I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME: Barcelona

A few months ago we posted the first blog in a series titled “I wish someone had told me -…”, which was to serve as a handy guide for anyone else who’s travelling to a particular destination for the first time. That was the initial idea, and it has evolved somewhat to now cover what you wish people had told you about things in general! Colin’s post about how he wished someone had told him how easy it would be to get a new passport was the second in the series. Now, I will cover what I wish someone had told me about visiting Barcelona for the first time.

I wish someone had told me – about visiting Barcelona for the first time:

As reliable as most weather apps are, apps reporting on weather in Barcelona are in for a tough time. Ever experienced a typical day in Cape Town where one minute it’s sunny and scorching, and five minutes later dark clouds blow in and the heavens open up with rain? That’s Spain. In the five days ahead of my trip, I checked my trusty weather app. For the three days I’d be in Barcelona it noted clear skies and sun. Hallelujah! When I touched down in Barcelona, rain. The next day started off with rain. Again. When I checked the weather app, it had done a complete 180 on what it noted a few days earlier, and now listed rain and overcast for all three days. Barcelona’s weather is rather unpredictable, but that’s half the fun, I suppose. The city is beautiful no matter what weather conditions you explore it in. Be prepared for unexpected rainy days, and plan your day activities accordingly. While most tourist attractions in Barcelona are outdoors (which you will be able to check out even if it’s drizzling – be sure to carry a small umbrella in your bag just in case) there are other options for if the heavens have opened up in full force (such as museums and shopping centres, which are indoors.)
Pack an umbrella! See point 1, above.

Not even a drizzling day in Barcelona could cockblock hubby and I from wondering the streets and exploring all the city had to offer. If only we had an umbrella…

Pack rollerblades! The popular beach area of Barceloneta has the coolest beach promenade I have ever seen. With coastline and promenade that stretches as far as the eye can see, a common sight is people jogging, walking, riding bikes and skateboards. If you, like me, don’t pitch up in Barceloneta in your running gear after a day of sightseeing, or are not half as coordinated as those skateboarding, the ideal next option is to rollerblade. If you are able to bring your own pair along in your luggage, amazing! I wish I had known this before I came to Barcelona, because it would’ve made the 1.5 hours I sat watching my hubby skateboard, a little more fun if I was doing so in rollerblades.
Dagan, my hubby, having fun along the Barceloneta promenade.

A panoramic view of Barceloneta.

The Barcelona Metro (train) network is pretty easy to navigate – once you work out the different colour lines and routes. Get yourself a Metro route map at the train station, or download a map app (to store on your phone and use offline). Spend about 10 minutes working out the system, and you’ll be good to go.
The Metro network only starts operating from 05:00 in the morning. If you, like me, are staying near the Sagrada Familia, and need to get to Barcelona airport by 05:00 to catch a 07:00 flight, you likely won’t make it for check-in in time before your flight leaves. (It’s about a one hour Metro trip, on two different Metro lines, to get from Sagrada Familia station to Barcelona airport station – by the way.) In this instance, chat to your hotel about organising you a taxi or transfer from your hotel to the airport to make it onto your flight in time.
If you aren’t a fan of Paella before you get to Spain, you probably will be by the time you leave. It’s difficult visiting any restaurant around Barcelona without a whole host of Paella variations being all up in your face on the menu. Some options are your typical recipe, while others are more adventurous.
Be prepared to pay a “service charge” for the view. Yip. We were caught “off-guard” twice with this. Once at a restaurant which had a direct view of the Sagrada Familia, and once at a restaurant along the promenade of Barceloneta with a view of the sea. The service charge isn’t exorbitant, and in most cases is well worth the view.
If your time in Barcelona is limited (we had three days there) one of the best ways to view the city in all its glory (without missing any key attractions) is to hop onto a city sightseeing bus which stops off at key sites all throughout the city. A ticket for these buses is a little pricey (thanks, SA Rand for being so shit!) but well worth it to make sure you don’t miss a thing in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.