Oh How I Love Barcelona!

I took Ryan Air flying from London to Girona. It was just me and a friend, and later we were going to meet another 2 friends in Barcelona. From Girona airport we took a bus to Barcelona's main bus station for about an hour and a half and then we continued on by metro to our B&B which is located nearby Las Ramblas, Barcelona's main tourist area.

We walked around Las Ramblas enjoying the atmosphere there. Las Ramblas is a long walkway that's streched from Catalunya to Drassanes metro station. There are all sorts of shops, restaurants, bars, street performers as well as flock of people (mainly tourists, I'd say) along the walkway. There are stalls selling birds and other animals in one part of the walkway, around Catalunya metro station, and then flowers stalls somewhere in the middle and souvenir stalls towards the Drassanes metro station. It's very, very lively. I just loved walking and browsing around the stretch as well as people watching. One thing about it though, I find the restaurants on the stretch are too expensive for what they serve. I also think the shops on the Las Ramblas stretch are overpriced. I was surprised to find a 1Lt bottled water that costs over €3 and most of the shops there sell it around that price. It's just ridiculous.

Shopping was another activity we did in Barcelona and it was fun! There are a lot of shops around Placa Catalunya and on the small streets along Las Ramblas. You can get almost everything in this area. The most interesting shopping place I went to was Mercat St. Josep La Bouqueria. It's a food market selling variety of fruits, meat, seafood, and the lot. It's full of character and literary a very colorful market.

Travel tips:

1. Barcelona Bus between Girona and Barcelona. Tickets can be purchased at Girona airport.

2. We stayed at Vrabac Bed and Breakfast in Barcelona. The location is superb (nearest metro station is Liceu - Green Line, L3). It's only a few steps away from Las Ramblas. The place is warm and has got a character, it felt like living in local apartment. It's also clean and very secure. They provide free tapas on certain days where guests can meet and chat with each other. The only two bad points (and they are very minor) are it's shared bathroom and it's on level 2 and 4 with no lift and many steps.

3. Barcelona metro map.

4. Mercat St. Josep La Bouqeria is located at Las Ramblas. Nearest metro station is Liceu - Green Line, L3.

It was raining the first few days we arrived Barcelona. In this photos: Las Ramblas, the floor pattern of Barcelona, my friend posing with a street performer, Port of Barcelona at night, birds everywhere in Placa Catalunya, and Water view from Port of Barcelona.

Music is everywhere around Barcelona. I just love the atmosphere. Photo at the bottom left: the old man was dancing following the music. 

Some of the food items sold at Mercat St. Josep La Bouqueria. These photos were taken by my friend HM.

La Font de Canaletes (Canaletes Fountain) at Las Ramblas. The rough translation of the words on the floor at this fountain says: If you drink the water from this fountain you shall always love Barcelona. Away you go, always return.