperative (at the Colegio de Arquitectos, like the Architects Union) almost in front of cathedral...
TO EAT also besides the ones i already mentioned: RA (behind boqueria), oh yeah go to the boqueria market, one of the top 3 markets in the world for quality and freshness of products, mmhh restaurants restaurants?? mmh i dunno plenty of good places at BORN area, also fro drinks try BORN area, my favourite the tiny MAMAINE, im there almost always zipping my mojito.... mmhhh what else?? oh yeah another favourite bar is AMBAR at the end of rambla de Raval.... Raval area in general is also fun to go out at.... and just in case u feel nostalgic and wanna meet more foreigners head to LA OVEJA NEGRA bar...
mmhhh yeah also to go out or dinner places around PLAZA REAL, centric, popular, conveniant....
anyways good luck and see u around... :)
oh and i have to disagree BARCELONETA is the best beach, is the most popular and dirty.... walk to Forum direction and after Olimpic Port beaches start getting nice... my favs, Marbella and nueva Marbella...
I can't find the name of them, but the three towers near the mouth of the Besos are deceptively large. Take the metro way out to them.
as far as I know the pool at the Creueta del Coll park is closed from September/October to May/June... don't mess with the Chillida concrete hanging piece, it once fell down (don't remember if there were any injuries), and the City council moved it to a corner of the park, out of the public pool..
the three towers at the Besòs mouth (chimneys of an electric power plant) are known as the Xemeneies de Sant Adrià (or Xemeneies de la FECSA) and are just outside BCN's municipal term (not that interesting in my opinion.. you can see them from the recently inaugurated Ãbalos&Herreros park at the Fòrum northeastern end.. actually you can see them from anywhere in BCN's metro area, they are the tallest structure around)
the trambesòs will take you there if you want to see them close..
try asking for a "cafè amb llet" (catalan) instead of a "café con leche" (spanish).. your gesture will be appreciated
they are finishing a new building (not that architecturally interesting, but well equipped with high-tech paraphernalia) on the northwestern corner of the 3x3 super-Cerdà -block of the St Pau hospital... they will transfer all medical facilities there because the modernista pavilions are too old and most are on their way to be rehabilitated (they will remain for archives, R+D, classrooms, etc)... actually, a couple of springs ago a dome of one of the pavilions fell down (luckily no one was injuried)...
though I agree that place is amazing, I spent a lot of time in and around that complex when I was a kid (I had relatives working in the hospital, not that I was ill) and its one of most marvelous places of the city (the most "surreal" together with the Güell Park)... from the subterranean cave-like halls to the colorful tiled domes and gardens
I have been living here for the last 5 years and there is a lot to see...but it seems like all the tourists hang out near the Ramblas...so I would first suggest taking a bus tour to see the different neighborhoods that the city has to offer. You should check out the neigborhood of Gracia...which is not as touristy as the neighborhoods near Las Ramblas. Also it has some neat stores...and I recommend a small, interesting...and very good restaurant called "Goliard". Sarria is another neighborhood that´s worth checking out for a couple of hours...it´s also located near the U.S Consulate...which is rather stately. During a weekend you should try to head up north to the area of Costa Brava...most of the towns aren´t overdeveloped with beach front high-rises...Begur is always a nice town to visit.
done. thanks.
Anyone interested in meeting up between September 6-12:
I will be joining some students and professors from my undergrad alma-mater who are touring Barcelona for a week (as a trip taken from the UFlorida SoA Vicenza Institute of Architecture - near Venice, It.)...
One of the professors is a native son (from Galicia), and he was a project designer (exact role?) on MACBA during his time at Meier's office, before coming to teach at UF...He's given this tour in the past, and myself and a friend decided the best way to spend our vacation would be to participate in this study tour.
Medit, I sent you an email a few weeks ago regarding^
...wasn't aware that MAD was also in residence...
you are also going to see some of the most well designed restaurants, bars, galleries in this city. definately walk around. get lost. i highly recommend the picasso musuem. it' a great space.
there is a design book store called "ras" which is about 2 blocks from the macba (and your studio, if clemson still works out of that space). you can blow hundreds of euros there in one visit. i used to go to the casino on the beach, try my hand at blackjack, live it up with my friends, and take all my winnings to ras the next morning.
you are also going to see some of the most well designed restaurants, bars, galleries in this city. definately walk around. get lost. i highly recommend the picasso musuem. it' a great space.
there is a design book store called "ras" which is about 2 blocks from the macba (and your studio, if clemson still works out of that space). you can blow hundreds of euros there in one visit. i used to go to the casino on the beach, try my hand at blackjack, live it up with my friends, and take all my winnings to ras the next morning.
Do you know if you'll be studying at the Nau Ivanow?
the program is actually a joint program with the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya. We'll be living in apts. for international students very close to Las Ramblas so i imagine there will be lots of activity around the area. i know i'll be looking for less touristy places to visit and hang out so all of these suggestions are very helpful!
sorry AP I didn't see it, I barely check out that account..
but, hey! I don't live/work in BCN (though I was born and went to school there) but somewhere else in Catalonia.. I just tour and visit the catalan capital regularly (not too much in the summer > too crowded) to see what's new..
I don't think I'll be there in September, by then I'll (hopefully) be refreshing my tired feet in the cold waters of a Pyrenees' river
Some great suggestions... since you'll be there for the fall you'll have plenty of time to take it all in. Since there are already a plethora of suggestions of sites and attractions above, I'll suggest a couple of my favorite places to grab a bite - both in the old city: L'Amistad, an Equadorian "hole-in-the-wall" on Carrer de la Ra Alta - not too far from where last fall's Group was staying. Another is Milk on Carrer d'En Gingas, a small little bistro (a bit on the pricey side - but worth it) with international stuff.
BTW - I still have a couple of mobiles from when I was there last year. Let me know if you (or anyone else) are interested in buying them.
Have a great time - Barcelona is a great city!
definately take some weekend trips around barcelona. i recommend sitges, montserrat, figueres (wonderful dali musuem), girona, caques, and any little down along the costa brava.
i support sitges, cambrils and girona....nice towns.... by the way alvis chyld RAS is the gallery of the owners of ACTAR books, thats why u can blow ur cash there so easily....
AP yup i live here...not born here but already feeling quite local ;)
make that Cadaqués ;) .. one of DalÃ's Magic Triangle vertices, his maritime home is there, in Port Lligat..
[...] and any little town along the costa brava
or else in deep Catalonia.. the Pyrenees are awesome and nearer as you move up the Costa Brava.. in fact, once you reach the Empordà region, where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean, you have both mountains and sea in one place... southern Catalonia is great too (but not as great as the northern regions) .. central Pyrenees are less crowded but the variety of landscapes is superb..
hmmm to go out... my recommendations : go to space bcn across from the large miro woman and bird sculpture (also worth visiting). la paloma during the summer months is also pretty amazing. stay away from las ramblas when going out at night, the bars and discos there are touristy and expensive. the same goes for near port olimipica, near the arts hotel you will find tons and tons of small bars/discos, which cater to tourists, dont go there! Go out to gracia for some really chill bars, walk around the eixample for the larger discos. you will be living close to apollo as well, which has its good nights, right across from parallel and nou de la rambla. also on nou de la rambla theres london bar, which is pretty cool place to visit, good music!
Have fun, I am jealous, I want to go back!
I really liked Foster's tower on the mountain. I saw it and knew I had to go to it, took a cab up there and walked around. Nice church next to it, too. Looked like some good trails around there, if you have time to hike or bike.
if you decide to take a trip along costa brava...might be worth visitng Portbou and Dani Karavan's Walter Benjamin Memorial...
thanks so much for all of the suggestions so far! every little bit helps - especially since i know very little about barcelona + spain in general. i'm compiling a list of all the suggested places, so hopefully i'll be able to see all the sights + check out the local culture as well.
i do have another question though. i'm not fluent in spanish, much less catalan. will this be a serious issue? i'm assuming that since clemson has had this program over in spain for quite some time that it must not be too much of an issue b/c obviously not everyone who goes over speaks the language. any thoughts on this?
BCN is as cosmopolitan as NYC for example, and u will find english a common lenguage to relate with others alike (meaning young people from other places) tourist hunters also will speak it, and of most of waiters in touristic areas (is any area of barcelona these days not considered touristic Medit??)... dont worry about catalan, try to learn some spanish at least and even if u feel stupid, try to order ur stuff in spanish (even if u realize waiters and bartenders are also not from spain) that will open u thousands of doors...
Learn som Spanish. I didn't learn enough when I was there. You can try this place: http://www.ihspain.com/barcelona/language_school.html
Once in a while they have some trial courses for 'student teachers' to practice and they charge very little. Or you can find some private tutor. Or you can go to Craigslist and try to make some friends by exchanging language. A lot of people like to learn more English.
@trace: what church? I hope you don't mean this one...
this is like Sagrada's ugly little sister, both churches were done around the same time, but while GaudÃ's temple is a key building in the history of architecture, Sagnier's temple on top of the Tibidabo is usually regarded as, and I agree it is, a quite unsuccesful pastiche of romanesque -inside- and gothic and eclectic style -outside- architecture... though its quite impressive by its scale and location, you can see it from anywhere in Barcelona and the cities at the other side of the Collserola mountain
@MADianito: of course there are areas not considered "touristic".. Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, el Guinardó, la Sagrera, la Marina, and some other parts of Sarrià -Sant Gervasi are anything but "touristic".. try to find people who speaks english fluidly in Gran de Sant Andreu street or some inhabitants of Sert's old Casa Bloc, or at Guinardó's public pool, or a civic center in Sants, or people wandering around the Maternitat gardens...
the "only" touristic places, where the chances to communicate with locals in english in a fluid manner will be somewhat feasible, are the Old City, the Eixample-Plaça Espanya-Montjuic continuum, the coastal area -from the Barceloneta beaches and the Vila OlÃmpica to the Fòrum area- and youngster dominated-areas like Grà cia and the UPC campus up the Diagonal... the rest of the city -less known, with no architectural monuments, no "touristy" activities-, either working-class neighborhoods -north areas- to the rich ones -western areas- is far from being anything like a hip cosmopolitan metropolis (and if in part they may seem like it, it is mostly because of the subsaharian, equatorian, peruvian, etc immigrants who don't know shit about touristy, expensive leisure activities and are here to earn some money to send back home... of course, they speak little to nothing english -subsharians in fact are more fluid in french- ... all this people have nothing to do with the bohemian argentinians or east-europeans that wander around the Born area or El Raval -- in fact, both El Raval and the Born avenue compared to the total population of the city are more of hipster ghettos than a representative community of the whole city , less alone the whole metro area -ever strolled in Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Bellvitge -Hospitalet, Badalona or Cornellà de Llobregat?)
btw, I find highly amusing, not to say highly insulting, that you claim to feel like a local and still dismiss the catalan vs. spanish issue with things like "dont worry about catalan" ... but then, you already spoke spanish before you came here, so why ever bother in learning catalan? -- you have the fucking Spanish State apparatus covering your ass in that aspect, in the end spanish is as "official" and "legal" as catalan is... I feel more empathy for those subsaharians that end up in the Girona province -where catalan is king-, knowing shit about Catalonia and her history and her language and have become relatively fluid with catalan (I can prove it, I've met some, and its a known fact), and know just the basics in spanish... hats off to them (especially since they don't come here as tourists but to live and work.. like a "local")
@sashley: regarding the language issue, if you do a search on 'Barcelona' in the Archinect discussion archives you'll find other threads that already discussed that... for example this one... if you hang out only with other foreigners and the local archi-educated world you won't have problems if you don't know a word in catalan or spanish ..
but if you want to transcend this context and find out what the hell is Catalonia -especially if you move out of BCN's metro area, like some of the less touristy places of the Costa Brava, and other places in the deep country- you'll need some catalan and spanish vocabulary.. most people don't speak english (and the same happens in certain areas of Barcelona city)..
and depending on what places you move on -mostly central Catalonia- you'll have, at least, to show some respect about catalan, our mother tongue, which is an attitude not too many "tourists" (from rude, uneducated bartenders -for example- that spend a week here to presumably highly-cultured university people that live here for quite some time) usually have... that doesn't mean that you have to be fluid with it, not even know the basics (but at least some words out of courtesy - 'hello', 'goodbye', 'thanks', etc) , you just have to be aware of that thing, because this is no "typical Spain" (knowing the history of Catalonia, besides the architectural culture, will help you understand where you're going to) --- in conclusion, this is no NYC frankly.. some areas of the city may seem like it, some definitely are as cosmopolitan as London, Paris, Milan, NYC or Berlin, but mostly -as you move out of the central areas- it is definitely not.. nor most "locals" even feel the necessity to be.
Archi-types like us, e.g. Archinecters and the like, usually try to be aware of what's happening around, we try to be hip and cool, we learn languages and travel (some more than others), we are mostly progressive people, etc.. but, as you know, we are a small portion of the society and pretending to expect the same attitude or assuming that other segments of this society have the same aspirations (or have been blessed with the same opportunities in life to do so) would make, absolutely, no sense. As they say, "don't believe the hype".
@Medit: "...btw, I find highly amusing, not to say highly insulting, that you claim to feel like a local and still dismiss the catalan vs. spanish issue with things like "dont worry about catalan" ... but then, you already spoke spanish before you came here, so why ever bother in learning catalan? -- you have the fucking Spanish State apparatus covering your ass in that aspect, in the end spanish is as "official" and "legal" as catalan is... I feel more empathy for those subsaharians that end up in the Girona province -where catalan is king-, knowing shit about Catalonia and her history and her language and have become relatively fluid with catalan (I can prove it, I've met some, and its a known fact), and know just the basics in spanish... hats off to them (especially since they don't come here as tourists but to live and work.. like a "local")...
are u finished with ur childish speech??, hope so, cause is a little bit boring and out of place, first of all i didnt said i dont speak, and write catalan, i work here, and i hand in all documentation in catalan, besides i have friends catalan, which they can speak catalan or not with me and im ok with that as also they r ok if i want to speak catalan or not... anyways dude, i was JUST ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM someone non cataln speaker, non spanish speaker, which is coming to STUDY ONLY A SEMESTER IN CATALUNYA, and was just trying to give her the best advice possible, but ur right, lets make her learn catalan, spanish, and maybe even about the caganeng... anyway Medit, i know u will never consider me a local but im happy here and ur not even living in Barcelona so, u know is like living in Jersey and criticize those living in Manhattan...sorry dude, ur a smart guy, but sometimes u make me sick with u trying to be the i-know-it-all catalan smart-ass...
...oh sorry should we get into the topic of how many inmigrants had come to catalunya and had helped to be what it is, feeling themselves embraced by the country and the city, making them feel like locals??, sorry dude, "i wish i could throw spaguettis outta my fingers*" right now...
*Cook, Dane, retailation, 2005
P.S. relax dude, if u want to get angry at somebody, go to La Rambla and start screaming to the brits and the germans who are peeing in your streets and puking in ur alleys... byt he way, guinardo, sarria, sans..c'mon dude, u have to live here to know more...i didnt meant "touristic" as a literally touristic, but u were already blinded trying to discredit my local feeling in order to understand what i meant...those neighborhoods are also filled by inmigrants...damn where is that graph which was on the newspaper just a month ago and the percentage of inmigrants in every neighborhood... know what stay in deep catalunya and we wont bother u dude...sorry we just like Barcelona
aha.. well, just to finnish this last ridiculous conversation (of a rather interesting thread though).. so its all about "how many immigrants have helped to do Catalunya what it is"?... aah man.. now I understand where you're coming from... you tell that to Josep Termes pal, to Joan B. Culla... don't make me laugh.. again you don't know what you're talking about, you're just parroting political bullshit, you need to read more about the "catalanisme obrer" pal... I bet Albertito would be very pleased to meet you .. you go urgently to Urgell, 249 and tell them you "feel" like a local... they do too.. (just that you seem to be a little bit more disoriented .. which its ok, you just need some more time to understand this place)..
[and don't tell where the fuck I have to stay chaval, "de fora vingueren i de casa ens tragueren" *rolling eyes*.. I still spent long stays in a couple of those neighborhoods I mentioned before and visit places and people -both from "touristic areas" and not- that have not changed a bit since the early 1980s.. but you probably dont' know them since they are several light years from being "cool", less alone "touristic"... maybe you don't understand that term.. having a high ratio of immigrants doesn't make them "touristic areas".. are the Lleida, Balaguer or other Segrià farms, filled with immigrants, "touristic"? .. what kind of argument is that? ...
and actually, I was pretty relaxed -and still I am ;) -, but I can't stand it when people start to say bullshit about this country and this city.. because "sorry, I just like my hometown" or maybe "sorry, I just KNOW my hometown"... en fi.. bon vent i barca nova...]
we walked as many gaudi projects as we could in a single day. including walking from downtown all the way up to parc guell.
stumbled onto a great restaurant about halfway up on a crazy sloping street. the table sloped at a fairly steep angle and sat at the curb side of a very narrow sidewalk - and my wife sat uphill from me. had an incredible tuna that was only slightly cooked and drank too much wine, making the walk back to our hotel quite an adventure.
after that day we didn't feel obligated to find any more gaudi projects and wandered around randomly.
typical PROVINCIAL noise-making between two people of the exact same making.
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