Bet you thought I’ve abandoned the travelogue…just took a week off DD, dealing with some things…it’s time to return to my Spanish tales and share the marvels of Barcelona…I had two days to roam solo, while my hb was busy with whatever husbands can be busy with on the business trips…It is always my favourite part of travels to walk the streets of the stranger’s space. I don’t mind it if I’d miss out museum or something of the list of “must see”. As long as I can feel the place, and catch something special about it, the travel worth it. So, for the first two days I just wandered the city on my very own two feet in search of that something which will save a reference in my mind…
I did mention already that Barcelona is bizarre city. Charismatic and odd…Classical and dignified…and many other things too…although it wasn’t to me The Most Beautiful City In The World, but then I haven’t seen enough cities of the World to have the right to judge this matter…it was February and it was relatively warm and sunny. I can easily imagine that in summer Barcelona could be uncomfortably hot and humid, since it sits on the Mediterranean coast…I can easily imagine Barcelona being overcrowded during the season… It is not a city that “specialized” on particular time or theme. It’s just that kind of place, where the day and night do not have defined margins and where anyone of any age and gender can find something for their heart or soul or body… That’s how I saw it – place with the old heart of past times and the youthful soul of the present…
Las Ramblas
It is a street. But not exactly like your ordinary street. In fact it is the most famous and popular street in Barcelona. The name means “riverbed” and Ramblas might well be built in the place of an old river…whatever the history, in our days this street is a place of a trade, of entertainment, of touristic activities. Less then 2 kilometres of restaurants, non-stop street performances, market stalls, stands with flowers or birds and fishes...overpriced food, cheesy human statues and mimes, pickpockets…but of course, since it is such a famous place, I had to “Walk the Rambla”. Except from the strange pavement slabs imitating a wave that runs across the whole street and creates full illusion that you are walking on waters. Except from gorgeous plane trees, the Ramblas is just a street. Full of tourists, of course. Frankly, I prefer the bird's eye view of Ramblas. Once I walked my obligatory way down to the sea port there was an opportunity awaiting for me: the Columbus Column.
One of the clueless tourist’s rules tells: “if it’s climbable – climb”…there was an invitation on the door of a little Information centre at the bottom of the Columbus column. And next moment I found myself riding the elevator to the top of the monument. From there Las Ramblas was absolutely stunning! One can see the natural curvatures as if the ancient river still runs the same place…I love the view of Ramblas from the Columbus Column.
As well as the views of Barcelona Port:
More to come…
I did mention already that Barcelona is bizarre city. Charismatic and odd…Classical and dignified…and many other things too…although it wasn’t to me The Most Beautiful City In The World, but then I haven’t seen enough cities of the World to have the right to judge this matter…it was February and it was relatively warm and sunny. I can easily imagine that in summer Barcelona could be uncomfortably hot and humid, since it sits on the Mediterranean coast…I can easily imagine Barcelona being overcrowded during the season… It is not a city that “specialized” on particular time or theme. It’s just that kind of place, where the day and night do not have defined margins and where anyone of any age and gender can find something for their heart or soul or body… That’s how I saw it – place with the old heart of past times and the youthful soul of the present…
Las Ramblas
It is a street. But not exactly like your ordinary street. In fact it is the most famous and popular street in Barcelona. The name means “riverbed” and Ramblas might well be built in the place of an old river…whatever the history, in our days this street is a place of a trade, of entertainment, of touristic activities. Less then 2 kilometres of restaurants, non-stop street performances, market stalls, stands with flowers or birds and fishes...overpriced food, cheesy human statues and mimes, pickpockets…but of course, since it is such a famous place, I had to “Walk the Rambla”. Except from the strange pavement slabs imitating a wave that runs across the whole street and creates full illusion that you are walking on waters. Except from gorgeous plane trees, the Ramblas is just a street. Full of tourists, of course. Frankly, I prefer the bird's eye view of Ramblas. Once I walked my obligatory way down to the sea port there was an opportunity awaiting for me: the Columbus Column.
One of the clueless tourist’s rules tells: “if it’s climbable – climb”…there was an invitation on the door of a little Information centre at the bottom of the Columbus column. And next moment I found myself riding the elevator to the top of the monument. From there Las Ramblas was absolutely stunning! One can see the natural curvatures as if the ancient river still runs the same place…I love the view of Ramblas from the Columbus Column.
As well as the views of Barcelona Port:
More to come…