Just Back From barcelona (Take Two!)
Jan 16th, 2004 | 03:46 PM
#1
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Just Back From barcelona (Take Two!)
Hi All,
Hopefully I'll have more success this time!
We were only there for a couple of days and so I'm not going to try to compete with some of the fantastic trip reports I've found here (Oaktown Traveler - what an epic!) Hopefully, however, something here will help future visitors. The trip was a birthday present for my wife (how devilishly clever of me to get her something that I could enjoy as well!)but coming so soon after Christmas, budget was a major consideration.
Journey first - we flew budget airline Ryanair from Glasgow Prestwick to Girona at an embarassingly low price and have absolutely no complaints. In fact, we arrived 35 minutes early (& 15 minutes early on the return flight). I suppose there was no great advantage in arriving early given that we were a pretty captive audience at the Airport until the Barcelona bus leaves, but as the 6.30 p.m. bus services 4 incoming flights it was good to steal a march on the others. You buy your bus ticket in advance at a kiosk in the baggage reclaim hall - you can't miss it - & in addition to the bus to Barcelona there is also a service to some of the Costa Brava coastal towns such as Sitges & Blanes. Return fare to Barcelona is 16 euros but I don't know how much it is to the coast - less than 16 euros I suppose as it's closer than Barcelona. I can imagine it could be a bit of a madhouse trying to get on the bus when there's a crowd in high season, but be patient as there are plenty of extra coaches should they be required & I was assured that no-one would be left behind. Be sure to check the destination sign on the front of the bus, however, because the name of the company is "Barcelona Bus" & so it says this on the side of the coastal bus as well.
The bus dropped us at Passeig De Sant Joan near the Placa De Tetuan which was very handy for our hotel - the two star Hostal Girona in Carrer De Girona, just down from the Gran Via, on the edge of the Eixample.I initially had made reservations at 2 different 3 star hotels (the AB Viladomat & the Apsis Aranea) both of which looked very nice & quoted a good price but all along I felt that they looked both a little out of the way & also rather impersonal - they could have been anywhere. As I didn't want to up my budget I moved down the way & came across The Hostal Girona on the Time Out website (www.timeout.com/barcelona). Time Out describes the Girona as "oozing Eixample charm" & I couldn't agree more. We paid 50 euros per night for a double room with shower & balcony & wouldn't hesitate to go back again. It's very handily placed for the Playa De Catalunya and although the room was basically furnished it was large & airy with a high and beautifully decorated ceiling.
The building is an old apartment building (here in Glasgow we would call it a tenement)which the Hostal shares with a college of some sort. You enter through a heavy wooden door into a rather dull courtyard with a gatehouse and an imposing stone double staircase - very impressive. Reception is on the first floor but our room was on the second which meant that we bypassed reception again for the rest of our stay as you access the higher floors direct from the staircase. It's like a separate apartment altogether & you only know that it's part of the Hostal because of the brass plaque on the door. The hallway on our floor was beautifully decorated in the Modernisme style with several & windows which overlooked the central courtyard. I mentioned that the room had a shower, but it was a pretty sorry affair & this would be the only criticism I would make of the room. There was a beautifully tiled shared bathroom with a shower on our floor as well, however, so this wasn't really a problem for us. If having a shower in your room is important to you, however, this would be a definite minus point. There is a negative posting on tripadvisor about the shower & also about a dark & dingy room & although I didn't see inside the interior rooms I can imagine that they would be pretty dull. We had an exterior room, however & it was an absolute joy to be able to open up the shutters & stand out on the balcony overlooking the bustling street. Yes - it is noisier, but we wouldn't have done without it. One more plus point re the Hotel - we were in Room 16 which has a connecting double room also with a balcony - Room 15. In fact you can only access Room 15 through Room 16 so it would be ideal for, say, a family of four. We had the use of Room 15 as well & although we didn't actually sleep in it we were able to open up the large double doors to make the space even lighter & roomier.
To sum up I would definitely recommend the Hostal Girona with the provisos about the showers & the interior rooms. You can find more at www.hostalgirona.com.
Have to go now but will try to post more tomorrow.
Jim
Hopefully I'll have more success this time!
We were only there for a couple of days and so I'm not going to try to compete with some of the fantastic trip reports I've found here (Oaktown Traveler - what an epic!) Hopefully, however, something here will help future visitors. The trip was a birthday present for my wife (how devilishly clever of me to get her something that I could enjoy as well!)but coming so soon after Christmas, budget was a major consideration.
Journey first - we flew budget airline Ryanair from Glasgow Prestwick to Girona at an embarassingly low price and have absolutely no complaints. In fact, we arrived 35 minutes early (& 15 minutes early on the return flight). I suppose there was no great advantage in arriving early given that we were a pretty captive audience at the Airport until the Barcelona bus leaves, but as the 6.30 p.m. bus services 4 incoming flights it was good to steal a march on the others. You buy your bus ticket in advance at a kiosk in the baggage reclaim hall - you can't miss it - & in addition to the bus to Barcelona there is also a service to some of the Costa Brava coastal towns such as Sitges & Blanes. Return fare to Barcelona is 16 euros but I don't know how much it is to the coast - less than 16 euros I suppose as it's closer than Barcelona. I can imagine it could be a bit of a madhouse trying to get on the bus when there's a crowd in high season, but be patient as there are plenty of extra coaches should they be required & I was assured that no-one would be left behind. Be sure to check the destination sign on the front of the bus, however, because the name of the company is "Barcelona Bus" & so it says this on the side of the coastal bus as well.
The bus dropped us at Passeig De Sant Joan near the Placa De Tetuan which was very handy for our hotel - the two star Hostal Girona in Carrer De Girona, just down from the Gran Via, on the edge of the Eixample.I initially had made reservations at 2 different 3 star hotels (the AB Viladomat & the Apsis Aranea) both of which looked very nice & quoted a good price but all along I felt that they looked both a little out of the way & also rather impersonal - they could have been anywhere. As I didn't want to up my budget I moved down the way & came across The Hostal Girona on the Time Out website (www.timeout.com/barcelona). Time Out describes the Girona as "oozing Eixample charm" & I couldn't agree more. We paid 50 euros per night for a double room with shower & balcony & wouldn't hesitate to go back again. It's very handily placed for the Playa De Catalunya and although the room was basically furnished it was large & airy with a high and beautifully decorated ceiling.
The building is an old apartment building (here in Glasgow we would call it a tenement)which the Hostal shares with a college of some sort. You enter through a heavy wooden door into a rather dull courtyard with a gatehouse and an imposing stone double staircase - very impressive. Reception is on the first floor but our room was on the second which meant that we bypassed reception again for the rest of our stay as you access the higher floors direct from the staircase. It's like a separate apartment altogether & you only know that it's part of the Hostal because of the brass plaque on the door. The hallway on our floor was beautifully decorated in the Modernisme style with several & windows which overlooked the central courtyard. I mentioned that the room had a shower, but it was a pretty sorry affair & this would be the only criticism I would make of the room. There was a beautifully tiled shared bathroom with a shower on our floor as well, however, so this wasn't really a problem for us. If having a shower in your room is important to you, however, this would be a definite minus point. There is a negative posting on tripadvisor about the shower & also about a dark & dingy room & although I didn't see inside the interior rooms I can imagine that they would be pretty dull. We had an exterior room, however & it was an absolute joy to be able to open up the shutters & stand out on the balcony overlooking the bustling street. Yes - it is noisier, but we wouldn't have done without it. One more plus point re the Hotel - we were in Room 16 which has a connecting double room also with a balcony - Room 15. In fact you can only access Room 15 through Room 16 so it would be ideal for, say, a family of four. We had the use of Room 15 as well & although we didn't actually sleep in it we were able to open up the large double doors to make the space even lighter & roomier.
To sum up I would definitely recommend the Hostal Girona with the provisos about the showers & the interior rooms. You can find more at www.hostalgirona.com.
Have to go now but will try to post more tomorrow.
Jim
Jan 17th, 2004 | 07:27 AM
#2
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Hi,
Back with more details again.
As we arrived in the city pretty late we weren't too adventurous for our first meal & went to a pretty nondescript restaurant named Kansas on the Passeig De Gracia. It was OK but that's about all. We had a much better experience the following night, however, at Citrus which is on the corner of Pg.De Gracia & (I think) C. Consell De Cent. We had actually intended to visit Tapa Tapa but my wife isn't the most adventurous of eaters & when we arrived she was a little unsure about delving into the wide & mysterious world of tapas! Citrus is right next door, however, & in fact I think it is owned by the same people. The prices are surpisingly reasonable given the location & attractive surroundings & if you're lucky enough to get a window seat you will also get a splendid view of the Pg. D Gracia. My only (minor) quibble is that I felt the servings were a little on the small side, but I get the impression that may be typical of meals in Barcelona. Maybe I'm just a greedy guts!
Because of the time of year (although we found it very pleasant)the cafe culture wasn't in full swing & there weren't that many people sitting at outdoor tables. The exception to this, however, was the Cafe Zurich, just where the Placa De Catalunya meets Las Ramblas & we spent a lot of time just sitting there with coffees watching the world go by.
I have two tips for other less obvious places to stop for a coffee or bite to eat. El Corte Ingles is a huge department store on the Placa De Catalunya and on the 9th floor they have both a pretty smart looking restaurant & a self-service cafeteria. I'm not going to make any extravagant claims for the food as we only had coffees & cheesecake in the cafeteria but the views are absolutely sensational! If you can't get a window seat then just shuffle about until one becomes available & then knock everyone else out of your way to get to it! Depending on where you get a table you will either have a great view of the Placa De Catalunya & up towards Montjuic or else all the way up the Passeig De Gracia. To be fair to the food, the place seemed very popular with local families, with the mixed paella being a particular favourite.
My other tip is the cafe of the Textile Museum which is on C. Montcada in La Ribeira , opposite the Picasso Museum. If you're not interested in actually going into the museum that's OK as the cafe is in a lovely sheltered courtyard outside & although the menu is pretty limited I can imagine it being a real oasis in high season. We had a very pleasant breakfast there listening to a street musician just outside.
Most of the advice I was given on these boards was very accurate. We didn't have to use the Metro & we found the Bus Turistic an excellent way of seeing the sights. There are two routes, red & blue, & although I'm not sure that I would want to travel both on the one day, if you have the time you should buy a two day ticket at a discounted price. That way you can try each on consecutive days & of course you can hop & off or swap tours as you like. In view of our short stay we chose to go on the red route & it was very enjoyable although I thought the commentary was poorer than similar tours in other European cities.
Yes, Las Ramblas is a bit of a tourist trap which goes slowly downmarket as you get closer to the port but of course it is a must-see all the same, as is the market at La Boqueria. I fully endorse Maribel's advice that it's better to stay in the Eixample & visit Las Ramblas & the Barri Gotic from there. There is a lot of talk about crime on these boards, but I can only say that we didn't feel the least uncomfortable during our visit & in fact there was a clearly visible police presence in the older part of the city in particular. Yes, there are some rather unsavoury looking characters, especially on some of Las Ramblas & in the Placa Reial(a pity as it's a beautiful spot)but as I say the police seemed to be on top of this. Anyway, I don't have to travel too far from my own front door to see some dodgy looking characters & I didn't feel that Barcelona was any worse than any other large European city.
For those intersted in the modernisme architecture of Gaudi etc. you don't even have to try. Just go for a walk around the Pg. De Gracia area in particular & it's staring you in the face - really fantastic. The area around La Catedral & Town Hall etc. is also fascinating.
In closing, I don't think I could have been more impressed with Barcelona & I can't wait to go back. It's the third Spanish city I have visited (Alicante & Seville are the others)& I would say it has far more to offer than either of these. From my own personal experience, I would put it ahead of, say Amsterdam, Dublin & Edinburgh & up alongside London & Paris for a city break. The main reason I say this is because of the sheer variety & contrasts the city has to offer. You can be wandering about the winding alleyways of the old city one minute & then strolling along elegant tree-lined boulevards the next. Add the excellent dining & shopping & I reckon Barcelona is hard to beat.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who has posted reports & tips here - even if they weren't addressed to me all of this information was invaulable. In particular, of course, Maribel is an absolute star and I'm very grateful to her.
I'll be happy to help anyone else if I can, but for now it's back to thinking about my next trip. Hmm... anyone for the Italian lakes?
Jim
Back with more details again.
As we arrived in the city pretty late we weren't too adventurous for our first meal & went to a pretty nondescript restaurant named Kansas on the Passeig De Gracia. It was OK but that's about all. We had a much better experience the following night, however, at Citrus which is on the corner of Pg.De Gracia & (I think) C. Consell De Cent. We had actually intended to visit Tapa Tapa but my wife isn't the most adventurous of eaters & when we arrived she was a little unsure about delving into the wide & mysterious world of tapas! Citrus is right next door, however, & in fact I think it is owned by the same people. The prices are surpisingly reasonable given the location & attractive surroundings & if you're lucky enough to get a window seat you will also get a splendid view of the Pg. D Gracia. My only (minor) quibble is that I felt the servings were a little on the small side, but I get the impression that may be typical of meals in Barcelona. Maybe I'm just a greedy guts!
Because of the time of year (although we found it very pleasant)the cafe culture wasn't in full swing & there weren't that many people sitting at outdoor tables. The exception to this, however, was the Cafe Zurich, just where the Placa De Catalunya meets Las Ramblas & we spent a lot of time just sitting there with coffees watching the world go by.
I have two tips for other less obvious places to stop for a coffee or bite to eat. El Corte Ingles is a huge department store on the Placa De Catalunya and on the 9th floor they have both a pretty smart looking restaurant & a self-service cafeteria. I'm not going to make any extravagant claims for the food as we only had coffees & cheesecake in the cafeteria but the views are absolutely sensational! If you can't get a window seat then just shuffle about until one becomes available & then knock everyone else out of your way to get to it! Depending on where you get a table you will either have a great view of the Placa De Catalunya & up towards Montjuic or else all the way up the Passeig De Gracia. To be fair to the food, the place seemed very popular with local families, with the mixed paella being a particular favourite.
My other tip is the cafe of the Textile Museum which is on C. Montcada in La Ribeira , opposite the Picasso Museum. If you're not interested in actually going into the museum that's OK as the cafe is in a lovely sheltered courtyard outside & although the menu is pretty limited I can imagine it being a real oasis in high season. We had a very pleasant breakfast there listening to a street musician just outside.
Most of the advice I was given on these boards was very accurate. We didn't have to use the Metro & we found the Bus Turistic an excellent way of seeing the sights. There are two routes, red & blue, & although I'm not sure that I would want to travel both on the one day, if you have the time you should buy a two day ticket at a discounted price. That way you can try each on consecutive days & of course you can hop & off or swap tours as you like. In view of our short stay we chose to go on the red route & it was very enjoyable although I thought the commentary was poorer than similar tours in other European cities.
Yes, Las Ramblas is a bit of a tourist trap which goes slowly downmarket as you get closer to the port but of course it is a must-see all the same, as is the market at La Boqueria. I fully endorse Maribel's advice that it's better to stay in the Eixample & visit Las Ramblas & the Barri Gotic from there. There is a lot of talk about crime on these boards, but I can only say that we didn't feel the least uncomfortable during our visit & in fact there was a clearly visible police presence in the older part of the city in particular. Yes, there are some rather unsavoury looking characters, especially on some of Las Ramblas & in the Placa Reial(a pity as it's a beautiful spot)but as I say the police seemed to be on top of this. Anyway, I don't have to travel too far from my own front door to see some dodgy looking characters & I didn't feel that Barcelona was any worse than any other large European city.
For those intersted in the modernisme architecture of Gaudi etc. you don't even have to try. Just go for a walk around the Pg. De Gracia area in particular & it's staring you in the face - really fantastic. The area around La Catedral & Town Hall etc. is also fascinating.
In closing, I don't think I could have been more impressed with Barcelona & I can't wait to go back. It's the third Spanish city I have visited (Alicante & Seville are the others)& I would say it has far more to offer than either of these. From my own personal experience, I would put it ahead of, say Amsterdam, Dublin & Edinburgh & up alongside London & Paris for a city break. The main reason I say this is because of the sheer variety & contrasts the city has to offer. You can be wandering about the winding alleyways of the old city one minute & then strolling along elegant tree-lined boulevards the next. Add the excellent dining & shopping & I reckon Barcelona is hard to beat.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who has posted reports & tips here - even if they weren't addressed to me all of this information was invaulable. In particular, of course, Maribel is an absolute star and I'm very grateful to her.
I'll be happy to help anyone else if I can, but for now it's back to thinking about my next trip. Hmm... anyone for the Italian lakes?
Jim
Jan 18th, 2004 | 01:19 PM
#3
Joined: May 2003
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JJBhoy:
FABULOUS, FUNNY and full of interesting details.
WHat a great trip. I felt as if I were right there with you...step by step!
Thank you for sharing. Did your wife have a good time too? I liked the big department store but was forbidden, by my hubby, to spend a thing.
(killjoy! smile)
I liked the restaurant at The Picaso Musuem too!
Happy Travels,
Oaktown Traveler
FABULOUS, FUNNY and full of interesting details.
WHat a great trip. I felt as if I were right there with you...step by step!
Thank you for sharing. Did your wife have a good time too? I liked the big department store but was forbidden, by my hubby, to spend a thing.
(killjoy! smile)
I liked the restaurant at The Picaso Musuem too!
Happy Travels,
Oaktown Traveler
Jan 18th, 2004 | 04:45 PM
#4
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Oaktown Traveler,
Thanks for the kind words - coming from you I take that as a real compliment!
My wife loved it, but like your very sensible husband, I had to put my foot down too when it came to shopping.
All the best.
Jim
Thanks for the kind words - coming from you I take that as a real compliment!
My wife loved it, but like your very sensible husband, I had to put my foot down too when it came to shopping.
All the best.
Jim
Jan 22nd, 2004 | 04:50 PM
#5
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Hi,
Just a little postscript to my earlier comments on safety in Barcelona. When I said that I didn't have to travel too far to come across some dodgy characters I didn't realise how prophetic my remarks would be. Last Sunday my 13 year old son was mugged at knifepoint in Glasgow city centre - at 3.00 p.m. in the afternoon! Fortunately no harm was done but he is now one mobile 'phone lighter - maybe we'd be safer if we emigrated to Barcelona.
Jim
Just a little postscript to my earlier comments on safety in Barcelona. When I said that I didn't have to travel too far to come across some dodgy characters I didn't realise how prophetic my remarks would be. Last Sunday my 13 year old son was mugged at knifepoint in Glasgow city centre - at 3.00 p.m. in the afternoon! Fortunately no harm was done but he is now one mobile 'phone lighter - maybe we'd be safer if we emigrated to Barcelona.
Jim
Jan 30th, 2004 | 09:26 AM
#6
Joined: Oct 2003
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To JJBhoy:
We enjoyed your report very much, and it leads to a question. In March we will be leaving Barcelona and traveling to the Costa Brava area, picking up a rental car at or near the Girona airport. I had planned to take a train to Girona, then a cab to the airport. Do you think it is practical to use the bus service you mentioned to get from central Barcelona to the Girona airport, and do you know about any train service from Barcelona to the Girona airport? Thanks.
We enjoyed your report very much, and it leads to a question. In March we will be leaving Barcelona and traveling to the Costa Brava area, picking up a rental car at or near the Girona airport. I had planned to take a train to Girona, then a cab to the airport. Do you think it is practical to use the bus service you mentioned to get from central Barcelona to the Girona airport, and do you know about any train service from Barcelona to the Girona airport? Thanks.
Jan 30th, 2004 | 03:26 PM
#7
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Hi jd,
I think your decision on this will depend on your own schedule on the day you intend to pick up the car.
Firstly, I'm afraid there's no direct train from Barcelona to Girona aiport, so as you say you'll have to choose between getting the bus direct from the city to the Airport or getting the train from Sants station to Girona & then transferring to the Airport.
I don't have any experience of using the train but it seems to me the bus would be the better bet. The journey lasts 1 hour & 10 minutes & you'll be picked up at a convenient spot in the city centre & then dropped off right at the Airport terminal - there are no stops in-between to worry about. I've had a look at the RENFE (Spanish Rail Service) website & it seems to take roughly the same time as the bus to get to Girona, but of course then you would still have to travel the 12 kilometers to the airport.
To be honest, I didn't really pay any attention to the car rental arrangements, but I think I remember seeing a Europecar office there - anyway it's quite a small airport so you shouldn't having any trouble getting to the rental office.
The bus service from Barcelona is timed to coincide with the various Ryanair arrivals & departures at Girona Airport & you can find details of all the bus & train options on their website at www.ryanair.com. Click on Destinations/Spain/Barcelona-Girona & then you'll find links to both the bus & train company websites.Hopefully you'll find something that will fit in with your plans on the day.
I hope this helps, but please don't hesitate to ask if you'd like to know anything else.
Jim
I think your decision on this will depend on your own schedule on the day you intend to pick up the car.
Firstly, I'm afraid there's no direct train from Barcelona to Girona aiport, so as you say you'll have to choose between getting the bus direct from the city to the Airport or getting the train from Sants station to Girona & then transferring to the Airport.
I don't have any experience of using the train but it seems to me the bus would be the better bet. The journey lasts 1 hour & 10 minutes & you'll be picked up at a convenient spot in the city centre & then dropped off right at the Airport terminal - there are no stops in-between to worry about. I've had a look at the RENFE (Spanish Rail Service) website & it seems to take roughly the same time as the bus to get to Girona, but of course then you would still have to travel the 12 kilometers to the airport.
To be honest, I didn't really pay any attention to the car rental arrangements, but I think I remember seeing a Europecar office there - anyway it's quite a small airport so you shouldn't having any trouble getting to the rental office.
The bus service from Barcelona is timed to coincide with the various Ryanair arrivals & departures at Girona Airport & you can find details of all the bus & train options on their website at www.ryanair.com. Click on Destinations/Spain/Barcelona-Girona & then you'll find links to both the bus & train company websites.Hopefully you'll find something that will fit in with your plans on the day.
I hope this helps, but please don't hesitate to ask if you'd like to know anything else.
Jim
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Mar 18th, 2004 | 11:10 AM
#8
Joined: Feb 2003
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Hi Jim..re. the Hostal Girona - on their website it indicates you can get a room with a shower or a room with a bathroom - I'm assuming yours was the former? If one got the room with "a bathroom" we wouldn't have the same "shower" issue that you had, is that correct? Also can you give some idea of how noisy it was in the room. If you kept the balcony doors closed, would it still be noisy? Was there A/C? And finally I assume if you wanted to keep the window opened all night, it would be noisy all night? Thanks.
Mar 18th, 2004 | 04:06 PM
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Hi canuck,
Not sure if I can give you all the information you're looking for, but here goes.
Yes, our room had a shower, but no bathroom. Unfortunately, apart from our connecting room, I didn't get to see the inside of any of the other rooms & so I couldn't say what the rooms with bathrooms are like.
Our room didn't have A/C & I doubt if any of the others will either. We did have a large free-standing electric fan but as we were there in January we didn't have to use it. As regards noise, this is a subject which crops up frequently in postings re Barcelona. I have been to Spain on several occasions (both to cities & to coastal resorts)& the sound of motorbikes seems to be a pretty constant feature wherever you go, including Barcelona. I can see why noise might be a concern if you have to keep the shutters open because of the heat, but I suppose it all comes down to personal tolerances. What I would say is that the Girona's street struck me as being one of the quieter streets in the area with not as much through traffic as some of the others.
I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. By coincidence, however, there has been another recent posting with a favourable review of the Girona, so perhaps you could ask for more information on that post. Here's a link to it:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...&start=100
Best Wishes,
Jim
Not sure if I can give you all the information you're looking for, but here goes.
Yes, our room had a shower, but no bathroom. Unfortunately, apart from our connecting room, I didn't get to see the inside of any of the other rooms & so I couldn't say what the rooms with bathrooms are like.
Our room didn't have A/C & I doubt if any of the others will either. We did have a large free-standing electric fan but as we were there in January we didn't have to use it. As regards noise, this is a subject which crops up frequently in postings re Barcelona. I have been to Spain on several occasions (both to cities & to coastal resorts)& the sound of motorbikes seems to be a pretty constant feature wherever you go, including Barcelona. I can see why noise might be a concern if you have to keep the shutters open because of the heat, but I suppose it all comes down to personal tolerances. What I would say is that the Girona's street struck me as being one of the quieter streets in the area with not as much through traffic as some of the others.
I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. By coincidence, however, there has been another recent posting with a favourable review of the Girona, so perhaps you could ask for more information on that post. Here's a link to it:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...&start=100
Best Wishes,
Jim
Mar 18th, 2004 | 04:21 PM
#10
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204
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Thank you Jim for the wonderful trip report! And I would strongly agree with El Corte Ingles for some very inexpensive and great picnics--we went there in several places in Spain and were not disappointed. Also, their wine prices are very good (as is the wine, of course.)
You make me want to go back to Barcelona...and soon.
You make me want to go back to Barcelona...and soon.
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