Barcelona, Spain-Beautiful Beaches

 

We were fortunate to visit Barcelona on our Trans- Atlantic cruise. Although we only spent one day in this city, it could easily capture your heart. An  internationally renowned  tourist destination, it boosts one of the best beaches in the world, mild and warm climate, historical monuments, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and many good-quality hotels.  We visited in March and the temp was 20 C and sunny. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, with a population of a million and a half people and  the 16th-most-visited city in the world and the fourth most visited in Europe after Paris, London, and Rome, with several million tourists every year.

The capital of Catalonia, a region with its own language, character and history – many Catalans think of their home as a separate country. The city itself could keep you occupied for weeks but just outside it are sandy beaches, Sitges and the Montserrat mountain range - so be sure to make time for a few day trips during your stay.

Barcelona beach was listed as number one in a list of the top ten city beaches in the world according to National Geographic. You will find seven beaches in total.  Sant Sebastià, Barceloneta and Somorrostro beaches, are the largest, totalling 4.5 km of coastline, and the most-frequented beaches in Barcelona.

We began our journey into the mysteries of Barcelona at the port. We travelled by bus up the Montjuic Mountain to Montjuïc Castle is located on a rocky terrace more than 170 metres above sea level.  An old military fortress with a long history closely linked to the city, it was an interesting and educational stop.  Our bus tour took us past  Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and included in the UNESCO Heritage List in 1997.

Especially remarkable is the work of architect Antoni Gaudí, which can be seen throughout the city. His best-known work is the immense but still unfinished  Barcelona Cathedral Sagrada Família, the international symbol of Barcelona,

which has been under construction since 1882. It is financed by private donations and completion is planned for 2026.  Next we pass the truly unique apartment complex, Casa Batlló  by the same architect.

 The Cathedral of St. Eulalia was on our tour and because it was Easter week and services were being held, we did not go inside.

El Poble Espanyol de Barcelona  is an historic Spanish village filled with artisans and craftsmen displaying and selling their wares. It is one of the popular spots to visit in Barcelona and the Spanish architecture and beautiful flowers are breathtaking.

Another must is a  visit to Barcelona's Monumental Bull Ring and the famous Cathedral Sta Maria del Mar, the only completed Gothic church in Catalonia.

If you are feeling thirsty or hungry, there are a variety of mojitos on offer at Gimlet.  Classic, coffee, ginger, red fruit, cumquat, passionfruit, perilla (shiso)...¡Salud!

Escribà Barcelona is a definite for chocolate lovers. Antoni Escribà and his  family tradition since 1906, delight with remarkable pastries and criminal chocolate creations. Try the Easter bunyols de xocolata (little round pastry balls filled with chocolate cream). Yummy !

 

Cruise ships dock right in Barcelona and access to the city is immediate. There are on and off tour buses and lots of taxis at the port.

 •Getting to / from the airport

Renfe’s R2 Nord train line runs between the airport and Passeig de Graçia in central Barcelona (about 35 minutes). Tickets cost €3, starts at 6.08am and ends at 11.38pm daily.

 

 

 

 

Travel: if not to new lands, then to the nooks and crannys of your heart. Don't worry if you don't know where you are heading, just go !

Costa Rica Nature's Playground

Costa Rica-Nature's playground

Barcelo Playa Langosta

Tamarindo, Costa Rica

 

We arrived at the airport in Liberia, where we were met by a friendly local, who would drive us to our hotel. We expected a bus, but since we were the only two going to Barcelo that day, we got a private, brand new pickup truck with a very comfortable back seat. The driver spoke excellent English and was very knowledgeable about the country. It was an enjoyable and educational hour’s drive.  He told us that today, Costa Rica has a large agricultural sector which includes banana, coffee, sugar, and pineapple exports. In the last 20 years, the technology and eco-tourism of the country have made people from all over the world Visit Costa Rica. Costa Ricans enjoy a high standard of living. This is because the country boasts a high literacy rate, and a stable government that has functioned without the armies for more than 60 years. Also, the land ownership is widespread in the country.

The Barceló Playa Langosta hotel is located in Tamarindo, on a magnificent beach in surroundings of exceptional natural beauty. It is located 50 minutes way from Liberia International Airport and just 2 km from the city center.

Check in was swift and efficient and our room was more than satisfactory, with an ocean view.

 We were impressed with the well- kept pool area and the white face monkeys in the trees overhead were a definite plus. They watched us and we watched them, with no interaction other than complete fascination. We walked into the town along the beach. Bay Wrens, Mangrove Swallows and beautiful Tody Flycathers flit from tree to tree in a colourful dance. Costa Rica is paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers. Tamarindo is a town located on the Northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Province of Guanacaste and has several shops where tourists can purchase souvenirs of all kinds.  The main attractions are surfing and eco-tourism. We walked back to the hotel on the road and felt completely at ease and safe.

Playa Tamarindo is a long beach, with excellent waves near the mouth of the estuary. Currents can be strong, especially on a falling tide. We found the estuary an excellent place to play when the tide was in and it was shallow enough to cross when the tide was out, giving access to one of the most beautiful beaches we have experienced. We watched several surfers and although we do not surf, the area is very popular with those that do.  Tamarindo has two main breaks for advanced surfers: Pico Pequeño a rocky point in front of the Hotel Tamarindo Diriá and the excellent river mouth break across from Cabinas Tsunami called El Estero. The rest of the beach breaks are perfect for learning. The biggest waves can get up to 12 feet, although only during November and December. People that enjoy playing in the surf, like us, will love this beach.  You can walk for more than an hour in any direction, something that we most definitely enjoyed. We spent every day on the beach, soaking up the sun and playing in the surf. We did not snorkel here as it was not favorable to do so.

 The resort rests in an eco-reserve and the wildlife is amazing. Several large iguanas visited the pool area during the day and the racoons were busy at night, foraging for food. We saw many beautiful birds in the trees along the shore.

Playa Grande beach is also where the Leatherback Turtle comes to lay its eggs. The leatherbacks take over the beach from November to April, digging their nests up to one meter deep, lay their eggs and cover the pit with sand, and return once again to the sea. After 60 to 90 days, the hatchlings emerge and immediately make their way to the water. Excursions to view the turtles are a wonderful way to see Leatherbacks. There are other eco-friendly activities including watching turtles during their nesting season at night.

The food was excellent at this hotel. Variety at every meal, deliciously prepared every day and always a pleasant smiling waiter or waitress to serve your every need. Fresh fruit abounds and the vegetables were prepared with a European flair that I particularly enjoyed. Language is not a problem as all of the staff speak very good English and are happy to teach tourists a few Spanish expressions. The entire hotel was spotless and well maintained. The pool snack bar has excellent choices all day. Pizza, chicken wings, onion rings and lots of salad are on offer. One day a White-throated Magpie Jay perched on the back of my husband’s chair and waited patiently for a French fry. The pool side entertainment was enjoyable. There were a few vendors allowed near the beach but they were polite and nonaggressive. I never feel comfortable being chased by a local carrying beads or pottery. This was a pleasant shopping experience and I bought a few lovely handmade jewellery pieces.

The room was well appointed and the maid service was excellent. Every day a new supply of shampoo, travel toothbrushes, combs and towels were delivered. The beds were comfortable and our balcony facing the ocean was a plus. The in room coffeemaker was a bonus for me, and I enjoyed my coffee on the balcony every morning, watching the surfers walk past. The grounds were beautiful, with plants and flowers of every color imaginable. The theater is situated at the outskirts of the resort for noise control and the entertainment was good.  We enjoyed the small lounge bar in the main lobby, where a four piece band played every night.

 Our excursion was a River Boat Trip through the rainforest area, where we saw crocodiles, Scarlet Mackaws, white faced and howler monkeys and black necked Stilts and several other species of birds. It was well worth the money and highly recommended. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly and the boat captain was very accommodating, stopping  frequently for picture taking.

Our week in Costa Rica went much too quickly and we would have loved to have been there longer. We will definitely go back and highly recommend it to everyone.

Barcelo Playa Langosta gets five stars from me.

 

Rating        *****