Thanks, Stanley Edwards. The restaurant links had something my partner would like to try. I guess we could do some museums and stuff but we're unlikely too as we're a bit lazy that way, would prefer making sand castles on the beach, even a crap beach like Barcelona's. Might take the train out to Sitges, it's pretty close if I remember right.
Barcelona - places to visit, things to see, photos, top tips and chat
- Thread starter DJ Bigga
- Start date
40 minutes and Pennies. Well worth a day trip. I like Sitges for all the wrong reasons. Visit The French restaurant on the main prom (Le Ambassador, or summat), admire my art work in the very swanky environment, say 'hi' to Lauren and Francois and their Highland Terrier and you might just get a free meal and star treatment if you mention me.
On a more down to earth level, give my very good friend Joseph a BIG 'hello' and a €uro, or a beer whilst your son helps him build sandsculptures. Joseph is one of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet!
fakeplasticgirl
Keirleader
yay! going in august 
never been to barcelona before but have heard great things about it. will be keep a beady eye on this thread.
never been to barcelona before but have heard great things about it. will be keep a beady eye on this thread.
fakeplasticgirl
Keirleader
hey urban hive mind,
What do you reckon the best value accommodation is if there's only two of you going? A hotel - or still an apartment. even though most of them are designed for more than 2 people? We're on a budget - any tips much appreciated! thanks
What do you reckon the best value accommodation is if there's only two of you going? A hotel - or still an apartment. even though most of them are designed for more than 2 people? We're on a budget - any tips much appreciated! thanks
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
hey urban hive mind,
What do you reckon the best value accommodation is if there's only two of you going? A hotel - or still an apartment. even though most of them are designed for more than 2 people? We're on a budget - any tips much appreciated! thanks
I've always found the hotel jardi to be reasonably priced..... Simple but clean and right slap bang in the barri gotic - If you decide to go down the hotel route.
fractionMan
Custom Title
Off to barcelona. Any tips for nightlife? Staying in el borne.
ddraig
kicking against the pricks...
try and get in the mosquito place, we couldn't, too busy
some of the Basque places were ok and had crazy looking tapas and cider
the cat bar can be ok and think is open late, loads of beer and vegan food http://www.catbar.es/
also a nice red place in a square with a few places, somthing zur iirc that has outside and inside bit
clubs don't get going til late and didn't go in the end apart from a rock bar/club that had a skate ramp in it.
have a good trip!
some of the Basque places were ok and had crazy looking tapas and cider
the cat bar can be ok and think is open late, loads of beer and vegan food http://www.catbar.es/
also a nice red place in a square with a few places, somthing zur iirc that has outside and inside bit
clubs don't get going til late and didn't go in the end apart from a rock bar/club that had a skate ramp in it.
have a good trip!
davesgcr
Reading books
F**ing city of thieves - bag nicked in less than 30 seconds and in 30 mins of arrival - 2 chancers tried to pickpocket me again last evening -one had his hands almost in my pocket when I clocked him in the ribs. Cunts. They wont see me ever again there ...despite their fu**ing culture and Tapas.
davesgcr
Reading books
Not really - an old HTC phone , cheque book (stopped) all my clothes , books -every stitch of clothes - (no money or IPAD etc. or camera) - some of the stuff was a bit personal , and you know it will end up in a bin.
This cunt last night was blocked by 2 stuffed hankies - just as well as that was my Passport pocket. It really does put you off though - and makes you feel insecure. Police station was full of people in similar circumstances.
This cunt last night was blocked by 2 stuffed hankies - just as well as that was my Passport pocket. It really does put you off though - and makes you feel insecure. Police station was full of people in similar circumstances.
davesgcr
Reading books
Back home now - stepped off airport bus and navigating way to hotel near Placa del Catalunia. This is equal to Trafalgar Sq. of course , now I have wondered round on my own several interesting places like - squatted ex rail yards in East Berlin and so on.....never mind , insurance claim in , and no harm physicaly done. Thanks for the thoughts. Tidy!
Barcelona has a huge problem with this. It is damaging their image as a tourist city break.
I have probably posted on this thread before, but...
When I sketch in the street I see everything. Everything! I know every secret police, every methadone user and every street thief. A few times myself and my roller-blading mate Suzi held theives until police arrived. Within Two hours they were straight back on the street doing the same. I have loads of run-ins with bag snatchers and the like. They expect me to do nothing because they promise they won't touch my stuff - just the tourists things. I can't sit there and watch them rob people and spoil holidays people have saved up for for a year to enjoy.
Problem is the law in Spain. If you are under 18 and the goods stolen have a value of less than €600 then there is no charge. It is mostly Moroccan kids who think it is allowed, because there is no charge. Seriously, they believe this. They think if they just target rich tourists it is OK.
Huge problem for Barcelona. They need to deal with it.
I have probably posted on this thread before, but...
When I sketch in the street I see everything. Everything! I know every secret police, every methadone user and every street thief. A few times myself and my roller-blading mate Suzi held theives until police arrived. Within Two hours they were straight back on the street doing the same. I have loads of run-ins with bag snatchers and the like. They expect me to do nothing because they promise they won't touch my stuff - just the tourists things. I can't sit there and watch them rob people and spoil holidays people have saved up for for a year to enjoy.
Problem is the law in Spain. If you are under 18 and the goods stolen have a value of less than €600 then there is no charge. It is mostly Moroccan kids who think it is allowed, because there is no charge. Seriously, they believe this. They think if they just target rich tourists it is OK.
Huge problem for Barcelona. They need to deal with it.
davesgcr
Reading books
My crime number was 38,000 and something - so if this is City Wide (not just a police station) - as it is only just June - that equates to about 70,000+ reported crimes (let alone the unreported ones) - I am telling everyone I can to forget Barca , lovely city , lots to see , great food etc. They wont see me again , which is a shame ......will stick to my good mates place only , south of Alicante.
That is pretty much the only place in Barcelona I am allowed to work. This is where I know rollerblading Suzi from. The bag snatchers are rife on this paseo. From the arch to the zoo they keep the shadows of the sun behind them. Barcelona is known as the roller capital of Europe. However, it is now illegal in all public spaces.
Barcelona is very different to anywhere else in Spain. It is still Spain, but nothing like Granada which is the Spain I love most. Fabulous country despite the faults. Doubt very much if I will ever leave.
Riklet
procrastinación
"Barna" looks shit and ugly though, does anyone actually write that? What about BCN?
Just thought i'd wack a 'food for thought' documentary I just watched on this thread. Possibly interesting? I'm going to BCN next month for a couple of days before my flight to South America and it's made me consider various things.
Anyway, it's pretty well made.
Bye Bye Barcelona. Subtitiles are available in English, mostly in Catalan and Spanish.
Just thought i'd wack a 'food for thought' documentary I just watched on this thread. Possibly interesting? I'm going to BCN next month for a couple of days before my flight to South America and it's made me consider various things.
Anyway, it's pretty well made.
Bye Bye Barcelona. Subtitiles are available in English, mostly in Catalan and Spanish.
davesgcr
Reading books
It may be a non violent crime (as the police said) - but it has really hacked me off me to the extent I will not go there again - (and not reccomend it to anyone else) - shame , as such an attractive city otherwise. The London Evening Standard did a similar profile on pickpocketing a few weeks ago - the figures for London are tiny compared to the "Barca" free for all.
Favelado
J'adore South Shore
Totally understandable. The way the pickpockets work on the Metro there is amazing. I remember one guy making a little whistle sound once and 4 others moved into position immediately. They're extraordinarily well organised. Barcelona somehow still has a brilliant reputation with tourists but it's an out-and-out theme park.
Pickpocketing is quite bad in one or two streets in Madrid as well, but not quite so much, and the wonderful thing about living here is we are the biggest city in Europe to not be totally overrun with visitors. London, Paris, Berlin and Rome are swamped with them, but we're the only city with a very big population that just gets a Goldilocks amount. Not too few, not too many. Thankfully, they never built a particularly iconic monument here that people want to come and gawp at.I think it's down to that.
Riklet
procrastinación
Was in Barcelona recently for less than a day.
Tons of tourists and tour groups, but about what you'd expect from a super touristy European city.
It's just clearly very badly managed though, and mainly for the benefit of the rich. I really would recommend that documentary i posted above. Particularly interesting and relevant the stuff bout the privatisation of public space.
The prostitution on the ramblas was the worst bit for me. Loads of prostitutes at night (mostly african origin it seemed) hassling you, fucking trying to touch and grab me and then being semi aggressive and shouting 'maricon'. Really needs sorting out.
Still, cracking night out there! Expensive but so fun!!
Tons of tourists and tour groups, but about what you'd expect from a super touristy European city.
It's just clearly very badly managed though, and mainly for the benefit of the rich. I really would recommend that documentary i posted above. Particularly interesting and relevant the stuff bout the privatisation of public space.
The prostitution on the ramblas was the worst bit for me. Loads of prostitutes at night (mostly african origin it seemed) hassling you, fucking trying to touch and grab me and then being semi aggressive and shouting 'maricon'. Really needs sorting out.
Still, cracking night out there! Expensive but so fun!!
pseudonarcissus
fluttering and dancing
I'm going to Barcelona in 10 days, just for a long weekend....it is really as bad as this thread suggests?
After having been stuck on a small Italian island for the last 5 months working on a wreck I was really looking forward to a relaxing time with good food and wine. Now I am convinced I'm going to be in a huge crush of Americans, I'm going to loose all my worldly possessions to thieves, and spend a small fortune.
The hotel has a spa, so I suppose I don't need to bother going out for 4 days.
I guess thanks for the warning...
After having been stuck on a small Italian island for the last 5 months working on a wreck I was really looking forward to a relaxing time with good food and wine. Now I am convinced I'm going to be in a huge crush of Americans, I'm going to loose all my worldly possessions to thieves, and spend a small fortune.
The hotel has a spa, so I suppose I don't need to bother going out for 4 days.
I guess thanks for the warning...
