ForeverBarcelona

Smooth sailing, what cruises stop over in Barcelona?

admin — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:00:00 +0000

Vacations at the sea

Barcelona’s port is the most important cruiseship port in Europe, and the 4th in the world. There are many options to start or end a cruise here, or at least to stop over.
Today, the cruise specialist Danny Smith is sharing his insights to help you choosing the best Barcelona cruise.

Cruises From Barcelona

While a lot of holidaymakers will opt to venture down to the Costa Del Sol for a week in the sun, a cruise that takes in Barcelona can be a much more rewarding experience. To put it simply, there is just so much to see and do. The port in Barcelona itself acts as a major tourist and cargo hub for the whole of the Mediterranean so the city can be a great way in which to explore other parts of Southern Europe.

Starting your cruise from Barcelona has a multitude of benefits given its accessibility. The city itself can be reached via 2 airports – Barcelona International (BCN) which is about 10m outside the city and the slightly further away Girona-Costa Brava (GRO) which is just under 100km away. Some airlines do advertise flying to Barcelona but they land in Girona-Costa Brava (GRO) and while the price may be slightly cheaper you will have to pay for transport to get to the city itself. Furthermore, you can easily reach Barcelona via train both from within Spain – the high speed network comes directly from Madrid while also taking in the east and the south of Spain too – and there are also direct train links from Zurich, Paris and Milan. Also, the port itself is very convenient to reach via public transport or taxi from within the city.

Below is a selection of cruise lines that start and finish their itineraries in Barcelona.

Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean is probably one of the most famous in terms of the cruise lines that come to Barcelona. Their 22 strong fleet have their own style and amenities and it is usually the Liberty of the Seas or the Serenade of the Seas ships that departs from the city and both have recently been upgraded with new dining experiences and other onboard activities such as rock climbing and mini golf. From Barcelona, Royal Caribbean usually sails off to the rest of Southern Europe including Italy and Greece.

>> Click here to read the rest.

Exploring the medieval alleys and backstreets

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:37:40 +0000

Discover the best sites in the Old Town

The narrow alleys of the Gothic Quarter are fascinating, so many secrets and stories are hidden behind it… but when you are walking on your own, you can miss so much! You are walking around, and you like what you see that you don’t understand it fully.

One option is taking a walking tour of the Old Town. But if you still prefer to be free to walk where your feet want to take you, we have some ideas for you.Would you like to know the places you shouldn’t miss?

Here are our favorite 5 sites in the Gothic Quarter:

Cathedral of Saint Eulalia. From the religious point of view, it is the most important church in Barcelona. The entrance is free of charge until noon, and after 5:30 PM. Don’t miss the cloister where the geese leave. By the way, for an extra fee you can take the elevator that takes you to the top!

>> Click here to read the rest.

Discovering the Catalan cuisine

admin — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:12:54 +0000

Where to find real Catalan cooking

The Catalan cuisine is the heritage of a rich variety of landscapes and the cultures that we’ve been in contact with in our history. A taste range of vegetables, meats, fish and seafood, eggs, pasta, rice… with a Mediterranean flavor but a local touch.

But how can you tell where you are served real local food? Would any Spanish restaurant serve Catalan recipes? Not really, as every region in Spain has developed a different way of understanding food.

Here are our 5 suggested Catalan food restaurants:

Ca l’Isidre. Top of the tops, even the King of Spain has been here (the only time that he officially announced his visit to a restaurant!). A family-owned business where they pay special attention to the products of the season, that they get in the nearby Boqueria Market. Fine cuisine for a special up-skilled evening.

>> Click here to read the rest.

My experience at the Chowzter Fast Feast Awards in London

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:16:05 +0000

A Barcelona food blogger and tourguide in London

>> ATENTION: THIS WEEK THERE ARE TWO POSTS!

If you follow me in Facebook, Twitter or Google+, you might be already aware that this weekend I was invited to participate in the first World Fast Feast Awards in London, organized by Chowzter (a popular food & restaurant cellphone app and website), and sponsored by CocaCola.

I was honored to be selected as the food blogger representative for Barcelona,

>> Click here to read the rest.

Finding your way from the cruise pier

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:29:13 +0000

Must read if you are coming on a cruise

Every year more than 2 million people get to Barcelona by cruise. It’s a great way to visit different cities and countries in a short period of time, without the hassle of packing and unpacking each time you arrive to a new destination.

However, planning your touring can be tricky, as it’s harder to figure out how far will the pier be from the city, and you need to organize your visit well in order to take the most out of the few hours that you’ll be in town.

Today we’ll be discussing what kind of transportation you can use for your stopover in Barcelona:

Walking. The port of Barcelona is basically divided in two piers. While passengers from small ships such as Windstar and Aida are only 5min. walk from the Statue of Columbus, where la Rambla begins, most large cruises stop in the Moll Adossat terminals and from there you need to cross the Porta d’Europa, the longest port bridge in Europe. I don’t recommend trying to walk it, as it’ll take you some good 30 min. to get to la Rambla (under the hot Barcelona sun and with no shade to stop under… Trust me, I’ve done it and won’t repeat it again!). Anyway, after crossing the bridge you can walk up la Rambla and see the Gothic Quarter. You might even reach Passeig de Gràcia where the Gaudi apartments are, but you’ll need strong legs to do that!

>> Click here to read the rest.

Five Getaways for a Romantic Vacation

admin — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:28:18 +0000

Travel is a great way to spend quality time with your sweetheart. But there are so many places to go to! How can you choose one and make sure it’s the perfect plan?

Of course, Barcelona has many charms and it can be a wonderful Romantic getaway. But there are other places worth checking too, once you’ve been in Barcelona. Today, author Amber Collins shares with us her 5 favorite places to get lost on a romantic weekend. Check it out!

5 places to have unforgettable times with your significant other

What can you do for a nice romantic gift no matter you have a reason or simply want to surprise your loved one with something unexpected? The boring old combination of jewelry, chocolates and a dinner at an overpriced restaurant? No. Be a little bit more original. A romantic trip to a nice destination would be a lot better choice. Especially if you choose one of the following options:

>> Click here to read the rest.

Celebrating St. George killed a dragon

admin — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:56:21 +0000

April 23 is the day of St. George, Patron Saint of Catalonia

If you are going to be in Barcelona on April 23rd, you will see that all of a sudden Barcelona is much more busy: there are people all around buying flowers and books. what’s going on? It’s the day of St. George! for us, it is sort of a mix between your Valentine’s Day and a book fair.

Today you will discover how do we celebrate it and how to take the most out of the day and blend with the locals. Get ready for the fun!

5 things you absolutely need to do on St. George day:

Offer a red rose (or have one given to you!). The legend says that after the St. George kill the dragon, out of the blood of it was born a red rose and St. George gave it to the Princess as a symbol of his love. This is why today men are going to buy a rose for their wife, girlfriend or sweetheart. Actually, since we women love flowers, the tradition has also expanded to any other lady that they love: So often that’s buy roses for their daughters, bosses by them for their secretaries (without a second intention!), and even supermarkets give them away to their clients! If you’re a lady in Catalonia and on April 23rd you don’t get a flower, it’s quite disappointing!

>> Click here to read the rest.

Art Nouveau dinning

admin — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 13:00:02 +0000

Fancy going back to the early 1900′s for dinner?

The early XXth century was full of glamour, and Barcelona was experiencing a golden period in those times. Here flourished the Art Nouveau architecture, locally called “Modernisme”. During daytime, you are likely to explore the Gaudi sites and other modernist buildings in the Eixample district.

And in the evenings you can continue to enjoy the old-fashioned and decadent atmosphere by going dinning in one of our marvelous art nouveau venues. Today, I’ll share with you my favorite ones.

Here are the 5 top modernist places for an unforgettable dinner in Barcelona:

Casa Calvet. Gaudi was the rock-star architect of those times, and now one of his early works houses a fine Catalan restaurant where you’ll be also surrounded by Gaudi-designed furniture. A must for Gaudi fans!

>> Click here to read the rest.

Looking for a hotel in the Raval area?

admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:15:49 +0000

For the intrepid only

You are adventurous, aren’t easily scared and prefer to find a place to stay a bit off the beaten path, but close enough to some of the main sites.

The Raval is a part of the Old Town that gives me mixed feelings. While the upper part benefited from the creation of the MACBA and the other refurbishment projects before and after the Olympics, in the lower part still hide some non recommendable streets, and there are more chances to cross a pickpocket than in other areas in town. To learn more about that, please check out my googlemaps.

But if you are still attracted by the narrow streets and the opportunity to mix with the locals and explore a more real and exotic Barcelona (many immigrants live and own businesses there, and young Barcelona people love hunging out in Raval bars and cafés), then you’ll want to check our recommendations for hotels.

This are our 5 favorite hotels in the Raval:

Casa Camper Owned by the Spanish shoe company Camper, it’s a trendy hotel in a safe area. You’ll be around the corner from the MACBA, a couple of blocks from la Rambla and Plaça Catalunya, and perfect to explore the Gothic Quarter and Passeig de Gràcia. There are plenty of local food options nearby.

>> Click here to read the rest.

5 facts on Spanish meal times that you need to know about

Marta Laurent Veciana — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:30:00 +0000

When traveling, food is one of the most important things to plan, as often food and meals habits change from country to country (or even from city to city!).

Often during my Barcelona tours people asks me about local mealtimes and where to go, that’s why today I’m sharing here 5 food facts you need to take into account when traveling to Barcelona:

Lunch is usually between 1pm to 3pm. Most restaurants open either at 1pm or 1:30, and close their kitchens around 3.30 or 4pm, although you can stay eating what you’ve already ordered for a bit longer. Locals hardly ever arrive earlier than 2pm.

>> Click here to read the rest.