Barcelona - A day with Ha Luong

• A Day in Barcelona - Not enough for Barcelona

Still with motifs one day in one place, one day over there, today I will take you to the famous tourist city of Barcelona. Before starting the article I would like to emphasize that one day is never enough for Barcelona because the city has a lot to admire, there are many places to visit and there are many good eateries to explore. This article is intended for "horse riding", when for some reason your travel time is too tight.

• I went to visit and guide my friend from Vietnam

Actually in this first time, I have just visited Barcelona for meeting my friend, he is Ha Luong. Ha Luong is an staff member of IOM - International Organization of Migration. He has just finished a study tour in Prague, Czech Republic, then he will make a journey to visit some countries in Europe.

8.00 am

I catch the train from Tarragona to Barcelona. The fare is 8 euros.

9.05 am

My train has arrived at 9th line in Barcelona Sant, I took a walk looking for a bus to Barcelona Nord. Barcelona has two terminals: Barcelona Sant and Barcelona Nord.

Barcelona Sant is a train center station whereas Barcelona Nord is for buses.

Ha will arrive in Barcelona because he has taken the flixbus from France.

So I just waited him outside Barcelona Nord.

10:00 am

I will start the journey from the biggest Espanya square in the city. Here we take bus number 150 to Montjuic castle located on the hilltop of the same name. Previously, Montjuic was also an important military base to defend the city. Therefore, there are still many large cannons being displayed around the castle.

Montjuïc is a hill overlooking the port of Barcelona with plenty of green spaces, museums and sports fields.

From the park we can see the view of the city and harbor. Take the cable car to the top of the hill or rent a bike and cycle around the park trails or take the 150 bus from the top of the walk.

•  Montjuic castle built in the 16th century is located on top of the hill. Walk around the walls of the fort for a panoramic view.

I heard a story about this fortress, it was a glorious symbol of Catalonia.

Even under Franco's dictatorship, an army general had pitched the cannons on the castle down to the lower Barcelona.

From the top of the hill I have a great view of the airport, harbor view, sea view, urban planning in a very organized and neat "chessboard".

I took a photo with the port of Barcelona below.

11:00 am

Looking at the city from above, I took the bus back down the hill, but stopped in the middle of the road to visit the Olympic complex. It was the site of the 1992 Summer Olympics, which became home to some of the local football teams, most notably RCD Espanol.

 However, the sport of the king in Barcelona is not widely known RCD Espanol because of the shadow of FC Barcelona.

11:30 am

From the Olympic Stadium, take a 10-minute short walk to the MNAC National Art Museum. MNAC is located at the back of Montjuic, facing the Espanya square, which has the most spacious and beautiful public space in the city. If you have time you can come back here for a great performance of music, light and water in the evening (learn more with the keyword "magic fountain"). This FREE activity attracts a lot of people and tourists every weekend.

We do not have much time so just come by.

12:00 am

Have lunch at A La Turca (15 Carrer de la Creu Coberta, 08014 Barcelona). I've eaten here a few times. The restaurant is clean, the price is reasonable, Turkish food is okay. If you want to take advantage of the time you can buy a carry-on kebap.

After that, because we were so hungry, we ordered two more Argentine dishes, which was nice even though I did not feel really good. I even ran to the side of the road to buy less fruit.

Talking about fruit, Barcelona is very cheap and fresh.

13:30 pm

Have lunch on the subway to Park Güell, the mosaic-style pottery park of the talented architect Antoni Gaudí. When I was in Barcelona I visited this place often because it was so beautiful, so subtle and architectural thinking unlike anywhere else in Europe. Speaking of architecture, I have a friend in the industry in Germany. He says that with professional people, Barcelona is the only living museum of Gaudi architecture, unlike other styles, such as French architecture, which can be felt in Vietnam through Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi Opera House or expensive ancient villas in Ho Chi Minh City.

One more reason I used to visit Park Güell frequently because it was free (poor student: D). When I was about to leave Barcelona, the city government began planning to sell tickets. This plan has received a lot of "brick" because local people lost a free amusement space. But in the end the harsh reactions could not save the commercialization of Park Güell. Since then I have not had a chance to come back yet, but I believe the ticket sales would not have diminished the number of visitors. This is a great place to spend money.

15:00 pm

The Sagrada Família is the next stop. It was built in 1882, and so far still ... unfinished (whether it comes from the lazy style of the Spanish work or not). "Beauty only when unfinished," the church just beautiful when ... not finished. Despite being surrounded by scaffolding and cranes, the Sagrada Família is beautiful, beautiful and different under the hands of Gaudí. According to church plans will be completed in 2026, that is nearly 150 years from the start of the year.

Gaudí's design combines art nouveau with gothic-style architecture. The exterior of the church is made of towers, conical towers and facades are decorated in detail. Many have compared it to a fine sand castle. The pillars inside, many colors radiating out like trees.

Spend some time strolling through the cathedrals' chambers to gain insight into the tree-like columns, natural light and ceiling details.

16:00 pm

Casa Milà, Casa Battló and Casa Amatller are the three buildings on the boulevard of Passeig de Gràcia, located in the heart of the city center.

Casa Batlló is another Gaudí masterpiece, one of two private houses that is now open to the public. The neo-neo-façades are decorated with oval windows, pillar-shaped columns, and are lined with colorful pieces of terracotta. Inside the home is restored to its original state with its interior fireplace, dome and stained glass. The house is located in Eixample, the land just to the north of the city center.

Casa Batlló was built for a rich nobleman and his family. The house was opened to the public in 2002 after years of restoration and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are no furniture but the rooms are kept as if the Batllós were there.

Stand on the street to admire the facade of the house. Surrealistic design and bright blue blocks evoke the calmness of the ocean. True to Gaudí's style, there is absolutely no straight line. Colorful roofs simulate cactus.

In my opinion, the house is a popular attraction and all year round there are long queues waiting for visitors to explore the house. Buy tickets before you visit from the Casa Batlló website and go straight on. Tickets are expensive but there are discounts for students and retired people. Free admission for children under 6 years old.

Actually I have not been in so I do not know exactly how bad the buildings are, but looking from the outside it looks very nice, very strange and very ... Gaudí.

17.00 pm Boqueria

From here we walk through Catalunya square, through the pedestrian street La Rambla is not empty at night. Please note that you are in the middle of the city center, which has the highest tourist density and is the main business area for pickpockets.

Do not let the great beauty of La Rambla make you forget to take precautions to steal offline.

We had to cross the Boqueria market, though My sister had told me that seafood was cheap here, but I did not see that. Anyway, I also wake up to senses and visual treats with countless specialties at Boqueria Market. With every item from tropical fruits, olives and seafood to bakery items, tapas bars and cooking classes, this market is an indispensable destination for anyone who loves food.

The market began in the 13th century as an open-air market in front of one of the old walls of Barcelona and local farmers built their own fruit and vegetable stalls. Many sellers are the ancestors of the families that contributed to this market. Currently, this is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

As you walk through the large iron gate, visitors will swoon in front of the sight and the spill of the fruit and vegetable counters. Choose your own tropical fruit or a glass of fresh fruit juice, then loop around the seemingly endless walks of the market.

 Do not let the great beauty of La Rambla make you forget to take precautions to steal offline. I lost my phone in Barcelona so even though I was pretty, I was also very careful. Have a tiring day, now it's time to reward yourself with an ice cream roll, a glass of fruit, a glass of smoothie or all of the above. If you have cooking conditions you can buy some seafood at the market.

19:00 pm

Take a moment to visit the cathedral, then stray into the old town, feel the vibrant nightlife of the Catalan capital.

20:00 pm

Visit Barceloneta formerly a fishing village, now a luxury yacht marina and dinner at a restaurant on the beach. If you would like to try traditional Spanish tapas (usually the salads, pealla rice, olives ... with each plate), you can visit Can Paixano (7 Carrer De la Reina Cristina, 08003 Barcelona).

I do not know if you have the strength to go forward. If you have and want to find out about Barcelona bars, there is no better place than Port Olimpic with dozens of bars that face each other. Do not forget to enjoy Sangria fruit wine.

First appeared in Spain in 1600 and quickly spread throughout the world, Sangria is a harmonious blend of wine, fruit juice with brandy. There are hundreds of ways of mixing Sangria, depending on the taste of each person, each region where the drink is varied in different ways.

Sangria is very popular with both Spaniards and non Spaniards. Sangria is derived from "Sangre", in Spanish it means "blood" because the characteristic color of this drink is red.

21:00 pm

I broke up with Ha and I ran off to Barcelona Sant to catch the final train to Tarragona during the day.

A full day of experience is over.

Barcelona, I will be back.

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