Always Barcelona … “Barcelona enamora!”, is what a friend of mine calls her blog about the city of Barcelona. And she is just right: Barcelona will make you fall in love. No matter whether it’s a culinary crush, a desire to express yourself creatively while in Barcelona, an awed look at the famous “Castellers” human towers or simply enjoying the happiness of being: Barcelona offers something for each & everyone’s tastes. “Hola Elena, we would kindly like to invite you to stay at our comfy city apartments …”, the team of Urban Suites Barcelona writes to me just ahead of planning my next visit to Gaudí’s city. Perfect timing then!
Strategically situated, the location of the Urban Suites Apartments alone is a guarantee for some good travel stories.
“Carrer Sant Nicolau 3, that’s it … right here!” I double-check our city map, pushing my trolley across the station square at Estació Barcelona Sants. “Thank God it’s really just round the corner ..” My journey has left me hungry, thinking of my previous food lover experiences in Barcelona. Urban Suites Apartments literally are just five minutes walk from Barcelona Sants station, Tarragona metro station as well as Plaça Espanya. Perfect. Checking in. Taking a deep breath. Or two. And off we go again.
If a convenient location is met with a friendly welcome, then what else could you desire from your temporary home in Barcelona?
Barcelona’s famous former bullfight arena, just around the corner from the Urban Suites, has now been turned into a shopping, restaurant and cinema mall! We have come to check it out …
… enjoying something typically Catalan …
… tomatoes, yes, for a start, are served with beautiful bread & olive oil called “Pa amb Tomáquet” …
… but what I’m really talking about are the tenderly, charcoal-fired CALCOTS, a special type of spring onion grown to the delight of the local food lover population in Catalonia …!
Calçots are a feast of a kind …
… and I learn to dig in , just like a true Catalan !!
In the evening, we take to the hill(s): Montjuic right behind Plaça Espanya offers us a nice threesome: Good beer. Good views. Good company.
I really like it up here. It’s a gentle walk uphill, leaving the main hustle & bustle of Barcelona city behind, walking past the congress centre as well as the city pavilion built during the times of the World Expo. If you still like the crowds, here is where to mingle with people from all over the place, including a nice after-work beer session and some of the most rewarding views over Barcelona city – especially at dawn as the city readies itself for some good nightlife.
Let’s go climb Montjuic …
… Barcelona’s famous hill …
… with spectacular views over Barcelona city as well as Tibidabo hill right beyond.
From here, you are also able to enjoy a good look at Gaudí’s famous “Sagrada Familia”: I wonder if it will ever be finished?
Nice little detail during our stroll: The city advertising possibilities to gather, decide and act through various online platforms and Social Media, especially among its senior citizens!
Last but not least, I’ve once more got some great foodie tips for you: Check out Café Cosmo at Carrer Enric Granados, near Passeig de Gràcia, as well as Café Bosc de les Fades, just off Barcelona’s famous Ramblas.
Thanks to meeting my dear friend & fellow creative traveler Gergana Periolska, I can really recommend you to have breakfast or brunch at Café Cosmo. From our Urban Suites Apartment, it’s just about half an hour’s walk or a few stops by metro, right off Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s vibrant esplanade. This is where we meet Gergana for a personal chat & book signing session of “The Creative Traveler’s Handbook”, plus a really good coffee brunch.
Walking along Passeig de Gràcia & Gaudí’s most famous buildings, such as Casa La Pedrera …
… I am really happy about meeting my dear friend Gergana again just a little later …
… as well as being able to recommend you to have breakfast at Café Cosmos right on Enric Granados street.
Not far, only about half an hour down Barcelona’s famous Ramblas, be sure to take a left turn at the Barcelona Wax Museum. Right around the corner from there, you will find a coffee shop & bar of a kind: Café “Bosc de les Fades”, meaning “Wood Fairy coffee house”! Although it is quite hidden from view, you really should not miss having a drink there: A real insider tip only the locals would tell you! Even I had to come to Barcelona about ten times before finding this little gem, “El Bosc de les Fades“. What an experience !!
Once around the corner, we are off sight of Barcelona’s busy Ramblas street …
… being transported right inside a fairy tale, reminding me of our visit to magical Sintra near Lisbon earlier last year. Have you ever been to such magical, fairy-like spots on your city visits?
See you soon in Barcelona then – Fins molt aviat !!! If you are looking for even more travel tips around Barcelona as well as further north #inCostaBrava, I can only recommend you to check out my entire series of posts about Catalonia: http://www.creativelena.com/en/tag/catalonia.
Disclaimer: We have been invited by Urban Suites Barcelona during our stay in the city. All opinions are my own.