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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.
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.
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.
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