[Idyllchat] Re: Barcelona

[pandjking at sbcglobal.net]

Dear Ron,
    My wife, Jane, has already responded, but I need to get my two cents' 
worth in, too.
    We have been to Barcelona a couple of times.  It is a lovely city and 
cultural experience.  I can't imagine you will run out of things to do in 
two weeks there.  Plus, there are lots of interesting things to see and do 
in the area outside of the city -- the Church of the Black Madonna 
(Montserrat) and the amazing rock formations on the way to and from the 
church, for example.
    The tapas bars in Barcelona are excellent and provide a tasty and 
inexpensive meal.  There is a Cava (sparkling wine) bar not far from the 
Port Vell Marina that is packed every night of the week.  You can get a good 
bottle of Cava for 2 to 3 euros, plus they offer a menu of about 8 different 
sandwiches, including hot dogs and hamburgers, which are also very 
inexpensive.  It is popular with traveling college kids, but a fun 
experience -- standing room only.
    We did go to a couple of expensive restaurants there with our friends, 
but their names escape me.  Off the Ramblas about one street is a very good 
restaurant, Los Caracoles (The Snail) which serves typical dishes of the 
region.  Lunches there are excellent and not expensive.
    On the Rambla is the Mercat St. Josef or "La Boqueria," a big farmers' 
market that sells fresh produce, cheese, breads, etc., etc.  The market also 
includes a couple of restaurants that are popular with the locals and 
inexpensive.
    A big department store in the center of the city, El Corte Ingles, sells 
everything and anything (Including food and wine) at decent prices.  If 
there is anything you need in the way clothing, toiletries, and the like, 
this is the store to visit.
    Bon Appetit magazine recently had an issue about places to visit and 
stay all over the world.  They recommended the Hotel Camper in Barcelona, 
which is either on or near the Ramblas (great location for tourists).  It is 
supposed to be a small hotel with an all English-speaking staff and it is 
owned by the Camper shoe company.  You might want to check them out on the 
internet.
    Last, Barcelona, like any big city, has petty crime, but very little 
violent crime -- mostly pickpockets who are very skillful.  Keep track of 
your valuables and wear one of those under-the-shirt or down-the-pants 
travel wallets to hold your credit cards, identity cards, passports, and 
main stash of cash.
    Hope this information is helpful.
    Enjoy your trip.  You will love Barcelona.
    Phil King
    Spring Lake, MI
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ron at dworsky.net>
To: <pandjking at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 8:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] (no subject)


> >
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> Thank you for answering me.  This was my first message and I didn't know
> what would happen.  The amount  of information with untours is remarkable.
> I have never been with untours but I think I will be in the future.
> Thanks again............................Ron
>
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>  We spent a week there in March, 2006 and didn't have time to see nearly
>> all
>> that we would have liked.  Public transportation is very good
>> (inexpensive,
>> easy to use) within the city. Any good guidebook can steer you to the 
>> most
>> interesting sights; we particularly liked the Gothic Quarter (maybe the
>> cathedral is rid of its scaffolding by now!), the Ramblas, the Gaudi
>> buildings, the beaches and marina, and Mont Juif.  Many of the signs,
>> menus,
>> etc. are in Catalan instead of Spanish, but most of the people who deal
>> with
>> foreigners on a regular basis are reasonably fluent in English as well, 
>> so
>> language wasn't a problem.  Since we stayed with friends, I can't advise
>> you
>> about hotels.
>>
>> Jane
>> Spring Lake, MI
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <ron at dworsky.net>
>> To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 12:25 PM
>> Subject: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
>>
>>
>>> We are thinking of a untour trip for 2 weeks to Barcelona.  Anyone know
>>> about that area and is there enough to do for two weeks. ...Also,
>>> suggestions for where to stay...........Thanks
>>>
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