We've just got back from a great trip around a little bit of Italy and a little bit of Catalonia in the north of Spain.Wow I love Barcelona and the history of Rome and the Vatican is just breath taking.
We landed in Rome on Christmas Eve, spent a couple of days checking out the sights and then flew out to Barcelona.
If you have not seen it before the Roman architecture is well worth it, however I must say I would not recommend Rome as a nice place to visit. Compared to Barcelona there were disturbingly many homeless people and quite an amount of filth. Service attitudes were about on par with Finland. An Indian Australian I bumped into in an internet cafe suggested that Florence was much nicer and he too thought "Rome was a dump".
To be fair we had a great experience in a small family restaurant walking between the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Food was great and service was also great.
Its just that Barcelona was so dam good that Italy seemed to be so second in comparison.
Naturally while in Catalonia we visited the Dali museum.If you happen to be a fan I assure you that you won't be disappointed. But take your time, there's lots to see.
The town of Figueres is also worth a look, with great outdoor under cover markets and lots between the train station and the Museum.
The train ride from Barcelona was simple and cost 22 euro return. From the station just follow the signs and its only a short walk to the museum. As well as what you know, theres heaps of things you may not have seen before.
We also took a quick trip up into the Pyrenees and into France via Tour De Carol by train to Ax Les Thermes, which is a lovely villiage nestled in a valley prividing access to the ski slopes.
Though as you can see, there wasn't good snow there when we were there (despite it being January).
Anwyay, for a bunch of snapshots have a look at my Flickr show here.
PS ... As Noons has suggested the Sagrada just must have a mention. If you go, you simply must visit the museum underneath it. You'll learn heaps about the history of the building ... remember its still just a construction site, so its not a church yet.
and check out the details on the interior ceiling ... its just beautiful with embedded tiles providing a golden sparkle.
You look at something and see symbolism embedded in it at every level, its just stunning.
Did you get a chance for a gander at Gaudi's architectural masterpieces in Barcelona?
ReplyDeleteI loved every minute of it as well as the Dali stuff, of course: huge fan here.
Agree with the Indian guy: Florence takes the lead when it comes to being a great place to stay, although of course Rome is bigger.
But to me it's still Venice that is way ahead of everything in Italy. Weird smells notwithstanding, that city simply has a unique character.
Welcome back and have a great 2010!
I love to travel and when I do I am obviously American and completely UNASHAMEDLY a tourist. I talk to everyone who will listen, go everywhere I am allowed, and perhaps beyond, and take hundreds of photographs. As much as I've enjoyed everywhere I've been...when I get to Barcelona I completely forget about everything except Barcelona. What a city! I take a nap in the afternoon and walk around town from sundown 'till sunup. My dream would be to spend the night of the full moon in The Sagrada with a 4x5 and a large box of B&W film.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the images. I find the columns and ceilings in the Sagrada to be a lot like a forest.