| So you think it would do you some good to | | | | Barcelona, with enough of the historical to |
| visit Barcelona, the city-queen of Spain and | | | | please your photographic tendencies, but also |
| of all things Spanish on this Earth. But can | | | | with a goodly number of places where you can |
| you take it? For Barcelona is a city unlike | | | | relax and have fun. It's not really an |
| any other. It's exotic and fast-paced, as | | | | antique part of town, the place became a |
| you're likely to find out if you go for a | | | | fully-fledged "hood" in the 19th century. |
| walk on one of its crowded, noisy, lively | | | | Nowadays, its residents are a tutti frutti of |
| boulevards. Yet Barcelona is also a place of | | | | artists 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 of | | | | down-to-earth atmosphere, a thing that the |
| one of its ancient cathedrals, churches and | | | | classical grand touristic attractions, like |
| palaces and it's like stepping into another | | | | the 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 about | | | | that 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 a | | | | effort to look beyond the facade. |
| simple tourist's expedition. | | | | |
| | | | Once, the Grà cia 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 Mediterranean | | | | lighting and no sewers. Tough, huh? Don't |
| climate, warm and sweet, with a soft breeze | | | | worry, they caught up just fine. In the |
| which you're sure to miss once you're back | | | | 1960'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, at | | | | and radicals. That kind of flavor is still |
| least not as you know it; Barcelona's | | | | fashionable today, especially in the cafes |
| winter-time is like a cool, day-long spring | | | | and bars, of which you'll find aplenty, and |
| morning. But you must like it really hot if | | | | many of them are quite picturesque, in the |
| you dare those months of feverish heat which | | | | hip sense of the word. If you really can't |
| go by the name of summer down here in | | | | just wander about and you just have to have a |
| Barcelona. Yet this is the time when the true | | | | specific 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 the | | | | practically 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 for | | | | It's all about the money (even in Barcelona) |
| most of the year. Try to schedule your stay | | | | |
| for spring and early summer, because the | | | | A piece of advice: you're a tourist, you have |
| weather is still pleasant at that time of | | | | money and you're in a unfamiliar place. Which |
| year and there aren't too much tourists | | | | means that you can get in some trouble, even |
| gawking around in the streets (not that you | | | | in a charming place such as Barcelona. You |
| do that, far from it). High summer (which | | | | would avoid many uncomfortable (to put it |
| awakens in mid-July and goes back to sleep in | | | | mildly) situations by simply using a card. |
| late August) is a bit on the asphyxiating | | | | ATM's are practically around any corner and |
| side, but, like I said, it's all part of the | | | | most money spending places take major credit |
| atmosphere. In fact, many locals (who are | | | | cards. |
| already used to the exotic hot-latino | | | | |
| atmosphere) have the good sense of bailing | | | | Another often encountered difficulty of the |
| out of town at this time of year. Things | | | | tourist is tipping. A small thing which can |
| quiet down a bit in September, even if the | | | | lead to other "uncomfortable" |
| weather can play several nasty tricks on the | | | | misunderstandings. In Barcelona, there is no |
| unsuspecting tourist. If you have a strange | | | | ground rule about tipping, you are not always |
| and disquieting craving for rain, choose | | | | expected to tip on top of restaurant |
| October for your stay. Winter isn't very | | | | services; still, it is rather customary to |
| harsh, but you should still look for a room | | | | leave 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 staying | | | | As you may have noticed, the information |
| for only a few days, you shouldn't rush in | | | | above, despite its practicality, is not |
| and enter a state of sight-seeing frenzy and | | | | necessarily meant for classical tourists, |
| run around the city, blitz a-blazing. Take | | | | addicted 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't | | | | do so in order to experience a different kind |
| necessarily have to hunt for the | | | | of atmosphere, something beyond the routine |
| "attractions" you read about on some tourist | | | | feel 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 the | | | | his or hers place of origin, will feel this |
| Grà cia, a very pleasant suburb of | | | | place to be delightfully foreign. |