This post is part two of our six week stay in Barcelona. The first post covered our experiences living in the port district (https://anotherdaymeandering.com/2021/04/27/barceloneta-district-barcelona/). This second post is centred on what we loved about the city of Barcelona which is just about everything 😂
Well I shouldn’t have to tell you where Barcelona is or what it’s famous for, depending on your interests of course? For us digital (some would say grey) nomads it’s just one big explore. Exciting.
I have broken this post down into a collection of photo shoots each depicting our personnel view of this lovey, enhancing city.
City Streetscape
When you arrive in any new city what’s the first thing you want to do? Make a list of course, well that’s what we did. Get a map of the city and highlight all the places you want to see. Hands up who heads for google? Well that’s our bible – what should I see in … Barcelone?. These first photos are random shots taken during our walks.
City Buildings
Wherever you walk in this city there are building that are going to jump out at you. Buildings talk to you about generations past. I am not going to bore you with a history lesson but should you want to know more about the generation responsible then check out this site.
https://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-architecture-buildings.html
Montjuïc Castle
Built in the 17 century Montjuic Castle is a fort and museum. We actually walked from our apartment up to the fort. People would say we are mad but it was very pleasant, slow but easy as in Another Day Meandering. The beautifully manicured gardens and water features on the way up is your reward
Barcelona tourism is much better at informing you of the history of this place so for you history buffs click on this link. By the way if you do visit give yourself a full day to walk up, tour the castle and walk back down. We luckily managed to find a container-cafe and replenished with a coffee and croissant.
https://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/page/1142/castell-de-montjuic.html
MNAC – Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Now this visit to the National arts museum and exhibition centre was memorable. I haven’t any captions on these pictures tell their own story. We starts you can see the entrance and to the Museum. You will also see the roundabout with the old bull ring, which is now a shopping centre. We have yet to actually see inside a bull ring which is still ‘as is’. Glad no one thought to turn the Colosseum or the various Teatros into shops.
The first couple of pictures are taken from the top of the old bull ring opposite the entrance. The slider then takes you up towards the Museum slide by slide until to reach the top and look back down. The building was originally built for the 1929 world world expo. We thought it was a palace until we found the signs.
Following are a couple of local tourism sites on this building for you to browse.
https://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-museum-mnac.html
https://www.museunacional.cat/en
La Sagrada Familia and Barcelona Cathedral
Barcelona Cathedral. Not a great day for pictures but at least we got to get inside this one. They started building the cathedral in 1296 and it was completed some 150 years later. Both the familia and barcelona cathedrals are of the Catholic faith.
La Sagrada Familia. The day we walked, yes walked again, to see the La Sagrada Familia it was overcast so the pictures are a little dull. This cathedral has an amazing history. Building started 136 years ago and is still not finished. Everyone said “you have to go inside”. Sadly Covid meant that wasn’t going to happen. But the outside was amazing too.
The Park where Gaudi had a major influence creating was also on our list. We walked there too… and you guessed it… CLOSED. For more information click on the site… you’ll get the same view as we did 😂
El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria (Cultural Centre)
So next we have this wonder of “what the heck happened here” Ruins that were buried under a market building. Well how did that happen? Only a ten minute walk from our apartment in Barceloneta is/was El Born market opened in 1876. It was a fruit and vegetable market before closing after 95 years in 1971.
Now why did they build a market on top of the old town? Well read the history and find out all.
https://elbornculturaimemoria.barcelona.cat/
Circus in Town
Who likes the circus? Our apartment in Barceloneta was very well placed. And what do ya know we ran across a circus just around the corner beside the marina.
What was different about this circus was the transport and living quarters. They had almost all their original caravans, and we took the time to read about their amazing history. Still the same family entertaining and traveling Europe.
Restaurantes
It wouldn’t be right to forget about all the well-situated restaurants and cafes that we visited while in Barcelona. And what do ya eat in Spain? Paella of course. Unfortunately, I just don’t like It. After months in a house sit without an oven and it was rather a treat. We didn’t miss going out for dinners (restaurants are/were closed in the evenings and restricted seating), it was roast after roast. But we did go out for lunches.
So here are some of the restaurantes we didn’t go to but great position.
A Day at the Park (Ciutadella Park)
So if you want a quiet peaceful morning stroll, time for meditation or yoga. Best place would be a park right? And its only a short stroll from the apartment and also holds the Barcelona Zoological Gardens and the Palace of the Government of Catalonia.
We noticed lots of groups in parks, exercising in the fresh air. Inspiring.
One of my Favourite Teachers – Marianne Williamson
Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed lecturer, activist and author of four #1 New York times bestselling books. She has been one of America’s most well known public voices for more than three decades.
Seven of her twelve published books have been New York Times best sellers and Marianne has been a popular guest on television programs such as Oprah, Good Morning America, and Bill Maher.
