Saturday, May 28, 2011

Bracing Barcelona: A Photo-Log

We just got back a few hours ago; a very lean and tired, John Cooke continued on his return leg to Perth, Western Australia via a budget airlines. At my trusty iMac workstation, I share my adventure tips with you.

Barcelona temperature is about 22 degrees Celcius at this time of the year. The air is fairly dry, with nice breezes so carry your chap-stick/lip-gloss with you, some snack food, as well as a big bottle of water. Supermarkets stock inexpensive drinking water, so buy the 5-litre bottles and distribute them into smaller one-litre ones.
The day that we departed (Friday), demonstrators who camped for several days (at the Place de Catalunya) got into a clash with the police. The news eagerly covered it, as curious tourists lapped it up as part of the action at the shopping belt of La Ramblas.

If you intend to have a vacation in Barcelona, after finishing the Ironman Lanzarote – fly direct from Singapore to Barcelona via Singapore Airlines. You can actually connect from almost anywhere in Europe to the Canary Islands, including Madrid, Milan, and the UK.

Stay near the La Ramblas area, and prices vary depending on vicinity to the main road. We stayed at Atlas Hotel, which we booked online. It is about 50 metres away from La Ramblas, and the nearest Metro station. Get a day pass so that you can travel on both the subway and bus. I would recommend exploring Bracelona, and its top-10 ‘must visit’ places by these two convenient modes of transportation. Ensure that you have your tickets validated at the turn-stills (in the Metro) or ticketing machines on the buses. There are numerous museums you cna go to, however we recommend visiting the Olympic Stadium (Olympic Games 1992) and the Spanish Village (within the same area and walking distance).
Goods and Services Tax (or Value Added Tax, VAT as it is known) is claimable for tourists for single purchases above 90 Euros. It is a pain to claim these precious dollars back, however do it earlier at the airport. Give yourself up to an hour to leave the VAT-rebate queue less unhappy. You only get 10 percent of the 18 percent you pay above the tag-price at the branded outlets or sports mall.

The brand Under Armour, as promoted by triathlon champion, Macca is popular here. I was surprised after buying my compression t-shirt, that the restaurant manager we met at the tapas restaurant wore a polo-short by Under Armour. Many shops are closed between 2-4pm because of the afternoon siesta, or break. So, shops open till 9pm and restaurants even later.

When it comes to eating, the Spaniards love to eat late and their preference is tapas. Tapas is to the Spanish, as dim sum is to the Chinese. It comprises a set meal of paella (seafood-based, pan-cooked rice) and finger-food (appetizers). You choose what you like on the menu, and you share the tapas selection – that is the spirit of Spanish eating! Sangria is a lovely cocktail made of red wine, orange juice and additional surprises that washes well your meal. Lanzarote also presents such savoury fare and savoire fare for participants on the Canary Islands.

Photo-Credit: John Cooke

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