Ola, as they say in Barcelona (or as I say very badly in my poor attempts at Spanish!)Just a shortish update on my day in the Catalan capital so far. After last night's efforts to fight the tiredness and stay awake to watch the end of the football, there was no chance of me getting out of bed early this morning. Not even a free hotel breakfast could persuade me otherwise.
It's really confusing at the moment, I know there is only one our time difference between Barcelona and GMT but my watch is so difficult to change that I haven't bothered to do so, and this computer is also still on UK. The only thing which has been altered is my barely used phone, so I have spent most of the day working out what time it is, and where I need to be when.
As I eventually woke this morning, I was delighted to discover that it has stopped raining right outside of my window and the city looked rather sunnier this morning. Forgetting my coat as I walked out of the hotel, I was rather worried but I have managed to stay dry the whole day without having to dive for cover if the heavens opened.
I was still trying my best to find the best route into the main part of the city as last night I did cop out and get a taxi. This morning, being Sunday, after walking past a few shops I realised that as the city of the siesta, there was a large chance that busses weren't running a long schedule and also that the metro is virtually inaccessible by foot.
At first I was just going to wait for a bus and then got it to drop me off at the nearest metro station, but fearing the language barrier I avoided that option and started heading towards the busier part of where I am staying. En-route to working out what I was going to do, I spied the tram rail that I had crossed last night whilst getting some dinner and as it had an automated ticket machine I figured that might be a wise choice.
Indeed it was as once I'd managed to figure out the English setting, a tram turned and off I was headed to the closest station I could find. The tram map is actually quite good because it shows you where the metro station is in relation to the train track, and although two stops closer than the one I chose had metro stations, they both seemed like a bit of a walk, so I bottled that and headed for the one which was right next to the track.
My first mission of the day was to pick up my tickets to watch Barcelona this evening, in fact, scrap that, my first mission of the day was to find food! But after I had achieved that I knew the vague direction I had to be going in to pick up my tickets for the Nou Camp tonight. Unlike when I printed off the directions to my hotel, I actually printed off a map, but don't be under the illusion that it made it any easier for me to find where I was going.
Once I was off the metro I began looking for the name of the street I needed to be heading down, and of course once I'd found that street, I started heading in the wrong direction down it! The main problem was that I basically came out in the middle of a roundabout and had several streets all with similar names to chose from. None of them were exactly clearly signposted either so eventually realising the error of my ways, I used my scouting skills to map read and try and point myself in the right direction. Once again that failed miserably so I re-adjusted and third time lucky came upon the street I was looking for.
Smoothly I managed to navigate down the street I was supposed to be looking to find this ticket office, I was thinking it would be a relatively big facility, as having picked up tickets to a game in Sweden before I was thinking that it would perhaps be a souvenier shop where I could collect the tickets and me on my way.
Sadly it wasn't that simple, and after a frustrated half an hour circling the block to see if I could find this place, I somehow stumbled upon the address of the ticket office and found that, much to my surprise, it was basically at the top of an office block.
When I got up there, after being let in my the manager I picked up my tickets, the two guys who seem to run the business (I'm guessing that by the various bits of Barcelona memorabilia around their office) explained where I needed to be and I headed off to find myself something to eat. Being a bit of a wuss, and not being in the mood to really struggle to find food, I stopped at Burger King which I saw around the corner and thought I would eat my lunch there.
Doing so proved to be a wise decision as this might have been the flashiest, upbeat Burger King I have ever been in. Once again, as in Korea, I am astounded by the fact that people working in such places can speak a level of English, that my Spanish, despite studying is nowhere near.
Heading to my next destination back on the metro I decided to pick myself up a two-day metro card which can be used on the bus, tram, train or metro to save myself some money and went in the direction of 'La Sagrada Familia'.
I wouldn't say personally that Barcelona has any outstanding landmark, but thanks to the advice of my mum I chose to visit this gothic cathedral, as is the closest thing to the Eiffel Tower/Leaning Tower of Pisa that Spain has.
Were I able to attach pictures to this blog at the moment, then I would be able to show you the place I am talking about, until then, you will have to do a google search to prove that it does actually exist! It's basically a cathedral, I believe designed by Gaudi and once described by Oscar Wilde as "the most hidious thing I have ever seen."
It's original put it that way, no building I have ever seen before looks like it with things sticking out all over the place and a set of very tall spires which seem to go on forever and ever. Walking out of the metro station, the cathedral is right in front of you, but at the moment it seems that because it's not peak tourist season at the moment, some facets of the monument aren't exactly looking their best.
From my photos you'll be able to see that there's quite a bit of scaffolding attached to the building itself and there's also no access to the lifts at the moment, which take you to the top of the spires, and basically give you the best view. I walked around inside and took a few photos which was good, but I am disappointed that I didn't get the opportunity to go right up to the top and see pretty much the whole of Barcelona.
I did have a little walk round the edge of the building however and see about a million gift shops which were selling merchandise, not only to do with the cathedral but also Barcelona itself. Being a shameless tourist, I walked through a few and saw what they were selling before eventually deciding to settle on a few postcards for people back home and little else.
With time ticking on into the afternoon, I decided to move on to Park Guell which is pretty close by. Park Guell is another very little known attraction in Barcelona but after spending nearly three hours there I would highly recommend a visit should the opportunity arise. Again, created by Gaudi, the park is a hybrid of a maze (not sure they intended it that way) and a walking tour which allows you to climb up the hill it is based on and get some great views of the rest of the city and out to the coastline of the country.
As I said it was a bit a maze but walking through the entrance it reminded me of DisneyWorld as people flock to have their photo taken next to the tiled statues which were built there. Right at the opening gates of the park there are two what I can only describe as gingerbread houses which mark the entrance and make it pretty stand out for those who can see it walking down the street.
From the subway stop it was about a ten minute walk, but I just followed the crowds of people heading in that direction and also it is quite well signposted. Picking a direction to walk around in, I soon found myself on a windy path to the top of this hill. Stopping ever now and then to take some photos I found it quite difficult to pick a spot to take pictures from, this is mainly because there were so many good ones, and the higher you got, the more you felt like needing to take another one from the new vantage point you had just discovered.
I made my way to the top, or as high as you could go on one side before descending and the re-ascending after spotting a little stone pyramid on a hill that I had spied whilst taking photos from opposite.
I literally did spend about two hours walking around to take pictures, and once at the top I found a nice bench to sit on and stare out at the tremendous view which was afforded to me.
I decided to make my way home after having seen pretty much everything there was to see at the park, but I am pleased with the outcome of the day so far. I am more than excited about the potential of this evening as I attend the Nou Camp for Barcelona Vs Athletic Bilbao. The game kicks off at 9pm, but I am heading out to get myself some dinner in a little while and then hoping to head to the stadium in time to get a few pictures and sample the atmosphere.
As an un-ashamed football fanatic, I have to admit that it is a bit of a dream for me to be traveling to the stadium for a game. The main reason I came to this city was to watch one of my favourite teams play, and now the moment is almost upon me, I have to admit that I am anticipating something special. I know Barcelona weren't at their best against Arsenal in midweek but I expect them to play a full team and take the game to some quite decent opponents.
I only hope that match can live up to my expectations. Depending on what time I return, and the earlyness of my flight in the morning, I hope to be able to update you on how the game was and let you know of my plans for tomorrow, but we shall see.
For now, buenos noches
Ben xxxx
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