Ramble
Quest - Hola Barcelona!
On a sudden impulse, I bought a cheap RyanAir ticket to Girona. I was perfectly happy in Ireland but had the feeling that I'd soon be wanting some sun and a change of scenery. I couldn't have predicted more accurately. My last few days in Ireland were among my worst there: rotten hostels, relentlously rainy weather, money-grubbing locals, and rip-offs galore. I wound up spending an awful night in Dublin's Airport, along with a surprisingly large number of shabby people, many of whom I'm sure were not travelers.
And then -- walking off the plane in sunny Girona and taking the bus into festive Barcelona! The contrast was amazing! Everything seemed bright and exotically wonderful. I wandered around the city in a happy daze, enchanted with every sight and amazed at the sudden transformation of my environment. Plus, even though Barcelona is expensive for Spain, it's still cheap for Europe, so I could afford the much-needed breathing space of a room in the Hostal Centric (recommended).
There was plenty to see in Barcelona, more than enough to fully occupy my week long stay. I visited both buildings of the excellent Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, enjoying the art there. I spent a delightful day walking around Gaudi's Park Guell, climbing into the scenic hills above it. Equally interesting views were had from the Park de la Ciudadella. Gaudi's Sagrada Familia is a tad over-priced at 8 euros, but impossible to skip. I maximized my time there with a lingering walk up along the stair passages, giving marvelous views of the still unfinished cathedral. La Pedrera was closed during my visit but still fascinating from outside. Moderisme buildings pop up everywhere along the grand boulevards, accenting the generally interesting architecture.
Barcelona's Catalan Gothic Catedral de la Seu is just superb. The main section is properly dark and lugubrious, with plenty of ostentatious art. This is contrasted by an adjoining open courtyard, filled with palms, fountains, and even ducks and geese. The Piece de Resistance is a visit to the rooftop, with stunning views of the buttresses and the surrounding Gothic Quarter.
Aimlessly walking the narrow, twisting strets of the barri gotic was my favorite activity. Very few cities have such an atmospheric district that truly make you feel transported in time. I got lost here as often as possible, and emerging at La Rambla or with a view of the waterfront, I would feel as if I'd come out of a rich, pleasant dream of an impossibly wonderous place.
I had one mishap and that was dropping my OR hat (the green replacement for the lucky red hitch-hiking OR hat) on the street. I know I hadn't walked twenty paces before I realized my slip-up, but someone had already walked off with it. Outside of my wallet and passport, this was the last item I wished to lose and wound up missing it terribly with the Spanish sun. Still, Barcelona was so wonderful to me that I felt that the donation of a hat was a small price to pay.