Barcelona - places to visit, things to see, photos, top tips and chat

[Favelado]

You can have a great time. It's not that it's shit, it's that it's not what quite it's cracked up to be and it's getting ruined by levels of tourism it can't handle. The irritation in my posts comes from having spent 18 months there and feeling like I lived in a theme park called GaudiLand.

If you want any advice or help PM me. I'm in Madrid, but I lived in Barna, I have Catalan friends and flatmates and a ready-made list to send to visitors there - although it's two years old it should still be useful.

It's easy not to get pickpocketed if you don't let yourself be distracted by people on the Ramblas, don't stand around gawping at human stautues and the shit games on the Ramblas and if you always keep your wallet in your inside pocket of your jacket on the metro. Never leave bags on the floor in a bar either. Always hold onto it.

You'll enjoy it I'm sure. Ask if you need anything.

 

[Treacle Toes]

"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.

That's a nice documentary...watch a couple of months back on the reccommendation of a Catalan friend.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

You'll enjoy it I'm sure. Ask if you need anything.

Thanks! I'll PM

Funny, I always assumed you were in Brasil.

I know very little about Barcelona so don't really have much in the way of expectations. I'm sure we'll have fun.

 

[Riklet]

You'll have a great time, dont worry! I first went in 2010 and it was probably "ruined" by then... but it stands out as one of the best holidays I've ever had.

Go up to the castle in montjuic where they shot the anarchists. Great to explore. Worth walking about too, great views.

There's a swimming pool up there which was cracking 4 years ago. Def recommended. Just on the road near the funicular.

Still some great clubs n music in BCN. And decent people. Full of guiris, but i was in las pipas or something off an interior square recently, was great!! Like some big living room bar with not bad beer and fun people.

There is lots of really interesting history worth checking out too. I believe there's a civil war tour, n probs loads of others. I would also really recommend Girona for a daytrip, and the Dali museum in Figueres altho might be a bit far!!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I'll be there for a couple of weeks beginning of September. Fucking hate the place, but extra special friends are there, and the love of my life is just a short train ride away. Aesthetically very cool and beautiful, functionally shit, shit, shit. I may base myself in Sitges and commute in only when I have to.

Fuck you Barcelona.

 

[Riklet]

I'll be there for a couple of weeks beginning of September. Fucking hate the place, but extra special friends are there, and the love of my life is just a short train ride away. Aesthetically very cool and beautiful, functionally shit, shit, shit. I may base myself in Sitges and commute in only when I have to.

Fuck you Barcelona.

you given Girona a try? nice town, might suit your needs a bit better eh. not too far by bus/train at all, either.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I have just landed in Sitges. It has gone all posh. None of my mates are here. It has gone like seriously posh :

I know Girona well, but to be perfectly honest, I do not get on with Catalan folk.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

No Ralph and Lauren resto. Gone. My mural gone

No Zoltan, or Joseph. All the street art and sand sculpture people gone

They killed Sitges. It is so posh here I don't know what to do

Sitges murdered

Fucking Catalans

 

[Stanley Edwards]

God. This is horrible.

It is like you're not allowed to be here without a gold card. It has gone fucking awful

 

[Stanley Edwards]

This is not nice. Not nice at all. It is fascist fucking holiday hell

Stupidly sterile and crap. Just full of rich weekenders from BCN. All of my favourite bars have gone. All of the people have gone

I'm gonna get the next bus to Vila Nova.

This is scary shit resort. Seriously horrible.

 

[Favelado]

You sound like a PP voter. I don't like Barcelona but don't start giving it the "fucking Catalans" stuff.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

You sound like a PP voter. I don't like Barcelona but don't start giving it the "fucking Catalans" stuff.

Well, hey, they aren't exactly adverse to giving "the fucking English" stuff. IME they are up their own arses. Generalising sure, but it is my experience.

Sitges has become exclusive Porsche driving hell bent posers from BCN. It is like the total €20,000,000,000 La Liga debt is here.

It is sick.

 

[Favelado]

Catalans are especially anti-English compared to other people in Spain? Nonsense. People prancing about in Sitges might be up their own arse, but Catalans aren't.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Catalans are especially anti-English compared to other people in Spain? Nonsense. People prancing about in Sitges might be up their own arse, but Catalans aren't.

In my own experience they are very Nationalistic.

Anyway...

The bar I am in is empty. I just paid for my drinks and had to return to the bar to get a key to the gents. Once in the gents I was greeted by a sign stating 'please keep the toilets clean'.

Catalan attitude. They claim poverty, when they are actually the wealthiest in Spain, but they don't appreciate it. Shooting themselves in the foots!!!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Generally, they are very zenophobic.

*not sure how you spell that*

 

[Favelado]

Stan. This is PP stuff.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Stan. This is PP stuff.

In Andalucia you are invited to share a coffee, or a meal.

In Catalunya you are very openly told to fuck off if you don't have money. Fuck all to do with the Popular Party, it is just the Catalan way.

This is my experience.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Fascism never dies. It is alive and well in Catalunya.

 

[Favelado]

You talk some rubbish.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

You see. I have just paid Ten euros for my drinks and I have to ask again for the keys to the bogs in this empty bar. This is Catalunya.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

You talk some rubbish.

I am talking what I experience.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Seriously, fascism never dies. It is here.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Honestly, it is here. This is where the new fascist threat is. It is obvious. It is happening.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

This is grim. My mate Joseph has been booted out of town.

There are no black people here. None!

 

[Epico]

You don't like it then?

I'm getting a vibe.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

You don't like it then?

I'm getting a vibe.

I am in a better mood this morning. Think I was mostly fucked off that my mural has gone

Meeting my lovely friend for lunch later, but I have to say, I do not feel very comfortable here! It is not the Sitges I knew.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Nah. I have given it long enough. Catalunya is the new fascist state of Europe.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Just sat in a bar. I am in Barcelona. Ordered a beer and a fish salad (about €14) and was told I wasn't allowed to sit where I wanted. The bar was almost empty. Told them to fuck off and left.

Catalan fucking attitude. If you don't appear to have money they fuck you off, if you do appear to have money they rob you. New fascist state.

 

[Me76]

Just sat in a bar. I am in Barcelona. Ordered a beer and a fish salad (about €14) and was told I wasn't allowed to sit where I wanted. The bar was almost empty. Told them to fuck off and left.

Catalan fucking attitude. If you don't appear to have money they fuck you off, if you do appear to have money they rob you. New fascist state.

Stanley, you seem very negative and I'm not sure this is the thread for that negativity.

I'm going to Barcelona in October, and on a thread that is about holidaying I haven't found any of your posts helpful.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

...I haven't found any of your posts helpful.

OK. Find this one helpful.

Laptop gone. Cash gone. Passport gone. Several other things gone. This is Barcelona and I consider myself wise to it. Not wise enough obviously.

I´m not really fussed. I am used to it. All can be replaced even if it is going to be expensive hassle.

The odd. or ínteresting´thing about this is that my backpack was well and truly explored to the extent that my nail clippers and tweezers went from the hidden depths, but they took them out of the plastic wallet they were in.

On a positive note (you want positive about this shit city yeah?) my backpack isn´t nearly as heavy as it was.

I feel really guilty about the laptop because it was a gift sent by the U75 poster formerly known as Chazegee (shit - owe you a big man hug man. So, sorry).

I woke with just enough shraknel in pocket for breakfast to compose my mind and make a plan. Had breakfast on the terrace of a cafe in Sant Pere. Then went indoors to use the bogs only to be greeted by the usual Catalan friendly "Oi, it is for clients only". FUCK YOU. I AM A CLIENT YOU WANT TO FUCK ME OFF ANYMORE THAN I AM FUCKED OFF TRY TO STOP ME GETTING TO YOUR BATHROOMS TO TAKE A SHIT, OR CALL THE POLICE". They were very apologetic when I left.

What is interesting, and possibly a lesson to learn is this...

Listen up traveling people. My backpack was somehow thoroughly fleeced. However, everything wrapped in a plastic carrier bag was left untouched. This means my new camera and laptop accessories (external speaker, storage devices etc). I can only assume that this was because...

A- unwrapping the bags will make a noise likely to wake me.

Or, B- the theif was mentally a bit not well and had a conscience about the stuff I valued enough to wrap up.

I actually want to believe theory B.

Anyway, I am lucky enough to have experience and a new camera to leave as deposit with which ever shop will take it in return for pen and paper to make cash to get home. Most would be lost in this situation. All in a days work for me. My own fault for not using banks when it comes to all my summer savings gone, but everything can be replaced. Done it before enough times. Can do it again.

A lot to be said for using a 5 year old Samsung mobile also. Worthless shit to any smack head. Invaluable to me. Plenty of friend I can call for help if needed. I won´t need them. Off to the station to sketch until I have the cash to get home and start all over again.

Hope that is useful?

FUCK YOU FUCKING BARCELONA AND FASCIST CATALUNYA.