A journey to Barcelona in occasion of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Trip to Spain

This trip was born almost by accident ... On receipt of the newsletter Lufthansa offers European Capitals to 99 euros A / R by two people, decide to take the opportunity to bridge the Immaculate ... We would rather take the opportunity to visit a capital city where no had never been, but the only destination still available for those dates was Barcelona, who had already visited a decade ago ...

Okay ', but the city is always very nice and Spain there has never disappointed ... The offer is good and then we're off!!

Among other things, we discover that a couple of friends (John and Gab) have booked the exact same flights, same destination, same day, same time ... Well, even the company is the right one.

For the hotel Gio and Gab have moved before us and when we decided we no longer find a place, but the Internet always offers a great chance of booking. We found a good offer (70 euro per night, breakfast not included) to Sallés Hotel Pere IV, a 4-star hotels in the area fairly central and well served.

To find information and secure routes, the site for tourism Spanish (www.spain.info) offers much information and can also download (or get sent) some free brochure in English or Spanish (we had requested for the Travel Andalusia, last year, and seem well made).
Besides that, some recovery diaries published on the Internet, including that of a person, using the same bid Lufthansa, spent four days in Barcelona, just like us: we could follow in his footsteps!

Among other things in recent years I devoured the books of Carlos Luis Zafón and I really want to retrace the paths and those which he so beautifully ... telling you why I have spoken highly of the book "Guide to Barcelona by Carlos Ruiz Zafón "Sergi Doria, but when I went in the library was not there, so I do not even have time to browse ...

 

Milan - Barcelona

We depart from Milan Malpensa (Terminal 1) with nearly an hour late (it seems to blame the flight arriving from London). On board there are a whole sandwich with peppers stuffed with pesto and ... (pretty risky choice, in our opinion).

When we arrive, the sky and 'there are 15 degrees and sunny ...

Barcelona Airport strike us immediately to clean and quiet ... And then the beautiful shiny black floor (in the shop) that reflects everything (with joy ladies in short skirts, I do note !!!!!)

Retrieve subscription informations office of four days for public transportation (19.50 euros) but that 'does not include the bus from the airport. Then take the bus to Terminal 2 and then renfe that brings us to the city 'and then by metro (all air-conditioned coaches, even in December!) We comfortably in hotels obviously full of Italians, as we pointed out the goalkeeper .

Not an hour passes and we reserve the hotel a surprise: as for couples on their honeymoon, they lead us in the room with a bucket of ice bottle of Codorniu and two glasses ...

After the siesta, back downtown where we meet our friends. For the first evening in Barcelona (and 'on Saturday!) Decided to walk the famous Ramblas, the Diagonal stop along Passeig Gracia to Plaza Catalunya (admiring the exterior of Gaudi's buildings: the Casa Lleo Morera and Pedreira) and down to the Boqueria market.

For dinner, take a good rip-off: we opt for a Cerveceria down the Ramblas but that 'proves very little economic (and small portions). Let the Church of Santa Maria del Pi and cross the Gothic Quarter and the streets of La Ribera, before arriving in another local tapas, the Txirimiri along Carrer de la Princesa, where top up stocks of food.

The metro service makes the whole night through Saturday, but fatigue begins to bite, and then opt for a good sleep at the hotel.

Barcelona

Even today the sun is shining and the temperature and 'Good. We start the day with croissants accompanied by a cafe y leche BARETTINI near Sagrada Familia (Xamfra 'Gaudi') and begin to feel the lack of anti-smoking law in Italy has cleared the air of many premises.

And then we go to check the progress of the work of Gaudi's masterpiece from 2001. Awesome! We decide not to go because 'the tail' always long, but we do not escape the Christmas stalls in the park in front of one side: Mistletoe beautiful compositions and more than a thousand statues and decorations for nativity scenes.

Take the metro and go to see Jaume Plaza and then going into the narrow streets surrounding the Cathedral.
The cloister and 'very crowded, but we can see the geese and the statue of St. George.

In Nova Plaza, right next to the Cathedral we can witness another typical event on Sunday morning, the inhabitants of Barcelona who dance the Sardana, a traditional Catalan dance. Beside them, new stalls of Christmas decorations a shame that with the sun and the heat almost seem out of place ...

We enter with difficulty even in the cathedral, but during the Mass and 'can see only a small part.

The first entry available for the Casa della Musica Catalana is at 15: to pass the time we decide to have lunch at La Rosa Negra Mexican restau (for lovers of spicy, just the chicken in chocolate sauce, pepper) in Via Laietana 46.

The guided tour of the Casa della Musica Catalana (12 euros) lasts 50 minutes and is performed by a video presentation on a path shown by a guide and includes a mini demonstration organ. Unfortunately, not 'can take pictures, but the wealth of colors and images remain imprinted in the memory. The intent 'to create a garden with the brightness' of an exterior, where the muses of music come from the walls like to attend the exhibition. Strong colors, stained glass and mirror make this building a kind of painting ... Really interesting.

After the visit we move toward the Church of Santa Maria del Mar. Unfortunately the two towers are hidden for restoration, but the interior and 'sufficient to make the majesty of the Gothic church. The white statue of Mary with a foot boat, seems light alone and shed light in the church.

Before the afternoon siesta, we jumped at the Barceloneta, in the Catalan History Museum to photograph the sunset in the interweaving of trees and admire the boats moored in the distance the hill of Montjuic.

For dinner we decided to treat us well, right Catalan paella and drinking a white Terrasole Barceloneta restaurant on Pescadors des Moll. 40 euros per head including wine and service.

Barcelona

While Milan celebrates Sant'Ambrogio, we wake up under a sky covered initially, but soon that glows blue.

For breakfast, choose a Cappuccino Coffee & Cream (Jaume, Plaça de l'Angel): The cap is not 'evil, while the buns are strabuone!

First stop greedy: the Museum of Chocolate! The ticket and 'represented by a strange ticket that will enter difficult' punching in common: and 'a bar of chocolate 73%!
The museum and 'rather small and describes the history of chocolate (from the Aztec drink our pralines and many uses) and today's Spanish production (including sculpture). Along the way a series of characters and representations of chocolate: from Don Quixote to Asterix and Obelix to Disney (Bambi, Wall-E), the bullfight, Gaudi ...
Before leaving obviously give us a taste (chocolate small and 1.60) and a purchase to wear in Italy (90% dark chocolate, Euro 2.50)

Leaving the temptation of chocolate, remain in culinary theme and go to visit the traditional market of La Boqueria, near the Rambla. E 'on a Monday in the middle of a bridge, some stalls are closed but open ones fascinate us with the colors of fresh fruit and smells of fresh fish, sausages, olives, mushrooms ....
Withdrawal symptoms in fruit, let me groped by a mango and pineapple juice (1 euro) and a salad Walking (2 million). The banquets for tapas and hot dishes are too busy to hope to find 4 free stools. Are we content of snacks.

Then take the metro and we are heading towards the Parc Guell, one of the few wonders of the city 'that is not on a metro stop (even if line 9 is currently under construction, bodes well)! Bus 24 still managed to achieve revenue side. The park is' full of music that are animating the various walks of the many tourists that focus clearly on the scale of Gaudi and the terrace with bench sinusoidal. In reality 'the dragon scale we remembered the wider, while the gingerbread houses and the great hall with columns are always fascinating. We do not even remember the street vendors, but today there is' great range of necklaces and scarves.
Unfortunately the sky and 'partial covered the sun and can not play with colorful mosaics, but we still like to walk in the paths of the park, with an eye to the other columns of Gaudi and the city' which stretches down the hill .
Someone begins to feel fatigue, then we give up to get on the promontory with the cross and we take the bus back to town '.

We have dinner at La Taberna del Cobre (C / Silverware 53, near Santa Maria del Mar): excellent paella and tapas, but also burgers in general, all things without spending too much (25 euros in two).

We follow some of the alleys of the Gothic Quarter, between Calle Montcada, the market (now closed) and the Cathedral of St. Catherine (also here, the stalls of Saint Lucia are closing).

The evening ends with a drink in a bar in Calle Ferrer, between Plaza de l'Angel and the Rambla. Between a beer and a taste of Spanish wine, regret no smoking premises Italians!

This last day in Barcelona ends with a race of yellow line, direction Palau, Bogatell stop.

Barcelona - Milan

On the day of departure. We get up earlier than usual because 'we want to exploit the morning to go see the sea and beaches not far from our hotel.

First of all, however, 'we experience the buffet of the hotel: 12 euros in an all-you-can-eat is the ideal start to the day the great: delicious sweet for me, salty delicacies for her husband ...

The day 'clear, warm sun and the beach is teeming with sports (beach volleyball, cycling, jogging ...), even some intrepid swimmers, people who wear walking the dog or strolling with babies, and someone' brought breakfast and suddenly a picnic on the sand ...
The seafront and 'equipped with sun stone benches, fountains ... And they're also opening up the local beach bars.
On a balustrade are actually the Spanish version of Milvio bridge in Rome: dozens of rusty locks closed and testify promises of love!

The walk is too short: we must return to the hotel to close the suitcase and leave the room. We salute the Bogatell stop and go and take the train to the airport.

Dine at the airport, Pans, and give a last look at the shops and shiny black floor and minds are already at the next trip: in about two months the camera to portray us' in Prague!