jdr

Really cheap place at El Chorro, quiet, great views, but a bit dodgy to get there.

Sam Greenfield

Bloody hell - do you have to come back down the same way too

jdr

Seven or eight have got down a bit quicker unluckily.

laulah

Warmly recommend Barcelona - here we have the beach, mountains, nature, money, cheap flights all over globe, fantastic gastronomic offer and huge amount of art

ukdobby

What number bus runs there

jdr

Funnily enough there is a train that goes there.
It`s where they filmed Von Ryans Express.

SaritaBarcelona

Mmm, I beg to differ here, you have no money left after paying the inflated prices for everything! I lived there for 7 years and agree that the city has it all, but the costs are extortionate and the salaries don't generally reflect that in my opinion. Buying a home is only an option if you earn well, and I mean well, above the average salary for Spain. Even renting is ludicrously expensive unless you are really lucky.

cricketman

Yes we found Barcelona quite uncomfortable; noisy, jam packed with tourists, humid in the summer, expensive accomodation and people are unfriendly unless you speak Catalan. But if you can deal with those things its a wonderful place

SaritaBarcelona

Yes, those are all of the reasons why we aren't there any more!

Dick Dasterdly

Bloody cold as well,..too close to the Pyranees.
I seen snow lying on the beach for well over a week there a few year back.
Brrrrrrr!

laulah

It's all about choices and what you are looking for At the moment I am happy to live modest here in the middle of all excitement and action than bigger and nicer somewhere more quiet place. Probably I get bored some day and decide to spend more for higher standards of living but now I could not imagine living anywhere else in Spain - I have previous experience from Madrid and Costa del Sol.

What it comes to noisiness, tourists, expensive accommodation and food - you'll face same problems all over Spain if you don't know where to go I have not had any problems with "rude" Catalans or Catalan language so far, in my opinion it's a problem more in our heads than theirs.

cricketman

Absolutely, Barcelona is still a great place, maybe we'll go back to live their one day.

I dont agree with the Catalan angle though. We felt on the periphery of things because we spoke Spanish and not Catalan. And many jobs ask for Catalan too. If we went back that is definitely something we'd have to commit to - and of course all state schools teach in Catalan only now, with Spanish treated only as a second language

laulah

This is honestly something I have not experienced. Ever. I don't speak a word of Catalan, only Spanish, and have never had any kind of problems of getting along with Catalans. I work in HR industry and we rarely receive vacancies where Catalan is required. When did you use to live here?

cricketman

I lived next to Parque Cuitadella. Too central to be comfortable.

I don't have any problem getting along with Catalans, they're nice people, but my Catalan is almost non-existant

I'm surprised that you work in HR and Catalan isnt an issue. Am I right in saying that anyone who deals with customers in any form in Catalunya is obliged by law to speak Catalan fluently? And almost all job adverts I saw said Catalan was a requirement

Ah sorry you said when, not where! We lived for a year and a half up until last year

ForHotspot

Not only that, isn't Barcelona quite an expensive place to live? The houses are more expensive too than further South.