Barcelona post-cruise

Old Jul 28th, 2013, 03:06 PM
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Barcelona post-cruise

We will spend three days in Barcelona before a cruise in October and two days after the cruise. Any suggestions on how we should spend the last two days? We have talked about day trips and have also considered renting a car but can't seem to come up with a plan. We don't want the end of our trip to be anti-climatic. What would you do? Thanks!
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Old Jul 28th, 2013, 04:13 PM
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It would be helpful to know how you're spending the three days prior to the cruise so you don't get a list of thing to do in Barcelona that you've already done.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 06:15 AM
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Thanks, Adrienne. Plans now are to cover the following:
Montjuïc Hill
 Gothic Quarter
 Cathedral
 Eixample District / Passeig de Gràcia
 Block of Disagreement & Casa Batlló (outside)
 Casa Milà / Pedrera (outside)
 Sagrada Família church (inside including towers)
 1888 World Fair area
 Waterfront
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 08:28 AM
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well, that covers the basics, I sort of like anti-climax myself. I mean at the ends of trips, I am sort of running out of steam and just take it easy, walking around a bit, relaxing, maybe some shopping for souvenirs, etc. So that is what I'd do, but you obviously dont' want to do that.

There are lots of good museums and site to see in Barcelona,hard to say from your itinerary if you seeing them or not when you mention areas -- like the Joan Miro museum, or the Catalonian art museum (I'd put that at top). It is your business, of course, and if you aren't interested in Gaudi, fine, but I find it odd that in all the time you are there you aren't interested in seeing the inside of one of those apt buildings (Batllo or le Pedrera). They really are fascinating on the inside. But maybe you aren't interested in design/architecture, of course.

Go to Parc Guell, that's an idea. Or for a day trip, go to the monastery. I don't understand renting cars or what you mean by that, that is a lot of trouble when you are staying in a big city.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 08:50 AM
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Yes, definately Parc Guell if you are not doing that at the beginning, and go into one of the Gaudi houses. We have done several Med. cruises and since they are usually pretty port intensive, we like a day to wind down at the end. Enjoy some tapas at an outdoor restaurant in the old city or El Born district. Walk thru one of the markets - there are several, the one off Las Ramblas is probably the most famous.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 09:17 AM
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Palau de Musica Catalana ...take a ttour or attend a concert.
...a beautiful place.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 09:46 AM
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The absolute non-anti-climatic thing to do would be to book a table at Tickets, the new paradise version of traditional tapas style restaurant run by the Adrià brothers of the world's by far most awarded restaurant the past decade, now closed El Bulli. Very affordable Tickets was up on the list of the world's 100 best restaurants after one year (#77). http://www.theworlds50best.com/

The basic concept is traditional tapas prepared and presented as you never would imagine and with tastes to the maximum. Iberian ham, Spanish cheeses, olives, croquetas, tomatoes, anchoas, shellfish, Iberian pork etc etc plus some surprises from out of this world. Just tell the waiter how much you would like to spend and what kind of food you like, and then leave it up to the kitchen to make it an evening never to forget. The four of us had some 17 dishes here a couple of months ago and payed around around 60-65€ each with wine/cava included. Lived very much up to the high expectations.

You can normally only book online and only two months in advance. Tables are literally gone 10 minutes after midnight two months prior to every day year around, so you have to be online on midnight Barcelona time two months on the day before you want to book a table. http://www.ticketsbar.es/web/en/

Guest reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
http://www.foodandthefabulous.com/re...drias-tickets/
Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...elona-el-bulli

2013 is also a very special flamenco year in Barcelona with many special events because of the Carmen Amaya-centennial. Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) was the greatest flamenco dancer of all times, and she grew up in the poor gypsy quarter Somorrostro in the now Barceloneta area.

El Tablao de Carmen was established in 1988 in tribute to Carmen Amaya on the premises where she made her great public debut at 16 in front of King Alfonso XIII during the opening of the 1929 Barcelona World Expo. All 2013 is a celebration of Carmen up here, and although El Tablao de Carmen is popular with tourists, only top of the shelf artists perform here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Catalonia.html
http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/en/

A little intro to Carmen Amaya, one of Barcelona's great: http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/histor...rcelona/en/94/
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 12:38 PM
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I vote for Parc Guell and a tour of the Palau de la Musica (fabulous).

I guess you're going to the Montjuic museums of the three I thought the Catalan Museum was the best.

You might want to see a flamenco show.

Why are you not going into La Pedrera, Casa Batllo or or Palau Guell? I think you're missing something that you won't see elsewhere. At least try one of them (Batllo). Gaudi's works have UNESCO World Heritage status.

You could take a day trip by train to Montserrat or Girona.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 12:51 PM
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Palau de Musica, Parc Guell and Miro Museum. Make sure you go out on the Miro's roof garden to see the sculptures.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 07:07 PM
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Sorry if I confused you with my list(a cut and paste job), which is the itinerary of a walking tour we've booked for our first full day in Barcelona. We intend to spend the other days revisiting the sites that we're most interested in exploring in detail. And yes, the Gaudi sites are at the top of our list.

Palau de Musica and Park Geull it will be and Kimhe, I can't wait to explore your wonderful suggestions.

Thanks again and happy traveling to you all.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 08:29 PM
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Don't forget La Boqueria off La Rambla.

You could go on an easy day trip to Girona.
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Old Jul 29th, 2013, 08:37 PM
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Two books that may be of interest:

Barcelona by Robert Hughes

http://www.amazon.com/Barcelona-Robe...DateDescending

Gaudi by Gijs Van Hensbergen

http://www.amazon.com/Gaudi-Biograph...rds=hensbergen
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Old Jul 30th, 2013, 01:08 AM
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If you go to thye Palau you will need to book in advance for the tour.

What about a day trip up to the monastery at Montserrat and a visit to the Cava producers at San Sadurni d'Anoia on the way back?
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Old Jul 30th, 2013, 07:01 AM
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I don't think you have to visit the interior of all Gaudi sites, as they are expensive (the apartment buildings) and that could be too much of a good thing. The house in Parc Guell where he lived isn't remotely like the big apt. buildings, but I would pick one of them to see the inside (Pedrera or Batllo).
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Old Jul 30th, 2013, 07:47 AM
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If you want to wind down the last night in a small, down to earth, family owned place that serves, great traditional Catalan food, I suggest you go to timeless Ca L'Estevet. I recommend the tomato salad - much thanks to the extremely rich Vinagre de Jerez - the world class Iberian ham, the Barcelona speciality Bacalà a la llauna and the wonderful grilled chicken with prunes. Will definitely come back for more, perhaps for the winter Wedensdays servings of the most typical of all Catalan dishes, Escudella i carn d'olla, the oldest documented soup in Europe (14th century). Reservation is a must.
http://www.restaurantestevet.com/EST...ienvenida.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
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Old Jul 30th, 2013, 09:33 AM
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Wandering Parc Guell, visiting (the interior of) Casa Batllo and trying food and juices at La Boqueria were favorites for me. On our very last day (also after a cruise) we loved relaxing under an umbrella and having drinks served to us on our lounge chairs at Barceloneta Beach. We ate lunch at one of the lovely restaurants on the wide walkway at the back of the beach and enjoyed the people watching. October weather is typically in the 70s and as it is off season, you may have the beach largely to yourself.
Ann Marie
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Old Aug 1st, 2013, 01:52 AM
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We just spent six weeks in Barcelona and went on two nice day trips by train: Girona, http://latitudeb.com/barcelona-day-trip-girona/ and Sant Sandurni (for Cava tour) http://latitudeb.com/barcelona-day-trip-cava-region/. In Barcelona, our favorites were the Gaudi architecture and Born neighborhood.
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Old Aug 1st, 2013, 05:11 AM
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I second the suggestion for dinner at the highly creative Tickets - we had a very delicious and memorable meal consisting of items I imagine we never will have anywhere else. The tasting menu was a series of surprises.

Also, the interior of Casa Batllo was really fun to see. The Picasso museum in Barcelona also is very nice, with a focus on his early work. The buildings it is housed in also are lovely
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Old Aug 8th, 2013, 01:38 AM
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Huge flamenco event every night from October 30 to November 10 in majestic Teatre Nacional de Catalunya in Barcelona. Grand scale performance in tribute to Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) with the absolute greatest flamenco dancers participating, among them out of this world Rocío Molina.

Teatre Nacional de Catalunya: http://www.tnc.cat/en/home/

Rocío Molina: http://www.rociomolina.net/?lang=en
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Old Aug 20th, 2013, 06:23 PM
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You all are great! Thanks so much for your suggestions.
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