Happy Tripper

Hostal Opera - Our home in Barcelona.

Posted by Carambs

There were so many hostels to choose from in Barcelona, so we looked for one with good reviews on the net. Our choices were narrowed down to 2 - Hostal Benidorm and Hostal Opera. Good thing my friend’s cousin-in-law was based there. He offered to check out both hostels, and in the end, he recommended the Hostal Opera. He told us that the bathroom was nicer.

Hostal Opera is located at Sant Pau, which is one of the side streets of the Ramblas. It’s very near the Liceu Opera, the Boqueria Market, and Plaza Real. There was a Metro stop (Liceu) nearby. It was walking distance to the Barri Gotic district. As one of the companions said, we were in a “happening” place. It was a busy place at night.

Our room had 2 beds and was very clean. The bathroom was also very clean. However, the room was bare. Well, what can you expect - it wasn’t a hotel. The rate was 66 Euros per room per night. That meant each person only had to pay 33 Euros per night. For the location, the cleanliness, and the privacy, it was well worth it.

I can definitely recommend it to friends.

Pictures of the lobby, the room and the bathroom:

Tripper 5: Barcelona

Posted by Carambs

1) La Manual Alpargatera - This is a very famous yet very simple espadrilles shop in Barcelona. It was established in the 1940’s after the Spanish Civil War. It’s a must-visit for tourists, whether or not one is interested in purchasing espadrilles. But believe you me, you will end up buying, what with all the different styles to choose from. The most basic style only costs 7 Euros! The ladies in the store were very helpful - the older one doesn’t speak English though and the other one spoke minimal english. We were lucky that we were with someone who was based in Barcelona, and who could speak basic Spanish. You will probably think of buying “pasalubong” for friends and loved ones back at home - get ready to shell out around 50 to 70 Euros when you visit the store.

2) La Sagrada Familia - This magnificent basilica, one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces, has been under construction since Gaudi was alive. He had been working on it for 40 years until his death in 1926. When asked about the long construction period, he replied with “My client is not in a hurry” referring to God. His vision is still alive today as other people have continued to work on the basilica. La Sagrada Familia is a testament to Gaudi’s brilliant mind. He was meticulous in designing it, making sure that he had plaster models, not just a design on paper. Every detail was planned, and indeed every detailsIt is now a very popular tourist destination in Barcelona.

3) Bus Turistic - Barcelona’s Bus Tour, according to a friend who has travelled to many places, is one of the best. The double-decker buses are relatively clean, the payment and distribution of kits are organized, and it features many destinations. It is definitely worth the cost. (19 Euros for 1 day/23 Euros for 2 consecutive days) There are 2 routes (a third one is being finalized), the red route and the blue route. The routes include the famous destinations in Barcelona such as Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Barri Gotic. The nice thing about Bus Turistic is that you can go around the destinations at your own pace. You’re also given earphones and the background and history of the different sites are explained to you. The second level is the best, you can truly enjoy what the city has to offer.

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Barcelona in Photos

Posted by Carambs

Click here for the complete Barcelona album.

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