DavidWeller
member
Reged: 08/03/2006
Posts: 154
Loc: Southampton. UK
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Off to Barcelona Friday, anyone got any off the beaten track suggestions worth visiting ?
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David
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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How far off the beaten track?
City centre opportunities are very well documented (Sagrada, Gaudi architecture, etc) and most are worth a visit. Out of the centre Park Güell is good on a good day, full of school kids (and other tourists) on a 'bad' one.
You can get to the Gaudi Museum at Figueres by train (or car) and it is very good for indoor shots with the right gear.
The monastery at Montserrat is a good 30mile car drive out of town - impressive, if a little 'religious' ..... There is a metro service too.
There is/was a son et lumiere at the Plaça de Catalunya at times (possibly Tuesday nights ?????) when the fountains are lit - you'd need to check this out as it's not a daily event AFAIK.
The Wiki pages are quite good.
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DavidWeller
member
Reged: 08/03/2006
Posts: 154
Loc: Southampton. UK
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Going for 4 days with grown up family, have been to Sagrada, Gaudi, Bari Goth etc previously.
Was looking for lesser known, maybe different etc restricted to public transport.
Might try a different tack and travel light with just one lens, and revisit usual haunts and try and put a different slant on the pictures
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David
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Investigate the metro and bus service, it's pretty easy to use.
Out of town the Monastery at Montserrat is a grown-up attraction, but it is really only worth a half day. Figueres will take a day. You'll use much of your time in the city centre - and queues for the main attractions are long and start early. Possibly tolerable this time of year, though.
Don't miss the Sagrada Fam. and the roof top visit to Casa Batlló. OK you haven't!
.T.
NB there are horror stories about pickpockets in Las Ramblas. It does happen, but don't fret about it: in a group , keepyour eyes open, bags secure (etc) - everything where you know where it is - and just be aware of lurkers and suspicious type. They go for the easy victims - I've never had any problems - just be street smart.
Edited by Tacitus (05/03/2008 01:22)
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Finally, from me. There are some fabulous 'old' shops in the city centre - selling the sorts of stuff you only now find in Harrods Food Hall, etc - and haut couture clothes, etc. Womenfolk may be easily seduced by them ..... Enjoy .T.
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Ephemeral
addict
Reged: 21/07/2007
Posts: 645
Loc: North East England
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One thing you should do, and it took me until my seventh trip there to do, go on the open top tour around the town, yes I know it is the most touristy thing you can actually do but it is worth it as you see some of the more off the track places
the eastern suburbs are worth a look, there is also Neu Camp stadium, really good architectural shots, the olympic stadium is worth a visit, again great architectural shots, the central bull ring was being worked on the last time we were there so no idea if it is still worth taking photographs or has been converted into a shopping centre now 
another good area is Bario Chino, the opposite side of Las Ramblas from the central Cathedral, less development there and a large North African population
Oh, another good recce is the cable car trip from the harbour, great overview of the city and once at the top of the hill there are really good views over the city
If I can think of any more I will post them
one of the best things about Barcelona are the people though, some great opportunities which I always missed as I used to be too shy to take pictures of people, this was taken from the open top bus
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The Ephemeral Moment - www.ephemeral.co.uk
Random Goldfish - www.randomgoldfish.com
Edited by Ephemeral (05/03/2008 07:17)
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Sparkle
newbie
Reged: 08/05/2008
Posts: 3
Loc: Spain
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If you fancy a day trip from Barcelona then Girona is worth a visit, and Besalu.... we're off up there in August to meet up with my sister on a bike tour (we live down on Costa Blanca nr Altea).
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WDCAPUK
newbie
Reged: 17/07/2008
Posts: 3
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Be very careful of crowded Metro ... pickpockets.
They tried it on with me, I felt the woman trying to remove wallet from front jeans pocket, her hand hidden under large bag.
ladrón (thief) is the word to shout.
I pinned her arms until she dropped the wallet.
(Accomplice tried to stand on it to hide it, my wife spotted this & picked it up)
I've travelled the world, this was my first bad experience, June 2008.
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Hotblack
Dead Horse Flogger
Reged: 07/03/2006
Posts: 7289
Loc: Upstairs in the spare room.
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Quote:
Be very careful of crowded Metro ... pickpockets.
That's true of anywhere, in reality. I've had conmen and pickpockets try it on in Morocco, theives trying it on in the Carribean, 'moneychangers' getting abusive in Budapest. None were successful as I just take simple, sensible precautions and keep my eyes and ears open.
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Cheers
David
David J White Photography
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Bettina
Kein Titel
Reged: 12/02/2004
Posts: 4088
Loc: London
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Let's not forget Rome and the Spanish Steps. 
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Bettina
http://www.vibrantpictures.co.uk
Vibrant Pictures on Flickr
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 37665
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Quote:
Let's not forget Rome and the Spanish Steps.
Or the whatever-it-is bus to the Vatican...
Barcelona is a city that needs a little more than average care, as is Rome. Both are more than worth it.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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ermintrude
Hinkypuff
Reged: 30/06/2003
Posts: 12459
Loc: London, UK
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Mmm I had my bag picked up when I was loading the coach in Barcelona but I just screamed and he dropped it and sloped off... then had my mobile pickpocketed in Beijing, same thing I screamed at him and grabbed it off him.
The only place Ive been pickpocketed where they got away with it was at home in London 
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swanseadave
addict
Reged: 05/10/2007
Posts: 556
Loc: Swansea, Gateway to Gower
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On a day trip to Barcelona some years ago, while on holiday in L`Estartit,I remember being warned about Gypsy pickpockets in Las Ramblas and Sagrada Familia.I never had any problem then nor in subsequent visits.You just have to be vigilant.
Dave 
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If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all - Albert King
my flickr
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