In the Kudablin project, we send completely different people on traveling at our expense! Anna Frolova visited Barcelona: she arranged a tasting of treats at the Fira de Santa Llucia fair, recognized the Catalan Christmas traditions and saw the city from a height. Read more – in her report!
I have no habit of whining on Instagram about the weather, but to insert offline offline in the ear – why not? When the daylight hours lasts only 4 hours, and the bedroom window in the morning is covered with hoarfrost, thoughts about warm edges become almost obsessive. Who could know that the Universe would hear me so fast? The universe in the person of @onetwotrip, who intended to send me to one of the solar countries with special prisming #Kudablin and with which you decide! It was thought that it was somehow dishonest that last time it was not possible to give you the opportunity to choose a flight direction for me, so with a clear conscience to tear yourself up this time 1. Tel Aviv 2. Athens 3. Barcelona voting will last until 16.00 tomorrow Moscow time. And let your luck come with me
More than spontaneous trips, I love when a heavy burden of choosing between a cool and no less cool options can be laid on others. And the happiness that @onetwotrip has provided such an opportunity! The fate of my journey is again in your hands, and this time you need to decide what special prisoner I have to be fulfilled in Barcelona (playing a journalist, taster or guide?): 1. Arrange the tasting of Christmas treats at the Fira de Santa Llucia fair. 2. To feel like a journalist and take an interview with 10 local residents, learning why Barcelona needs to love. 3. Make a tour for tourists in Ramble. Well, again I will trust the fate in the person of you, my friends PS did you know that I was actually an introvert?
Unlike late spring and summer – the peak of the tourist season, in the fall on the streets of Barcelona quietly, calmly and deserted. On the weekend, the city is especially lazy and slow – only by noon you can meet the first townspeople who walk their pets or slowly sipping coffee in a cozy coffee shop. Unlike some other cities of Spain, in Barcelona, despite the cult of “endless siesta”, cafes and restaurants are open both during the day and on weekends.
And to stay here hungry and it is completely impossible: the croissants with chocolate cost 1 euros, and a large portion of Paelli is 6. It is easy to guess how every morning my morning began with a bakery just a stone’s throw from the hotel.
On the very first evening, I went to the observation deck on Catalonia Square. You can get to it on the elevator by paying 2 euros or completely free, rising to the last floor of the shopping center connected to it. To my disappointment, it did not work out to enjoy the panorama of the city and Mount Montzhuik – the downpour poured.
Despite the rain in the winter in Barcelona is good. The temperature in the day on the street can rise to +16 ° C, and at night drop to +6 ° C. What to wear for a walk is to solve only to you; In one metro car, I met a company of girls in summer dresses and ballet shoes and several people in down jackets and dense boots. I was heard that the Catalans would frown “in the winter”, but I did not suggest how much. However, when gathering in Barcelona, keep in mind that houses and hotels in the autumn-winter period are not heated, and the room may be cold enough.
The next day, I was going to climb to the very top of Barcelona – a viewing platform of the Holy Heart temple on Mount Tibidabo, which is located at an altitude of 565 meters above sea level. At the foot of the temple, a beautiful view of the city opens, and from the Talaia attraction in the Tibidabo Park – the best view of the temple itself.
Photo: EMAD Aljumah / Gettyimages
You can get to Tibidabo in the fall and winter by metro. It took me about half an hour of waiting at the stop to realize that the same T2 bus, which is written about in all articles and guides, drives only in the summer. The blue tram has now gone “on vacation”. Instead of it, a bus runs from the metro station to a funicular.
Your route:
1. Along the metro L7, you get to the end station Av.tibidabo.
2. On the right side of the exit from the metro you go to the stop, sit on the number 196 bus and arrive directly to the funicular to Tibidabo. A funicular ticket is bought separately and costs 7.7 euros in both directions.
For the last 12 hours, I took the left -handed manner from OneTwotrip to make a plane home – I had to arrange a tasting of Christmas treats at the main fair of the city – Fira de Santa Llucia. It was then that which I did not expect at all: neither in this fair, nor in the other two, I found any hints of treats and any food in principle! I had to improvise and carefully study the goods on the shelves of stalls.
Very quickly, souvenirs in the form of different sizes of logs on legs with painted eyes and a smile decorated with red hats were attracted. And then there is a stand, completely forced by hundreds of figures-images-from comic book characters to politicians and players, in rather piquant poses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovst9ycugoa
Meet the good old symbols of the Nativity of the Catalans – Kaganer and Kagatio (or Tio de Nadal).
It is customary to give these figures in Catalonia to each other for Christmas. It is believed that kaganers bring good luck and success to their owners. At the same time, the tradition also serves as a model of folk satire – in the image of kaganers, anyone can be depicted – from peasants to those in power, which in such an unusual way proves the equality of all people.
Kagatio performs a different function – on Christmas, he gives children gifts. According to the same ancient tradition, on December 8, on the day of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, they choose a log, put a hat on it, draw their eyes, cover with a blanket so that it does not freeze, and begin to “feed”. In front of him, they put dishes where sweets, waffles, tangerines, oranges and other sweets are added.
On December 24, the children wait for the Tio that they will return all the good to them that they did for him (of course this is not happening) and, offended, the kids take wooden batons and begin to knock out gifts from the Tio, singing a funny song, the meaning of which is that as many gifts to be poured from the log, which happens to the general fun.
Tio gives the children only small gifts, but the large ones are brought by Pope Noel – the Spanish Santa Claus or the magic kings – Christmas magic.
If you still do not know where you can go in late autumn – feel free to decide on Barcelona. This is the sea and warm weather and, most importantly, the spirit of the upcoming Christmas. And my advice – in Barcelona, be sure to visit these places:
1. Mount Tibidabo – hence the city is visible in the palm of your hand and you can make a panoramic photo as a souvenir.
2. Barcelonet and Olympic village. Barcelonete is a beautiful walking area and the most popular city of the city near the district of the Olympic village, which was built for the 1992 summer Olympiad. Here is the only casino, numerous cafes, night clubs and bars in the city.
3. Rambla Street and Gothic quarter – the main walking area of the city 1.2 kilometers long. From Rambla you can get to the Gothic quarter – the oldest part of the city. It was here that Barcelona arose.
4. Mount Montzhuik-in fact, this is not a mountain, but a hill, and there are several interesting attractions of the city: a magic fountain, the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, the Gardens of Mossen Costa-I-Lobra, the Spanish village, the Olympic Ring of Barcelona, the Juan Miroi Foundation Museum, the Monjuik fortress.
5. The temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada-Family) is the legendary and most recognizable structure of Antonio Gaudi, built for more than 130 years. Construction is planned to be completed in 2026.
6. Guel Park is another Gaudi creation. This park does not look like any other: there is not a single straight line in architecture and landscape (everything, as Senor Gaudi loved).
Thanks to One Two Trip for the magical weekend.
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The author of the text and photo: Anna Frolova (@mrsannief)
Photo for Preverty: Unsplash.com
