Getting about a bit in January
Guess who's going to be at LotuSphere this year. Yep. Yours truly. I'll tell you more next week. Basically, and I use this word carefully, I am there as a "special" guest. Of Lotus? You're joking! No. Of a young company with an exciting new product to sell. More info later.
This means that, for the next three weekends, I'll be away on my travels. Tomorrow I am going on a "surprise" trip to Barcelona - my birthday (on Sunday) present from Karen. The weekend after I am off with a couple of friends (and a caravan) on a walking weekend in a National Park we are yet to decide on. The weekend after I fly to Orlando for the best part of a week.
If you can expect anything this month it's photos. Although next week is "Tips Week". I have a tip for you for each day of the week.
For now, has anybody got any ideas/advice for my first trip to Barcelona?
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Hello from Spain, Jake,
You have here some places of interest
» The Rambla
» The Gothic Quarter
» Gaudí and Modernism
» Collserola Tower and the Observation Dock
» Tibidabo
» Montjuïc
» The fountains of Montjuic
» Olympic Barcelona
» Poble Espanyol
» The streets and squares of Barcelona
» Parc de la Ciutadella
» Gran Teatre del Liceu
» Teatre Nacional
» Auditori de Barcelona
» The Cathedral of Barcelona
» Santa Maria del Mar
I hope you and Karen enjoy a lot, and if you want some more information, I can give you as much as you want.
Regards.
Javier.
Jake - there is a great restaurant called the Seven Doors (or it's Spanish equivalent) which does some of the best squid ink paella in Barca. Also try to visit the footie stadium, and one of the best Irish pubs I've been to in a while (outside Ireland, that is) called the Quiet Man. Also - be prepared to party on - the nightlife (including restaurants) does not really get started until 10:30pm and goes on into the wee small hours. Have a great trip.
Thanks guys. I'll try and work my way through them all. Just wish I had bought a Memory Stick bigger than 128MB!
Javier. Can you translate Seven Doors please?
tq. Eating and drinking is definitely on teh agenda. Paella for lunch and as much tapas as I can squeeze in at night ;o)
Hi, Jake :
Seven Doors -> Las Siete Puertas.
Barcelona is beatiful, enjoy!
Jake if you want to see the "alternative" Barcelona check out {Link}
I know a lad from our golf club who went to Barelona for a weekend. After a few too many Britneys he decided to use a womand of negotiable affection. She took him down a side street, dropped his trollies round his ankles, then did a runner with his cash. Sad, but amusing ....
Seven Doors = Les Set Portes. (its in the local Catalan, not Castilian Spanish). Taxi drivers will know it. Its one of Barcelona's most posh restaurants. Personally I'd go to the Born area looking for a more "real" restaurant.
DINNER
Look for a Basque bar that sells "Montaditos" - small tapas toothpicked to a slice of baguette. You collect the toothpicks and pay per toothpick before you leave. Very tasty. There is one of these bars in one of the corners of the square outside the cathedral (the real cathedral, not the Sagrada Familia).
DRINKS
Bar hop around the Barrio Gótico. Also, on the other side of Las Ramblas (Calle Riera Alta) "Muebles Navarro". An ex-furniture shop-turned bar, but they forgot to take the furniture away, so all the seating is comfy old second-hand stuff. Very original.
CLUBBING
Start thinking of clubbing any time starting 2am.
If you have transport, or friends with transport, a fantastic multi-ambient dance club is Danzatoria. Its on Mount Tibidabo on the edge of the city. Near to it is Mirablau: a disco/bar with a glass wall giving you a view over the whole of Barcelona while you drink/dance. Trouble with these places is that they are easy to get to, but hard to get a taxi back (lots of competition for not many taxis).
More in-town, a hard-core dance club is Oto Zutz on Calle Lincoln (I think). But don't get there before 2:30 am. Perhaps even later. Should peak at about 5 am.
MAIN ADVICE: Don't peak too early. If you're up for a big night out, sleep until dinner-time which should start at about 9pm or later. Plan to get breakfast on the way back to the hotel.
Thanks guys. Appreciate the advice.
Paul. Not sure I'll be getting in that state. (For those who can't follow Paul's story - his mate got robbed by a hooker ;o)
Hah, Lotusphere in Orlando - I've always wanted to go there. Okay, some of it is to do with the fact it's in Orlando, but most of it is to just experience being so 'connected' to it all :)
Lotusphere is strange though, as someone who has been to Disneyworld too many times, there was one time when we went (for the cruise) which matched with Lotusphere. It was a surreal experience, everywhere, people in yellow t-shirts and bags with the lotus logo! Surreal.
Will it all be purple now then or what?
All of the Gaudi work in Barcelona is amazing and beautiful. Much of it can be touristy but still well worth the visit... Especially the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Climb the cathedral towers for some nice city views and pictures.
The most beautiful view from Barcelona: from Tividabo at night. It's amazing.
Going shopping? Passeig de Gràcia.
Do you like house music? One of the best house clubs: CDLC - Carpe Diem Lounge Club, near the Hotel Arts Tower.
Enjoy Barcelona !!
If I remember correctly then there is a sex museum on Las Ramblas, not that I visited but the paella in the restaurant next door was very good.
As for restaurants, I recommend going to Placa Reial (a square just off La Rambla, close to the oldest part of the town) with two great, affordable places in the arcades: Els Quinze Nits and El Taxidermista (!).
Also, be sure to visit the food market Mercat de la Bouqueria.
If you do the Cathedral tower, well worth it, make sure you walk down. It's all the way down this narrow tower on a circular stone staircase.
Slightly scary, but good. I found it good anyway, but that may be just me.
Hi Jake,
Look forward to meeting you in Orlando. If your arriving in on Saturday evening then make sure you get to the Gonzo Lotusphere party... ( sat 24th, 8pm, ESPN Zone )
Jake,
See you at the Gonzo party!
Bruce
Hi Jake,
Barca, yes it's the place to be (Karen Well done). I have been there for only 2 days partly business but enjoyed myself very much. Parc Quell (that's upon the hills where the famous Gaudies are...Lasagrada familia (don't know if I speel this OK) the ramblas (market place) , on the corner you have a nice Hardrock Cafe for some nice food, I was on the beach aswell where you have some nice pups and disco
Ofcourse if time permits the Barca football stadium and what I liked the most was sitting down and see people coming along while watching clear blue skies...I wish I could travel now...
Have fun and relax
Hola Jake,
Maybe it's too late now. It's sunday, 9:20 in the morning, (btw, happy birthday!!), and I live in Barcelona, so I had liked to meet you!!!
I read your codestore once a week... sorry for being late!
If you should read this comment today, I run a little video rental store in Barcelona, very near to the MACBA (contemporary art museum of barcelona): my address is Ferlandina 51. I'll be there from 16:00 to 22:00.
Bye,
Andrea
Thanks guys. I missed some of your posts (and your invite Andrea) as I left Friday morning and didn't check back.
Had a great time. Too much to see and do in two days! May have to return one day...
Jake,
I'm going down to Orlando as well. IBM nominated one of my solutions for the developers track but, alas, it was dropped from the schedule. Means more time to check out the other cool things. It'd be great if we bumped into each other, even buy you a pint.