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How To Be A Tourist In Barcelona

So you think it would do you some good toBarcelona, with enough of the historical to
visit Barcelona, the city-queen of Spain andplease your photographic tendencies, but also
of all things Spanish on this Earth. But canwith a goodly number of places where you can
you take it? For Barcelona is a city unlikerelax and have fun. It's not really an
any other. It's exotic and fast-paced, asantique part of town, the place became a
you're likely to find out if you go for afully-fledged "hood" in the 19th century.
walk on one of its crowded, noisy, livelyNowadays, its residents are a tutti frutti of
boulevards. Yet Barcelona is also a place ofartists and students and some "average"
solemn gravity, soberness and tranquility -persons which results in a relaxed,
all you have to do is step in the shadow ofdown-to-earth atmosphere, a thing that the
one of its ancient cathedrals, churches andclassical grand touristic attractions, like
palaces and it's like stepping into anotherthe Sagrada Familia or the Aquarium area, are
world.lacking. It's not that they're too crowded
and stressful, their main disadvantage is
Intrigued? Then let me tell you more aboutthat they're somewhat fake and artificial
what to do and where to go in Barcelona so(tourist make-up) and you have to make an
that your visit should be more than just aeffort  to  look  beyond  the  facade.
simple  tourist's  expedition.
Once, the Gràcia was a village, separate
The  right  time  for  "Barceloning"of the big city, and at the end of the
1890's, they still had poor roads, no street
Barcelona is blessed with a Mediterraneanlighting and no sewers. Tough, huh? Don't
climate, warm and sweet, with a soft breezeworry, they caught up just fine. In the
which you're sure to miss once you're back1960's and 70's it was the meeting place for
home, maybe in a drab and gray metropolis.rebel-like figures, all sorts of bohemians
There is no such thing as winter here, atand radicals. That kind of flavor is still
least not as you know it; Barcelona'sfashionable today, especially in the cafes
winter-time is like a cool, day-long springand bars, of which you'll find aplenty, and
morning. But you must like it really hot ifmany of them are quite picturesque, in the
you dare those months of feverish heat whichhip sense of the word. If you really can't
go by the name of summer down here injust wander about and you just have to have a
Barcelona. Yet this is the time when the truespecific place to go and photograph, try the
spirit  of  the  city  comes  out  to  play.Plaça del Sol - it's a nice place to be,
with beautiful 19th architecture and it's
Anyway, if you're dead set on visiting thepractically surrounded by cafes. Give it a
Spanish capital, be sure to book in advance,try.
because lots of people come here, for
business or pleasure, and hotels are busy forIt's  all about the money (even in Barcelona)
most of the year. Try to schedule your stay
for spring and early summer, because theA piece of advice: you're a tourist, you have
weather is still pleasant at that time ofmoney and you're in a unfamiliar place. Which
year and there aren't too much touristsmeans that you can get in some trouble, even
gawking around in the streets (not that youin a charming place such as Barcelona. You
do that, far from it). High summer (whichwould avoid many uncomfortable (to put it
awakens in mid-July and goes back to sleep inmildly) situations by simply using a card.
late August) is a bit on the asphyxiatingATM's are practically around any corner and
side, but, like I said, it's all part of themost money spending places take major credit
atmosphere. In fact, many locals (who arecards.
already used to the exotic hot-latino
atmosphere) have the good sense of bailingAnother often encountered difficulty of the
out of town at this time of year. Thingstourist is tipping. A small thing which can
quiet down a bit in September, even if thelead to other "uncomfortable"
weather can play several nasty tricks on themisunderstandings. In Barcelona, there is no
unsuspecting tourist. If you have a strangeground rule about tipping, you are not always
and disquieting craving for rain, chooseexpected to tip on top of restaurant
October for your stay. Winter isn't veryservices; still, it is rather customary to
harsh, but you should still look for a roomleave some small amount (especially if you
with  heating.intend to come back and receive a bit of
special  attention,  you  know  the  drill.)
Attractions? How about just going for a walk?
Delightfully  foreign
Even if you're for the first time in
Barcelona, and even if you plan on stayingAs you may have noticed, the information
for only a few days, you shouldn't rush inabove, despite its practicality, is not
and enter a state of sight-seeing frenzy andnecessarily meant for classical tourists,
run around the city, blitz a-blazing. Takeaddicted to sightseeing and admiring all that
your time, savor the unique Spanish aroma,other people have admired and found to be
with all its foreign spices. For example,exactly the same. When you travel, you should
just go for a walk and look around, you don'tdo so in order to experience a different kind
necessarily have to hunt for theof atmosphere, something beyond the routine
"attractions" you read about on some touristfeel of your home. And Barcelona is perfect
guide.from this point of view, because this city
has so many faces that any visitor, no matter
A good place for such an experience is thehis or hers place of origin, will feel this
Gràcia, a very pleasant suburb ofplace to be delightfully foreign.



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