Barcelona (and beyond) through the eyes of a non-activist
Good day, forum users)
I planned to visit Barcelona - and now, it turned out). I bought a ticket and booked a hotel back in September. I tried to find a hotel not far from Plaza Catalunya, which is considered one of the central squares of the city and the center of transport interchanges. Some lived up to expectations, some didn't. Yes, and I can’t attribute myself to active travelers (for sightseeing). The Internet rustled through the hotel, city, transport and nearby cities.
So, there is a flight with S7 (to Moscow and to Barsa), back with Aeroflot. Calm, fine, on time. No special excesses.
Arrived, received luggage (all according to the arrows), left terminal 1 to the green free shuttle to terminal 2. There (everything according to the arrows and a long passage) went to the ticket office of the railway station, helped to buy T10 and directed me to a standing train. The hotel was closest to Plaç a Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia train station. I read somewhere that this station is the third from the airport, I got the 4th one. Horror, I almost stayed on Barcelona Sants, but the man who directed me to the exit ran out, caught up and returned me back to the train. By the way, there were no station workers on the platform at all... I arrived, got out (we use elevators, there are signs everywhere) near the famous Batllo house built by Gaudi, went to look for a hotel. I looked for maps (downloaded for free on iPhone) (a little), since the information at the entrance is minimal. Barcelona City Center Hostal - on the 2nd floor. We met kindly (Karl from Venezuela), my minimal English was enough. The room is adequate, everything works, there is a refrigerator and a split system in the room (but two blankets did not interfere). In the common corridor - a kettle, coffee-tea, spices, microwave.
It was a little over a week in the city, the first and last days didn’t count, on the second day it rained like a wall for half a day (a little upset).
Barcelona: I took a T-10 transport card (I didn’t fully use it), a ticket for Hop on - hop off (for 2 days 40 euros), tickets to the Sagrada Familia (on the website 31 euros, 30 in line, with audioguide), Park Gü ell (8.5 euros). I have no regrets: for two days I walked along two bus routes, took pictures, even sunbathed, I try to take in foreign cities - a general overview is provided. But I read on the site that purchased tickets from other cities give an 8-10% discount when buying bus tickets in a new city, but this did not happen in Barca, the girl made a very surprised face. Also, the advertised discounts promised when buying BarcelonaCityBus tickets did not work when buying tickets in the city itself (for example, to Park Gü ell). This is just a note to the rest.
Barcelona, in general, I liked as a new city. In general, it is curious, but nothing more. I thought for a long time whether I should go to the Sagrada. Outwardly - impressed, but inside - the impression was created - as if you were inside some kind of fantastic creature, and all these pillars, columns, beams - like its ribs, bones, etc. Shocked by the enthusiasm and talent of the master. Yes, the Sagrada is worth seeing.
Plaza Catalunya is a good center of everything) A good 9-story El Corte Ingles.
The houses of Batlló and Mila. Outwardly curious, but the entrance is too costly. By the way, in recent days, the first two floors have been covered with scaffolding, apparently, reconstruction is planned. Not attracted me to go inside (subjectively). Mila's house is interesting, there is also a queue for tickets. Protesters gathered on the square near it for several days, so I tried not to get close. In general, there are sooo many interesting houses in Barca, you can just walk around and admire (to yourself))
La Rambla Boulevard is not the widest avenue. Not impressed (like -ah! -... )
The Gothic Quarter is interesting. You can walk around, feel that the sun does not always reach the pavement. Once again I was convinced that I would not want to live in the Middle Ages))
The old port of Barcelona and the footbridge of the Rambla de Mar, the so-called Marine Rambla, to the Maremagnum shopping center. Barceloneta is a traditional strip along the beach. You can just sit on a bench, listen to the sea, sunbathe, watching how local comrades wrap themselves in warm scarves)
Mount Montjuic. For some reason, it did not pull there, but succumbed to a sudden impulse. It turned out funny - I got off at the stop of a 2-story bus, went uphill along the bus route, some kind of mountain (goat paths), shortening the road, towards - no one. I went up to the blue tram, and the passage to it was tied with a ribbon - it doesn’t work today. (!....) Here my intuition told me - do not get there. I smiled at myself and back (already faster)))
The National Palace of Barcelona and the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. The fountain (until some February, it is written on the billboard) does not work, repairs, sir.
Spanish Square is interesting, the Arena shopping center - climbed the escalator to the roof to the observation deck (or you can take the external elevator for some fee). On the roof there is a constant smell of food from cafes and restaurants located there.
Park Gü ell - I took a ticket for 8.5 euros, the queue is minimal. Not particularly impressed. He is - yes, non-standard - yes. And that's it. He is really small. Gingerbread houses "cute", for a photo.
Tarragona. I planned from home. I took the ticket to the railway station. Passeig de Gracia, once again I was glad that I live not far from this relatively small station. At the box office, everyone was kindly explained, they wrote the time, platform, etc. on a piece of paper. On the platform, the scoreboard shows incoming trains + a loud announcement. The controller passed twice, the check was accompanied by 2 policemen. Arrived quickly and comfortably. I liked Tarragona, not pretentious, calm. I will note some details: the Roman amphitheater can be seen from above, there is an elevator to descend from the side of the road; Roman circus; Balcony of the Mediterranean - sooo small, just a balcony, but not a loggia))); The new Rambla is just a central street, much smaller than Barcelona's Rambla; the monument to Castelleros - well done, they showed the general unity of people; The fountain of the Centenary is interesting, but the sculpture with the crocodile is damaged (sorry). The city itself is like a little calm after Barcelona.
Girona. Everything is the same as with Tarragona. Passed to the historical center, part of the Roman wall, the banks of the Onyar River. Everyone was looking for that same photographic picture with a turn of the river, where picturesque houses inspired tourists. There is nothing to say: they did not inspire me against the background of a very shallow river)) And the first thing that immediately came to mind was the ship (museum) Vasa in Stockholm, which sank 333 years ago. It was raised, dried and rubbed and rubbed for many, many years, and now it is shown to tourists (for a certain amount of money))) But I will remember this city for sure - I managed to get lost in the Gothic (Jewish) quarter, where I turned after 90 steps of the majestic cathedral. Decided to walk. Feelings - not really, I thought that I don’t even know whether to be happy or not if someone meets me halfway)) I got out - and tried to immediately leave this city for my almost native Barcelona, where everything is so familiar)
I know that I didn’t have time to see a lot, a lot where I didn’t go, didn’t get there, etc. It's not so important, well, I'm not active). I went to Barcelona (and + something). Some analogies emerge with Lisbon. And I don’t even know now where I would go again. Or maybe to both cities again. Reflection will tell) There are not many photos - all the best shots have already been on the Internet for a long time, so I tried to just take pictures with my eyes.
All the same, everyone has their own Barcelona.
Good luck to everyone in the travel))
