Barcelona Ahtletica

A Visit to Camp Nou

Roadboy's chums know I am sports challenged. Totally missed the jock gene. I love riding my bicycles and that is about it. 

Not sure what happened...my family is filled with exceptional athletes.

So the world of sports and athletics mostly remains a mystery to me. When friends assemble for brunch and the conversation naturally moves to the activities of the PHX Sun's, Mercury, Diamondbacks, Coyotes or Cardinals, well I'm kinda clueless.

Lately the talents of a friend find me fascinated with professional tennis and on this visit to Barcelona I am enjoying the company of my artist daughter and my son, a devout follower of all things soccer. So when Bryan expressed an interest in seeing the Football Club Barcelona's (FCB) revered home Camp Nou I welcomed the opportunity.

Soccer in Spain is a birthright. Peering out my hotel window I can count at least 3 soccer fields within a few blocks. I believe Barca residents endure highrise living to preserve precious urban land for those cherished fields.

As an aside Barcelona can be intimidating to mostly sedentary folks (like moi) as many of its residents are tan and carry zero body fat. Clearly beach time and a Mediterranean diet works. Heck, the day we arrived the best swimmers in world were here competing in the Fina World Championships.

But back to FCB.

I found out FCB offers a "Camp Nou Experience" which includes stem to stern tours of Camp Nou, plus a pretty amazing museum and multi-media center.

The L3 Metro zipped us up the mountain to Camp Nou where we waited in line to buy our $31 tickets and we were off.

I have to admit that even Mr. Sports Challenged enjoyed the whole day. I now know that Swiss National Hans Gamper while ostensibly traveling through Barcelona on his way to Africa, fell in love with the City, abandoned his Africa trip and ultimately founded a futbol club as a means to "exalt human spirit, open to everyone, regardless of origin". Not owned but a democratic society freely governed by its members.

His club has come to represent far more than arguably the best soccer team in the world. Its history parallels the history of Barcelona itself. FCB has become an enduring symbol of Catalan unity, strength and pride enduring dictators, civil wars and times of economic distress.

 

The First Trophy

And A 100 Plus Years of Trophy's to Follow

I learned how the club lost in a year when its star striker was kidnapped during key matches. How its long standing alliance with UNICEF contributes millions annually to relieve the suffering of the worlds poorest children.

Mr. B and Ms. M on FCB's Soccer Field

Extraordinary Hands-on Multi-Media Center

I even marveled that its museum describes its support for Catalan poet Espriu during Spain's years of political crisis.

Catalan Poet Espriu

Espriu 

So if you visit Barcelona, and you should....

Take that soccer fan to Camp Nou. After a visit there residents and visitors alike are "Mes Que Un Club".

Roadboy's Travels © 2013

Cashing 'Em In

Another Summer of Travel Beckons
Barcelona, Venice, Vienna, Berlin and Madrid

Using Up My Incredible Shrinking Points

With all the news about a merger between US Airways and American I decided to go look at American's reward structure as it will undoubetly get adopted by US Airways. YUK!

Then comes quiet little announcements by both Marriott and Hilton that they'd soon recompose their point redemptions.

All of this prompted Roadboy to get off his butt and get summer travel all booked. 

Good thing too. Hilton's new structure is now in place and in the days leading up to it, it was almost impossible to find anything on the HHonors website clearly describing what was about to happen. Calls to the "800" were required. When connected customer service reps routinely had to "talk to a supervisor" before answering simple questions. Roadboy knows that whenever the travel industry announces "changes" in their loyalty programs their most loyal clients are about to get screwed. 

Actually I marvel at the travel industry business model. A model I assume was carefully created by Max Bialysotck of Broadway's "The Producer's." I mean who else perfected selling products they don't actually have?

Hotels and airlines offer a myriad of ways to accumulate loyalty points, then find ingenious ways to prevent anyone from actually redeeming them. Anyone who as tried knows that without (very) flexible travel dates you'll have to double or triple points to obtain any desired reward.

I've heard statistics suggesting only 10% of the points earned by consumers are actually ever used.

So after carefully evaluating the tea leaves at the bottom of my commuter cup (and some relentless searching) I determined that (like last year) it would be best to book my business class seats (at a good rate - 50K each way!) through Spain during August.

Barcelona

This year we will fly into Barcelona. I never tire of Barcelona and my son wants to see the home of FC Barcelona. Ms. M wants to explore Barcelona's revamped Design Center (which was closed last summer) which should now be open.

Venice

From Barcelona we'll fly to Venice for two nights. I love Venice and want Mr. B and Ms. M to see the amazing map rooms in the Doge's palace. And yes, my personal plans include acquisition of more eyeglass frames at Ottica Carraro. 

Vienna

From Venice we'll travel overnight via sleeper rail arriving into Vienna at 8:00 am. I figure a few palaces and some schnitzel will be good for the soul. Also Vienna is probably a damned fine place to buy a birthday cake for Mr. B. As for me, I was 18 the last time I visited Vienna (please don't do the math) so it will be all new.

Berlin

From Vienna we fly to Berlin. This will be my first visit to Berlin and I am eager to experience it. Friends always tell me how much they enjoy Berlin. My list includes visits to the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, the Alt (Alternative) Berlin free Street Art walking tour, the Brandenburg Gate and just time to absorb Berlin's explosion in contemporary architecture.

Madrid

We wrap up with a flight back to Madrid (perhaps a tour of another soccer stadium?) Me, I plan to eat some of Spain's spectacular tapas, delicious ham, and drink some Sangria. I also want to see if I can secure a definitive answer to my open question - who is the dead guy in the Palacio Real Chapel?

For those noting that we are beginning and ending our trip through Spain?

Here's a Roadboy Tip:
Travel via Spain is both a joy and a bargain. The people of Spain are wonderful. Sadly, Spain is currently experiencing fiscal hell and can use our tourist bucks. Spain has two gorgeous and modern airports: Madrid's Barajas (the fourth busiest airport in Europe) and Barcelona's glistening El Prat.

Now consider this, a "free" flight to London Heathrow results in $289 in added per passenger fees. Whereas a "free" ticket into Barcelona accrues added per passenger fees of only $54!

In fact, here are some current sample airport fees to consider. Amazingly (at least to me), the big winner in bargain fees is Venice's Marco Polo airport!

London: $289 (a jolly good rip-off?)

Paris: $139    
Frankfurt: $139

Athens: $80

Zurich: $69

Amsterdam: $64  
Rome: $64

Brussels: $62

Madrid: $60

Barcelona: $54

Dublin $53

Venice: $51 

Our planes, house sitter and hotels are all booked (at those great old redemption rates.) We just need to reserve the puppy resort.

Roadboy's Travels © 2013

A Return to Barcelona

The Bari Gotic, Las Ramblas and the Marina

Last week in Madrid we wondered where everyone had gone.

Here in Barcelona we found them all!

We arrived kind of late at night, so we just went straight to the hotel and checked in. I splurged and cashed in a heroic amount of Marriott points to stay at the Ritz Carlton Barcelona Arts. It is 30 stories of grand luxe right on the beach. Cokes in the mini bar just $10. A full American breakfast only $55 each. The place is full of yanks all seemingly driving new glossy black german super cars. Fear not! The 1% is doing just fine.

So anyway, Day one we slept in and took it kind of easy. We set out to explore the Bari Gotic. This is the portion of Barcelona that was behind Roman walls. It is still a maze of little tiny meandering narrow streets. There are gargoyles galore and little shops selling virtually everything. On the edge of the Gotic is (in my humble opinion) one of the best building's in Barcelona - the Palau of Catalan Music. We just took a look at the outside this time (see Roadboy's Barcelona posts from February 2010 for more on the Palau.) I was hoping there might be someone performing, but it seems the calendar the Palau resumes in September.

The Streets of the Gotic

The Gargoyles

The Shops

We stopped for a sidewalk bocadillo (sandwich) at the Mercat de Santa Catarina. We made our way from the Gotic to join the crowd strolling down the Las Ramblas. It was the end of the day so the fruit venders in the La Bouqueria (mercado) were closing out fresh fruit salads and juice. We got big fruit bowls to take to the hotel for dinner. Not sure what one of the melons was, but it was just as sweet as sugar. The fresh kiwi / mango juice I got was pretty awesome too.

Fresh Squeezed Juices at the La Bouqueria

At the end of the Las Ramblas were all the human statues.

Mugging With a Human Statue

We finished at the tall Columbus statue and then started strolling along Barcelona's beautiful Port Veil marina. From here the cruise ships embark, the Los Golindrinas tour boats depart, and the old 1929 era aerial tram still wisks passengers from the port to a point midway up Montjuc!

Columbus Pointing to Sea

Port Tramway

    

We walked back to the hotel stopping more than once to admire the huge jellyfish seemingly everywhere.

One of the Big Colorful Jellyfish

Back in the room I snapped a picture from our aerie on the 24th floor. Pretty awesome view! The beach malecon is in the foreground. Barcelona's biomedical research campus is kind of in the middle. Down the way is the Barcelonetta neighborhhood and the sail shaped building is the new "W" hotel. The tower for the old tram is just to the left of Montjuc (mountain) on the right. A great view day or night.

The View From the Arts

Tomorrow I'll summarize two days of immersion in all things Gaudi!


Roadboy's Travels © 2012

And They're Off!

Ok lets run through it one more time....

Housesitter instructions updated?
Check!

Bills paid?
Check!

Travel Cash?
Check!

Credit card issuers notified?
Check!

Dogs got their meds and especiale food?
Check!

I-phone Euro-enabled?
Check!

Passport copies in the office safe?
Check!

Packing all done?
Check!

I think we are all ready! So dear readers my next few posts will be from Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona!


Roadboy's Travels © 2012

Barcelona!

Futbol, Gaudi, and Catalan Charm

We arrived into Madrid's spacious and beautiful airport. I was surprised to find out it is Europe's third busiest airport! From there we puddle jumped to Barcelona and ogled its equally spacious and beautiful airport. Had a bit of rain on Monday and so after hours, and hours, and still more hours of flying, we just crashed at the hotel. 

Madrid Terminal 4

Barcelona Terminal 1

(Look at That Beautiful Floor!)

Tuesday it was still raining, so that made it a good day to go to a museum and a Mercato! The curvy roofed Mercato Santa Caterina was wonderful (why can't we get fresh food like this in PHX?). The amazing thing is it is completely built on stilts to preserve the ancient foundation walls of the Santa Caterina Monastery (that it is built right smack dab on top of!)  After much directional confusion we then found the lovely Picasso Museum. It fills two ancient mansions in the Gothic Quarter (Bari Gotic) of Barcelona. Nice architecture so I was happy. 


Personally, I think Picasso's work reflects the efforts of an ambulatory schizophrenic, but traveling with an art scholar has certain obligations. I actually have to admit that I loved his early work (before he got all cubist). I am a simp and really like knowing what the heck it is I'm looking at. 

The Roof Over The Mercat Santa Caterina

The Crisp Clean Stalls in the Mercat

What the Mercat is Built OVER!

The Courtyard To The Picasso Museum

(The ONLY part they let you photograph)

Typical Streetscene in the Gothic Quarter

Wednesday the sky could not have been a more brilliant blue. We had breakfast looking out over a shimmering section of Barcelona's 12KM of public beaches! We then went off for 4 hours of open-top bus touring. We learned many things. Barcelona is beautiful beyond words. Barcelona LOVES its Futbol (the FC Barcelona stadium seats well over 100,000!) Barcelona is huge. Barcelona is surrounded by mountains. The people of Barcelona are some of the friendliest people in the world. People in Barcelona dress very chic and they eat very well. 


So, everything fits pretty much in Roadboy's "like it" category. 

Roadboy's Travel's © 2010