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 | Barcelona Parks / Plazas Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 31 |  |
 | |  |  | Parks / Plazas: Collserola Park / wooded massif | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
Although many tourists visit Tibidabo, few bother to explore the enormous woodland area on the Collserola massif. This is a pity, because there are cycleways, riding trails, and paths that provide a welcome change from pounding hot city streets. There is a visitor centre revealing the unusual mixture of Mediterranean and North European fauna and flora found in the park (including wild boars and genets). The trails are generally well-laid out and signposted. Rather than going into detail, I have placed a link to the park authority below. Note that Tibidabo is fairly close to the visitor centre [Address: Carretera de l'Esglesia, 92, Tel: 932 803 552] and a good jumping-off point for many of these walks. However, one path you would do well to avoid is the Cami de Sant Iscle. That is because Uralita, a company making asbestos cement, dumped industrial quantities of fibre waste along this track back in the 1970s. It seemed like a good idea to the local council at the time - a durable substrate and free! Many of the locals cycle and walk along this track, blissfully unaware of the deadly legacy and the asbestos fibres released as they churn the sandy surface. As a well-informed tourist, this is one health hazard you can save yourself. After all, you want the city to have a place in your heart, not leave a shadow on your lungs. Those staying in the old quarter of the city and anywhere near demolition work should also watch out - asbestos cement roof water tanks and piping are commonly ripped out with no concern at all for public safety. Unfortunately, environmental concern and standards in Spain still lag far behind most of Northern Europe. If you visit the park in the autumn/winter months, check the hunting season. The locals are gun crazy and are allowed to shoot boar in the park. More than one hiker has been blasted by trigger-happy yokels. Take these basic precautions and you should have a pleasant day out. Put enough water and food in your rucksack and a map of the paths. Leave a Comment Phone: 932 803 552 park visitor centreWebsite: http://pmpc.amb.es/NOVA/angles/home/home.htm
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| | | | Parks / Plazas: Gracia, Placa del Sol: a Truly Catalan Experience | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Slightly outside of the touristy center of the city that orbits Las Ramblas and Placa Catalunya is a neighborhood called Gracia. Take the Green Line north to Fontana and get off to experience some real Catalan culture and avoid the toursits you are bound to see and English you are bound to speak in some of the better known parts of the city. Gracia has a small-town feel, and you will struggle to find one street performer or tourist gift shop. Stroll down c/ Verdi and grab some food and a movie, or head over to Placa del Sol for some real Barcelona nightlife. Dotted with cafes and bars, the Placa is devoid of tourism, and maybe even a little intimidating for an obvious American like myself, but well worth the effort once you're there. Once night, some friends and I met a flamenco singer in the back of a bar, exchanged some broken Castellano, and ended up outside after the bar closed, our new friend singing along and flamenco dancing on an old wooden box while my italian friend played the guitar on a nearby rooftop. It was surreal, and far from our typical nights at L'Ovella Negra and Port Olympico. So to get what you've always imagined bohemian, European travel to be, get off the beaten path and trek into Gracia. You never know what you might find.
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Barcelona
on May 23, 2004
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