Hostels: yay or nay?

[EL PRESIDENTE]

thanks for the suggestions. we ended up going to Tapac24, which is the casual tapas bar version of Comerc 24....had the bikini (black truffle, jamon iberico sandwhich) and the McFoie Burger and a few other assorted tapas, great stuff. I saw a Bubo over in El Born area.

Saw those bags/wallets/etc...just bought a backpack before I left and I'm travelling light so its prob not. might get a keychain or coin purse from them. Might have been a different retailer but same concept, on one of the streets between La Ramba and Laitana.

Our apartment is really convenient to those areas. We're a 5 minute walk from the Jaume I metro stop.

Its super humid out. La Rambla is kind of overrated, big tourist trap of a street. Did the tourist bus so we tried a lot of different tourist crap in a day. I really enjoyed Parc Guell and Tibidabo.

Was thinking of going to the Dali museum in Figures tomorrow but we're going out drinking tonight and probably won't wake up before 11am so we might just hit the beaches. Tomorrow we might hit the bars/clubs at the Beach, perhaps Razzmatazz which is famous.

I'll throw up a few pics later. I think I could live in a city like this, very cosmopolitan.

I've found people really impressed that I'm from California. Its a weird thing, especially the american accents, they kind of love it. :MARIS61:

which is the best beach to go to in barcelona? prob don't want to bother hopping on a train.

 

[porkchopexpress]

thanks for the suggestions. we ended up going to Tapac24, which is the casual tapas bar version of Comerc 24....had the bikini (black truffle, jamon iberico sandwhich) and the McFoie Burger and a few other assorted tapas, great stuff. I saw a Bubo over in El Born area.

Saw those bags/wallets/etc...just bought a backpack before I left and I'm travelling light so its prob not. might get a keychain or coin purse from them. Might have been a different retailer but same concept, on one of the streets between La Ramba and Laitana.

Our apartment is really convenient to those areas. We're a 5 minute walk from the Jaume I metro stop.

Its super humid out. La Rambla is kind of overrated, big tourist trap of a street. Did the tourist bus so we tried a lot of different tourist crap in a day. I really enjoyed Parc Guell and Tibidabo.

Was thinking of going to the Dali museum in Figures tomorrow but we're going out drinking tonight and probably won't wake up before 11am so we might just hit the beaches. Tomorrow we might hit the bars/clubs at the Beach, perhaps Razzmatazz which is famous.

I'll throw up a few pics later. I think I could live in a city like this, very cosmopolitan.

I've found people really impressed that I'm from California. Its a weird thing, especially the american accents, they kind of love it. :MARIS61:

which is the best beach to go to in barcelona? prob don't want to bother hopping on a train.

If you wake up early enough, you should make it up to Figures. The museum is a trip.

Yeah, Las Ramblas sucks. People love it. I avoid it like the plague. In my lst trip, the only times I went there was to get ot the market and to celebrate a win over Real Madrid. How was tibidabo? I've still never made it there. I go to Parc Guell every time though.

I had the bikini, but not the McFoie burger at Tapac24. Everything I had there was really good.

I'm not sure about the beaches. In the city, it's essentially one long stretch of beach starting from about the bottom of Las Ramblas. I never spent too much time there, so I'm not too much help for that.

 

[porkchopexpress]

Here's Las Ramblas after the win. This was tame compared to 2005 when I was there for their first league title in 5 or 6 years. That night was crazy.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Tibidado has some great views of the city. I love old european carnival atmospheres, i didn't really do the rides or anything there but it was interesting. the ride up using the little streetcars, etc was pretty cool as were the views.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

thanks for the help porkchopexpress....we did end up at bubo. it was 5 min from the apartment we got...


Bubo, another close by more modern tapas bar. really good.

olives to start

their version of a cesar salad. it was hard to find vegetables or a good salad.

gazpacho with some bread to dip it as a utencil

their version of the bikini sandwhich

there was a potato puree under the egg.

this was odd, the dip was just oil...no flavor in it.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

this was our meal at Tapatac 24. Thanks, wouldn't have found it if you didn't suggest Comerc...

Gazpacho with a Basil pesto Oil

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

A friend of my uncle is going to email me the company he uses. If I ever get it from him I'll pass it along.

About the pickpockets in Barcelona, they are def a problem, but just be smart about your surroundings and you should be fine. Las Ramblas is the worst for this too because of all the tourists, but it is a great location for going out/sight seeing. In general, it's a fairly safe city though. I don't think I had any issues the whole time I was there, which was about 4 months.

after leaving the club on La Rambla, we were accosted by 6-7 hookers. one would try to grab your dick while another one pickpockets you. its pretty fucking crazy how they do it. you just need to physically clear your space with force to get them off you.

everyone was trying to slang late at night too walking through the gothic quarter.

 

[porkchopexpress]

Sounds like you had a good time. Did you get dessert at Bubo too? We had gone there a couple of years ago, but just for dessert. I'm glad we found it again.

Prostitutes can be a problem around Las Ramblas, especially on the La Boqueria side. A friend of my roommate there had to hide out at a police station for a few hours for calling one a whore (or something) in Catalan on his way home one night. She and her pimp started running after her. I never had any issues with any or the dealers, but I did notice them. I think I just knew which streets to avoid back then.

How was the rest of Spain? I've never spent too much time in Madrid, so i don't know it very well. Other than Barca, I've spent only a couple days each in Madrid, Sevilla, Granada and San Sebastian. All of which I loved. I really need to figure out a way to move back there. If I'm going to live in a sunny climate with a ton of tourists, I'd much rather be over there than in San Diego.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

nah, didn't get a chance for dessert, was pretty full.

rest of spain was really awesome. Madrid is more vibrant and "spanish" while Barcelona is much more cosmopolitan and livable. They had a lot more focus on jamon in madrid....ate a lot of it. I'd go back to both cities. Barcelona, I could live in though. I may try to one day. I really enjoyed the heart and soul of spain, much more than italy, which I liked as well.

The women there are just outstanding as is the environment and lifestyle.

Valencia was kind of boring but the tomatina festival was awesome. I'd go back but its much more subdued. Awesome beaches (really nice sand and warm water) and great paella.

overall everywhere- tons of australian tourists everywhere. did a lot of drinking and partying.