"A wet week in Barca" a Barcelona Travel Page by Harriers9

We went to Barcelona as a 50th birthday treat for my wife. We did have another choice of Prague but thought the weather might be better in Southern Spain.

We flew into the wonderfully named 'Prat' airport and the first surprise was the twenty minutes spent taxiing around the airfield. Got through all the obstacles safely though and found the coach to the City straight away outside the entrance doors.

A straight forward trip into the City travelling alongside the new motorway type link that should all be finished by now.

Arrived at Placa de Cataluna in lovely sunshine. Got our bearings and headed off for the Gothic Quarter to find our hotel, the Hotel Regencia Colón.

There are two of these hotels, one behind the other, with the one in front being slightly posher. Ours was the one behind.

Still very nice though. We had a room overlooking the Banc de Cataluna and couldn't believe it but there were still people working at their desks until near midnight most nights.

Our first night we had a mooch around and went back to the Place de Cataluna to see the fountains then back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

Our first full day we went down to the Waterfront area and just managed to get a couple of hours of sunshine before the sky greyed over and stayed that way for the remainder of the week.

We did the usual stuff while there but we didn't go to Montjuic or the other out of the way places because of the rain.

We spent most of the time exploring the warren of the Gothic Quarter and a little time on the Ramblas. Thought this was a bit touristy but interesting though.

The usual shopping was also undertaken too but that's her department not mine.

We woke up one morning to the sound of cars revving down the street and when we looked out of the window they were all lining up in the square in front of the Gothic Cathedral.

They were there for a stage of the Monte Carlo rally so that was our original plans for the morning out the window.

As you can see from the photo alongside it was still very wet but the remainder of the week wasn't too bad. We could always find a nice bar/coffeeshop to sit in.

Then one day we went to the Sagrada Familia :(

With the weather looking as if it might brighten up we decided to walk from our hotel to the Sagrada Familia.

Whata mistaka to maka!

Within 30 minutes the heavens opened again and we had to quicken our step and also try to stay dry but once in sight it was straight into the only coffeebar open, Starbucks!, and pay an extortionate price for a drink and a warm.

Had a look around the building site, avoiding the drips where possible, and have to admit it is pretty impressive.

Once finished there we decided to get the underground back and now wish we hadn't.

Got the tickets, she paid, went through the barriers and down the escalator only to find her handbag still closed but the purse gone.

Luckily there wasn't very much in it apart from €70 and cards so they were stopped asap.

They speak English at the police station at the bottom of the Ramblas and they were quite helpful but what could they do really? The man apologised for not being much help but said that we were the 28th reported theft by a pick pocket that morning.