Take a quick audio tour of one of the most magnificent and unique cities in Europe from hotelbook.com podcasts.
MP3 File
Full Podcast Script:
Hello and welcome to the hotelbook.com’s latest podcast. Today, we will be exploring a city that revels in its unique flair and laid-back atmosphere, Barcelona. Since the Spanish dictator Franco passed on in 1975 and Spain returned to a democracy, Barcelona has been steadily blossoming and re-asserting itself as the vibrant center for a distinctive culture.
Walking amidst its bustling streets, it’s clear that Barcelona is a town that has a clear passion for integrating the old with the new. Walking amongst a hip new neighborhood, it’s not uncommon to stumble upon ancient Roman ruins or Baroque architectural stylings. Or take the old hill of Montjuic for instance, featuring an old stone castle that overlooks a bustling shipping port. As well, it’s quite common to find works of art where you’d sometimes least expect, including a gigantic lobster poised over a pedestrian walkway, an abstract statue of a woman’s face at a street crossing, or even two headless statues, arm-in-arm watching the tide come in. After only a short time wandering around, the artistic feel of Barcelona is nearly impossible to miss, an atmosphere cultivated by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, and the whimsical architect, Antonio Gaudi.
Upon arriving, getting around the city center is quite easy, and apart from a timely and modern Metro, the city is ideal for biking around town, with bike lanes and wide pedestrian walkways. At the start of your trip, we recommend walking down the most famous section of the city: Las Ramblas. There is no better way to grasp the feel and rhythm of Barcelona than to walk down this kilometer-long, wide walkway that stands below a canopy of tall trees. Lining the street from side to side, human statues, celebrity impersonators, puppeteers, and vaudeville performers vie for tourist’s attention, while street vendors offer fruits, newsstands, exotic pets, and flowers. The name La Rambla actually means an “intermittent water flow” in Spanish and Catalan, the local language. Legend has it that in the 15th century, Las Ramblas was in fact a river feeding into the city center, and Columbus proudly sailed his ships along its banks up to the Plaza Real (re-yal) where he presented his gifts and treasures from the New World to the los Reyes Catolicos, the Catholic Monarchs Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon.
Exploring this region offers the ultimate chance to discover what the spirit of Barcelona is all about, and staying at the Husa Oriente available through hotelbook, you’ll be right in the center of the action, just a stone’s throw from Plaza Real. Plus, the accommodation happens to be a 4 stay luxury hotel with an Asian feel. Walking inside its doors, the interior design scheme is rich with earth tones, polished oak, and friendly Buddha statues which generate a warm, cozy feel.
After carousing Las Ramblas, the laid-back atmosphere becomes quite contagious, so why not wander to the sea. We’d suggest you to follow Las Ramblas down to the port, where you can walk along the waterside at the grand Port Vell. Here, you’ll notice a wide boardwalk lined with huge palm trees, scores of sailboats, cruise ships, and a gigantic statue commemorating Christopher Columbus. Standing tall, it’s interesting to note that while he seems to be proudly pointing west, he’s actually pointing more in the direction of Libya!
After taking a look around, you’ll notice the scenery seems very open and inviting, thanks to the 1992 Olympics. In preparation for the event, the entire city was re-vamped and cleared out, as this was the opportunity for Barcelona to showcase itself to the world. Even the beaches you find along the coast were diligently crafted and laid out in preparation for the event. However, walking along the broad boardwalks, the most distinctive feature of the city that stands out becomes the Modernist art. It’s as if the city breathes artistic creativity.
To understand what we mean, it would be a great idea to spend a day observing the works of architect Antonio Gaudi. A famed architect who helped put Barcelona on the map; there is perhaps no architect who has had a bigger impact on one individual city. For instance, no trip to Barcelona is complete without a trip to the Sagrada Familia, a behemoth of a church that towers over the city and while it’s over a hundred years-old in the making, there’s at least 30 years before it will be finished. At first glance, it resembles a gigantic sandcastle that has been painstakingly crafted with minute details. Gaudi himself dedicated the last 15 years of life solely to this project, and legend has it he died with the plans still in his ends. In fact, upon entering the dreamy cathedral, you can visit his tomb, as he is buried at the base of his greatest work. Along with the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s the mystical Park Guell, Casa Milo, and Casa Batllo are sure to enchant you with the modernistic feel of Barcelona. After spending a day exploring the creative prowess of Gaudi, it’s not difficult to start noticing modernistic touches all over the city, and part of the fun of visiting Barcelona is not knowing what to expect around the next corner. Plus, with numerous museums showcasing numerous Spanish artists, including an evocative presentation of Picasso’s transition from contemporary to abstract paintings, it becomes very clear that modernism is a cherished staple of the city.
If you’re interested in exploring all of the creative treasure troves of the city, we’d recommend staying at the Ambassador Hotel, featured on hotelbook.com. Located right in the city centre, you’ll find a comfortable and relaxing feel that can help you take it easy after a long day in the energetic city of Barcelona. Plus, with a roof-top swimming area and terrace, you can have a nice panoramic view of the city, ideal for planning the next day’s activities.
After spending some time absorbing the artistic atmosphere, we recommend taking a trip up to the Tibidabo mountaintop. This is the largest of the mountains surrounding the city of Barcelona, and from anywhere in the city it’s clear to see, for there is a giant castle-like structure reigning up on top. This is in fact a huge monastery which offers views of the entire Catalonian countryside, let alone the whole of Barcelona. It is quite easy to reach this perch; by simply hopping on the metro at Plaza Catalunya, you can follow the end of the line to Tibidabo, then step on to a San Francisco-style trolley, and at last ride a funicular railroad up the side of the mountain. Part of the fun of the trip is trying not to look back the view as it improves upon each climb. If you can wait until you are standing at the peak of the cathedral, the stunning view could be more than you ever imagined! From here, you can certainly understand why Barcelona has grown into such a gigantic metropolis: it’s situated right along a warm coast, has lush fertile hills bright with floral and fauna, and is flanked by majestic peaks.
Well, there’s plenty more to see and do in Barcelona after all of this sight-seeing, and if you have any energy left in you for what the night stores, you’re in for a treat. Barcelona proudly boasts itself as having some of the best nightlife in the world. Ever since the totalitarian dictator Franco passed on in 1975, the re-emerging democracy has encouraged the youth of Spain to build and expand its clubs and bars, in celebration of a New Spain. As well, because of Spain opening its door to outside once again and with Barcelona’s key location along the Mediterranean coast, many parts of the world have had a hand in modernizing and developing the social scene. Thus, the end result is a whole smorgasbord of beach-side lounge bars, lively dance clubs, live music cantinas showcasing flamenco, mariachi, and Spanish guitars and pubs of every sort. Walking along the street at night in Barcelona, the fervent energy of the crowd has the ability to captivate your adventurous side.
In closing, we hope that you’ve enjoyed this hotelbook.com Podcast. Words can only say so much, to really understand Barcelona; we’d recommend trying the city out for yourself. As always there are links and more details about the sites and hotels mentioned at blog.hotelbook.com. Stay tuned for more tips and travel ideas from hotelbook.com.
Hi
May I ask for a permission to get the podcast and put it in my web?
Posted by: Hostels Barcelona | June 29, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Picasso Museum great place.
Pablo Ruiz Picasso lived in Barcelona as a teenager, and the city’s tribute to the artistic genius contains more than 3,800 works in its permanent collection. Located on the Carrer Moncada, the Picasso Museum first opened in 1963.
Posted by: | December 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I always wanted to visit barcelona, especially watching the game at Camp Nou stadium.
Posted by: | February 18, 2010 at 05:59 AM