I loved this little trip very much and I think I'll think back on it often!
I set off with two friends with a Ryanair return flight from Pisa to Girona; from Girona to Barcelona there is about an hour's journey to be made with the efficient buses (21 euro return). We stayed at the Hostal Lausanne: our room was clean though basic and the staff kind, even though some didn't speak English (or Italian); the location is wonderful, on a lovely street near the Rambla. To get around we sometimes used the metro and it took us a while to make sense of it since we never found any staff to ask for information and the automatic machines are not very clear! The temperature ranged between 14 and 17 degrees and there was always sun: a delight!!
Day 130 Dec 2011
Arrival and first impressions
We arrived at the hotel after midday and we've been awake since 4, so after a quick lunch we rested a bit. Around 6 pm we go out and remain enchanted by the beautiful lights all over the city center. We cross the Plaça de Catalunya and walk the whole Rambla down to the port: it's full of people, stalls, bars... For dinner we had bought bread and cold cuts and we stop to eat on a bench. However, the wind picked up and so, chilly, we duck into a bar where we order a pitcher of sangria, cost 6 euros each. Happy, we return to our hotel to rest in view of the next day!
Sagrada Família
Day 231 Dec 2011
Gaudì, shopping and celebrations
We wake up at 9 and go out for breakfast. Since we're right in the center we spend a good 3.50 euros for a cappuccino and a croissant, but oh well. We decide to take the metro to get to the Sagrada Familia and after no small amount of trouble with the machines we manage to buy the tickets. In front of the church there's an immense line!! So we limit ourselves to looking at it from outside, nearby there's a small very nice park. We then continue our tour on foot, walking a good stretch of the Avinguda Diagonal and then admiring La Pedrera and La Casa Batlló.
After lunch we devote ourselves to shopping in the 8-story shopping center El Corte Inglés (in Plaça de Catalunya) and at the Hard Rock Cafe. To tell the truth we buy very little also because we can only bring carry-on luggage on the plane!
We return to the hotel to wash up and get ready and then go out for the evening. We go to eat paella in a restaurant at the port "Port Vell": we liked it and the service is truly kind. Cost 31 euros each for mixed paella, water, sorbet. After dinner we wandered around looking for an area on the beach with bars: first we ended up in a rather shady part of the beach but then, asking for information, we finally arrived at Port Olimpic. Basically there are tons of bars with music...we had a lot of fun, also because you could dance outdoors without spending! However there were foreigners, especially French, who could be annoying. We didn't pay attention to anyone and had no problems. Rest on the beach and then to bed.
Port Olímpic
Day 31 Jan 2012
A quick trip to Parc Guell
This morning we would have liked to sleep in but the opera singer singing in front of our window disagrees and wakes us at 9. We stay in bed anyway, lazing around until lunchtime; hungry, we settle for a Burger King menu.
The only destination of the day is Parc Güell, also because all the museums and shops are closed. In fact the park is packed with tourists!! Anyway it's truly beautiful and worth a visit also for the view over the city. We have a late dinner in a place on the Rambla (tourist menu+water+cover charge 13.50 euros) and return to the hotel to wait until 3 when we take a taxi to the bus station...our vacation is over!
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