I'm flying into Barcelona in a couple of weeks, arriving early morning. I plan on
driving to Perpignan France the same day - about 90 miles from Barcelona. I wouldn't
mind a few hours of site-seeing in Barcelona, and perhaps taking the slower route
north along the Cotsa Brava. Any recomendations for site seeing? I'd like to be in
Perpignan no later than
7:00 PM.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Mark

In article <fc.003d0941016f0045003d0941016f0045.16f0086@pmug. org>, [email protected]
(Mark W. Borgeson) wrote:

    > I'm flying into Barcelona in a couple of weeks, arriving early morning. I plan on
    > driving to Perpignan France the same day - about 90 miles from Barcelona. I
    > wouldn't mind a few hours of site-seeing in Barcelona, and perhaps taking the
    > slower route north along the Cotsa Brava. Any recomendations for site seeing? I'd
    > like to be in Perpignan no later than
    > 7:00 PM.
    > Thanks in advance for any input!
    > Mark

If I could do just one thing in BArcelona, it would be to visit the SAgrada Familia
-- you can spend quite a bit of time there climbing up in the towers etc -- but it
is a really different and stunning sight and experience -- worth as much time as you
can give it

There is a lot that is charming in Barcelona, but that is something you will only
find there.

For me just strolling up and down the Ramblas, taking in a few tapas here and there just to savour the atmosphere. You could easily and very enjoyably do this for 4 hours or so, even if you can't take in a glass of wine or beer because of the drive it would be fantastic.

In article <fc.003d0941016f0045003d0941016f0045.16f0086@pmug. org>, [email protected]
(Mark W. Borgeson) wrote:

    > I'm flying into Barcelona in a couple of weeks, arriving early morning. I plan on
    > driving to Perpignan France the same day - about 90 miles from Barcelona. I
    > wouldn't mind a few hours of site-seeing in Barcelona, and perhaps taking the
    > slower route north along the Cotsa Brava. Any recomendations for site seeing?

With time that limited, I would spend an hour or so walking the Ramblas (a kind of
enormous street market that runs through the heart of Barcelona), and then visit one
of several good museums: the Picasso museum, the Miro gallery (a bit out of the
centre), the marvellous (and manageably small) museum of pre-Columbian art, or the
Gaudi museum at La Pedrera (spelling?).

Gaudi, in case you're not familiar with him, is the architect who designed Sagrada
Familia and has become a Barcelona icon. However, I think this museum is actually
more interesting (and less touristy) than the church itself.

No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the park and
its buildings.

These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.







The palest ink is better than the best memory. --Chinese proverb There is no end
to collecting books. --Book of Ecclesiastes To three possessions shalt thou look:
Acquire a field, a friend, a book. --Samuel haNagid, Vizier to the King of Granada

"I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:23281-3D54C15B-108@storefull--
2371.public.lawson.webtv.net...
    > No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the park and
    > its buildings.
    > These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.
He he, I feel exactly the same. To see the Sagrada is a must but I remember the
disapointment I felt the first time when standing at the entrance. The Sagrada is to
be enjoyed from a distance. If one had only a limited time I too would advice the
Ramblas. Try to find a parking space around the Gran Via and walk towards the harbor.
At the harbor, go for a coffee and ask the waiter to call a taxi to bring you back to
your car. Taxi would cost you around 6 or 7 euro.

jp


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In article <[email protected]>, "jp"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > "I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:23281-3D54C15B-108@storef-
    > ull-2371.public.lawson.webtv.net    ...
    > > No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the park
    > > and its buildings.
    > >
    > > These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.
    > >
    > >
    > He he, I feel exactly the same. To see the Sagrada is a must but I remember the
    > disapointment I felt the first time when standing at the entrance. The Sagrada is
    > to be enjoyed from a distance. If one had only a limited time I too would advice
    > the Ramblas. Try to find a parking space around the Gran Via and walk towards the
    > harbor. At the harbor, go for a coffee and ask the waiter to call a taxi to bring
    > you back to your car. Taxi would cost you around 6 or 7 euro.

doesn't anyone else find the Ramblas a typical coney island sort of tourist trap
zone? it felt to me a lot like going to Hawaii and watching hula shows or going to
Venice and visiting glass blowing tourist traps ho hum -- give me the interesting
dive down by the water or Sagrada Familia or Park Guell etc any time over the Ramblas

"hamilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:hamilton-1008020939360001@host-209-21-
4-117-215.bna.bellsouth.net...
    > In article <[email protected]>, "jp"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > "I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:23281-3D54C15B-108@st-
    > > orefull-2371.public.lawson.webtv.net    ...
    > > > No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the park
    > > > and its buildings. These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.
    > > He he, I feel exactly the same. To see the Sagrada is a must but I
remember
    > > the disapointment I felt the first time when standing at the entrance.
The
    > > Sagrada is to be enjoyed from a distance. If one had only a limited time I too
    > > would advice the Ramblas. Try to
find a
    > > parking space around the Gran Via and walk towards the harbor. At the harbor, go
    > > for a coffee and ask the waiter to call a taxi to
bring
    > > you back to your car. Taxi would cost you around 6 or 7 euro.
    > doesn't anyone else find the Ramblas a typical coney island sort of tourist trap
    > zone? it felt to me a lot like going to Hawaii and watching hula shows or going
    > to Venice and visiting glass blowing tourist traps ho hum -- give me the
    > interesting dive down by the water or Sagrada Familia or Park Guell etc any time
    > over the Ramblas

I believe the OP spoke about having only a few hours to spend in BCN. That's why my
advice was to have a look at the Sagrada and then to proceed to the Ramblas. Let's
not forget he's driving a car and finding parking space in high season around the
Sagrada isn't exactly a sinecure. As for the rambla-coney island stuff, OK. But since
a few thousand Barcelonians can enjoy them why wouldn't he? jp





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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system
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In article <[email protected]>, "jp"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > "hamilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:hamilton-1008020939360001@host-20-
    > 9-214-117-215.bna.bellsouth.net    ...
    > > In article <[email protected]>, "jp"
    > > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > > "I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:23281-3D54C15B-10-
    > > > [email protected]    ...
    > > > > No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the
    > > > > park and its buildings. These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.
    > > > He he, I feel exactly the same. To see the Sagrada is a must but I
    > remember
    > > > the disapointment I felt the first time when standing at the entrance.
    > The
    > > > Sagrada is to be enjoyed from a distance. If one had only a limited time I too
    > > > would advice the Ramblas. Try to
    > find a
    > > > parking space around the Gran Via and walk towards the harbor. At the harbor,
    > > > go for a coffee and ask the waiter to call a taxi to
    > bring
    > > > you back to your car. Taxi would cost you around 6 or 7 euro.
    > >
    > > doesn't anyone else find the Ramblas a typical coney island sort of tourist trap
    > > zone? it felt to me a lot like going to Hawaii and watching hula shows or going
    > > to Venice and visiting glass blowing tourist traps ho hum -- give me the
    > > interesting dive down by the water or Sagrada Familia or Park Guell etc any time
    > > over the Ramblas
    > I believe the OP spoke about having only a few hours to spend in BCN. That's why my
    > advice was to have a look at the Sagrada and then to proceed to the Ramblas. Let's
    > not forget he's driving a car and finding parking space in high season around the
    > Sagrada isn't exactly a sinecure. As for the rambla-coney island stuff, OK. But
    > since a few thousand Barcelonians can enjoy them why wouldn't he? jp

to each his own -- is it the best use of 4 hours to visit a city as wonderful as
Barcelona? -- to me it is the equivalent of suggesting that a visitor to New York
spent their brief time at a shopping mall

Hamilton:

I agree, and wanted to state it in my previous post.

But to many people it is 'fun'. What should also have been mentioned and EMPHASIZED
are the side streets off the Ramblas (to the left going 'down' -- I am not sure the
direction) where the real old Barcelona is with the Cathedral, the barrio, old
buildings, etc.







The palest ink is better than the best memory. --Chinese proverb There is no end
to collecting books. --Book of Ecclesiastes To three possessions shalt thou look:
Acquire a field, a friend, a book. --Samuel haNagid, Vizier to the King of Granada

jp schrieb:
    > "hamilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:hamilton-1008020939360001@host-20-
    > 9-214-117-215.bna.bellsouth.net    ...
    > > In article <[email protected]>, "jp"
    > > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > > "I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:23281-3D54C15B-10-
    > > > [email protected]    ...
    > > > > No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the
    > > > > park and its buildings. These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.
    > > > He he, I feel exactly the same. To see the Sagrada is a must but I
    > remember
    > > > the disapointment I felt the first time when standing at the entrance.
    > The
    > > > Sagrada is to be enjoyed from a distance. If one had only a limited time I too
    > > > would advice the Ramblas. Try to
    > find a
    > > > parking space around the Gran Via and walk towards the harbor. At the harbor,
    > > > go for a coffee and ask the waiter to call a taxi to
    > bring
    > > > you back to your car. Taxi would cost you around 6 or 7 euro.
    > >
    > > doesn't anyone else find the Ramblas a typical coney island sort of tourist trap
    > > zone? it felt to me a lot like going to Hawaii and watching hula shows or going
    > > to Venice and visiting glass blowing tourist traps ho hum -- give me the
    > > interesting dive down by the water or Sagrada Familia or Park Guell etc any time
    > > over the Ramblas
    > I believe the OP spoke about having only a few hours to spend in BCN. That's why my
    > advice was to have a look at the Sagrada and then to proceed to the Ramblas. Let's
    > not forget he's driving a car and finding parking space in high season around the
    > Sagrada isn't exactly a sinecure.

Could be less sressful if he skips renting the car directly at the airport. Anywhere
downtown to store luggage?


    > As for the rambla-coney island stuff, OK. But since a few thousand Barcelonians can
    > enjoy them why wouldn't he? jp
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OK, that was implicit in what posters here said about the Ramblas, I for one was not talking about just walking up and down the avenue but exploring side streets, bars, buildings of interest that spring from the Ramblas. Looking around the Ramblas could only be compared to looking around a shopping mall by someone who either hasn't been there (Barcelona's Ramblas area) or by a complete idiot. I'm talking atmosphere and Spanishness. There may be tourists but at all times of the year you'll be outnumbered by Spanish (slightly fewer in August) about 50:1 minimum

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (I. Wilson Gittleman, M.D.) wrote:

    > No one has mentioned the various apartments Gaudi created, as well as the park and
    > its buildings.
    > These, to me, are superior to the Church monstrosity.

I agree, which is why I recommended the Gaudi museum in one of those very apartment
buildings!