Barcelona for Women

You can buy cheapest Barcelona tickets at Ryanair. If you’re on the plane early, read a guidebook. Or how to keep away from pickpockets. Especially on the way to the hostel. It’s never too late to panic. 

 

Just before leaving, you’ll have to press your plane ticket to the electronic reader. The thing probably won’t work but don’t panic. Someone’s there to help you. 

 

And you’ll board the plane. You’ll fly above the French Riviera. Very fancy.  

  

After a couple of hours of flying and air shop offers, they’ll make an announcement that you landed to the Barcelona’s airport El Prat. After claiming the baggage, you have to decide whether you’ll be going to the city by train or by bus. If you’re going by train, follow the signs. Cross the tunnel to the platform, where they sell tickets. If you’re checking in HI Hostel Equality Point, I recommend you to get off at the Passeig de Gracia. You can all read it here.

 

If you’re not fond of walking, you can move around Barcelona with public transportation. You have plenty card choices here. First, there is T-card, which is really cool. It offers you 10 rides for 10 euros. Buses, trams and airport train are included. Bus ride is especially great as you can see everything around. 

 

There’s also Barcelona Card that offers you unlimited transportation and some discounts on attractions, restaurants and souvenir stores. You pay them day by day, 20 euros for 2 days and 45 euros for three days. You can decide what you need. You can read more about it here. 

 

Simple. Watch the people in front of you. You put the card into the machine and move on when the green light turns on and the machine gives you the card back. A little practice and you’ll be fine. Be careful not to wrinkle your card, they’re really sensitive. But if you do, bravely approach the people who are there to help you and tell them your problem. They will replace your card. But I’m sure it will not happen to you. Orientation on the metro is really simple. The stations are always announced on the speaker. If that doesn’t help, they also have a map that tells you where you are.

 

Barcelona has a lot of McDonalds restaurants. That’s what’s important, right? They also have their own Starbucks.  Whoa. You will find this and a lot more on the Paseig du Gracia street. And yes, this is the street where Guelli’s casas stand. See one or two. I’m sure you’ll like them. And Facebook will also like them. 

 

In Barceloneta (a part near the coast) have a seafood lunch or dinner. Especially paella and sangria. There’s so many restaurants that you can’t really find the best one. You’ll also find out that these kind of restaurants aren’t located in the city centre. So turn on your noses and research the small streets. 

 

There’s also a sea nearby where you can take a swim. And looong sandy beach. There’s a big crowd on the bathrooms on the beach. And by mojitos that you can haggle for. Every next mojito is cheaper for one euro. And has more rum.

 

Now I’ll give you an advice. Don’t fill your suitcase too much. There’s Primark in Barcelona, dream of every woman. Everything’s cheap. There are smaller Primarks in Barcelona than anywhere else, which is only good. At least you’re not there for the whole day. Buy yourself some new clothes. And if you won’t find it as it is in the underground shopping centre (at least the one on the Diagonal Street), ask someone. You won’t be the only one. People also asked me, where Primark is. 

 

The last thing I want to mention are attractions.  Finding all these famous houses, churches, stadiums, parks has to be at least a little stressful. If you don’t know what is a must see in Barcelona, read a guidebook or find postcards. I only have a few tips. I can’t tell you to go to Sagrada Familia, because I didn’t go. I can only tell you that it doesn’t look like it will be finished any time soon so you can visit it another time if you don’t have the time now.

 

 

If you’re going to Güelli Park, book the tickets in advance. You can’t imagine how many school groups goes there. Is it worth it? For seven euros, definitely. But there’s a nice park around it also, so stroll around it.  Then there’s also the hill Montjuic from where you could watch beautiful sunset if it weren’t for all the trees. I recommend walking to the top.  Go on the main street. If you’ll walk on the beautiful paths by the ponds you won’t come anywhere. But they are nice for hanging out. Nearby, there’s also a pathway of the famous, where the famous Spaniards printed their feet.  You will mostly see athletes’ feet there. Especially interesting (and big) is the foot of Pau Gasol. Nearby, there’s the Olympic stadium and on the platform, a beautiful view on the city.  At Plaza Espana there’s a palace that was built for the world exhibition. In front of the palace, people are selling selfie sticks. Just say that you have them in your own language and move on. 

 

Stop at the Palace Real where they have beautiful fake animals from colourful tiles. The next amazing thing is Riva where you can parade in your new clothes. Or go on the stroll to the cool shopping centre across the bridge from Colombo memorial.  The old city centre is also beautiful, be sure to see the gothic quarter. So, my dear, stroll around the small streets, discover new squares, admire cute houses and eat a lot of ice cream. And know that feminists never get lost, they just find a new way.

 

If you’re expecting some advice on night life, I will only share one song with you: 

When I came to Spain and I saw people party

I told to myself: What the fuck!?

All day, all night

All day, all night

Viva la fiesta, viva la noche

Viva los DJ's

 

And the last advice: Watch out for your luggage, bags and everything else. The most dangerous thing is the way from the airport to the hostel and back, when you have your suitcase with you. Don’t show people where your money is. Have your ID somewhere safe. Keeping it in a bra is the best. When you’re going around town, you can also pretend you’re pregnant with a bag under your sweater. 

 

And now I can only say have a safe trip. Or as Freddie Mercury would say: »Barcelona- like a jewel in the sky, how can we forget? «.