Travelling to Barcelona
by Meredith Jones
Barcelona
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| Barcelona is a beautiful,
cultural European city. It attracts tourists from all over Spain and the
rest of the world wanting to experience its unusual Gaudi architecture
and ambience. I travelled on the open topped tourist bus and bought my
two day travel ticket from my hotel. It meant that I could just hop on
and off at the sights that I wanted to see and look from outside the bus
window at those that I preferred to pass by, such as Barcelona football
ground. There is so much to see and do in this city that the bus ticket
is an economical and less tiring way to travel on a budget.
Highlights for me were the
Sagrada cathedral. It has been under construction for years, since 1882
and although the current builders continue on with Gaudi's work they are
now using more modern building materials so there is some controversy around
this building. It is something that you absolutely must see if you visit
Barcelona and the tourist bus has this as one of its drop off points.
The Casa Batllo is another
amazing building designed by Gaudi for a wealthy man and his family. From
the outside the balconies look as though they are made of skulls and bones.
What an amazing house it must have been to live in and seeing the photographs
of the children and parents that owned this building gave me goosebumps. |
La
Sagrada Familia Cathedral at Night
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Casa
Batllo, Exterior, Barcelona, Spain
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The Park Guell is up a steep
hill so if you have problems walking then get a taxi. It has a beautiful
park inside with all of Gaudi's charm and colour on display and also a
house that he lived in for a short time that you can visit. To enjoy this
park I suggest half a day is given up to it, as it is quite large. I'm
not a big fan of art but I didn't get bored of seeing Gaudi architecture
once in Barcelona, it is so different. He takes gothic architecture and
gives it a unique twist.
I enjoyed seeing the port
and visiting the sea life centre there, especially good if you are travelling
to Barcelona with children. You can get quite close to sharks as they swim
above you. Eating out was cheap. I found a fantastic Italian restaurant
in the gothic quarter where we were staying near to the church there. It
drew me in with its candles flickering on each of the tables welcoming
tired and hungry passers by. Wine on the menu is so much cheaper than anything
you would find in the UK. Even the ones at five euros a bottle were perfectly
palatable.
If you are in the gothic
quarter of Barcelona try to find Salvador Dali's art museum, tucked away
down a side street. It is small and you feel as though you are walking
around someone's house but it is full of his sculpture and art. It was
a great way to pick out the artists style as I wasn't that familiar with
his work before. After an hour or so I felt quite the expert! |
I visited the Ramblas a street
that stretches 1.2 km through the city centre. Here you will find market
stalls, boutiques and street performers and it is busy throughout the day
and night. I had been warned to hold on tightly to my handbag here which
I did everywhere in Barcelona, but considering it is a city, I felt safe.
I spent four days in Barcelona and had a super time. I would recommend
it to anyone who is considering a city break, as there is so much to see
and do. The Gaudi architecture and the memories of your stay, will remain
with you forever.
Enjoy!
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