Barcelona Travel Guide

 
by call_me_rhia
 
  •   Barcelona
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  • mochima
      mochima
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  • playa colorada
      playa colorada
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  • the beach of playa el faro
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  • isla tortuga from the air
      isla tortuga from the air
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Explore Barcelona

Things to Do  

Iglesia El Carmen

Iglesia El Carmen, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  The church El Carmen is the church I liked most in Barcelona. I liked it so much - and immediately - that not only Imistook it for the cathedral, but I also persuaded my travel companions that it was. Everyone around us who heard me laughted, including a school group on a... 

Casa Fuerte

Casa Fuerte, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Another very important building in Barcelona is the Casa Fuerte. It's a national historic monument that, originally (in 1811), served as a convent, then the war of independence started and Simon Bolivar and his followers took it and used it defensively. Six years laer, in... 

The Theatre

The Theatre, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Barcelona's two most important historical areas are centered around the three main plazas: Bolivar, Miranda, and Boyacá. In one of them you can see this wonderful building: it's the city's theatre. 

La Catedral

La Catedral, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  The Catedral (cathedral) is one of the most important buildings in Barcelona. It was builtbetween 1748 and 1773 - and while it was being built, it suffered damages which were caused by an earthquake. Inside you can see the remains of Saint Celestine. For this reason,... 

Casco Colonial

Casco Colonial, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  If you spend most of your time in Lecherias or Puerto La Cruz, you'll either start loving the sight of tall buildings, and else you'll hate it. A great way to escape it is to head to Barcelona- which is theo nly of the three to have a casco colonial. Some buildings are truly... 

Transportation  

fly me the paradise

fly me the paradise, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  One of the two ways to get to Isla La Tortuga is by private plane... which I don't own. The other is by yacht, whichI don't own either, on top it takes about 4 hours to get there and costs a fortune. A trusted friend recommended a the aerotaxi of a charming Frenchman based... 

thousand islands to visit

thousand islands to visit, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Ok, thousand islands to visit is an exaggeration - but offshore there are really several islands - rocky, not flat - to visit. The most impressive belong to two group of islands. the Islas himanas and the Islas Borrachas. To visit them you'll need a boat (lancha). From some... 

Shopping  

Plaza Mayor shopping centre: all that you want... and net cafes
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the shopping centre's architecture

Plaza Mayor shopping centre is a modern and expensive Puerto La Cruz shopping centre. It's very colourful and its architecture wants to remind you of some old colonial buildings. The shopping centre, located in the
posh yachts-filled El Morro neighbourhood, has everything you'lll ever desire at very expensive prices. Still, it's worth a visit if you're looking for an internet cafe with decent speed - or a scanner. There's also a real travel agent that can conform your homebound flight

Written Oct 13, 2004

Address: Puerto La Cruz

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Warnings and Dangers  

iguanas
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iguanas

The first time I saw a real iguana was here in Venezuela.. and more precisely on Playa El Faro on one of the Islas Chimanas. How beautiful, I though - and shot several pictures of them. And in the meantime I was thinking. why does no one feed them? Someone explained to me only days later: if they bite you, they can chop a finger off you... and well, if they hit yo with their tail, they will cut you quite deeply - and you'll end up needing many nasty stiches. So beware of the iguanas. they are cute - but they can hurt.

Updated Oct 13, 2004

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Off The Beaten Path  

Isla La Tortuga

Isla La Tortuga, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Isla La Tortuga is a deserted heaven halfway between Isla Margarita and Puerto La Cruz. It's 1 big island (the second biggest in Venezuela) and 3 smaller ones. The islands are uninhabited, with the exception of a handful of fishermen during the lobster season. Then you have... 

Playa Colorada

Playa Colorada, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Playa Colorada is a wonderful beach about 20 minutes drive from Puerto La Cruz. Because it's not located on an island, it's really easy to get there and - at weekends - it gets unbearably crowded. it's ok during the week, though... not many people, some stray dogs.. and... 

Mochima

Mochima, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Mochima is the name of a National Park as well as the name of a location about 30 minutes from Puerto La Cruz. It's a tiny village with a couple of posadas and a pier (embarcadero) where you can rent a "passage out to one of the islands' beaches. The most famous ones, from... 

Playa el Faro

Playa el Faro, Barcelona

 call_me_rhia Says:  Playa El faro is a nice little beach on one of the Islas Chimanas, just offshore from Puerto La Cruz. Most people get there by private boat, but it's also possible to have a lanchero take you there, from one of the city's piers. There are plenty of cute iguanas on the... 

Favorites  

three cities in one
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lecherias

Favorite thing: Barcelona.. is not really only Barcelona.... the city - practically speaking - sort of embeds two other cities: Puerto La Cruz and Lecherias. They are not the safest cities in Venezuela (stay in at night and listen to the gunshots - then read on the papers the next day how many people were killed!), nor the nicest - but their location is great: if you are a sun lover - from there you can visit wonderful beaches

Fondest memory: We stayed in Lecherias - since we have friends who own a house there... then we went shopping in Puerto la Cruz, there's just more choice and variety... and for sights we went to Barcelona, which has a quite interesting casco colonial... And for beaches? Well, they ar all around!

Updated Oct 13, 2004

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Map of Barcelona