Barcelona - great trip

Just had a few days in Marbella followed by three in Barcelona (first visit
there).

Terrific hotel, great restaurants, fantastic buzz in the city, really
enjoyed ourselves. Visit to Camp Nou a bit disappointing though - the pitch
was covered over for a U2 concert and there was a huge stage in the middle
of it!

Ian

--

Thank you martin, that was an interesting remark.

"Martin" a écrit dans le message de
...
On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:31:25 +0100, "Ian F."
wrote:

Just had a few days in Marbella followed by three in Barcelona (first
visit
there).

Terrific hotel, great restaurants, fantastic buzz in the city, really
enjoyed ourselves. Visit to Camp Nou a bit disappointing though - the
pitch
was covered over for a U2 concert and there was a huge stage in the middle
of it!

and there were no pork scratchings left at Barcelona Airport.
--

Martin

On 17 June, 16:31, "Ian F." wrote:
Just had a few days in Marbella followed by three in Barcelona (first visit
there).

Terrific hotel, great restaurants, fantastic buzz in the city, really
enjoyed ourselves. Visit to Camp Nou a bit disappointing though - the pitch
was covered over for a U2 concert and there was a huge stage in the middle
of it!

Ian

--

So many seem to favour Barcelona over other Spanish cities.
From afar, I can't understand that, so have never been.
Maybe it's not liking Spanish soccer or Gaudi?!
Convince me.

Surreyman

Naw just go.

"Surreyman" a écrit dans le message de
...
On 17 June, 16:31, "Ian F." wrote:
Just had a few days in Marbella followed by three in Barcelona (first
visit
there).

Terrific hotel, great restaurants, fantastic buzz in the city, really
enjoyed ourselves. Visit to Camp Nou a bit disappointing though - the
pitch
was covered over for a U2 concert and there was a huge stage in the
middle
of it!

Ian

--

So many seem to favour Barcelona over other Spanish cities.
From afar, I can't understand that, so have never been.
Maybe it's not liking Spanish soccer or Gaudi?!
Convince me.

Surreyman

Ian F.:
Just had a few days in Marbella followed by three in Barcelona (first visit
there).

Terrific hotel, great restaurants, fantastic buzz in the city, really
enjoyed ourselves.

Sounds like you had a great time there, Ian.
In case you decide to go there again, may I recommend the second half
of October? By that time, the hot summer season is over, and the city
appears to enjoy Fall Party Time. The same buzz as you encountered this
time, but with a melancholical athmosphere brought in. It's the season
when the large city trees start turning a bit yellow, some sudden heavy
rain showers (just ten minutes or so) make for a great 'climate' and at
weekends, large groups of people dance the Sardana on the squares,
played by live (instrumental only) bands.

Visit to Camp Nou a bit disappointing though - the pitch
was covered over for a U2 concert and there was a huge stage in the middle
of it!

I've never seen Nou Camp as a highlight. I would recommend exploring
the Barceloneta side of town instead if you want to get away from the
city center a bit.

--
Erick

"Surreyman" wrote in message
...

Convince me.

Not sure I know how. I'm not a huge football fan and Gaudi is not my
favourite, but the whole atmosphere of the city (with the possible exception
of the graffiti) was what we found so likeable.

It was helped by a lovely hotel where we were treated like God, great
restaurants and plenty of wine. We also had an excellent bus tour on the
first day which, even though we are relatively sophisticated travellers, we
always find is useful to discover places to re-visit later in the trip.

Ian

"Erick T. Barkhuis" -o-m wrote in message
...

Sounds like you had a great time there, Ian.

Sure did. Combined with a few days on the beach in Marbella, it was a happy,
if expensive, break.

In case you decide to go there again, may I recommend the second half
of October? By that time, the hot summer season is over, and the city
appears to enjoy Fall Party Time. The same buzz as you encountered this
time, but with a melancholical athmosphere brought in. It's the season
when the large city trees start turning a bit yellow, some sudden heavy
rain showers (just ten minutes or so) make for a great 'climate' and at
weekends, large groups of people dance the Sardana on the squares,
played by live (instrumental only) bands.

That sounds terrific. We may even forget about going to the US in October
and opt for that.

I've never seen Nou Camp as a highlight.

I was told off by a local for calling it that - apparently it's 'Camp Nou'!
;-)

I would recommend exploring
the Barceloneta side of town instead if you want to get away from the
city center a bit.

That would have been good - we saw it on a swift bus tour, but didn't have
time to revisit. If it taught me one thing, it's that three days is not
enough in Barna!

Ian

Thinking of visiting there myself next year. What was the name of the
hotel that you stayed at?

Steve
"Ian F." wrote in message
...
"Erick T. Barkhuis" -o-m wrote in message
...

Sounds like you had a great time there, Ian.

Sure did. Combined with a few days on the beach in Marbella, it was
a happy, if expensive, break.

In case you decide to go there again, may I recommend the second
half
of October? By that time, the hot summer season is over, and the
city
appears to enjoy Fall Party Time. The same buzz as you encountered
this
time, but with a melancholical athmosphere brought in. It's the
season
when the large city trees start turning a bit yellow, some sudden
heavy
rain showers (just ten minutes or so) make for a great 'climate'
and at
weekends, large groups of people dance the Sardana on the squares,
played by live (instrumental only) bands.

That sounds terrific. We may even forget about going to the US in
October and opt for that.

I've never seen Nou Camp as a highlight.

I was told off by a local for calling it that - apparently it's
'Camp Nou'! ;-)

I would recommend exploring
the Barceloneta side of town instead if you want to get away from
the
city center a bit.

That would have been good - we saw it on a swift bus tour, but
didn't have time to revisit. If it taught me one thing, it's that
three days is not enough in Barna!

Ian

"SteveQ" wrote in message
...

Thinking of visiting there myself next year. What was the name of the
hotel that you stayed at?

http://www.montecarlobcn.com/

Ian