It's getting closer to our trip to Barcelona in June, and I need to nail down some day trips out of the city. We will be staying in the Gothic quarter. We are a family of 5 that hopes to use public transportation that will be as inexpensive as possible. So far I'm wondering about: Train to Girona, something? to Montserrat, Valle de Nuria.
I'd appreciate any ideas/experiences anyone has. Thanks, Jacqui
I haven't been to Spain yet... However I'm going in a few weeks. To help with planning my day trips I'm using the following site: http://www.barcelonacitytours.com/
By no means am I trying to push this site... we are not even going to use their services. However, we are using their information to plan out day trips.
From the different photo's on the Internet, one place that we will be visiting is Montserrat. Another day trip that we plan on taking is up the coast North of Bacerlona to visit the Dali Museum in Figueres and his home in the village at Port Lligat. The misses also want to visit the Balearic Islands... we haven't decide which one yet.
Whereever you decide to go< I'm sure you'll have a great time.
Posts: 8 | Location: Arizona, USA | Registered: 29 May 2005
Marty, it sounds like we're planning the same vacation!!
We'll be in Barcelona in September (first time) and hope to visit Montserrat and the Dali Museum. I will be bookmarking that site because thus far I've been occupied with planes, trains and apartments. I think I've got it arranged enough to get to Barcelona and have a bed, but so far I haven't looked at getting around once we arrive. Any advice is appreciated.
BC Brenda
Posts: 353 | Location: Vancouver Island, BC | Registered: 26 December 2006
I am going to Barcelona in a month and I plan to visit four places: Dali museum, Montserrat, Tarragona, Girona. We are staying in Born area. We will take trains for our day trips.
best tapas place in Born (non smoking? is it crazy to dream about it?!) kind of down to earth
Sorriest I don't know any non-smoking tapas place, even bad tapas !
A good, down-to-earth place is Euskal Etxea on Placeta Montcada , 1-3. It is a standup place. I usually go find non-smokers and incrust ourselves at their standup table. An excellent sitdown tapas place is Cal Pep (Plaza Olles 8). Usually a tasting-menu is imposed on you, but you won't regret it...
Just thought of another good place, not really in Born, but very near, in Barceloneta which is just a boulevard away, on the other side of Passeig d'Isabel II: El Vaso de Oro, on C/ Balboa 6.
Paco Maralgo, though not in Born, apparently has a good separated non smoking section, reservable, and excellent food. This is not firsthand but from a reliable source.
Originally posted by Arnolda: I am going to Barcelona in a month and I plan to visit four places: Dali museum, Montserrat, Tarragona, Girona. We are staying in Born area. We will take trains for our day trips.
JaquiQ I found Reus just inland from Tarragona a small town, that is Gaudi's hometown, delightful. It is small enough that you can see all the worthwhile sights in a day trip. It has been and still is a relatively prosperous town, so there are some lovely examples of modernisme architecture, and the indoor market is as good and a lot less crowded with tourists than La Boqueria in Barcelona. The Gaudi center there will give you and your kids a lot of simple insight into Gaudi's process of creating his fabulous buildings. There is even a great family friendly Cervceria called La Ferreteria (Plaça De La Farinera 10, 43201 Reus, Spain 977 340 326) that is in a converted old Hardware store. Very traditional and good tapas, and lots of interesting things to look at for both kids and adults. I have been meaning to write up a restaurant review for it and promise to try to get to it before you leave if you are interested.
Posts: 135 | Location: Menlo Park, CA | Registered: 30 March 2004
Also, if you are a Gala fan, you may also like the old castle that Dali bought for her and let her decorate herself (entertaining young men on her own there on many occasions.) It is more traditional than either the Dali Museum or the Port Lligat home, but is really beautiful and peaceful, with again, less visitors. It is in Pubol which is just North East of Girona. I am very jealous of your trip. Can I come too?
Posts: 135 | Location: Menlo Park, CA | Registered: 30 March 2004
You must mean Paco Meralgo. I lunched there last xmas. It was good but not that fun. And the portion of chipirones was the same price but half the portion of El Qim in the Boqueria market. It was also quite a schlep through a very monotonous part of the Eixample, so monotonous I felt hypnotized after the 3rd identical block, and I was nowhere near the restaurant.
If one must leave the Born for tapas, I'd vote for Cervezeria Catalana (C/ Mallorca 236). It is near all the famous Gaudi buildings. Is non-smoking and has great food. But bettere come a little early (before 1pm); it gets impossibly crowded.
Originally posted by BC Brenda: Marty, it sounds like we're planning the same vacation!!
We'll be in Barcelona in September (first time) and hope to visit Montserrat and the Dali Museum. I will be bookmarking that site because thus far I've been occupied with planes, trains and apartments. I think I've got it arranged enough to get to Barcelona and have a bed, but so far I haven't looked at getting around once we arrive. Any advice is appreciated.
We've decided on this trip to rent a car to travel between cities for our day trips... it will allow the wife to see more of the country side as well as a bit more freedom with our time.
Posts: 8 | Location: Arizona, USA | Registered: 29 May 2005
O, wow, what a reply from all of you! I have just copied it all on Microsoft, print it and will take it with us - so many thanks! Just can't wait... and everyone is welcome! Yes, I am Gala's fan since we have the same origins, and on top of all I respect her because she could tolerate such a marriage! But this topic is out of our forum, so, let's concentrate on our tapas! Thanks!
