Back from Barcelona: Nikki's trip report
#44
Original Poster
mcnyc, you're a braver man than I.
Dixieland, the apartment cost 120 euros per night for two people in February. I just looked at it for September, and it appears to be 130 euros per night at that time, with a discount if you stay a week.
Dixieland, the apartment cost 120 euros per night for two people in February. I just looked at it for September, and it appears to be 130 euros per night at that time, with a discount if you stay a week.
#45
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Nikki - thanks for the detailed trip report. I will be escorting 34 high school students to Barcelona and Valencia in March 2008. You have given some wonderful ideas that we can use to fill our time in Barcelona. As I gaze out my window I see 3 feet of snow on the front lawn. I can just imagine our students will appreciate whatever warmth they find under the Spanish sun and will dress accordingly (much to the chagrin of the locals).
#46
Join Date: Feb 2006
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OK, so I know it is a small world, but in your photo "Jewish Quarter," you have snapped my friend's boyfriend. I sent him the link so that he could see how he ended up in your photos.
I ate at la Cervecería on Saturday (we did the 5 different salads, sepia, and a bunch of montaditos, of which solomillo was the best) with friends and then we visited La pedrera, Sagrada Familia and some other city stuff. Love those visits!
Excellent pictures.
I ate at la Cervecería on Saturday (we did the 5 different salads, sepia, and a bunch of montaditos, of which solomillo was the best) with friends and then we visited La pedrera, Sagrada Familia and some other city stuff. Love those visits!
Excellent pictures.
#48
Join Date: Feb 2006
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I just got a note from my friend. They love this coincidence! He even asked if he could order a print to be able to tell the story to guests.
I wonder how many pictures I am in. . . probably thousands!
I wonder how many pictures I am in. . . probably thousands!
#49
Join Date: Nov 2003
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"I wonder how many pictures I am in. . . probably thousands!"
My drive home from work every night takes me across the exact place where John F. Kennedy was shot. Several days a week there are people photographing the site as I drive by-I always give a little wave.
My drive home from work every night takes me across the exact place where John F. Kennedy was shot. Several days a week there are people photographing the site as I drive by-I always give a little wave.
#51
Join Date: Feb 2006
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He is the redhead, hence why he is so easy to spot.
Missy: my friends and I used to love to hang out at the grassy knoll (after visiting the downtown library) and I remember once this guy came up and asked me if I could hunker down behind some bush and "look like a sniper." It was a no-go.
Missy: my friends and I used to love to hang out at the grassy knoll (after visiting the downtown library) and I remember once this guy came up and asked me if I could hunker down behind some bush and "look like a sniper." It was a no-go.
#52
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I happened upon a "Barcelona Must-Sees" thread from 2001 or 2002. A couple of folks mentioned that Barcelona is the dirtiest city they've ever visited and that it smells like urine. Nikki, it didn't look filthy in your pictures. What's the stench and filth level (of parts of the city that tourists would commonly visit)?
#53
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Missy pie,
I was in Barcelona in 1999, 2000 and 2002 and none of the times did I find it dirty or smelly. In fact I found it pretty clean. It's a beautiful city with a great vibrant energy. You will have a blast.
I was in Barcelona in 1999, 2000 and 2002 and none of the times did I find it dirty or smelly. In fact I found it pretty clean. It's a beautiful city with a great vibrant energy. You will have a blast.
#56
Original Poster
All I can say is that I didn't scrub any buildings or sidewalks before photographing them. And I didn't notice any particular odors other than garlic, paella, and chocolate, and I sought those out.
#57
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Living here I will admit that Barcelona smells bad a lot of the time. This past weekend a friend of mine was visiting for the first time and kept saying "God, this place smells like sewage all the time!" That is not true, but there is definitely a lot of pee and poop smells in random places downtown. Then again, they make the good smells even better.
On the www.bcnweek.com homepage there is a smells map (scroll down to services, it is to your left) and it has all kinds of stuff: poop, flowers, vomit, chlorine, fresh bread, ocean. . .
Barcelona is not dirty, but then again, one should still not walk around barefoot or sit down on the street. It gets sprayed down nightly by the incredible BCNeta (trashman) crew. They do a great job.
On the www.bcnweek.com homepage there is a smells map (scroll down to services, it is to your left) and it has all kinds of stuff: poop, flowers, vomit, chlorine, fresh bread, ocean. . .
Barcelona is not dirty, but then again, one should still not walk around barefoot or sit down on the street. It gets sprayed down nightly by the incredible BCNeta (trashman) crew. They do a great job.
#59
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Nikki, you posted a reply today to a question I had about Athens. Now that I know about you I'm enjoying all your trip reports. This one is now saved in my very large "future trip" file. Barcelona is on the list, and glad to hear it's a travel option in February...