A Country
Within A Country: Travel To Barcelona by Frank Johnson
The distinctive regional culture
of Barcelona is largely due to geography and a plentitude of national pride
and elitism. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, one of Spain's 17 semi-autonomous
states. The regional language is Catalan, along with the national language
of Castilian Spanish. There has long been pressure from the Catalonian
government and nationalists to earn complete autonomy from Spain. Consequently,
the exclusive culture can be difficult to adjust to and there is significant
animosity towards foreigners around the main tourist street of Las Ramblas.
To thoroughly enjoy the sweet life and gentle hospitality of Barcelona,
leave this busy area and explore the many diverse districts, endless with
possibility.
Café Life and Nightlife
for the Night Owl
Barcelona is truly a city
that never sleeps, particularly during the warm Mediterranean summers.
Avoid standing out like a sore thumb by eating dinner when the locals do:
after 10 p.m. It is common to see children, grandparents and the family
dog gathering at the outdoor cafes at these hours when the day's work is
finished and time for friends and family has commenced. Since Barcelona
hosted the Olympics in 1992, the city has been revamped with visitor friendly
attractions such as the massive Olympic Village, a string of swanky restaurants,
state-of-the-art nightclubs and boutiques along the beach. Most nightclubs
do not get going until after 1 a.m. and club-goers typically wander out
onto the beach around 5:30 to watch the sunrise over the Mediterranean.
| A Modernista Mecca
The architectural wonders
of Barcelona will keep even the most novice eye bewildered and intrigued.
Antoni Gaudi decorated Barcelona with his treasures of modernism as a painter
on a canvas. The grand boulevard of Passeig de Gracia is lined with elaborately
adorned Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, both with the most intricate rooftops
known to modern architecture. Arguably the most stunning of Gaudi's work
is the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. Each of the church's facades
are meticulously designed with different themes and styles combining nature
with religion and the soaring towers topped with mosaic grapes are built
around a conch-like coiled staircase that visitors may choose to take instead
of the elevator.
Another tribute to Barcelona's
artistic heritage is the Palau da la Musica Catalana. A view of the glass
and mosaic inverted chandelier on the ceiling of the theater is alone worth
the visit. Daily tours are offered in addition to the regularly held musical
performances.
Afterward, get lost in the
tiny twisting passages of the surrounding historic Gothic Quarter. |
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Traveling Barcelona Right
- Not Your Weekend Visit
It is best to avoid traveling
to Spain in August, when most of the locals (and most of Mediterranean
Europe) take their vacations. Chances are that the restaurant you wanted
to visit will be closed and museums will have extremely curtailed hours.
August can also be uncomfortably hot.
Barcelona should be traveled
with care and patience. The only disappointment visitors have is the inability
to see all of the city's landmarks and hidden corners in a realistic amount
of time.
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For charming accommodation
near Barcelona, visit All
Spain Rural Accommodation
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About the Author: For
more information on international travel and discount airfare to Barcelona,
visit www.cfares.com,
your source for cheap airfare on the web. |
