Barcelona Insider

Pine tree Maria

2008-03-31T15:35:00.002+02:00

This is not about 3.1415926...
Pi stands for catalan pine, and placeta takes the name from the XIV century gothic church Santa Maria del Pi (Blessed Lady of the Pine Tree). The tree grew a years ago at the place. Anyway...
I was always wondering about practical side of Latino sants, so why not blessed pine? After all it's one of most beautiful under Mediterranean sky.

C/Muntaner

2008-02-16T11:28:00.002+01:00

One of longest streets between the sea and mountains. Though catalan "muntanya" means mountains, the name is taken from medieval catalan soldier, Ramon Muntaner.
I've loved this view every morning I went to the work with my scooter. Now far away from Barcelona, I am missing that.

Cosmic geometry

2008-01-07T16:18:00.000+01:00

In August the Sun is rising just above the end of Passeig de Colom.
Unfortunately clouds prevented me from doing an excellent photo.
I love cosmic geometry combined with human stuctures. Just imagine,
that if you go straight ahead this street, you'll meet the Sun at the end of your way.
Good, very good perspective, indeed.

Griffins at night

2007-12-03T01:39:00.000+01:00

Hundred hours spent on the pier and always the reward: either sunset or twilight, sun or wind, coffee or wine. Boats go by as people do. This side is not so crowded, as another one, maybe because most people rather enjoy things they could buy or take away. Born fools.
Even in winter boards are warm. For everyone.

Tibidabo

2007-11-04T18:53:00.000+01:00

This is the church, that you could see from almost every point of Barcelona. Jesus on top of the church seems to welcome all people with open arms. If you pay few euro, you can get up to his feet.
Go there. Tramvia blau is maybe not worth as you expect from it, neither Tibidabo Funicular,
one of oldest funiculars in Europe. But on the top, you will see the whole city, the surprising part behind the mountains and - I think a big rarity in Christian world - a hundred years old funfair just at the church.

Tibidabo means in Latin: I will give you.

Parc Güell

2007-09-22T14:15:00.000+02:00

Parc Güell is most known attraction of Barcelona, the Wikipedia
has very good description and links to that. Okay, let's see Dragon, Gaudi's house, great termitary and beautiful ceiling; let's do some megabytes of photos with tourists and fragments of Antonio Gaudi's opus magnum. And then?
Then sit down and enjoy surprising calmness, views to the sea and city, people playing ball,
watch incredible colors of mosaics in soft, mediterranean light. Opus magnum, indeed.

What do doves think about Colom?

2007-09-05T19:47:00.000+02:00

Unlike most monuments, I like Colom. I've been reflecting on neither shape nor its beauty but always wonder, what the hell was author's intention of the figure's gesture.
"There is a sea way to India"
"This is right direction".
"I'm back from there"
"This is my ship, anyway"
"This is a sea".
...and much more that I've forgotten at the moment.
But this one is my favourite:
"Get away from here!"

Pretenders

2007-08-24T01:17:00.000+02:00

Probably least authentic part of Barcelona.
Venetian towers seem to be ancient; the truth is, they were built in 1929 as a portal to international fairs. As well the Palau Nacional, that looks as royal palace is...from the same fairs as towers.
Font Magica fountains look amazing only from a distance; the closer you are, the poorest they seem. And don't expect great photos - sodium lighting in neighbourhood destroys the best scenes.
Next one: no one could expect, that 20 feet below pavement there is main junction station of BCN metro. In fact, it is. And the square or rather - roundabout - is not the center of the city.

Often we are not persons as it seems we are.

Twilight

2007-08-21T11:43:00.000+02:00

This is the best time to visit all tourists places. La Rambla is almost empty, Barrio Gotico is breathing of upcoming day, some urine left by english drunkards and few people coming back to hostels after exhausting night in the city. Everything is closed until 8 p.m., but this is only time to see that place authentic and surprisingly calm.

Metro

2007-08-05T18:26:00.000+02:00

It's working perfectly. Safe and punctual, all air-conditioned, with good coverage.
I've just read in one of evening paper, that catalan government plans to remove engine drivers from metro, in order to save some money or maybe because other stupid reason.
Over a hundred kilometers of railways, over a hundred years history and thousands safeguards working everyday, but where is the place for brave women with pale faces, keeping carriages moving from one station to another one, endlessly?

Mont Juic Necropolis

2007-07-27T20:01:00.000+02:00

Probably you've seen this cemetery while driving to the airport. Yes, that one at another slope of Mont Juic. It's forbidden to take photos of that place, and according to this story, don't try do this. Also because of respect to the place and buried people. However, it's not forbidden to drive into!
One thing set me thinking: many graves have only family name. No dates, no particular people, just family. Deep meaning, init?

Bodega Marin

2007-07-21T17:42:00.000+02:00

This one is buried treasure of Barcelona, that for sure remembers General Franco time. In few years somebody will change it into modern cafe or a shop with fruits and vegetables. Step into and feel authenticity of the place, talk to habitues, buy a vine from the barrel for just 1 EUR. Smell and absorb, smile and try to understand how things go .
See the reportage taken by Eva here

La Tagliatella, Muntaner 359

2007-06-29T12:47:00.000+02:00

In fact its one of those places, that are hidden secrets of each city. Out-of-a-way, a little obsolete, not easy to be found in Google. I've found it accidentally because of living for a couple of weeks in the hotel nearby. The first dinner was terrible, however, it was quite late and I was tired after flight, hungry and little upset with lazy waiter and mess on tables. For sure that was the day, where everything goes wrong: I ordered risotto de mare and received a grey mass with two mussels on the top.
After two days I was back there, because I ended work very late and had only two wishes: to eat anything and go to bed. Ordered pizza and a glass of table wine...yes, the story should start right here. I received a glass, a bottle of wine, a bowl of excellent, little olives. Huh, I think, not bad, not bad. But pizza was one of the best you can eat outside the Italy. The thin and crunchy simple pastry from the oven covered with tons of fresh vegetables, olives, bacon, onion and spinach. Anyway, the pastry is the key: with black soot from the oven, burned flour and so light, that even after big Tagliatella pizza you stomach is light and willing to take in the sour lemon sorbet with tart cup of espresso.
Try salad Al Rullo, composed of variety of salads, chicory, green pistachios, fried goat cheese all covered with a burned balsamic acid dressing. The next time get pasta with excellent truffle sauce. Try the white table wine (vino casa de blanco as they call it), that is light, cold, not very dry chardonnay with a note of fresh barley malt.
After all you will be satiated and the dinner for two with a bottle of wine and a dessert will be 35-45 EUR.
Its opened in the evening from 8 pm, at weekends call for table reservation because its often crowded. You can get there easily from Placa Catalunya with FGC metro lines and get off at Muntaner station. Don't mistake this restaurant with others restaurants with the same brand, at Muntaner street you have 3 of them and the remaining aren't worth even a penny.

Port Vell

2007-06-07T21:56:00.000+02:00

For sure you know that place. Seems to be one of most famous in Mediterraean coast, crowded all day and a half of night in high-season. Despite Mare Magnum complex is maring potentially amazing skyline, the waffles smell incredibly (but don't try to eat them), luxury restaurants are filled up by newbies to BCN, black men looking nervously arround while selling sunglasses and colorful beads - and even one-million dollar yachts that lie at anchor - cannot ruin that omnipresent spirit that veils the Port Vell and its surroundings.
And if you're little hungry or teased by smells of those waffles or restaurants, just omit them. For sure they are not worth of time and money. Try to order pescaditos and bottle of vino de casa at El Rey de La Gamba. Don't forget aceitunas and - for less than 15 Euro you receive the stack of fresh fried mackerel icefishes, the bottle of cold merlot and one of best green olives.

Eyesore backyards

2007-06-06T09:50:00.000+02:00

Thin walled, tenement houses, that are particles of the BCN, are built very close to each other with typical square spaces inside. Because this is not the front of a house, architects don´t care about how it looks. If you step into one of respectable, seven-floor houses, you see only nice marble walls and brass letterboxes...and only litlle unpleasant smell. But if you go to any flat, you´ll see whats behind it: severage systems right on the walls, millions miles of washing hung out, gas pipes, hudreds of mops, shoes (to be aired, huh?), ten years old dirt and all things you could imagine people drop from the windows. All covered with terrible fetor that is mixed from sewery fumes, paelia of 1st floor, 20 meters of 2nd floor washing, dead dove, aroma bathing of the worthy lady from 4th, hamburgers for next two months fried by nice athlete at 6th. And you, if you only open the window to the backyard, you are becoming the part of it.

Barcelona - insider

2007-06-05T22:10:00.001+02:00

Hello everyone,

I'm Evita, 25 years old blah, blah, blah and so on...well, I've moved my life to Barcelona because I'm fallen in love with the city and catalans. As an expat have millions impressions to share. I'll try to keep both something curious, sth practical - and everytime I will share a photo as well. Hope you enjoy it.
My intention is NOT copying all things to see in BCN and not even to convince you to visit the city. I know, if you are reading that bullshit, you are intend to, at least, visit the city and enjoy its spirit other than in Lonely Planet (no offence LP...).
My intention is to share moments of reflection at bottle of simple wine and choriso.