Help a cule brotha out!
By: Isaiah | April 28th, 2008Before I get to the preview of Tuesday’s all-important match against ManU at Old Trafford, I’d like to cover something that is very close to my heart: This summer, my brother and I are going on a 3-week European vacation in July. And since most of the people here are situated around the world, I figured this was a pretty good location to ask for some advice.
Now, I’m no chump when it comes to visiting foreign countries (or at least I like to think so), but I don’t know diddly-doo-doo about the places I’m going (which is why I’m going). So if any of you have any advice on what to do, where to stay, who to drink with in any of the following cities, please give a shout out in the comments or if you want to keep it private, email me at barcelona [at] theoffside [dot] com.
1. Barcelona - You may have heard of this place and while there are obvious destinations for me (The Camp something or other…), it’s the details I want to experience.
2. Pamplona for the running of the bulls. Not sure I need advice on anything other than where to stay (and by now there’s probably nowhere)
3. Madrid - As long as you don’t say the Bernabeu…
4. Prague
5. Bratislava
6. Budapest
I speak Spanish, but not a damned word of Czech, Slovak, or Hungarian, so I’m going to get by on English and sign language. And beer. Enough cerveza and I’ll be fluent in all those languages. If you have any suggestions of side trips, I’ll be rocking the rail pass, so I’d probably be into going somewhere that isn’t on the beaten path in Eastern Europe.
Okay, thanks in advance for helping me out!
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Barcelona: You want to stay at the Hotel Spa Senator. It’s less than a 5-minute walk to the Nou Camp, and the rates are always great. Nice rooms, too. Just stay clear of the Camp Nou after dark, as that’s where the….ahem….indigenous businessmendressedasladies congregate.
Stay away from the BusTouristic. You don’t see much as it doesn’t stop. It is good for getting your bearings. I had a lot more fun pedalling my bicycle around the city, or using cabs/mass transit. Cabs are cheap, and the Barcelona cabdrivers will get you in the mood for Pamplona.
If you’re a Soci member, by the by, the Camp Nou tour is free.
Gaudi tours are a must, though again, we did a self-guided thing. Pass on paying to get inside Sagrada Famlilia, though. The coolest stuff is on the outside, unless you want to go up into the belfry.
Nightlife begins after 10, so eat accordingly. We have never found a bad meal there, but there is this one spectacular tapas place that is just off Las Ramblas….if I think of the name I’ll let you know. It’s always packed, and for good reason. Prices are good, too. A friend and I ate ourselves immobile for about 60 Euros, including beverages. I know exactly how to walk there, but not its name. Go figure.
The Picasso museum is a must, as is Parc Guell. Bring those walking shoes, and be sure to try the gelato inside the snack shop there. It kills. You’ll be fine with Spanish. They’re fully aware of the reality that not everyone speaks Catalan.
Do the usual tourist stuff and you’ll be satisfied. I did my one-man Barcelona tour by bike and saw lots of cool stuff, but I had my Nuvi 370 in my skinsuit pocket, in case I got too turned around. A very nice pedal (you can rent bikes) is also the distance of Avignuda Diagonal down to the sea.
Prices are reasonable for everything except long-term lodging, so you’ll have a great time. Good luck.
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Oh, and pace yourself. I go every year, so I try to leave myself stuff to do, rather than just driving in from France, seeing the match then driving home.
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nake sure you hit up plaza espanyol and the national park too (if you fly into Barca, the airport bus will make its first stop right there). it’s beautfiul, has gardens, the catalan national art museum, olympic stadium, and the impressive radio tower.
for Madrid, I stayed at a Hi-Tech Hotel, right off of Gran Via. I can’t remember the cross street, but it was the perfect locale if you want to walk around historic and modern downtown. We could walk or at least take the metro to Plaza Mayor, congress, La Bolsa, the royal palace, el Ayuntamiento, and much more, plus a ton of discotecos. The nightlife in Madrid is quite amazing actually. And yeah, lots of, uh, friendly ladies come out on Gran Via at night but they aren’t pushy.
Make sure you get to the Prado for all of the Velazquez and del Greco works (and more). and conveniently the Reina Sofia is just down the street which houses Picasso’s Guernica which is a must as well as most of Salvador Dali’s work.
prague and pamplona are on my list for next summer…i’d like to hear how your pamplona experience is.
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Ach! Forgot about that, as well as the Olympic stadium, which is kind of cool. Just remember….if you buy an Espanyol shirt you’ll burn in hell for eternity.
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Kevin and Joe, first, thanks for your suggestiosn. I suppose I should have made it clear that we’re going to be doing hostel style trip, rather than actual hotels. We’re 24 and 26 and aren’t looking for relaxation as much as we are nightlife (and yes, the tourist thing with all the sightseeing). We’ll sleep mainly on trains and will be out of our lodgings most of the day and night, so we don’t need to go fancy.
Who needs to sleep when you’ve got weak currency to spend!?
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Isaiah, I know I’ve made a mess of your name in the past, but please forgive and take me with!
All kidding aside, I hope you and your brother have a blast! Currency being in short supply, I’ll have to hold off on my dream pilgrimage for at least a few more months. But when that time comes I’ll be looking to all of you for advice as well.
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Indeed. I’m jealous. I’m missing out on my 3-week southern France sojourn this year (usually timed to hit the Gamper match and a couple of others), thanks to an 18-year-old husky/akita mix (still going strong….amazing!). I’m glad not to be going if it means my buddy is still here, but still.
Best advice. Think of vacation money as not real money. You’ll have more fun that way, since the Euro is about $1.60 at last glance. You might be better off taking shiny trinkets with which to barter.
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As a Valencianista it hurts to say but, Barcelona fucking rocked my socks.
Things to do; Gaudi, man that architecture is awesome. Not just the Familia but the house and everything he touched is great. Nightlife was awesome too, just make sure you get a good hostel. Try the Albareda Youthhostel, I stayed there and met the best people of my three months of backpacking. Awesome staff too, especially ‘Mum’ the owner. You can book it at hostelworld.com which is a good website for booking hostels.
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I’m sure at least one unnamed blaugrana can attest to the amazing nightlife there. I’m not naming names of course, as I think Kxevin might spontaneously combust if he hears it one more time.
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Said unnamed individual was rather fond of a colleague’s niece, and extended an invite into the VIP area of the Barcelona nightclub he was shutting down. (This was last season, btw.) She declined, and her friends called her insane. Go figure.
See, I’m too old to go clubbing, so I don’t have advice for Isaiah on that score, unfortunately.
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Rory, I’ll definitely check out that hostel.
Might be a change of plans: what about Berlin and Hamburg instead of Slovakia and Hungary? My brother is pushing that itinerary. I’ve been to Berlin, so I’m good on that score, but anyone know anything about Hamburg?
I’m couchsurfing it up, so hopefully that will reduce expenditures as well.
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Isaiah,
I may be in Barcelona doing research this summer, so as soon as I know, I’ll let you know.
Why not Sevilla?? It is AMAZING in the south of Spain!!! I recommend it since I used to live there.
I’ll find the name of the hostel I used to stay in Madrid. It’s cheap, and right in Gran Via. Also, if you want to go out in Madrid, I have friends still that live there, so let me know and they can show you guys a good time.
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Whats wrong with London?
Go on a tour of Stamford Bridge or the Emirates, White Hart Lane, Upton Park, Craven Cottage, Brisbane Road, The Valley - loads of London clubs as well as the usual suspects LOL LOL!! Have a good trip.
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