BS Uno - The Odyssey Begins (Placa Catalunya)

Member Name: jeffersons

Product:	Placa Catalunya
Date:	23/06/01 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Accessibility, Fountains

Disadvantages: Pigeons, Pickpockets

Picasso had a Blue Period, the US elections had a grey period; the time has come for my Barcelona period! My next few opinions will be drawn from my recent experiences on a school trip in this wonderful city. After much deliberation, I have decided against writing a general Barcelona op, as I feel that I could never depict the city in its full glory in a single article without breaking records - and sending you all to sleep... Therefore I'll insert general tips and information liberally throughout the series. Read on and enjoy!


Plaça Catalunya is the first port of call for many visitors to Barcelona, as the shuttle trains from "El Prat" international airport (no sniggering please!) stop at the Catalunya metro station serving the square; the shuttle buses also make it a drop-off point. The square is best described as the beating heart of Barcelona, situated slap-bang in the centre of the city, at one end of the mighty La Rambla.

Getting to Plaça Catalunya is never a problem. Aside from the various forms of shuttle transport and relaxing strolls down La Rambla, Catalunya is the city's nearest equivalent to King's Cross station - no less than 3 of Barcelona's 4 metro lines pass through the hub, meaning that you'll be there at some point, whether you want to or not! On a general note, the metro system is fast and very easy to navigate around. Stations are clearly identified by an "M" inscribed in a red diamond, and interchanges are a matter of following signposts. Moreover, as a Londoner, I found it ridiculously cheap - 10 journeys of any length cost 885ptas (~£3.50) and multi-day passes were available for slightly more. Makes you wonder what London Transport is doing with the cash...

Once you're at the square, enjoy the great view! It can be likened to Trafalgar Square in many ways: an expansive pigeon-dominated open space, surrounded by steps teeming with people or impressive marble fountains,
depending on which way you look. These fountains are lit up beautifully at night to create a sight for sore eyes. Benches are dotted generously around the square, so it's a fine place for a break in the hectic sightseeing schedule - if you're not afraid of the pigeons 'depositing their load' *cough cough*

Surrounding the square are lots of shops, the largest of which are huge branches of Corte Inglés and good ol' Marks & Spencers. Resist the temptation to trek through the latter - there are enough of them in the UK and this branch isn't all that different! In any case, it may well be closed by the time you go, as part of M&S's European restructuring plans. Corte Inglés is worth visiting if only to experience a typical Spanish shopping centre, but souvenirs there are neither cheap nor attractive, and on the whole, I found the store uninspiring.

Plaça Catalunya's central location and accessibility mean that it's a prime meeting place for tourist groups. If you're an early bird who prefers to explore the city at the crack of dawn, it's such a convenient spot at which to congregate again later on with your friends. Unfortunately, these facts also attract numbers of dodgy and unsavoury characters to the square. Petty crime is rife and pickpockets are extremely abundant. Be sure to keep a close eye on valuables while you're absorbing the sights, sounds and smells!

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