Barcelona

In article ,
"Jean O'Boyle" wrote:


Steve,
I'm a bit disappointed about the Sagrada Familla comments...I was very much
looking forward to seeing it as well as attending Mass there.
As far as the buses are concerned I have been told to take Bus Turistic as
far as the hop on hop off buses are concerned because they are less
expensive and more inclusive than the Barcelona Tours Bus that is a red
double decker.
I'll check for the one with the blue, yellow and green route that you
mention.
Thank you!

--Jean


Frankly I think you are insane (if you appreciate Gaudi) to not go into
the Sagrada. I've been inside every time I visit Barcelona. It's
astonishing. Yes it's under construction. That makes it fascinating I
think.

Tamzen Cannoy wrote in
:

In article ,
"Jean O'Boyle" wrote:


Steve,
I'm a bit disappointed about the Sagrada Familla comments...I was
very much looking forward to seeing it as well as attending Mass
there. As far as the buses are concerned I have been told to take Bus
Turistic as far as the hop on hop off buses are concerned because
they are less expensive and more inclusive than the Barcelona Tours
Bus that is a red double decker.
I'll check for the one with the blue, yellow and green route that you
mention.
Thank you!

--Jean


Frankly I think you are insane (if you appreciate Gaudi) to not go
into the Sagrada. I've been inside every time I visit Barcelona. It's
astonishing. Yes it's under construction. That makes it fascinating I
think.


What I find intriguing is trying to see what Gaudi meant by
incorporating nature into the building. One cannot really appreciate
this without a trip to Sitges and check out the twisted rock formation
which look just like Gaudi's twisted contorted stone carvings.

--
Joseph Coulter, cruises and vacations
www.josephcoulter.com

877 832 2021
904 631 8863 cell

Jean O'Boyle wrote:
"tile" wrote in message
...
Jean O'Boyle wrote:
Thanks, Tile and Erick,
Hopefully it will be in the 60's and sunny. It will be our first
time in Barcelona.
Tile, thanks for the heads up on the pickpockets; it is not the
first time I have been warned.

--Jean

I would say the best way to visit Barcelona is to take one of those
London buses then go back to the places. Some cable ways are very
crowded. expecially the one to the war museum.
When I was in the war museum. i saw a medal that my father had. I
asked what it was. and they told me it was the medal that was given
by Franco to all those that were fighting in the Civil War.
I think Barcelona is very nice for its atmosphere. It you are lucky
and you have sunny days. you will be walking to the sea in shorts
and in short sleeves
Sagrada Familla is very crowded and expensive. you pay to enter the
church and to go up by lift. Both of these things really are not
interesting.The church is always undergoing mayor works.. and you
will be obliged to walk under scaffoldings inside the church.
so. I recommend not to pay and not to enter. It is much nicer
outside. Be prepared to pay for entering a lot of monuments and museums.
you
even pay to climb the Columbus pillar monument.
You might use the subway . it is very cheap and very efficient.

Lots of good information...thank you! I'll be sure to include some
shorts in case we are lucky enough to enjoy nice weather. Can't help
to anticipate and be prepared!
Since a Sunday is included in our stay, will they not allow us to
enter to attend Mass?

--Jean

well. I am a catholic myself and went to Church in the Ramblas.. and I was
surprised to realize how few the people were that attended mass. Spain was
always a very catholic country.-
pls be aware that Barcelona belongs to Cataluna and the language spoken is
Catalan. Of course. since you are a tourist. they will accept that you might
try to speak spanish.-
Once I wanted to go to Andorra. and asked somebody if they spoke French or
Spanish there. They told me.. no, senor.. Catalan.
as to restaurants.. all the restaurants near the Ramblas or tourist places
are tourist traps. they are expensive and not good
But we found it very nice to sit in the open air near the end of the
Ramblas and the sea and eat in those open air restaurants
Pls note that Barcelona is one of the most expensive towns in Spain, if not
the most expensive but it is very nice and worth the money you pay
you have everything there..
Monuments
sea
parks
hills
atmosphere
and in my opinion the spanish people are very very kind and polite.
if you want to go and see a religious town.. I suggest going to Santiago de
campostela. If you find a low cost airline ticket.. it might cost you about
100
eur round trip.

tile:

as to restaurants.. all the restaurants near the Ramblas or tourist places
are tourist traps. they are expensive and not good
But we found it very nice to sit in the open air near the end of the Ramblas
and the sea and eat in those open air restaurants

That would be one place to go, yes.
I found nice restaurants in several basements juist below the Mont Juic
slope, for instance Carrer de Cabanes. It's not the nicest district to
walk through (a small part of it is even a red light district), but
it's just a short walk from the Ramblas as well as from/to the Olympic
area.

I would avoid eating at El Xalet on top of MontJuic. The view is
impressive, but the food just mediocre.

--
Erick

Jean O'Boyle:

We are staying at Hotel Atlantis, C/Pelai, 20 Catalunya, which we were told
is not far from Los Ramblas, are you familiar with its location?

Sure. You're right in town, close to University and Placa de Catalunya.
Perhaps you'd like to take public transportation to Park Guell.
Everything else can be done on foot.

I am really looking forward to exploring the districts that you mention.
Are there any restaurants that you might recommend?

Since I haven't been to Barcelona this year, I don't have most recent
information on restaurants (there may have been chef or owner changes).
This may be of some help:
http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_c...lona_by_prices

--
Erick

"Jean O'Boyle" wrote in message
...

"tile" wrote in message
...
Jean O'Boyle wrote:
Thanks, Tile and Erick,
Hopefully it will be in the 60's and sunny. It will be our first time
in Barcelona.
Tile, thanks for the heads up on the pickpockets; it is not the first
time I have been warned.

--Jean

I would say the best way to visit Barcelona is to take one of those
London buses then go back to the places. Some cable ways are very
crowded.
expecially the one to the war museum.
When I was in the war museum. i saw a medal that my father had. I asked
what it was. and they told me it was the medal that was given by Franco
to all those that were fighting in the Civil War.
I think Barcelona is very nice for its atmosphere. It you are lucky and
you have sunny days. you will be walking to the sea in shorts and in
short sleeves
Sagrada Familla is very crowded and expensive. you pay to enter the
church and to go up by lift. Both of these things really are not
interesting.The church is always undergoing mayor works.. and you will be
obliged to walk under scaffoldings inside the church.
so. I recommend not to pay and not to enter. It is much nicer outside.
Be prepared to pay for entering a lot of monuments and museums. you even
pay to climb the Columbus pillar monument.
You might use the subway . it is very cheap and very efficient.

Lots of good information...thank you! I'll be sure to include some shorts
in case we are lucky enough to enjoy nice weather. Can't help to
anticipate and be prepared!
Since a Sunday is included in our stay, will they not allow us to enter to
attend Mass?



The Sagrada website seems to mention everything except Mass and other
Services. You could try e-mailing them at

If you are in Barcelona on a Friday or Saturday you must go to see the
performance at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Details at
http://www.barcelonatourguides.com/e...icfountain.htm

And stories about pickpockets on the Ramblas are greatly exaggerated. Anyone
who is Streetwise - and I am sure that includes you - will know what do do
and not to do when safeguarding money and valuables in any large City.
--
JohnT

"Jean O'Boyle" wrote in message
...

"Steve Rainbird" wrote in
message ...


"tile" wrote in message
...
Jean O'Boyle wrote:
"Erick T. Barkhuis" -o-m wrote in message
...
Jean O'Boyle:
We will be in Barcelona the second week of November.

Just a couple of weeks too late. Too bad.
You'll miss the awesome Sardana dancing at Cathedral Square.

Is this time of the year usually rainy?

You never know. It might be great, but occasional very heavy showers
are quite normal. They may be impressive, so bring a thin rain cover
and enjoy them!

Thanks, Tile and Erick,
Hopefully it will be in the 60's and sunny. It will be our first time
in Barcelona.
Tile, thanks for the heads up on the pickpockets; it is not the first
time I have been warned.

--Jean

I would say the best way to visit Barcelona is to take one of those
London buses then go back to the places. Some cable ways are very
crowded.
expecially the one to the war museum.
When I was in the war museum. i saw a medal that my father had. I asked
what it was. and they told me it was the medal that was given by Franco
to all those that were fighting in the Civil War.
I think Barcelona is very nice for its atmosphere. It you are lucky and
you have sunny days. you will be walking to the sea in shorts and in
short sleeves
Sagrada Familla is very crowded and expensive. you pay to enter the
church and to go up by lift. Both of these things really are not
interesting.The church is always undergoing mayor works.. and you will
be obliged to walk under scaffoldings inside the church.
so. I recommend not to pay and not to enter. It is much nicer outside.
Be prepared to pay for entering a lot of monuments and museums. you even
pay to climb the Columbus pillar monument.
You might use the subway . it is very cheap and very efficient.


If you take the open top bus tour then you get discount vouchers for all
the attractions.

It is the one with blue yellow and green routes can't remember what they
are called.

I would second the Sagrada Familla comments I found it very
disappointing.


Steve,
I'm a bit disappointed about the Sagrada Familla comments...I was very
much looking forward to seeing it as well as attending Mass there.
As far as the buses are concerned I have been told to take Bus Turistic as
far as the hop on hop off buses are concerned because they are less
expensive and more inclusive than the Barcelona Tours Bus that is a red
double decker.
I'll check for the one with the blue, yellow and green route that you
mention.
Thank you!

--Jean



I don't think you can attend mass in the Sagrada familla yet. When I was
there last November the while floor was covered with scaffolding planks and
builders material. If you want to attend mass try the old cathedral.

From the outside, the SF is impressive I just wasn't impressed with the
inside.

It was the Bus Turistic that has the blue, yellow and red routes. It was
expensive but if you don't have much time its worth the expense IMHO.



--
Steve

On Oct 9, 11:35*pm, Tamzen Cannoy wrote:
In article ,
*"Jean O'Boyle" wrote:



Steve,
I'm a bit disappointed about the Sagrada Familla comments...I was very much
looking forward to seeing it as well as attending Mass there.
As far as the buses are concerned I have been told to take Bus Turistic as
far as the hop on hop off buses are concerned because they are less
expensive and more inclusive than the Barcelona Tours Bus that is a red
double decker.
I'll check for the one with the blue, yellow and green route that you
mention.
Thank you!

--Jean

Frankly I think you are insane (if you appreciate Gaudi) to not go into
the Sagrada.

Certainly I wouldn't skip Sagrada Familia altogether, but Park Güell
and (particularly) La Pedrera are just as interesting if you're
interested in Gaudi's architecture. The small Gaudi museum in La
Pedrera is excellent.

A less well-known Barcelona highlight for me is the Museum of Pre-
Columbian Art, near the Picasso Museum. Small but perfect.

On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:36:06 +0100, M............ wrote:

Following up to Jean O'Boyle

I understand the best
ones are out of the way ones where the locals eat.

i had a very good meal in a place on the Ramblas alongside fellow brits
drinking lager and complaining about the steaks being underdone, I dont
think mass tourism has spoiled many restaurants yet.

I got pick pocketed on the Barcelona Metro,
so take care!

"Irwell" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:36:06 +0100, M............ wrote:

Following up to Jean O'Boyle

I understand the best
ones are out of the way ones where the locals eat.

i had a very good meal in a place on the Ramblas alongside fellow brits
drinking lager and complaining about the steaks being underdone, I dont
think mass tourism has spoiled many restaurants yet.

I got pick pocketed on the Barcelona Metro,
so take care!

I used the metro to go two stops back to my hotel to avoid being mugged in
the street (which is what happened to two people at my friend's hotel).

I made the decision to use the metro to go home because the area looked
unsafe, the mugging occurred after I had made this decision.

YMMV

tim