ELX - ALICANTE - BENIDORM - VALENCIA - BARCELONA (part 3/3)

(AUGUST 2017)

We arrived to Barcelona so late, about 11:00 p.m. It's about 350km from Valencia(a little bit long way) We were going by Blablacar with some two another people. I think it's better option than train. It's cheaper and usually faster (We paid 21euro). Firstly we planned to use couchsurfing, even we found any nice person. Unfortunatelly everything made more complicated. Friend's of our host died  in attack....so sad story. It wasn’t a good time to stay at his flat so I've decided to book a hostel (16euro). It was a first night in hostel/hotel on this journey. The hostel was on La Rambla (place of attack 2days before!). We didn't know it's a good part of the city for accomodation but there were a lot of police so we didn't panic. The street was fully of candles, photos of died people and flowers. We were scared! Also a lot of people were praying. We even saw one paper with sign " Poland together with Barcelona [*] "

In some minutes we arrived to hostel. The receptionist told “Sorry girls but I haven’t got your reservtion. The hostel is fully”. First meaning "IS IT A JOKE?! HAHA"(We had got similar situation in London some months ago😮😮😮)  He couldn’t find our reservation because it was made for NEXT WEEK!!!. Our mistake! Our faces didn’t show it’s something  bad. Pola showed him the confirmation on her phone. She did it so fast. What is more all text was in polish language. He didn't find an incorrect date. Finally he gave us some special private room! I think it was special room for workers or for special situations. Anyway we were lucky! 😆😆

We went out for night walk. Barcelona at night? It’s a big city so everywhere you can meet people especially in centre. The main place for party is promenade next to Barceloneta beach . There are famous clubs like PACHA, OPIUM, SHOKO and so on.  I think it’s place mainly for tourists. We haven’t visited that clubs. Honestly we were too tired after days before. 

 It’s funny but everyday the phone app (similar to popular Endomondo) showed “You’ve done 20-30km by walk” and it showed special tips “less sit more active”. I think we should uninstall that stupid app. 😂😂! Anyway I know sometimes that apps show imprecise results but that score could be possible. It wasn't a lazy holidays! Definitely!

I read many articles about problems with tourists in Barcelona. It’s one of the most touristic city on the world. According to statistics in Barcelona live 1.6 millions permanent residents and every year city is visited by 32 millions tourists! inhabitants of Barcelona have got The biggest problem. The cost of living is getting more expensive with each year (flats, food…) and mostly streets are too crowded. People have got a problem to get to work. There are many protests against Tourists. 

Sunday morning we woke up early we went directly to Park Guell. It’s certainly one of the most beautiful icons of the city. It’s a work of Antoni Gaudi located in the upper part of Barcelona, which has wonderful views of the city. You can enjoy a fantastic green walk surrounded by a modernist works. (You can go there by city bus dirctly from Placa de Catalunya, cost about 2euro).

The second point was Sagrada Familia. It’s Gaudi’s most  famous works in Barcelona. It’s a giant Basilica that has been under construction since 1882r (that’s not a typing error) and it’s not expected to  be completed for some time yet. Anyone who goes to Barcelona should visit the Sagrada Familia, no doubt the symbol of this Catalan city. Personaly, I don't like seeing the interiors of cathedrals or churches but that one is special. However, the Sagrada Familia is an art in itself. It can impress even someone who has no idea about architcture. You have to see it with your own eyes. It's completely different from other churches and cathedrals we can see in Europe. All 18 towers of different heights symbolize: 12 apostles, 4 evangelists, and the other two Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. There is in centre of Barcelona so you can go there by metro or by bus.

Than we saw Casa Batllo. Casa Batllo is, next to the Sagrada Familia and Casa Mila, one of the most famous and beautiful architectural works by Antonio Gaudi. There is a townhouse in the heart of the modernist district of Barcelona. It's good place to visit if someone is interested in architecture.

The next point was Placa de Espana. There is one of the main squares in Barcelona, in the Montjuic district. I've read Placa de Espana area is 340 thousands square meters and  it's the second largest square in Spain right after the Plaza de Espana de Madrid. There are Museo de Arte de Cataluna and other important objects like Las Arenas Centro Comercial (former plaza de toros, the work of August Font and Carreras) and Barcelona Fira Montjuic Hall of Conferences.

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Las Arenas Centro Comercial

Barcelona Fira Montjuic Hall of Conferences

We were walking around Placa de Espana and suddenly I saw 40euro on the floor! "What's a luck!" 😄😄😄. Good reason to go for lunch!

Usually public transport is easier way to go from point to point but we used go by walk. It's better option if distance isn't as horrible far. You can see more nice places around.

Port Olimpic

BARCELONETA beach!!!

in the background Frank Gehry's sculpture - Peix d'Or

Fruits are always the best choice!

famous HOTEL "W"

On late afternoon we came back to area of La Rambla to take our backpacks and than meet with possibility host. As usual La Rambla was so crowded. Each time I was there after attack I didn't feel safety. The police, candles and flowers were everywhere. It didn't make nice atmosphere. Suddenly we saw the big group of people. They were going and screaming "We are Muslims, not terrorists!". Fistrly we didn't know what's happen there. There were a lot of people everywhere! 

This night we've planned to stay at night on couchsurfing. We got offer of one guy (He wasn't Spanish, but I wouldn't like to tell his nationality). From the beginning it was a little bit weird situation. He used couchsurfing account his brother who wasn't in Barcelona that time. His brother hasn't got many opinion. We decided to met with him in centre before and check who is it. Usually first moment is the most important. You can judge a person. Of course I don't mean judge by appearance! I mean attitude to certain matters. When we've met with him he was totally tired. First sentence from him was "Sorry girls, I've got crazy hangover after last night". Ok, it's not a problem.

Alcohol is normal thing. Some minute later he told something about cocaine and speeds 👀. In a joking way he asked if we've ever tried it. Nooo way! We knew we coudn't stay there. He could put something to our juices 😐😐😐. It is better to be too careful than to regret something that has been done. Anyway while we were talking he was nice. What is more he learned english while he was working in US like a baby-sitter. Maybe everything could be ok but we didn't want to risk.  OK Guys! I didn't tell that story to scare you about couchsurfing. I wanted to show it can happens also bad situation if we aren't carefuly (To be honest everything is dangerous in some point). I used to use couchsurfng many times in many countries and I'm still think it's the best way for travel. Anyway in all situation we should be careful. Firstly we should read opinion. Account owner on couchsurfing can't delete bad opinion! There are real. Of course we should exchange some sentences  or meet with that person before. Many users couchsurfing are confirm by their credit cards or another social websites. We should also remember! Couchsurfing isn't way to free accomodation. It's good way to meet locals who want to share their free time with you, who want to show city and who are interested in culture another countries. Sometimes they can offer you also free accomodation.

It was evening and we went to watch popular Magic Fountain. There is one of the popular attracion in Barcelona.

The Magic Fountain is located at the end of the Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina just below the Palau Nacional. So many people came there to watch that. Unfortunatelly We didn't see a show. The organizers were afraid of next terrorist attack.  I hope we will watch that next time!

IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE ON PHOTOS! 😢

with Linn

While we were waiting for fountain show we used again HANG OUT option. In short time some people sent request to meet together. We've planned to meet in 2 hours so in a hurry we came back to new hostel to put our backpacks and change clothes.

One of girls Linn (from Austria) just met in hostel went out with us to join another people. She is crazy girl. She is 19years old and she came to Barcelona alone 👍. We went together for party to typical spanish area of Barcelona (not popular place for tourists).
When we arrived we saw many posters with strange inscriptions like “+one tourist= - one neighbor” or “Tourists go home, we don’t need your laud here”👀😡. 

I wrote about problems with tourists in Barceona before. That situation has got 2sides. The positive side are money which tourist lost in the city. Many people can get work in restaurants, pubs and another places. The bad side are noise, crowded streets, more crime and mess on the streets. Of course there are two type of visitors. First of them are tourists who is interested in Spanish culture and architecture. People who wanna feel Spanish lifestyle. Another side there are people who comes to Spain just be drunk on the party without respect that beautiful place (e.g. losting wastes everywhere, making noise everywhere and so on).

To be honest it was weird situation. We were tourists and we came for party against tourists 👀. 

At first moment we felt a little unwanted although we've been invited by Spanish people.

It was a new experience. We saw typical spanish, shy area of big touristic city like Barcelona.There were special decorations on the streets and stage on special squere where some spanish singers were singing spanish songs. We were talking and enjoying time together. 

 Monday was a lazy day on the beach! We needed that after that busy and hard time days before.  The next day we had got a back flight at home so it was last time with beach and great weather. We met there with some friends known by couchsurfing from US, Italy and Brasil...new experience, newly met people and enjoying time with practise english. Right now while I'm writting that text I'm missing that time. Outside of the window it's 11°C 😭🌞🌞🌞.

In the afternoon we met with Linn and together we went to met with Daniel. He answered for our request on couchsurfing. He's a hair stylist. He offered to make our hair but I'm not suicide HAHA. I know my hair are so damaged so probably he would like to cut them all. (I'm kidding 😆). We were talking some time and than we came directly to Placa Espanya.

placa de espanya

We said goodbye to Linn and later we went to meet with Victor. (Linn! You will go with us next time!😎) .Victor is my good friend which I've known for some years. We met some years before. It was really nice to meet him again. Now he lives in area outside of centre of Barcelona so we went there together by car. We were enjoyig all the evening. Thanks for all!! 😘😘.

with Victor

The next day morning we went together to the airport ElPrat. The airport is close to place where we were sleeping. Pola had got a flight about 10:00 a.m, and me about 4:00p.m. Honestly I also had got option in the morning (2flights per day in the same price) but I decided to stay a little bit more. We said goodbye to Victor and he went at work. To be honest I should said him"See you soon" because he came to Poland about 2weeks later 😀.

I came with Pola to the airport because this place was close to the Victor's home. From airport I took a bus directly to centre of Barcelona.

Everything beautiful ends quickly 😪😩

We said goodbye each other. Pola went to the check in and I caught a bus to the centre (to Placa Espanya). It's about 30min from main airport in Barcelona-El Prat. I had got some hours extra in Spain 😀😀...some hours more with sun, palms, beach! Always worth it! I was walking along the streets with backpack towards the beach. I saw again port and another beautiful places. That some hours I was relaxing on the Barceloneta beach. My flight was about 4:00 p.m. I had to came back again to Placa Espanya and from this place by bus to the airport.

ElPrat is second the largest airport in Spain. It belongs to the twenty busiest airport in the world. It's always better to take more time before check in. Airport can be crowded. I had got flight to Berlin Schonefeld because I found cheaper flight there (the ticket cost 50euro). Berlin is about 3hours from Poznań. From Berlin Schonefeld there are many options to go to Poznan like "PolskiBus"(about 60zł or less). My flight was delayed but fortunatelly I wasn't late for bus to Poznań. I had got 20min break 😁😁.

I arrived to Poznan about midnight where my mum and sister were waiting for me. I was so happy. I  came back to my family and home. However another side I miss people I missed people which I met and places I saw.

   SEE YOU SOON SPAIN 💓💓💓!!!