| WANTED AN ESCAPE FROM THE COLD IRISH | | | | the arch are all fascinating pieces of art. |
| WINTER WEATHER IN DECEMBER | | | | Visitors can hire bicycles for the day, or for as long |
| We wanted to get away from the cold N.Ireland | | | | as they need to use them. However, we have |
| winter for a while and decided to try one of the | | | | decided to walk as there are so many things to see |
| much warmer Spanish beaches. Barcelona came first | | | | and to do. Travel couches are also available |
| to mind as I am very interested in the architecture | | | | everywhere and you can hop on and off as you |
| and splendour of what this magnificent city has to | | | | wish, which is actually the way to go, otherwise you |
| offer, and we also wanted to stay as close to the | | | | miss out on a lot of attractions. |
| beach as possible. After some research on the | | | | The La Rambla was also one of the highlight of my |
| internet, we booked an apartment at the Playa Golf | | | | visit in Barcelona. This street is pedestrianized and |
| Hotel in Sitges, more or less 30 minutes from | | | | bordered by trees. Kiosks, flower stalls, pet stalls and |
| Barcelona. With the family travel tickets (T10) we | | | | street artists are in abundance here and traffic |
| could make our way around easily and take trips | | | | passes on either side of the pedestrian area. While |
| there by bus or train as often as we wanted to. | | | | walking there I found it difficult to decide where to |
| If you prefer to stay in Barcelona, I suggest that | | | | look first as there are so many things going on at |
| you try one of the numerous hotels on the La | | | | once. The street artists were so cleverly disguised |
| Rambla. It is very central and from there you have | | | | with costumes and make-up, it is hard to believe that |
| easy access to various places of interest. You also | | | | they are actually not statues. |
| have access to different forms of transport to any | | | | The crowded fresh produce market, "Mercat St |
| destination in and around the city. | | | | Josep la Boqueria" was astonishing. It has a wavy and |
| BARCELONA, CITY OF GREAT ARCHITECTURE | | | | colourful ceramic roof (build in clear Modernista |
| Two days later, it was time to take the road to | | | | inspiration) with an interesting conjunction of the old |
| Barcelona and we set off to the local train station in | | | | walls with modern elements and market stalls. I have |
| Sitges. Who wants to hire a car if you can travel in | | | | never seen such a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, |
| the comfort of the newly renovated and | | | | fish (all sorts), shell fish in all variety's, mushrooms, |
| comfortable Renfe trains. Even though everything is | | | | olives, spices and other quite unusual kinds of food. I |
| written in Spanish, we did not find it difficult to get | | | | would want to live close by just to be able to visit |
| our way around. One quickly gets used to place | | | | this market once a week. One's imagination will run |
| names and streets and when unsure of our | | | | wild with such a selection of food on your doorstep. |
| surroundings, there was always someone willing to | | | | There won't be any chance of telling your hubby that |
| give directions. | | | | you don't have any ideas left for the next meal. |
| The excitement was almost overwhelming when we | | | | SOME TRAVEL TIPS WHEN VISITING BARCELONA |
| exit the subway into the streets of Barcelona. With | | | | 1. Do some research on places you want to visit and |
| the map out, we studied our location and decided to | | | | take the list with you. |
| first head for Antonio Gaudi's most ambitious | | | | 2. Make sure you have a street map that shows all |
| unfinished basilica, The Sagrada Famillia. Work still | | | | the attractions. |
| continues on it more than 120 years after building | | | | 3. Book a "Hop on hop off" tourist bus, then you |
| began. This is an impressive feat of human vision and | | | | won't miss out on the most important attractions. |
| ambition. When complete, the church will have a total | | | | 4. If possible, don't take children with, they don't |
| of 18 towers, each dedicated to a different religious | | | | enjoy sight seeing and get bored quickly, and that |
| figure and each one hollow, allowing the placement of | | | | means that you also will not be able to enjoy your |
| various types of bells which will sound with the choir. | | | | visit to this marvellous city as much as you have |
| If you love beautiful and unusual architectural | | | | planned to. Drop them off at the fun park if they are |
| buildings, it is worth visiting Gaudi's other structures. | | | | big enough to look after themselves. Otherwise if |
| Colegio Teresiano is a school for the Teresian nuns | | | | you have plenty of time, only visit a few places each |
| which he built at the same time as the luxurious Palau | | | | day. |
| Guell. When designing Guell Park he demonstrates his | | | | 5. It is not crucial to do a crash course on how to |
| high regard for nature as he used recycled ceramics | | | | speak Spanish before you go, as most of them can |
| rather than firing new ones and to avoid leveling the | | | | communicate in English. However, it helps if you know |
| land, Gaudi designed meandering viaducts. He also built | | | | a few basic words or sentences. They appreciate |
| a wavy wall around the Miralles Estate in Barcelona of | | | | your effort to talk with them in their own language, |
| which only the front entrance and a short expanse | | | | but it also helps you to find your way around a bit |
| of wall remain today. | | | | easier as virtually everything is written in Spanish only. |
| Josep Batlló hired Gaudi to redecorate Casa Batlló | | | | 6. Go there when it is either winter or spring, |
| which is also known as "House of Bones"due to its | | | | especially if you are not used to high humid |
| design. The design of the house uses skeletal, organic | | | | temperatures. |
| and underwater elements. The walls are being | | | | 7. Read the reviews before booking an apartment, it |
| coloured in such a way that you can actually feel | | | | gives the best indication of what you can expect. |
| you're in an underwater world (the walls look like | | | | 8. If you like seafood, make a point of eating their |
| water). Also, it is very hard to find a straight line in | | | | famous paella. |
| the entire house. At the rooftop, you can actually | | | | 9. It is good to book half board accommodation, in |
| notice that it looks like the back of a dragon. | | | | this way you don't need to spend all your money on |
| Absolutely remarkable. | | | | buying food. |
| We went to see the Arc De Triomf in Parc de la | | | | 10. Enjoy your visit, Barcelona and Sitges are |
| Ciutadella, designed by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas. | | | | definitely one the best holiday destinations as there is |
| One can't help but feel very small standing in front of | | | | so much to do and to see and there are many |
| this beautiful arch, built in colorful brickwork in | | | | facilities to entertain the kids and youngsters too. |
| mudejar style. The statues on and in the vicinity of | | | | |