Barcelona

It was evening when I arrived in Barcelona. After a quick shower, my son and me decided to go out for our first walk. We managed to find street which leads to famous 'La Rambla' - pedestrian street lined with trees on both sides. A lot of people were outside, young and old, walking and enjoying a warm spring evening. We stopped at a Tapas bar, sat outside and had our dinner. Wine was divine; tapas tasty. My son had his first authentic Paella.
Next few days we had to plan very carefully, as I wanted to see all Gaudis buildings(and parks), some museums (Picasso)and surroundings. Of course, we needed time to visit old city (Barri Gothic) and do our shopping.


I loved architecture in Barcelona. So many different styles, old and new; A lot of details and colours; well maintained old buildings were gift for my eyes. Trees all around (sometimes I couldn't take a proper picture, because of them). I was surprised than not many public spots have any of world languages displayed along with Spanish. Most Barcelonian do not speak English. Many times my question: Do you speak English? was answered with a sharp 'No'. Later, when I sat outside at the table of a fast food outlet to rest, and when a security guard came to told me (in English) that it's only for customers, I realised they actually refuse to speak other languages. Only people in touristic industry will try to help you out.
Another surprising thing was their 'disorganisation' of touristic routes. April is not a peak season for Barcelona, yet in one spot tourists were left for more than 50 minutes to wait for a seat at bus. 7 buses past in front of us, before they (drivers) let us aboard. On another spot we had to get out, and walk 3-4 stations to catch another bus, because of strike. No one let know other people waiting at those stops about strike; so I suppose they could wait a long time.
I visited 'La Bouqeria' famous Barcelona Market.

My God! I was delighted; what a variety of good, fresh things. I bought home made preserved olives - they tasted like no other olives I ever tried. Pity I couldn't take them to Australia!
5 days went fast; If I calculated properly, we managed to have more than 100km on our feet (+ 3 touristic bus lines in 2 days), and we're not sorry. Thank God we had to return to my birth city after that. Good rest was essential.

Barselona

Bilo je vece kad smo stigli u Barcelonu. Nakon brzinskog tusiranja, moj sin i ja odlucismo da prosetamo. Uspjeli smo naci ulicu koja vodi poznatoj 'La Rambla'- pjesackoj zoni okruzenoj drvecem sa obje strane. Puno ljudi je bilo vani, mladih i starih, setajuci i uzivajuci u toploj proljetnoj noci. Zaustavili smo se kod jednog kafea (tapas bar), sjeli smo vani i narucili nasu veceru. Vino je bilo prekrasno, meze (tapas) ukusno. Moj sin je narucio svoju prvu autenticnu 'Pajeju'.
Nekoliko sljedecih dana smo morali isplanirati jako dobro;Zeljela sam da vidim sve Gaudijeve gradjevine (i park), neke muzeje (Pikaso), okolinu. Naravno, trebali smo vrijeme za posjetu Starom dijelu grada (Barri Gothic) i obavljanje kupovine.
Odusevila sam se arhitekturom u Barseloni. Puno razlicitih stilova, starih i novih; Puno detaljai boja, dobro ocuvane stare gradjevine su bile poklon za moje oci. Drvece skroz okolo (ponekad i previse - nisam mogla fotografisati kako treba).
Bila sam iznenadjena da na mnogim javnim mjestima objasnjenja mozete naci iskljucivo na Spanskom jeziku. Vecina Barselonjana ne govori Engleski jezik. Mnogo puta moje pitanje; Dali govorite Engleski jezik? je bilo odgovoreno sa ostrim 'Ne'.
Kasnije, kada sam jednom prilikom sjela vani za jedan sto koji pripada 'fast food' kafeu, i kada mi je prisao cuvar da mi kaze (na Engleskom)kako je to predvidjeno samo za musterije, shvatila sam da oni zapravo odbijaju da govore druge jezike. Samo ljudi zaposleni na turistickim pozicijama ce biti spremni da vam pomognu.
Drugo iznenadjenje je bilo njihova neorganizovanost na turistickim rutama. April nije vrh sezone za Barselonu, pa ipak smo na jednom mjestu ostavljeni da cekamo vise od 50 minuta na mjesto. 7 autobusa je proslo ispred nas prije nego su nas pustili unutra. Na drugom mjestu smo morali izaci iz autobusa i pjesaciti 3-4 stanice da bismo uhavtili drugi autobus, jer je na jednom mjestu izbio strajk. Ljude koji su cekali na tim stanicama niko nije obavijestio o ovome, tako da predpostavljam da su jadni ljudi cekali veoma dugo.
Posjetila sam i 'La Bouqeria' (glavna pijaca). Moj Boze! Kako sam bila odusevljena; Koji izbor dobrih, svjezih namirnica. Kupila sam domace masline - nikada prije takve nisam jela. Steta da ih ne mogu prenijeti u Australiju!
5 dana je brzo proslo; Ako sam dobro izracunala, uspjeli smo preci vise od 100 km na nasim nogama (+ 3 turisticke rute u 2 dana), i nije nam zao. Bogu hvala da se vratismo u moj rodni grad poslije toga. Dobar odmor nam je bio neophodan!