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La Sagrada Familia in Background at top of La Pedr
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Woman and Bird (Miro)
hi guys,
We are a mid 30s couple, any suggestion about places to go to on the New Years Eve?
Which are the cultural traditions of the holiday?
Any specific dress code, rituals, etc?
thank you so much!
I'm sorry to say, but NYE is not a big celebration in Barcelona. At least, not a big "public" celebration (is a big family event). We typically celebrate it at home with family and/or friends, having a big dinner and "eating the 12 grapes" at midnight (one grape at each bell) and cheering with lots of cava.... only going out well past midnight (in case we don't continue the party at home until the sunrise... or later)
A few hundred people (mainly tourists) do concentrate in Plaça de Catalunya and Las Ramblas at midnight. Is just where most of we locals will not go on that night even if we were paid for!!!... it was notorious some years ago for getting rough, some people fighting and bottle-throwing and many, many pickpockets having a great time. Last years (and I guess this one) there is more police around so it's not as bad. But still, no fireworks, no music, nothing.
Other people go near the Agbar Tower to "have the 12 grapes" with its changing colors at midnight. OK if you're nearby (as myself as I live 5 min walking from the tower) but is not where I would go if I had to cross the city on purpose. Some tourists looked very 'lost' there on lasts years, when after the changing colors everyone came back home and nothing else.
I don't want to be the carrier of bad news, but better don't go with wrong expectations. If you book in a nice restaurant and later go to a club you can have a nice night. But if you want to see how people from Barcelona party... there are much better dates, as Sant Joan on Jun 23 and especially on La Merce (last week of September). For December 31, I'm afraid the only way to do it "as locals do" would be sneaking on a private party....
see the Sagrada Familia. It goes without saying that the architectural works of Gaudi are the most familiar aspects of the city. In my experience, Barcelona is more of a city for shopping, people watching, and nightlife (of course). But if you do nothing more during the day, you must see the works of this incredible artist!
PHOTO: Sagrada Familia from main entrance
Visit the Sagrada Familia. This building is unique and breathtaking no matter how you feel about the actual aesthetics of the arctitecture. I think it's the most daring and interestingly beautiful building I have ever seen. Arriving at Arc de Triomphe station on a Sunday afternoon and strolling through the Citudella in the sunshine. Everyone seemed to be in the park. Families out for a stroll, groups of young people sitting on the grass chatting, juggling, practising yoga, playing bongos, children playing...everywhere, children playing. Everyone smiled at us and made us feel welcome.
This is what we call "pata negra" also known as BELLOTA.
These kind of cured ham happens to be one of the most delicacy here in Spain. It could run you in the range of 450 Euros for one leg of pata negra...but no regrets as it all seems melting in your mouth with a good glass of wine would be the most delicious meal.
I honestly do not know why most people miss thisý Too little time, Iýd say. But I made a point of seeing the walls, and it was really funny to find them in what is a modern, bustling city. There are just a couple of well-preserved stretches, though I bet there are others, too. But I myself was short of time, so I decided just to see those two. Hereýs how to get there:
- South-western side of Placa Ramon de Berenguer el Gran
- Northern end of Carrer del Sotstinent Navarro
The walls date from 3rd and 4th centuries, when the Romans were forced to create more impressive defenses around the city to protect it from the invaders who, in this instance, were Germanic tribes.
I had always hated shopping for shoes as, for some reason, there aren't that many shoe shops in German cities compared to southern Europe and they all seem to offer more or less the same shoes anyway. In Barcelona, however, I discovered my passion for shopping for shoes *lol* Almost every second shop there seems to be a shoe shop and they all offer all kinds of different shoes. If you don't find any shoes in Barcelona, you won't find shoes nowhere *lol* ;-)
The main shopping area is at Placa Catalunya where you'll find the Corte Inglés and in the Old Town, just a stone's throw away from Las Ramblas. I also liked the shopping along Passeig de Gràcia. Clothes seemed to be cheaper than in Germany and even more so shoes.
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