The Fetes de Geneve - A weekend in Geneve

We had heard about the great fireworks display and the ambiance of party that the city of Geneve has during the city party/celebrations, so we decided to spend a weekend in the city.

The city itself is very small, the most visited cartier/neighborhood is the old city with the beautiful, but simple, Cathedral of Saint Pierre with a magnificent panoramic view to the city, mountains and lake.

View from the Tower of the Cathedral St. Pierre

Why it is recommended to visit during the "Fetes de Geneve"?

There is a small village in Jardin des Anglaise with a host country, with typical food and beverages, and outside the village we found food and beverages from other countries, some of them were Chinese, Russian, German, Brazilian...

There are two clubs near the lake with parties during the night, you can find food like cotton candy and popcorn, and many fairground amusements. Everything around the lake, giving a beautiful night view over the city and lake.

The fireworks are great, but be prepared since it was estimated a total of 600.000 people watching the fireworks, crowding the streets and every possible spot near the lake where you can view the fireworks.

If you want to have a good spot and you are available to pay, a seat can cost from 60CHF/64USD/48EUR.

Pickpockets in Barcelona - Beaware

Barcelona is known for the pickpockets and the quantity of them trying to steal tourists. It is not about the violence involved, there is almost none, so you can walk in peace everywhere in Barcelona, but your wallet may disappear in the strangest situations.

The main targets for thief are easy access wallets. Wallets located on pockets easily visible or wallets inside woman handbags.

Our experience was fairly good, we were not victims at all, being Portuguese (with the Iberian look) it is easier to pass by as locals in the city. My wife even used a necklace and we did not have any problems with that.

One of the Scheme to steal in Barcelona

While we were lunching in the Parc de La Ciudad, we saw a scheme to steal something from a woman purse. In the stairs shown in the image below,

A tourist couple was walking down the stairs when suddenly three kids/teenagers walked faster down the stairs, one of them opens a map and holds it in front of the couple, the other one starts talking with them, as if he is a tourist helper that just wants to show something on a map. The third is "the thief", it is the one that is not in front of the couple, he stayed behind the couple and he was trying to put his hand in the woman handbag.

It is a strange situation, and the couple cannot walk, since the kids are around and they do not want to be rude to walk against them. The couple did not seemed interest and wanted to continue walking down the stairs, but they could only try, since the two "helpers" were in front of them.

After a while, the three kids left and the couple continued, we were on a bench in the garden so I cannot tell if anything was stolen, but I believe it was an annoying moment for them.

There was no violence involved, but if you get your wallet stolen it can ruin your vacations and you may have to lose time to go to the embassy or consulate.

Most of these kids are in waiting in the stairs for the people, they are not hiding and you can easily spot them.

Story of a friend.

We know a couple that also went to Barcelona but brought a small sad story, easily solved. 

They arrived at the airport and then took the bus, after a while and after taking a second bus, the girl noticed she did not have their Barcelona Card anymore, it was stolen from her handbag.

Fortunately, they went to a desk of the Barcelona Card and after telling them their story and showing them that they had bought the cards online starting on that day, the staff was nice enough and gave them two cards for the rest of their stay.

It was not a big loss in money, but it was at least one hour wasted.

More about scams
Video about the Scams in Barcelona by National Geographic, you can find it useful so you don't get scammed.

Tips

• Carrying a fake wallet with something not important is a way to attract the attention of the pickpockets. This way if they want to steal your wallet they will probably steal the "fake" wallet and you will not lose anything important.

• Do not show signs of luxury. you do not have to look poor or homeless, but most of these pickpockets know how to evaluate how much money someone may be carrying. I do not mean fancy clothes or wallets, but a pocket full that 

• When paying, do not show all your money, try to keep it separated, so when you are paying for your lunch or a souvenir, you will only grab a twenty euro note instead of a bunch of notes.

• If you have an handbag, try to keep it closed, so there is no way of foreign hands trying to sneak in, it is very easy and quick to steal something from an open handbag.

• Leaving your bags unattended is a big risk, there seems to be always someone looking for these bags and they disappear in less than a minute.

Last day in Barcelona

On our last day in Barcelona we had our flight in the afternoon, so we had a full morning to enjoy. Since we only carried backpacks we did the hotel check out and started our journey with our three days baggage, it is not so easy to walk with something heavy on your back.

Our first stop after leaving the hotel was a place to eat, we had a cake and a drink while walking and headed for the metro. Our next stop was Camp Nou, the Barcelona FC Stadium with a capacity around 100.000 seats. We did not enter inside the stadium, just a small walk around it and entered inside the Barcelona FC shop.

The Barcelona FC replica of  the old bus with dolls inside.

 After the small walking around Camp Nou, we headed Royal Palace of Pedralbes, which is ten minutes away, walking normally. The palace is in the Av. Diagonal, one of the most important avenues in Barcelona.

The Royal Palace of Pedralbes

Statue in the fountain of the entrance of the Royal Palace of  Pedralbes.

Statue in front of the Palace

Like many places in Barcelona, the Palace and the garden in front are beautiful places to visit. If you do not have much time, you are probably not interested, but a trip to this part of the town is also remarkable. This area is also known for the University, which is very near from the palace. 

It was time to go back to the airport, but first we decided to have lunch between our trip from the "Palau Reial" metro station to the Airport, at the Barceló Sants Train Station. We decided to eat at the McDonalds in the station, but you have other choices inside the station.

We decided again for the train, it was a safe option and cheaper than the Aerobus.

The Barceló Sants Station, where we caught our train to the Airport.

In the airport you have to walk a little to the terminal you want, be prepared because you may need more than 10 minutes to reach your check in desk, or even the terminal you want.

Corridor between the Airport Train Station and the Airport.

Our trip was over, Barcelona is a remarkable city, probably we will be coming back and visit the city in a relaxed way, specially enjoying the beach.

My Trip to Barcelona - Afternoon of the second day

We had lunch in the Ramblas and continued our own walking tour to Pl. de Catalunya. From there we decided to take a bus and went to Parc Guel, one of the most beautiful parks due to its architectural elements, with works by Antoni Gaudi.

It is a place worth to see if you go to Barcelona, even being a little farer from the city centre, it is worth the trip, specially in a sunny day. 

Sustained by nice columns, this is the main belvedere of Parc Guell, always with people enjoying the view

As normal, be prepared to walk, walking throught the park can be a long journey to see everything, if you need to eat or drink something, there are some nice alternatives ten minutes from the park, specially on the "Travessera de Dalt"

View of Barcelona from Parc Guell

As you can see there are lots of trees in the park, the green area is also good to walk with the nature around. In the main paths you can find street sellers, selling sunglasses, handbags and other counterfeit objects.

One of the bridges in Parc Guell with its own architecture and the nature around

Columns made from rocks

You will appreciate the loveliness of the park and its uniqueness, but that is not all, you will also have the chance to see the city, Parc Guell has splendid views over several parts of the city, so while you walk between all the green, you can look at the horizon and see the blue sea.

Agbar Tower with the Mediterranean behind. Nature always present with the green and the bird

Mapfre tower on the left and Hotel Arts on the Right, view from the Parc Guell

View of the Passeig de Sant Joan in the centre

View of Barcelona from the Parc Guell

There are also some houses in Parc Guell, the Gaudi House Museum, the pavilion in the entrance and in the picture, the Casa Martí Trias i Doménech.

One of the building you can find in Parc Guell, this is one of the simplest.

We had completed our visit in Parc Guell and decided to go to see the water show in the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. The show is worth the visit, but be prepared since there are lots of people who go there and the best places are occupied.

The performance happens:

October - April

Fridays & Saturdays

19:00 & 19:30 & 20:00 & 20:30

May - September

Thursday - Sunday

21:00 & 21:30 & 22:00 & 22:30 & 23:00

The following video is not mine, I believe it will interest you.

After the performance we headed to the Arena and had our dinner in a restaurant on the outside of the Arena Mall. Our trip to Barcelona was almost over.

My Trip to Barcelona - The morning of the second day

On our second day we left the hotel heading to Plaza de España. We decided to take our breakfast on our way, at a local supermarket, they always offer nice cakes and cheap deals.

We arrived the Plaza de España and saw a refurbished bull fighting arena, we did not know our luck when we went to the top of the commercial centre Arena, it had opened one week before.

These are some of the photos we took from the Arena

View of the Plaza de España with the National Museum of Catalonia Art behind.

Zoomed view to the National Museum of Catalonia Art in Barcelona

Plaza de España

Parc de Joan Miró on the right, Carrer de Tarragona on the left.

View over Barcelona from the Arena top

Walking path around the last floor of the Arena

Swimming pool on one of the last floor of a building , with the Sagrada Familia on the background, on the right.

As you can see in some of these images, the trip to the Arena is worth the effort and definitely a place I highly recommend. Many sightseeing buses stop nearby, it is also a good place to eat and drink and it is between the Ramblas and the Montjuic.

After the Arena, we headed to the National Museum of Catalonia Art, walking through Av. Reina Maria Cristina where you can find benches if you want to rest a little.

View over Barcelona from the NMCA

From there you can walk in the parks and use the escalators to reach the higher levels. It is a nice place to walk with all the green area around you and the city so close.

On the area of the NMCA there are treadmills available for the public.

After some minutes walking you will reach the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Ring (Anella Olimpica), an area which was the main centre of the Olympic Games in 1992.

Plaza Europa in the Anella Olimpica

It is a wide open area where you can view the Sant Jordi Palace, the Montjuic Communications Tower, the Olympic Stadium and an excellent view to the south of Barcelona, where the Airport is located.

Palau Sant Jordi

Montjuic Communications Tower in Barcelona designed by Santiago Calatrava

Olympic Stadium

After seeing the Europa Plaza we headed for the Olympic Stadium to see the interior, open for the public for free.

Olympic Stadium

There was a little mistake in one of the boards in the Stadium

We had seen the stage of the Olympic Games, and we continued our journey to the top of the Montjuic, we decided to go by the Carer l'Estadi / Av. Miramar. On our way we stopped at the Estació de Funicular (Cable Railway Station) which has also the stop to go by cable car to the Montjuic Castle.

One of the overviews that you can see when on the cable car

If you are not afraid, it is worth to pay for the cable car ride. You get splendid views and it is a faster way to get to the top of Montjuic. We bought the return ticket.

You can also walk to the Castle, but if you want to walk there, you should be well prepared physically.

The Montjuic modern Cable Cars

Gardens around the Montjuic Castle

When you reach the top of the Montjuic Castle be prepared if you think you are going to be hungry, thirsty or with a strong will to use a bathroom, there are not much facilities there.

View of Barcelona from the Montjuic Castle

Montjuic Castle Collage

After enjoying the moment in the top of Montjuic it was time to go down, back to Barcelona, since we had the cable car return tickets, we used it and went to the Funicular Station, there we got the cable railway and ended in the Av. Paralel. It is not a great place to view, it is strange and I read that in the evening there are some signs of "illegal activities".

We headed to the Plaza Drassanes and then to monument to Columbus, after that we started our tour by the famous Ramblas.

It was time to eat, we decided to stop in sandwich restaurant. You have several choices in the Ramblas, from typical places to the big brands.

My trip to Barcelona - Day 1

Barcelona Arch of Triumph

We went to Barcelona in the last weekend of March of 2011.

The weather was marvellous, we were probably lucky, since we had the chance to enjoy one of the first weekends what it was good to go to the beach. The goal of the trip was to see the city, so we did not sunbath, but we enjoyed a nice time to rest in the beach of Barcelona.

We arrived at the Barcelona Airport at 21:30 and we had booked the Zenit Borrel near the Barcelona Sants Station. Since the hotel was near the train station we decided to risk and catch the train instead of the Aerobus.
It was a good decision, that is probably why the train is mostly used by Spanish, it was cheaper than the bus and the station was nearer the Hotel. After leaving the station and eating something at the McDonalds inside the Barcelona Sants Station we grabbed a taxi to the hotel, charging us €7 for a small distance that we did not want to walk since it was dark and we did not know the city.

The colours of a Taxi in Barcelona

Day 1 in Barcelona

The first day we decided to walk to the Plaza de Catalunya, we were told that it was one of the main plazas and where you could catch the tourist bus. However we decided to walk by the city, so we headed to the Gothic neighbourhood, and after that, to the coastal area.

View of the Montjuic from the "Ronda Litoral" the coastal street

The Gothic part of the city is a very different part of Barcelona, it is unique and in the city centre. The curious part is that you are minutes from the beach, which is rare in a big city in Europe.

The Barcelona Beach  near the famous W Hotel.

After walking by the beach and enjoying the breeze we reached the Carrer Marina. It is a nice part of the town, with modern buildings and big avenues. It is not a must see, but it was worth the walk.

View in the Parc de la Ciutadella

Getting back to the tourist part of Barcelona we passed by the Parc de la Ciutadella, the city park.

Small statue in the top of the fountain

The park is also a great spot to rest and recharge your batteries. It has nice benches where you can seat and enjoy the view and fresh air. We decided it was the perfect place to have lunch, so we bought some sandwiches and eat in the gardens.

You can also find the Castle of the Three Dragons in one of the park exits.

Three Dragons Castle in Barcelona

The exit near the castle leads you to the big walking avenue, The Passeig Lluis Companys, that leads you to the Arc de Triomf, the Barcelona arch of triumph.

Since we still had time, we decided to get a little further from the Hotel and visit the Sagrada Familia, a must see.

The Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia and people in the queue

We did not enter inside the Sagrada Familia so we decided to continued our trip to see the buildings of Barcelona, even some regular buildings are artistic, not like La Pedrera, but still good enough to enjoy.

Some examples of the Barcelona unique Buildings.

This is part of the walking path we have done. Maps Google Day 1

Depending on what you are going to visit, and your walking speed, this can be done in eight hours, or you can even take two days to visit everything, you may even want to spend a day in the beach.