| So you think it would do you some good | | | | to please your photographic tendencies, |
| to visit Barcelona, the city-queen of | | | | but also with a goodly number of places |
| Spain and of all things Spanish on this | | | | where you can relax and have fun. It's |
| Earth. But can you take it? For | | | | not really an antique part of town, the |
| Barcelona is a city unlike any other. | | | | place became a fully-fledged "hood" in |
| It's exotic and fast-paced, as you're | | | | the 19th century. Nowadays, its |
| likely to find out if you go for a walk | | | | residents are a tutti frutti of artists |
| on one of its crowded, noisy, lively | | | | and students and some "average" persons |
| boulevards. Yet Barcelona is also a | | | | which results in a relaxed, |
| place of solemn gravity, soberness and | | | | down-to-earth atmosphere, a thing that |
| tranquility - all you have to do is step | | | | the classical grand touristic |
| in the shadow of one of its ancient | | | | attractions, like the Sagrada Familia or |
| cathedrals, churches and palaces and | | | | the Aquarium area, are lacking. It's not |
| it's like stepping into another world. | | | | that they're too crowded and stressful, |
| Intrigued? Then let me tell you more | | | | their main disadvantage is that they're |
| about what to do and where to go in | | | | somewhat fake and artificial (tourist |
| Barcelona so that your visit should be | | | | make-up) and you have to make an effort |
| more than just a simple tourist's | | | | to look beyond the facade. |
| expedition. | | | | Once, the Gràcia was a village, |
| The right time for "Barceloning" | | | | separate of the big city, and at the end |
| Barcelona is blessed with a | | | | of the 1890's, they still had poor |
| Mediterranean climate, warm and sweet, | | | | roads, no street lighting and no sewers. |
| with a soft breeze which you're sure to | | | | Tough, huh? Don't worry, they caught up |
| miss once you're back home, maybe in a | | | | just fine. In the 1960's and 70's it was |
| drab and gray metropolis. There is no | | | | the meeting place for rebel-like |
| such thing as winter here, at least not | | | | figures, all sorts of bohemians and |
| as you know it; Barcelona's winter-time | | | | radicals. That kind of flavor is still |
| is like a cool, day-long spring morning. | | | | fashionable today, especially in the |
| But you must like it really hot if you | | | | cafes and bars, of which you'll find |
| dare those months of feverish heat which | | | | aplenty, and many of them are quite |
| go by the name of summer down here in | | | | picturesque, in the hip sense of the |
| Barcelona. Yet this is the time when the | | | | word. If you really can't just wander |
| true spirit of the city comes out to | | | | about and you just have to have a |
| play. | | | | specific place to go and photograph, try |
| Anyway, if you're dead set on visiting | | | | the Plaça del Sol - it's a nice place |
| the Spanish capital, be sure to book in | | | | to be, with beautiful 19th architecture |
| advance, because lots of people come | | | | and it's practically surrounded by |
| here, for business or pleasure, and | | | | cafes. Give it a try. |
| hotels are busy for most of the year. | | | | It's all about the money (even in |
| Try to schedule your stay for spring and | | | | Barcelona) |
| early summer, because the weather is | | | | A piece of advice: you're a tourist, you |
| still pleasant at that time of year and | | | | have money and you're in a unfamiliar |
| there aren't too much tourists gawking | | | | place. Which means that you can get in |
| around in the streets (not that you do | | | | some trouble, even in a charming place |
| that, far from it). High summer (which | | | | such as Barcelona. You would avoid many |
| awakens in mid-July and goes back to | | | | uncomfortable (to put it mildly) |
| sleep in late August) is a bit on the | | | | situations by simply using a card. ATM's |
| asphyxiating side, but, like I said, | | | | are practically around any corner and |
| it's all part of the atmosphere. In | | | | most money spending places take major |
| fact, many locals (who are already used | | | | credit cards. |
| to the exotic hot-latino atmosphere) | | | | Another often encountered difficulty of |
| have the good sense of bailing out of | | | | the tourist is tipping. A small thing |
| town at this time of year. Things quiet | | | | which can lead to other "uncomfortable" |
| down a bit in September, even if the | | | | misunderstandings. In Barcelona, there |
| weather can play several nasty tricks on | | | | is no ground rule about tipping, you are |
| the unsuspecting tourist. If you have a | | | | not always expected to tip on top of |
| strange and disquieting craving for | | | | restaurant services; still, it is rather |
| rain, choose October for your stay. | | | | customary to leave some small amount |
| Winter isn't very harsh, but you should | | | | (especially if you intend to come back |
| still look for a room with heating. | | | | and receive a bit of special attention, |
| Attractions? How about just going for a | | | | you know the drill.) |
| walk? | | | | Delightfully foreign |
| Even if you're for the first time in | | | | As you may have noticed, the information |
| Barcelona, and even if you plan on | | | | above, despite its practicality, is not |
| staying for only a few days, you | | | | necessarily meant for classical |
| shouldn't rush in and enter a state of | | | | tourists, addicted to sightseeing and |
| sight-seeing frenzy and run around the | | | | admiring all that other people have |
| city, blitz a-blazing. Take your time, | | | | admired and found to be exactly the |
| savor the unique Spanish aroma, with all | | | | same. When you travel, you should do so |
| its foreign spices. For example, just go | | | | in order to experience a different kind |
| for a walk and look around, you don't | | | | of atmosphere, something beyond the |
| necessarily have to hunt for the | | | | routine feel of your home. And Barcelona |
| "attractions" you read about on some | | | | is perfect from this point of view, |
| tourist guide. | | | | because this city has so many faces that |
| A good place for such an experience is | | | | any visitor, no matter his or hers place |
| the Gràcia, a very pleasant suburb of | | | | of origin, will feel this place to be |
| Barcelona, with enough of the historical | | | | delightfully foreign. |