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NFT: traveling to Barcelona & Bordeaux

TJ : 2/12/2020 12:59 pm
Anybody been to either? My wife and I will be there mid september for a couple weeks. The only things I've definitely decided on are the contemporary art and the picasso museum in Barcelona. That and just because we're in Spain doesn't mean a day trip to Morrocco is going to be possible.
Any advice gratefully received.
I have never been to Spain  
johnnyb : 2/12/2020 1:43 pm : link
but this is the trip I want to take. If you have a car I would suggest driving to La Rioja region of Spain. Great wineries to visit and taste. The region is northwest of Barcelona. If you are driving over to Bordeaux I am really jealous. This year we are touring Portugal- hoping next year pain and south of France.

Enjoy the planning. Sounds like a fabulous trip!
I did a similar trip recently  
armstead98 : 2/12/2020 2:09 pm : link
Went to San Sebastian and North Spain and Bordeaux.

I have to say, Bordeaux was underwhelming. The city is a little rougher than you might expect, and the food was very hit or miss. It feels like they're coasting off of an old reputation.

If you go to Bordeaux, stick to the vineyards. We went to St. Emillon which is stunning, definitely worth checking out. The wine tasting is fantastic so it's not all bad.

We just thought that San Sebastian, the French Pyrenees, and other parts of Spain were better and we'd skip the city of Bordeaux next time.
RE: I did a similar trip recently  
Sec 103 : 2/12/2020 2:38 pm : link
In comment 14809838 armstead98 said:
Quote:
Went to San Sebastian and North Spain and Bordeaux.

I have to say, Bordeaux was underwhelming. The city is a little rougher than you might expect, and the food was very hit or miss. It feels like they're coasting off of an old reputation.

If you go to Bordeaux, stick to the vineyards. We went to St. Emillon which is stunning, definitely worth checking out. The wine tasting is fantastic so it's not all bad.

We just thought that San Sebastian, the French Pyrenees, and other parts of Spain were better and we'd skip the city of Bordeaux next time.

Whatever you do, do NOT miss San Sebastian....
RE: RE: I did a similar trip recently  
Southern Man : 2/12/2020 2:41 pm : link
In comment 14809853 Sec 103 said:
Quote:
In comment 14809838 armstead98 said:


Quote:


Went to San Sebastian and North Spain and Bordeaux.

I have to say, Bordeaux was underwhelming. The city is a little rougher than you might expect, and the food was very hit or miss. It feels like they're coasting off of an old reputation.

If you go to Bordeaux, stick to the vineyards. We went to St. Emillon which is stunning, definitely worth checking out. The wine tasting is fantastic so it's not all bad.

We just thought that San Sebastian, the French Pyrenees, and other parts of Spain were better and we'd skip the city of Bordeaux next time.


Whatever you do, do NOT miss San Sebastian....


Pinxos!
For Barcelona  
DieHard : 2/12/2020 3:18 pm : link
All the Gaudi sites are great my favorites are the Gaudi House Museum and Sagrada Familia -- if you're thinking of the Sagrada Familia, ordering in advance online saves a lot on waiting in line: https://sagradafamilia.org/en/tickets

It's touristy but the old town is definitely worth exploring. If you don't mind exercising a bit, the Fat Tire bicycle tours are a good way to get a lay of the land and see some of the sights. Good intro to the city's history too. https://www.fattiretours.com/barcelona

For restaurants, I recommend Arume (great seafood and mojito cocktails), Vinitus is a solid tapas bar, Churrería Laietana is great for churros, and the Tapeo Tapas Bar just down the road from the Picasso Museum is good for lunch.

If you have some time the old Montjuic Castle on the west side of town and the neighborhoods just below it are fun to roam around. There's also an interesting maritime museum en route.

Girona and its old town are a nice day-trip getaway (about 45 minutes by train). If you're into hiking than Montserrat (just over an hour away by car) is great too, especially on a clear day.
Barcelona  
Existenz : 2/12/2020 3:54 pm : link
Been twice. Great city. My wife actually just put together an email/map to send to her younger cousin who is going. I can probably get a copy of that if you want.
Another beautiful excursion  
Sec 103 : 2/12/2020 3:55 pm : link
is the northern Camino De Santiago, wonderful sites and food. Northern Spain is beautiful in so many diverse ways...
re; Bordeaux  
Existenz : 2/12/2020 4:02 pm : link
For our second Barcelona trip we thought about Bordeaux but based on advice from friends we actually wound doing Portugal instead and I'm glad we did. Portugal may be one of my favorite countries in the world. Great food, great wine, beautiful cities. We did Lisbon > Sintra > Coimbra > Porto and had am amazing trip.
lots to do in Barcelona and I'm sure you'll get good suggestions here,  
Del Shofner : 2/12/2020 4:19 pm : link
if not just do a little internet research.

As to Bordeaux - I echo what was said above about the city of Bordeaux itself not being very interesting. The region is great but the city itself is nothing special IMO. You'll need a car for all this, but go out into the wine country - it's beautiful, or go south to the Pyrenees. If you can get to San Sebastian, great, although for that you're crossing back over to Spain.

In either city, depending on the teams' schedule I suggest checking out a game of either FC Barcelona or FC Bordeaux. Even if you're not a big soccer fan, it will be an interesting cultural experience and it can be very exciting. Bordeaux's team is not world-class like Barcelona's but they're serious about their soccer there, and the French league is decent.
Barcelona  
floridafan : 2/12/2020 4:29 pm : link
We are going to Barcelona in May on our way to Portugal.
I knoiw it is not the most direct route.
We are staying in an area la rambla.
I am looking forward to the Gaudi architecture and the food.
Morocco is very far from Barcelona, you can definitely take a day trip  
Jim in Hoboken : 2/12/2020 5:28 pm : link
from Malaga to Morocco and Gibraltar, but that will be 4 hours of getting there and 2-4 hours of sightseeing. Granada/Seville is a must if you are in the south of Spain, and getting there from Portugal won't be too bad.

Girona and Tarragona are easy to get to from Barcelona, but San Sebastian is 6 hours away by train. San Sebastian can be combined with Bilbao on another trip, the food is that good.

You can't swing a dead cat and not hit a good restaurant in Barcelona, from high end to cheap tapas. I especially recommend Canete, which is somewhere in between. Try to get reservation to Tickets, two months to the date exactly in advance, and hit up Boqueria for sure. Near Picasso Museum I strongly recommend Estimar.
As a number of people noted  
Giant John : 2/13/2020 9:05 am : link
Barcelona is a great experience. Food, art, fun etc. it’s all there. I would add though keep a close eye on wall at and valuables. There are some very talented “artists” walking the streets.
RE: Morocco is very far from Barcelona, you can definitely take a day trip  
section125 : 2/13/2020 9:15 am : link
In comment 14809947 Jim in Hoboken said:
Quote:
from Malaga to Morocco and Gibraltar, but that will be 4 hours of getting there and 2-4 hours of sightseeing. Granada/Seville is a must if you are in the south of Spain, and getting there from Portugal won't be too bad.



Algeciras (about one hour west of Malaga) would be better for the ferries to Morroco. It is only 12-15 miles across the Straits from Algeciras and there are a couple ferries per hour.
But Malaga and Algeciras are one hour by air from Barcelona.
RE: I did a similar trip recently  
widmerseyebrow : 2/13/2020 10:20 am : link
In comment 14809838 armstead98 said:
Quote:
Went to San Sebastian and North Spain and Bordeaux.

I have to say, Bordeaux was underwhelming. The city is a little rougher than you might expect, and the food was very hit or miss. It feels like they're coasting off of an old reputation.

If you go to Bordeaux, stick to the vineyards. We went to St. Emillon which is stunning, definitely worth checking out. The wine tasting is fantastic so it's not all bad.

We just thought that San Sebastian, the French Pyrenees, and other parts of Spain were better and we'd skip the city of Bordeaux next time.


Good to know about Bordeaux. I thought it would make a good next stop after San Sebastian but perhaps I should look for alternatives.
San Sebastian  
jamalduff123 : 2/13/2020 3:31 pm : link
Like others have said, San Sebastian is worth a couple days. THE BEST FOOD i've ever had in my life. Their version of tapas, called Pinxos, are out of this world.

If you don't like seafood, or generally are not an adventurous eater, may not be for you. Food is the main reason to go, but it's also a pleasant beach resort town to wander.
RE: For Barcelona  
Racer : 2/13/2020 8:39 pm : link
In comment 14809877 DieHard said:
Quote:
All the Gaudi sites are great my favorites are the Gaudi House Museum and Sagrada Familia -- if you're thinking of the Sagrada Familia, ordering in advance online saves a lot on waiting in line: https://sagradafamilia.org/en/tickets

It's touristy but the old town is definitely worth exploring. If you don't mind exercising a bit, the Fat Tire bicycle tours are a good way to get a lay of the land and see some of the sights. Good intro to the city's history too. https://www.fattiretours.com/barcelona

For restaurants, I recommend Arume (great seafood and mojito cocktails), Vinitus is a solid tapas bar, Churrería Laietana is great for churros, and the Tapeo Tapas Bar just down the road from the Picasso Museum is good for lunch.

If you have some time the old Montjuic Castle on the west side of town and the neighborhoods just below it are fun to roam around. There's also an interesting maritime museum en route.

Girona and its old town are a nice day-trip getaway (about 45 minutes by train). If you're into hiking than Montserrat (just over an hour away by car) is great too, especially on a clear day.


+1

Park Güell is full of Guaudi influence/work as well.

Make sure to have drinks at the rooftop bar of the W hotel. View looking back at the city is spectacular.

We were in San Sebastien right before we went to Barcelona, full blown pinxos tour, etc. so we didn't lay out a big itinerary food-wise. We had our blow-out meal at a place called Spoonik.....very very crazy, eclectic, and pricey. In a city like Barcelona the Italy tactic works...watch the food coming out of the kitchen and when it looks great, sit.
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