About
Barcelona: Barcelona, the cosmopolitan, coastal
capital of Catalonia, is an architectural delight.
The city is divided into six quarters with each
area being distinct, unique and special. The numerous
museums and the Gaudi architectural wonders alone
need time to be explored. Wide-open boulevards,
with central sections for strolling and dining,
are a pleasure to walk. Las Ramblas, a pedestrian
street, houses flower stands, small animal and
bird stalls, newspaper and book kiosks along with
numerous cafes and sidewalk performers.
Where
to Stay: Hotel Alexandra is a newly refurbished
four-star hotel with 77 double rooms and the four
junior suites with a terrace and Jacuzzi. There
are five conference rooms with every possible
business service and amenity. The hotel's location,
between Paseo de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya
in the Eixample district, and allows one to walk
just about anywhere.
Where
to Eat: Eating early (before 8:30 p.m.) is
not something one can do here. Restaurant L'Altell
in the Hotel Alexandra serves Mediterranean
fare as well as buffet breakfast. Cocktail bar
is lively. You do have the option of eating and
drinking at many tapas bars all day long especially
on its central pedestrian strips. My special favorite,
delicious Spanish Omelets, different than US style.
Some Vegetarian offerings: Juicy Jones Vegetarian
restaurant and juice bar by the opera house off
Los Ramblas --Cardenal Casanas 7 bcn 933 024 330
Comme Bio Vegetarian Gran Via Corts Catalanes
933 010 376 -has an organic health food store
like whole foods -vitamins, etc. Comme Bio on
Via Lautana 28.
Restaurant L'Altell
Places
to see: Antoni Gaudi was an architectural
genius. All his buildings are unique and a must
see. Every aspect is a treasure to observe particularly
at Casa Mila also known as La Pedrerais.
Standing on the roof, with its unbelievable array
of chimneys and ventilators, affords a wonderful
view of the city. Gaudi's furnished apartment
is open to the public. The La Sagrada Familia,
an unfinished Gaudi built church, is a fantasy.
Donıt miss the Picasso Museum which is
housed in an old, ornate, beautiful building.
For the modern art lover visit Museu D'art
Contemporani de Barcelona. Walk between Catalunya
and Passeig de Gracia on C. Aragon. You can't
miss the Antoni Tapies Foundation. On top
of the building is Tapies' Cloud and Chair sculpture,
created out of anodized aluminum and metallic
fabric. Port Vell, an entertainment complex,
and the fine, sandy beaches await you if you tire
of sightseeing and need a break. Stroll along
the boardwalk, shop or visit the Historical
Museum of Cataluna. Also, check out the sky
ride/cable car. The Olympic Village was
built for the 1992 Olympics. Look for the huge
fish sculpture among others. Walk around and enjoy
the scenery. Rent boats, eat or shop. See the
new opera house. El Licea, in all its splendor.
The horseshoe shape seating design is decorated
in red and gold with some box seats actually on
stage. To see where residents food shop, check
out Mercat St. Joseph La Boqueria with
individual stalls right by the opera house. Spain
operates 27 casinos.
Tips:
Since Barcelona is divided into quarters, each
can be done as a day trip. Be prepared for a different
dialect here. The names of the streets can change
from one block to another. If you need to conduct
any business at a bank, be sure to do it between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. October through
May on Saturdays, they are open until 12:30 p.m.
Not all banks in Barcelona cash travelers checks.
Opera lovers: Try to purchase tickets for the
opera in advance of your trip. Look into purchasing
the Articket for museum visits. Museums are closed
on certain days. Be on the alert for pickpockets.
Temperatures range between 51°F in the winter
to 77°F in the summer. Prepare for rain in the
spring and fall. The coldest months are December
and January.
Shopping:
Shopping along Passeig De Gracia gives you a choice
of many famous, fine boutiques and jewelry stores.
If you are into antiques, you have your choice
of 73 shops at El Bulevard Dels Antiquaris.
El Corte Ingles is a very fine chain department
store. The English chain store Marks and Spencer
is here on a smaller scale. Tuesday may be the
only day you won't be able to explore a flea market.
Museum shops are excellent places to pick
up special and unique gifts. The glassware to
purchase from Barcelona is called Mataro Don't
forget to get the vouchers for your VA T. (Value
Added Tax) when you shop. Whatever you spend
over 15,000 pesetas, you are entitled to a refund
of 16% of your purchase price. You will need a
filled out invoice from the store and your receipts.
Some airports want to see the goods. You can mail
in to get your refund or collect it at the airport.
This must be done before you leave Spain.
Transportation:
Taxis do charge extra from the airport. Each piece
of luggage that isn't a carry-on is an extra fee.
Use the metro, itıs a breeze to take and transverses
the whole city. Ask about the day passes.
Books:
If you enjoy reading authors from a country you
are going to or have visited, try these Spanish
ones: Murder In The Central Committee, by Manuel
Vazquez Montalban. For poetry there is Federico
Faria Lorca. Since Barcelona is known for its
Gaudi architecture, you might want to read Barbara
Wilson's, Gaudi Afternoon. The department store
El Corte Ingles has a big bookstore. Crisol is
a chain bookstore.
Personal
Commentary by Lois Foster Hirt
Trying to decide what to see in Barcelona is like
trying to choose one flavor of ice cream. Why
eat a single flavor ice cream cone when you can
taste a multi-flavored one. That is how I felt
about savoring the varied Gaudi structures. In
Barcelona the only souvenir I wanted to bring
home was an actual building. Each one was more
elegant and decorative than the next. Wherever
you walk, be on the lookout for the wonderful
architecture on most buildings. This includes
the ironwork and doors. Iım sorry I didn't have
more time to spend in this fascinating city.
