Barcelona Trip
Nice artistic city with lotsa hidden treasures. However, when you're watching out for pickpockets, also be vigilant about where you go and what you touch. I found that some Catalans are tricky with money: No signs, no fences inside an open public park and all of the sudden you were trespassing and had to buy tickets because you accidentally entered from the other side (The guy was rude too. "I don't know if people always do this where you are from." When suggested that maybe they can put up a sign on that other end they got furious. Seriously, that's how you scam! ); I was trying to pick out some bananas and was almost forced to buy all that I touched. The hostels were tricky as well. I was lucky that withdrawing Euro cash wasn't a big problem nor costly to me. Finally, always only order things with prices clearly and consistently labeled.
Aside from those tricky encounters, the trip was still great. The lines at the Picasso Museum and the Sagrada Familia can get crazily long. Buy tickets online to avoid the queue. With the Picasso Museum, you can buy the Artickets (6 Museums for 30 Euro, www.articketbcn.org). With this you can also avoid the queue. I have to say though, MOMA in NYC has better Picasso works. It's still worth to visit the Museu Picasso since it's got works from Picasso's very early years (age 13). You can get a glimpse at how he'd transitioned throughout his long life. Fundacio Joan Miro was just fantastic. If you only got time for one museum, I'd suggest the Miro Museum. Museu Nacional D'art de Catalunya is worth a visit as well. Don't go to the Dali Museum in Barcelona. Take a side trip to Figueres if you're a Dali fan. That's where the real good stuff is. Don't pay for tours for Palau de la Musica Catalana. The ticket is 17 Euro when you can go inside and enjoy a guitar concert for 28 Euro if you research ahead.
Plenty of Gaudi's work in town. Unless you're super rich or an architect, I wouldn't visit all of them. Parc Guell and the fountain inside Ciutadella are open to public for free. Palau Guell is 12 Euro. Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are both around 20 euro. I only went inside Palau Guell and enjoyed it. Can't comment on the other two. Do keep in mind that the lines can get very long, esp. in the afternoons.
Food is just delicious in Barcelona. Avoid the set menu despite the charming pricing. There can be hidden treasures outside the set items.
Finally photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5883832480587264513?authkey=CPSTkJ2mmcXL-QE
Trip planning tips:
1. Most museums closed on Mondays or only open partially.
2. The Magic Fountain of Montjuic only runs from Thursday to Sunday evenings during summer.
3. The Pavello Mies van der Rohe requires tickets (5 euro) despite how open and unclear the sign is. Don't think it's worth 5 euro, but you gotta cough up if you accidentally enter the pavilion ground.
4. Check out the T10 (10 rides for multi-person, 9.8 euro) transit ticket. Way cheaper than individual ticket purchase (2 euro).
Aside from those tricky encounters, the trip was still great. The lines at the Picasso Museum and the Sagrada Familia can get crazily long. Buy tickets online to avoid the queue. With the Picasso Museum, you can buy the Artickets (6 Museums for 30 Euro, www.articketbcn.org). With this you can also avoid the queue. I have to say though, MOMA in NYC has better Picasso works. It's still worth to visit the Museu Picasso since it's got works from Picasso's very early years (age 13). You can get a glimpse at how he'd transitioned throughout his long life. Fundacio Joan Miro was just fantastic. If you only got time for one museum, I'd suggest the Miro Museum. Museu Nacional D'art de Catalunya is worth a visit as well. Don't go to the Dali Museum in Barcelona. Take a side trip to Figueres if you're a Dali fan. That's where the real good stuff is. Don't pay for tours for Palau de la Musica Catalana. The ticket is 17 Euro when you can go inside and enjoy a guitar concert for 28 Euro if you research ahead.
Plenty of Gaudi's work in town. Unless you're super rich or an architect, I wouldn't visit all of them. Parc Guell and the fountain inside Ciutadella are open to public for free. Palau Guell is 12 Euro. Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are both around 20 euro. I only went inside Palau Guell and enjoyed it. Can't comment on the other two. Do keep in mind that the lines can get very long, esp. in the afternoons.
Food is just delicious in Barcelona. Avoid the set menu despite the charming pricing. There can be hidden treasures outside the set items.
Finally photos: https://plus.google.com/photos/113880069774612153445/albums/5883832480587264513?authkey=CPSTkJ2mmcXL-QE
Trip planning tips:
1. Most museums closed on Mondays or only open partially.
2. The Magic Fountain of Montjuic only runs from Thursday to Sunday evenings during summer.
3. The Pavello Mies van der Rohe requires tickets (5 euro) despite how open and unclear the sign is. Don't think it's worth 5 euro, but you gotta cough up if you accidentally enter the pavilion ground.
4. Check out the T10 (10 rides for multi-person, 9.8 euro) transit ticket. Way cheaper than individual ticket purchase (2 euro).
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