Barcelona
Guide - Las Ramblas by Rich Boulter
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  Barcelona
has cemented itself as on of THE most popular European 'get-away' destinations
in recent years.
It is easy to see why when you consider
the universal appeal of a city, which boasts such a rich diversity of attractions.
Whether your interests lie in history,
art, architecture, good food, good wine, culture, sightseeing, sunbathing,
shopping, nightlife and entertainment, theme parks, or sports. Barcelona
excels in every field.
Barcelona's size and transport system
are also in it's favor. It isn't as spread out as say London, and the pedestrian
friendly streets were built on a simple grid system, which makes for easier
orientation.
The metro is also wide reaching which
makes the popular city sights very accessible.
Arguably one of the most popular
sights to see in Barcelona is in fact a street. However, Las Ramblas is
no ordinary street. The central most boulevard, cutting through the heart
of the city, Las Ramblas is a hive of activity. Narrow one-way traffic
lanes run up and down this otherwise pedestrian friendly boulevard.
Las Ramblas
Towering 60 meters over you at the
Southern point of Las Ramblas is a monument of Christopher Columbus, pointing
the way to the new Americas. This is a good starting point for a cultural
journey along this vibrant, colorful, fun, and at times mesmerizing 1km
stretch of promenade that will stimulate all your senses.
 Moving
up Las Ramblas away from the Columbus statue on the right hand side, just
tucked away down a side street, you will find the city's wax museum housed
in a neo-classical style building. Further information can be found at
http://www.museocerabcn.com
Just around the corner from the wax
museum you will find el bosc de les fades café (the forest of the
fairies café). This is a gem of a place to find, a great place to
stop for a cold beer or coffee and take in the delightful interior design.
I won't spoil the surprise but the name of the café will give you
some idea of what to expect.
On the opposite side of Las Ramblas
to the wax museum is the Santa Monica Art Center. Actually on Las Ramblas
in front of this building is where the procession of street art begins.
Talented street performers, human
statue artists, portrait painters, caricature artists and many more display
their creativity right along the length of the promenade.
However, it is worth bearing in mind
that large crowds are also places where pickpockets, bag-snatchers, and
con artists display some of their best work too!
So please be vigilant of your surroundings
and take the necessary precautionary measures when going out. It is by
no means my intention to scare you into thinking that Barcelona is a dangerous
place, however, there is nothing wrong with being made fully aware of some
of the dangers that you can expect. Please refer to my safety guide for
a more detailed account of these dangers and tips on how to avoid them.
Las Ramblas boasts an array of cafes
and bars, some of which offer seating and dining along the main boulevard.
Be aware that these places are geared towards the tourist so the prices
do reflect that. Authentic dishes, including tapas are served here but
I would say that much nicer restaurants can be found off of Las Ramblas,
which are much better value. Saying that, this is a great place to sit
back and relax with a beer, or sangria and drink in the sights and sounds
of Las Ramblas.
 Still
heading North up Las Ramblas, more or less half-way up on the right hand
side is Placa Real (Royal Square) The center-piece of the square is a fountain,
and surrounding this you will find pavement cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs,
and discos. Again this is an area where people love to sit out, chat, drink
and be entertained by the many different street performers. Late afternoon
and early evening would be the ideal times to sit out here if you have
children with you to consider. Of course the later on in the evening it
becomes, as the clubs and discos get going there will be more evidence
of everything that goes hand-in-hand with drinking and alcohol. So that
is worth bearing in mind.
On the opposite side of Las Ramblas
to Placa Real you will find Liceu Opera House and La Boqueria market -
the highest regarded food market in the city.
The erotic museum is another well
renowned resident of Las Ramblas, located on the right hand side past La
Boqueria http://www.erotica-museum.com
Finally at the top of Las Ramblas
you will reach Placa Catalunya, a central meeting point, the city's main
square and home to Les Fonts de Canaletes. Popular belief has it that taking
a drink from these fountains means that one day you will return to Barcelona.
Placa Catalunya is also where you
will find El Corte Ingles, an impressive department store of considerable
size. In front of the store you can pick up the Aerobus (the bus to the
airport) and also el bus turistic, which will take you on an open-air double
circuit ride of the city, taking in many of the other beautiful sights
of Barcelona. Also look out for the city's main tourist office here.
Las Ramblas is a 'must see' if you
are planning a visit to Barcelona. It is a place that captures the essence
of this beautiful city and will fully capture your imagination.
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