Four Awesome Weeks in the North of Spain and Catalunya
Jun 11th, 2015, 06:41 AM
#42
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Thanks for taking all this time to write about your experiences kja. I am very, very glad I got to meet you in Montserrat and have no doubt our paths will cross again. Maybe our next sunrise mimosa can be on the northwest coast. 
As for the amazing Messi goal we were all watching in a bar in Girona... after the initial cheer, the bar went quiet in sort of a stunned silence. Everyone kind of pondering what they knew was something extraordinary. After the game we all got shots of ratafia on the house.
Here is another video (with analysis) showing this amazing goal by Messi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFyr0oVJSXE
But I can understand why the noise got to be a little much and sorry you had to try to sleep through that!
As for the amazing Messi goal we were all watching in a bar in Girona... after the initial cheer, the bar went quiet in sort of a stunned silence. Everyone kind of pondering what they knew was something extraordinary. After the game we all got shots of ratafia on the house.
Here is another video (with analysis) showing this amazing goal by Messi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFyr0oVJSXE
But I can understand why the noise got to be a little much and sorry you had to try to sleep through that!
Jun 11th, 2015, 06:58 AM
#44
Super report from kja, and interesting video from rialtogrl (and I don't even care about football - either variety).
I sympathize about the noise! I suppose the season will have started again by the time I get there in October, but I'm staying a bit further away from Plaza Catalunya. Good warning for future travelers.
I sympathize about the noise! I suppose the season will have started again by the time I get there in October, but I'm staying a bit further away from Plaza Catalunya. Good warning for future travelers.
Jun 11th, 2015, 08:59 AM
#45
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Glad you found the Museum in SdM interesting and informative.
Being a lazy traveler who prefers short solo trips , I am slightly
envious of how much you were able to see and absorbe.
Spain has it all ( IMO) : rich history, great art and architecture, mix of cultures and languages, fantastic scenery, excellent wine and food( even without raw vagitables on the menu!). And, as you mentioned, kind, helpful and warm people.
I have already booked another visit in the fall.
Being a lazy traveler who prefers short solo trips , I am slightly
envious of how much you were able to see and absorbe.
Spain has it all ( IMO) : rich history, great art and architecture, mix of cultures and languages, fantastic scenery, excellent wine and food( even without raw vagitables on the menu!). And, as you mentioned, kind, helpful and warm people.
I have already booked another visit in the fall.
Jun 11th, 2015, 04:26 PM
#47
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Oh dear, I fear that I have created some mistaken impressions! I have nothing against sports or those who participate in them or cheer them on. I can – and do -- appreciate athletic excellence. Especially after seeing the videos that kimhe and rialtogrl kindly provided (thanks!), I can understand why so many people were so in such celebratory spirits: Messi was – is -- amazing! I certainly did not mean to suggest that the fans I saw were doing anything wrong. (If nothing else, I remember too many rowdy moments from my own youth for that!) I really just meant that dealing with the noise and crowds were not among the best moments of this trip – nothing more. And maybe I should be grateful, because I got so little sleep that night that I was able to sleep on my flight – bonus!
@ kimhe, robert2533, rialtogrl, marigross, thursdaysd, danon, & cruiseluv: Thanks for your compliments! I’m envious of those of you who will see Spain again soon. As danon said, Spain has it all!
@ Robert2533 – “Not even in Navarra!” – So are raw vegetables like chicken, too mundane for a restaurant table? I know I saw many people buying lots of beautiful produce in markets….
@ kimhe, robert2533, rialtogrl, marigross, thursdaysd, danon, & cruiseluv: Thanks for your compliments! I’m envious of those of you who will see Spain again soon. As danon said, Spain has it all!
@ Robert2533 – “Not even in Navarra!” – So are raw vegetables like chicken, too mundane for a restaurant table? I know I saw many people buying lots of beautiful produce in markets….
Jun 11th, 2015, 05:14 PM
#48
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I don't think we got that impression kja (that you don't like sports.) Just that you did not like the noise. I think those of us who DO like sports just sort of hijacked a couple of posts is all.
I was in Morella, a small town outside Valencia once and at 2:30 in the morning the townspeople starting shooting off fireworks because some festival was starting the next day. I was like, really??? I think all of us who have visited this part of the world have had a hard time sleeping at one time or another. Its OK to say it too!
I was in Morella, a small town outside Valencia once and at 2:30 in the morning the townspeople starting shooting off fireworks because some festival was starting the next day. I was like, really??? I think all of us who have visited this part of the world have had a hard time sleeping at one time or another. Its OK to say it too!
Jun 11th, 2015, 06:18 PM
#49
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@ rialtogrl – what a great story! Makes sense, though – it’s a shame to leave fireworks until the END of a festival, when people might not be able to stay up for them because they have to get up the next morning. ;-)
Jun 11th, 2015, 11:44 PM
#50
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rialtogrl,
Great Messi video with the speed, the touches, the yards, the angles and degrees, very "American" ;-)
thursdaysd,
Plenty of football highlights in Spain from September to June, but very few are celebrated this way. When fans go bananas they usually have an outstandingly good reason for it, like the Copa del Rey win and Messi's spectacular performance on May 30. When Barcelona wins a normal league game, there will be some smiles in the bars but business as usual and no more noise than usual in Plaça de Catalunya.
kja,
By no means suggesting you have anything against sports, but history can happen right around the corner without us having a clue of what's going on ;-)
Great Messi video with the speed, the touches, the yards, the angles and degrees, very "American" ;-)
thursdaysd,
Plenty of football highlights in Spain from September to June, but very few are celebrated this way. When fans go bananas they usually have an outstandingly good reason for it, like the Copa del Rey win and Messi's spectacular performance on May 30. When Barcelona wins a normal league game, there will be some smiles in the bars but business as usual and no more noise than usual in Plaça de Catalunya.
kja,
By no means suggesting you have anything against sports, but history can happen right around the corner without us having a clue of what's going on ;-)
Jun 12th, 2015, 04:33 PM
#51
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In light of the history that was happening all around me, perhaps I should edit the last bullet of the summary of what I did:
“Finally, I made my way <s>through the drunken sports celebrants clogging Las Ramblas</s> back to my hotel for the last of my 5 nights in Barcelona [adding:} where I stayed up for hours listening to the joyous celebrations in honor of Lionel Messi and the awesome – historic -- success of Barcelona’s soccer team.”
That would be true! ;-)
No, I won’t engage in revisionist history, even if I can retain factual accuracy.
It’s nice to understand the context of the celebrations that rocked Barcelona that day.
And I did have an awesome trip!
“Finally, I made my way <s>through the drunken sports celebrants clogging Las Ramblas</s> back to my hotel for the last of my 5 nights in Barcelona [adding:} where I stayed up for hours listening to the joyous celebrations in honor of Lionel Messi and the awesome – historic -- success of Barcelona’s soccer team.”
That would be true! ;-)
No, I won’t engage in revisionist history, even if I can retain factual accuracy.
It’s nice to understand the context of the celebrations that rocked Barcelona that day.
And I did have an awesome trip!
Jun 19th, 2015, 06:54 PM
#53
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@ kelsey22 -- How fortuitous -- I think I just entered a response on your planning thread! I'm very pleased to learn though you found my words helpful -- thanks for letting me know!
As for Montserrat, oh yes!, I was VERY glad I spent the night there, and not just because it gave me the chance to meet rialtogrl. For one thing, the light during the early morning and late evening has a way of caressing those magnificent cliffs and rocks in ways that is breathtaking, and that puts anything and everything one can see during the day into a broader and even more awesome perspective. And OMG, even though I'm not a morning person, the memory of seeing the sun rise from Montserrat was an experience that I think will always make me gasp with awe and wonder. Second, although one can hear the boys' choir earlier in the day, I suspect that attendance at vespers is much more limited, since most day trippers will have left by then. And that means that you would likely get to experience their ethereal voices in a much more serene setting. Third, you would have a chance to visit this glorious basilica, and the Black Madonna, at times when they are not thronged by daytrippers. For me, these things are ALL good reasons to spend a night in Montserrat. Of course, YMMV.
As for Montserrat, oh yes!, I was VERY glad I spent the night there, and not just because it gave me the chance to meet rialtogrl. For one thing, the light during the early morning and late evening has a way of caressing those magnificent cliffs and rocks in ways that is breathtaking, and that puts anything and everything one can see during the day into a broader and even more awesome perspective. And OMG, even though I'm not a morning person, the memory of seeing the sun rise from Montserrat was an experience that I think will always make me gasp with awe and wonder.
Second, although one can hear the boys' choir earlier in the day, I suspect that attendance at vespers is much more limited, since most day trippers will have left by then. And that means that you would likely get to experience their ethereal voices in a much more serene setting. Third, you would have a chance to visit this glorious basilica, and the Black Madonna, at times when they are not thronged by daytrippers. For me, these things are ALL good reasons to spend a night in Montserrat. Of course, YMMV.
Jun 19th, 2015, 08:33 PM
#55
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@ kelsey22 -- there are some places in this magnificent world that simply inspire chills. May we both have many more of those moments!
As for the hotel in Montserrat, well, there IS only one -- the Hotel Abat Cisneros. In most ways, I was well satisfied with my stay, but I think that there are some ways in which it might improve if it had some competition, in particular, the efficiency of its service. Note that the single rooms face the mountain, so if you go there while traveling alone and want a view, consider paying the extra for a double for single use that has a view. I thought it worth the cost. Also note that I didn't watch the sunrise or sunset from the room -- I went a bit away from the hotel for each. For directions to a good spot for the sunrise, take a look at the post by rialtogrl on Feb 5, 15 at 9:20 on the following thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-catalunya.cfm
And of course, note joannyc's excellent advice (same thread, on Feb 5, 15 at 10:14pm) to bring the makings of a mimosa to toast the sun's rising.
I look forward to the day I am fortunate enough to visit Carcassonne and thank you for adding yet another reason for doing so.
As for the hotel in Montserrat, well, there IS only one -- the Hotel Abat Cisneros. In most ways, I was well satisfied with my stay, but I think that there are some ways in which it might improve if it had some competition, in particular, the efficiency of its service. Note that the single rooms face the mountain, so if you go there while traveling alone and want a view, consider paying the extra for a double for single use that has a view. I thought it worth the cost. Also note that I didn't watch the sunrise or sunset from the room -- I went a bit away from the hotel for each. For directions to a good spot for the sunrise, take a look at the post by rialtogrl on Feb 5, 15 at 9:20 on the following thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-catalunya.cfm
And of course, note joannyc's excellent advice (same thread, on Feb 5, 15 at 10:14pm) to bring the makings of a mimosa to toast the sun's rising.
I look forward to the day I am fortunate enough to visit Carcassonne and thank you for adding yet another reason for doing so.
Jun 19th, 2015, 09:35 PM
#56
Kja, your TR makes me want to start planning my Northeastern Spain trip! But, I haven't even finished my planning for next month's trip to the south of France (including 2 nights in Carcassonne which may require a mimosa sunrise!).
Jun 19th, 2015, 10:04 PM
#57
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@ joannyc – OH, I am a lucky person! Unless you count Toulouse (lovely, magnificent Toulouse!) or Albi (amazing Albi!), I haven’t yet visited southern France – and THAT means that I will once again benefit from your experience. We might not walk exactly the same paths, but it seems we overlap more than many travelers do, so I know I stand to gain a great deal. Happy travels, joannyc, and may you (may WE!) have many excuses for moments worthy of bubbly celebrations!
(Is Toulouse part of your plan? Or Albi? I will, of course, be happy to share any info I can if it would help.)
(Is Toulouse part of your plan? Or Albi? I will, of course, be happy to share any info I can if it would help.)
