Barcelona - 8 1/2 Hour Layover
Aug 28th, 2001, 01:11 PM
#4
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Surlock - Thanks for your reply. Arrive Barcelona 7:55 am; depart 4:25 pm. Baggage checked through from Phoenix via JFk via Barcelona to Ibiza.We would prefer to visit perhaps one museum but, mostly, see whatever it is that would make one feel that they have some wee bit of understanding of life in Madrid. We would just like to be able to bring home with us some lasting mental impressions of having been there.
Aug 28th, 2001, 02:12 PM
#5
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Terry, <BR> <BR>Get a taxi at the airport and head to to Sagrada Familia Cathedral first ( just watch it from the outside, since it's the highlight, and you don't have any time to loose). Then head straight to Rambla Catalunya, and ask for directions for La Pedrera, Casa Batlo, ( read something about Gaudi before going there, it will give you a totally different perspective of his architecture), sit for a coffee, or maybe some wine and eat some tapas at any bar that looks appealing to you. I'm unsure of the opening hours of Picasso Museums in Barcelona. Since it's not big, I think you should give it a try. It will take one hour of your time, if you're not wondering too much. Stroll around Bairro Gotico, where the Museum is, a bit, and head south then, to Barceloneta, the old port. Get yourself a good map of Barcelona beforehand, since it will help you to find your way around..If you have some time left, have lunch in Barceloneta, if you like seafood. Otherwise, get a taxi back to the airport from there. <BR> <BR>I'll find out the Museum opening hours for you, if you're interested, and will e-mail you the opening schedule afterwards. <BR> <BR>Surlok <BR> <BR>
Aug 28th, 2001, 03:31 PM
#6
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Are you arriving on during the weekend or on a weekday? The transportation means you choose can make quite a difference. If its a weekend, its a no brainer, take taxis everywhere... if not... <BR> <BR>Arriving at 7:55 probably means that you are *outside* the airport by 8:25 or so. If it's a weekday, I'd suggest that you wait until 8:43 (I don't think you can make it for the 8:13) and take the train to Placa Catalunya. Probably you can change a FEW dollars into Euros during that time. You should arrive in PC by 9:07. <BR> <BR>Go out of the station, and walk down La Rambla. When you get to the end, (maybe 30-40 minutes later) take the metro (Green line, station Drassanes, direction Montbau) to station Diagonal. There, walk down Passeig de Gracia. Two blocks down, on the corner of Provenca, you'll find La Pedrera. You can take some time and view the exhibit and the roof. Walk a few more blocks down, and you'll get to la Macana de la Discordia, with three very interesting Moderniste houses. Walk to Rambla Catalunya (parallel to Passeig de Gracia, to the south), and then walk up (towards the mountains) that street. On the corner of Mallorca, you'll find Cerveseria Catalana, one of the best tapas bars in Spain (IMHO). <BR> <BR>Go back to the Diagonal metro station, get to line 5 (blue, direction Horta) and get down at Sagrada Familia. By this time, it should be close to 1:30 pm. There's a tour at that time. Go on the tour, it lasts for 40 minutes or so. Go back to the metro, and take line 5 back to Diagonal, and then take line 3 (green, direction Zona Universitaria) to Placa Catalunya. By now, it should be a little before 3pm. You have more than enough time to get to the train station at Placa Catalunya, and take the 3:08 train for the airport that will arrive at 3:30, or you may want to wait for a bit more, leave at 3:38, and be at the airport by 4 pm. That's a bit tight, though. <BR> <BR>Not too bad for that limited amount of time...!
Aug 28th, 2001, 05:24 PM
#7
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Jean, <BR> <BR>By your name, I assume you're Catalan. Where were you, that haven't seen you assisting people with their questions and doubts about Barcelona? <BR> <BR>I'm glad that you read Terry's question, and could help with such a detailed and informative plan. <BR> <BR>Terry, <BR> <BR>You're lucky! <BR> <BR>Regards to both, <BR> <BR>Surlok <BR> <BR> <BR>
Aug 29th, 2001, 01:15 PM
#8
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Surlok: <BR> <BR>Actually, I am not Catalan... you'd be surprised if I tell you where I am from...
<BR> <BR>I have been answering a few questions from time to time. Unfortunately (?) many of the questions are about hotels. I have stayed in only 2 hotels in Barcelona (the Oriente in 1992, and the Pedralbes in 1998). I spent two years in Barcelona getting an MBA, so most of my experiences are from a "local" point of view. People who came to visit us always stayed in our house, so we never had to investigate about hotels. Most of the hotels I *do* know about are in either Sarria or Pedralbes, hardly good places for touristing. <BR> <BR>
<BR> <BR>I have been answering a few questions from time to time. Unfortunately (?) many of the questions are about hotels. I have stayed in only 2 hotels in Barcelona (the Oriente in 1992, and the Pedralbes in 1998). I spent two years in Barcelona getting an MBA, so most of my experiences are from a "local" point of view. People who came to visit us always stayed in our house, so we never had to investigate about hotels. Most of the hotels I *do* know about are in either Sarria or Pedralbes, hardly good places for touristing. <BR> <BR>
Aug 29th, 2001, 07:25 PM
#9
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Jean, <BR> <BR>Wherever you are from, you're now a bit of a catalan already, I believe.;-) <BR> <BR>Anyway, there's no better or more insightful information than than the one provided by someone that had actually lived in a place, wherever is. <BR> <BR>I've been to Barcelona four times, but never longer than four days, so mine is still a very "touristic" perspective. <BR> <BR>I guess by now, Terry knows everything that is possible to see, and got also very clear instructions as how to do it. <BR> <BR>Double thanks ( for me and Terry), <BR> <BR>Surlok <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>
Sep 1st, 2001, 09:01 AM
#11
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Jose, <BR> <BR>I'm not an expert in the Catalan dialect, or names, but they always sound a little bit " French" to me, maybe because Cataluņa is so close to the French boarder. So, I'm still guessing that the alias "Jean Valjean" is a Catalan name, rather than Flemish, but I might be mistaken.. <BR> <BR>Surlok
Sep 20th, 2001, 12:18 PM
#15
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(Hadn't seen this thread for a while...) <BR> <BR>Jose: <BR>Joan IS Juan in Catalan... I use the name because I like the way it sounds... (it comes from the main character in "Les Miserables") <BR> <BR>I am not from France or Belgium, actually I'm from Mexico, though I have lived both in the US and in Europe. Currently, I am living in Monterrey, 150 miles south from the US, in Northeastern Mexico. <BR> <BR>Terry: 3 1/4 hours allows enough time to get to know Barajas (Madrid's airport) pretty well... and not much more, I'm afraid.
