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Published: July 19th 2008
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Placa Reial
A really lovely square I found on my 1st holiday to Barcelona. There are a couple of very good restaurants here reasonably priced and at night there is a real buzz here. In September there was even a DJ performance taking place one time. After having gotten back from Ramon's very late this morning, I woke up at around 1430. I was going to try and get to the school today but I ended up going the wrong way down the street which took me to Las Ramblas so I continued down it heading towards the biggest and main port near Barceloneta, Port Vell, where I ended up last night with Ramon. I sat for a while reading a guide book and planning what to see before I went home. There is a big shopping centre called Maremagnum, and I had a little look inside. For some reason, twice when I entered a shop, the tag alarm went off so in the 2nd shop the assistant told me I probably bought something from somewhere which they didn't put through the scanner thing; it ended up being some cream I had bought from a supermarket! I bought some expensive brownie here from a chocolate shop but no way was it close to the divine Acorn House brownies I love!
I then had some sandwiches I made at home by the Monument a Colom, walked to the main part of the port, which can accomodate luxury
Barcelona Lobster
This lobster is happy..maybe he was saved from a vat of boiling hot water... liners, and I was lucky to see a large ferry actually come in and dock!
I decided to visit the same area, Raval, Ramon had taken me to last night. My 1st visit was past Gaudi's Palau Guell, which was closed and had some building work being done to the front. I don't think alot of people knew about this building as people were walking past me wondering what I was taking photos of! The off to Barcelona's oldest church Esglesia de Sant Pau del Camp dating from the 9th century. it is surrounded by a park and there were just locals hanging round, guys on bikes doing stunts and couples relaxing. It was a nice place to visit and some local said, "Hola Amigo!" to me as he went past which made me feel a bit relaxed as I was the only tourist there.
I continued to Rambla del Raval to see Gat, a cat scuplture Ramon told me about. It is by Fernando Botero, a Columbian artist who also made the horse sculpture which is in Barcelona airport. Walking alone here, I noticed how different the area felt to the other parts of Barcelona I had
Cap de Barcelona Sculpture
Thought I'd revisit for a better picture..people were doing bike stunts at the base of it. been. There was a different atmosphere, largely to do with there being more ethnic communities around and being less touristy. It also gave me the impression I had to watch myself a bit and be more alert. There were trendy bars mixed in with cheap corner shops and people dressed to london standards dotted around in places. It's an interesting area and I am drawn to it, will have to visit again soon, yesterday Ramon told me where the gay bar was..apparently there is a different crowd there to the normal gay scene and they actually make an effort and talk to you.
By this time it was nearly 2200 and I wanted to go home and cook and meet my housemates before they went to bed so by luck I walked straight into Placa Universitat, perfect as the Metro goes straight home from there.
Had a little natter with my flatmates and they invited me to dinner with friends on saturday with Urania cooking traditional Venezuelan food! I don't think I have had that before so I am looking forward to sampling it! It's a shame I can't return the favour and do some Indian food but
Museu d'Història de la Ciutat
The cities history museum with the Port Vell Marina for the smaller boats. I don't know how to cook it! I might have to just ring my mum one time and have her instruct me over the phone..it's happened before lol I'll cook them dinner soon, hopefully it won't burn or poison them LOL
Owch! There was a huge bang when I was cooking some food in the oven.. I thought it was the oven blowing up but when I looked it was still there..my flatmates came in to look thinking the same but when we saw each other we realised it was definitely something else..serious! There was loads of water splashing down..near my balcony and when we went to look, a couple of flats above in the next row to us was the culprit. It transpired that someones gas water heater had actually blown up! (Apparently common in Spain). The scary thing is that our water heater is on a wall where the other side is my bed! I really hope ours does not go the same way..If I stop blogging then you know what´s happened lol
Right it's nearly 0300! These bloody pictures take a while to upload so blame them..hope my prose is not sending you to sleep!
World Trade Centre, Cable Car & Ferry
The round glass building is the World Trade Centre, the spire is something to do with the cable car which goes up the mountain and I was so lucky to see the ferry come in to dock! I imagine it came from the Balearics - Ibiza/Menorca/Majorca etc. I haven't written anything in a while..oh well at least you have some pretty pictures to look at! x
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