| Page Views: 5,599 Last Visit to Barcelona: - | BARCELONA...Where Spain and Europe Meet by Michael_D - last update: Nov 27, 2006 |
Calle San Pablo Barcelona Thats me as a kid on my 1st trip to Europe for 2 months with an interail pass. Im the guy on the left and Dorothy from Toronto is in the back row on the right.
Dorothy sent me this picture not long ago>over 30years after it was taken;-) |
BARCELONA was the 1st city I fell in love with on my very FIRST trip to Europe in 1492...UH..make that 1972...LOL...It was beautifull..dirt cheap..had great weather...I spoke the language and I was sure I wanted to retire there someday. It was love at first sight. Mi corazon! I still think Spain would be a good place to retire
In those days(70's) I could get a room off the Ramblas at the Hostel Rio for $1 and had a hard time spending $3 a day for food AND the place was teeming with young ladies from North America(I seemed to meet Canadians) who, by virtue of the fact that the local males would hiss and pinch them at will, would return to the Hostel and not venture out without male companionship.It was like shooting fish in a barrel...Hey..it was the 70's! I did meet some wonderfull people from USA and a very nice woman from Canada named Dorothy >we went out dancing till the wee hours along the Ramblas> now 30years later we have re-connected and are as good friends as ever.
Things have changed and its easy to spend $10 a day just on breakfast...I wouldnt stay in the Rio and I no longer shoot fish in barrels(ecological reasons..LOL)but I am not aversed to being a guide for anyone when Im in Barcelona.Its still a great city. Viva Espana!
On my FIRST trip I wandered around every part of Barcelona with abandon, at any hour of day/night. Its a safe city for the most part. But, the LAST trip some guy(not a Spaniard BTW a Mexican on holiday) tried to swipe our bags from my ladyfriend and I got into a bit of trouble in my "overzealousness" in reclaiming them from the gentleman..who I am sure remembers me to this day. OKOK, I broke his nose, but hey! I had lotsa good stuff in my luggage;-) In fact,,,in all my years of travel I have had VERY little trouble and only two incidents of this nature and the other one was in Mexico City...Both time...Mexicans(and I DO love Mexico!) and BOTH times they shall remember me well.hmm draw from that what you will muchachos y muchachas.
BARCELONA is still as cool as ever, but, times have changed. From all ive been reading Barcelona has somewhat of a reputation for creativity in separating you from your worldly goods. Dont panic...just keep you wits about you...and maybe..just maybe,,,be sure you have male companionship when you go sightseeing...hahaha,, (I ALWAYS LOVED BARCELONA.;-)
To my mind Barcelona is ART..Picasso the artist and Gaudi the architect both lived here and sometimes it seems like Gaudi built things while Picasso drew up the plans..as you will see Gaudi built some amazing , somewhat abstract and avant guard buildings.His legacy is evident all over BARCELONA. |
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| Pros: | "Great weather, close proximity to the rest of Europe" | | Cons: | "Its gotten more expensive lately" | | In A Nutshell: | "Id go again in a heartbeat;-)" |
Michael_D's Barcelona Travel Tips
 Comments for Michael_D about Barcelona | | | | |
Balam Thu Feb 28, 2008 14:16 UTC
Great Olf pic at the start, Good page, Thanks | deecat Fri Jul 1, 2005 00:03 UTC
Michael, I see that you love architecture as much I do, and Barcelona is a paradise for architecture. Wonderful insights. Excellent introduction and fabulous photographs. | jamiesno Tue Dec 7, 2004 01:50 UTC
It looks like I missed out on my trip to Spain. Maybe next time I guess, LOL :-) | Maria_75 Thu Sep 30, 2004 22:16 UTC
Great page about a beautiful city! |
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