Barcelona tips?

Des Small wrote:

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:

Padraig Breathnach writes:

But how about the bodegas?

Yes, we had no bodegas. But do you not need to excurse for that?

So what did you find to do?

It is a pleasant city for a flâneur;

That's just the right term!

there's the cathedral and the
fiddly lanes round it, and all of Las Ramblas and the astonishing
covered Art Nouveau food market;

Yes. Loved them. Particularly the cathedral cloister and the food
market.

you have to see at least some of the
Gaudi buildings,

Even if you are not into architecture? I liked the Gaudi stuff.

and the park is nice, on account of being also a
park,

It rained non-stop during our visit, so we gave the park a miss. We'll
get it next time.

and then there's a bunch of eating and drinking to do. (I
insisted on going to the mad touriste restaurant for roast sucking
pig, and it was the Right Thing to do.)

A good food city.

I liked the Picasso museum, too, because of more than despite the
absence of World Famous Paintings - there's strength and depth in the
Picasso oeuvre and then some.

That's a possible for the next time, but I'm not big into Picasso.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:

you have to see at least some of the
Gaudi buildings,

Even if you are not into architecture? I liked the Gaudi stuff.

Yes. At least from the outside, along the Big Street Above Las
Ramblas. (To be honest, going in wasn't really an improvement.)

[...]

I liked the Picasso museum, too, because of more than despite the
absence of World Famous Paintings - there's strength and depth in the
Picasso oeuvre and then some.

That's a possible for the next time, but I'm not big into Picasso.

I couldn't really recommend it if you're not.

Des

Des Small wrote:

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:

I liked the Picasso museum, too, because of more than despite the
absence of World Famous Paintings - there's strength and depth in the
Picasso oeuvre and then some.

That's a possible for the next time, but I'm not big into Picasso.

I couldn't really recommend it if you're not.

I'm open to persuasion. A good exhibition, particularly if there is
plenty of explanation and commentary, might convert me. And if it
doesn't, at least I would know better why I'm not into Picasso.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:

I liked the Picasso museum, too, because of more than despite the
absence of World Famous Paintings - there's strength and depth in the
Picasso oeuvre and then some.

That's a possible for the next time, but I'm not big into Picasso.

I couldn't really recommend it if you're not.

I'm open to persuasion. A good exhibition, particularly if there is
plenty of explanation and commentary, might convert me. And if it
doesn't, at least I would know better why I'm not into Picasso.

There's a reasonable amount of commentary, in both Castillian
("Spanish") and Catalan.

Des

Padraig Breathnach wrote:

Des Small wrote:

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:

I liked the Picasso museum, too, because of more than despite the
absence of World Famous Paintings - there's strength and depth in the
Picasso oeuvre and then some.

That's a possible for the next time, but I'm not big into Picasso.

I couldn't really recommend it if you're not.

I'm open to persuasion. A good exhibition, particularly if there is
plenty of explanation and commentary, might convert me. And if it
doesn't, at least I would know better why I'm not into Picasso.

Over the course of his long life, Picasso painted in a number of different
styles - it's quite interesting to see how his work changed through the
years.

Sheila

Padraig Breathnach wrote:

Des Small wrote:

Padraig Breathnach writes:

Des Small wrote:
[]
and the park is nice, on account of being also a
park,

It rained non-stop during our visit, so we gave the park a miss. We'll
get it next time.

It was constantly sunny during ours!

The park is indeed very pleasant (I'm assuming we're talking about Park
Guell). We bumped into neighbours there, who live two houses away from
me. Then bumped into them in the centre the same evening. We've yet to
ever bump into them in the middle of Manchester!

and then there's a bunch of eating and drinking to do. (I
insisted on going to the mad touriste restaurant for roast sucking
pig, and it was the Right Thing to do.)

A good food city.

Yes, and I have to say it seemed a lot cheaper than I expected.
Excellent lunch deals abound (had great rabbit once day!) and we were
spending around 6 euros for a complete lunch. You could get decent
dinner deals for around 10-12, but even a la carte isn't that expensive.
The oddest restaurant (though good food) we dined at was one that
specialised in Ecuadorian and Indian food. Surely can't be many of them.

I liked the Picasso museum, too, because of more than despite the
absence of World Famous Paintings - there's strength and depth in the
Picasso oeuvre and then some.

That's a possible for the next time, but I'm not big into Picasso.

I agree completely with Des's assessment of the museum. There's a good
deal of earlier work which, I think, shows the development of ideas,
colours, forms etc. found in his later periods. I really came away from
the museum feeling I'd learned a little about that, and I think it's
increased my appreciation of Picasso. (I like Picasso, but am not abig
fan.)

We walked to the modern art museum, but then didn't feel the inclination
to go inside!

For a longer trip than a weekend, I would also recomend a visit to
Montserrat. Nice views, interesting monastery buildings, and some pretty
easygoing hillwalks- great cable car ride too! Don't overlook a trip to
Tarragona too (which gets a bad rap, as it has quite a bit of industry),
which is not that far away by train- it has an exquisite Roman aquaduct,
which benefits from hardly anyone visiting it!

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.net
usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

(chancellor of the duchy of besses o' th' barn and prestwich tesco) writes:

We walked to the modern art museum, but then didn't feel the inclination
to go inside!

Ooh, we did! There was an exhibition of Catalan political posters and
Catalan multimedia and an exhibition of Robert Franks's photos that I
had seen at the Tate Modern earlier in its tour.

I wouldn't argue with your decision, it's fair to say.

Des
wonders how he could've forgotten

In article ,
S Viemeister wrote:

Over the course of his long life, Picasso painted in a number of different
styles - it's quite interesting to see how his work changed through the
years.

But most of the stuff after the Cubist period seem anticlimatic...

jenniferthecanadian wrote:
My boyfriend and I are are planning a weekend in Barcelona next month
and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of things we must see
or do while we're there. It's always great to get advice from people
who know the city.
Thanks for your ideas!
Jennifer

If you plan on visiting museums, the Gaudi attractions, and use public
transport do buy a Barcelona Card. We spent four days there in April
and probably save 60-70 euros by using the cards. You also get
discounts at some restaurants but do read the fine print as it only
applies to certain days/hours. It is great not to have to wait in line
for tickets at the metro stations. You can get them at the tourism
information booths.

LMF

"LMF" wrote in message
oups.com...
jenniferthecanadian wrote:
My boyfriend and I are are planning a weekend in Barcelona next month
and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of things we must see
or do while we're there. It's always great to get advice from people
who know the city.
Thanks for your ideas!
Jennifer

If you plan on visiting museums, the Gaudi attractions, and use public
transport do buy a Barcelona Card. We spent four days there in April
and probably save 60-70 euros by using the cards. You also get
discounts at some restaurants but do read the fine print as it only
applies to certain days/hours. It is great not to have to wait in line
for tickets at the metro stations.

A day pass for the network costs 4 Euro 80 and give the same
benefit.

Having looked at the Barcelone Card, I must say that it does
seem to be better value than many other towns because the
extra days cost just 3-4 Euro each (whereas normally they
are 2x, 3x, 4x etc), but none of the free museuems inspired
me

tim

You can get them at the tourism
information booths.

LMF