Barcelona:
El Placer es Mio
The nice part of having a job travel writing is that, yes, you guessed it, I get to travel. Sometimes this is a good thing – as in my trip to Barcelona; and sometimes, well, sometimes it is not such a good thing; as in my trip to Barcelona. How can that be, you ask? How can something so good be so bad?
Allow me to enlighten you. And let my tale serve as a warning; Barcelona is a very seductive city and you will yearn for her long after you have returned home. If only someone had warned me …
This trip started out much like any other – I was scheduled to arrive in Barcelona in just a few days to begin my adventure when my lover excitedly told me she was able to clear her schedule and accompany me. For this I too was excited. Traveling alone is exciting, but a bit lonely; traveling with my lover makes the experience so much more, hmm, pleasurable. We set off like two kids with pockets full of quarters on their way to a candy store.
Because I do fly so much, we were able to upgrade (some will say it is my middle name) and enjoy Business Class on American Airlines for our long journey to Europe. The great service and comfortable seats made the journey of just-under 15 hours much nicer. We sipped champagne, enjoyed the in-flight movies and napped on-and-off.
With numerous bags in tow (yes, lesbians overpack too), we arrived with a thud at the doorstep of the Hotel Axel. Located in the heart of the Gayxample - more on this later; the Hotel Axel is perfectly situated for easy access to all that is gay in the city, and is in close proximity to restaurants, the marketplace and museums. Marketed as a “hetero-friendly” property, we knew we would feel at home there, and Hotel Axel did not disappoint. Our room was spacious and very inviting with a King Size bed, a sunny little sitting room, and just about every amenity one might expect to enjoy at a Five-Star hotel. We had a delightful balcony that overlooked the busy street below, but even with all the hustle and bustle, once we closed the balcony door, we could barely hear a sound. After a long, hot bath in our hydromassage tub, we both slipped into our Hotel Axel Robes and laid on the bed for a nice, long rest.
Already, the seduction had begun.
If you’re planning a visit to Barcelona, Hotel Axel is a great choice for your stay. It is a full-service property complete with a restaurant – El Comedor de Axel; a couple of bars – the Axel Sky Bar and the Axel Bar & Chillout; massage, fitness and waterzones; and a boutique offering the clothing of many well known designers. And while there were many more men at the Hotel than women (as is the case in most places I travel), the staff and guests were warm and friendly. (And honestly, my lover and I are more comfortable around the boyz anyway, so it suited us quite well.)
Your wallet will be happy at the Hotel Axel, as well; room rates range from 131 to 321 during high season and 89 to 279 during low season.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and then decided to take a stroll and get more familiar with our surroundings.
My Beautiful Barcelona
I always like to have some basic information about the destination I am visiting. Sometimes I purchase a guidebook at my local bookstore and sometimes I go online and search for interesting facts and historical information about the City. Here’s some of what I learned about Barcelona. It is the seaside capital and the second largest city in Spain, with a population exceeding 1.6 million. Barcelona also has the second largest airport in the country, with Madrid being the largest. Located on the Mediterranean Coast, Barcelona enjoys mild, dry winters and warm, humid summers with temperatures averaging somewhere between 75° and 80°.
We visited in the Fall and enjoyed near-perfect weather; warm daytime temperatures and a bit more brisk temperatures at night. It was still comfortable patio dining at 10:00pm which is really important, considering that no one eats earlier!
Barcelona’s rich culture dates back over 2000 years and, as a result, there are many wonderful museums covering many areas and eras. The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art showcases post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art while the National Museum of Art of Catalonia has a collection of the best romanic paintings in the world.
The Museu Picasso is located in a medieval palace on Montcada Street, in the Gothic area. The museum is home to a magnificent collection of early Picasso paintings. The entire collection of over 3,500 works includes 24 masterpieces. Make sure to include a visit here in your Barcelona itinerary.
Also, if you’re in the mood, visit the Erotic Museum of Barcelona. The Museum displays over 800 pieces spanning cultural erotic manifestations of both a ritual and religious nature. The Museum is located in the heart of Barcelona. Have a look online at www.erotica-museum.com for more information. If you’re with your lover, you will likely race back to your hotel after a visit here!
Barcelona is a festive City with a very musical heart; there are many venues where you can enjoy theater and concerts. The Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera Theater and the Palau de la Musica Catalana concert Hall showcases some of the incredible talent Barcelona has to offer.
A smart bet to get familiar with your surroundings quickly is to take a guided tour. Private sightseeing tours are available from about $125 per person for a 4 hour tour. You can book both private and the “Hop-On, Hop-Off” bus tours easily from Expedia.com; also check out Viator.com for some interesting information on a variety of tours; you can even purchase a Barcelona Card and Guidebook for only about $32.00.
If you’re determined to go it on your own, start with the centralmost boulevard in the city, Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is an energetic promenade lined with restaurants, florists, hotels and shops. Colorful and loud, it feels much like the soul of Barcelona. Please don’t let this deter you, but the area is a favorite among pickpockets. Go. Just be smart and aware of your surroundings. We spent the afternoon on Las Ramblas and did not experience a single problem; rather it was a delightful afternoon spent strolling the market and enjoying Sangria and Tapas.
The Gothic Quarter
My partner was especially excited about the architecture in Barcelona, especially the Gothic Quarter which is home to many remarkable works by Antonio Gaudi of whom she is especially fond. Be sure to visit these awe-inspiring works:
Park Güell is an expansive garden complex situated on the hill of el Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Spain. It was built over the period 1900 to 1914 by Antoni Gaudi. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Works of Antoni Gaudí”.
Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (Catalan for ‘The Quarry’), was designed by Gaudi over the years 1905-1907. Another World Heritage Site, the project was built for Roger Segimon de Mila.
Sagrada Family Church is the most famous of the Gaudi works. Under construction since 1882, it is still unfinished, but remarkable just the same in its size, scope and perspective.
There are many buildings dating back to medieval times which make the city a favorite among architecture aficionados. Noteworthy is the award to Barcelona of the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for architecture in 1999; this was the first and only time a city rather than an individual has won this prestigious award.
After our visit to the Gothic Quarter, my partner exclaimed “I am in love with Barcelona and I want to live here!” (And this from a gringo who knows only a word or two of Spanish!)
The Sand, The Sea and Some Sangria!
The beaches in Barcelona are a must-see. There are seven of them contained within the nearly 3 miles of coastline; here are a few of the more “Gay” ones that you may want to visit:
Nova Icaria Beach
Located close to the Olympic Marina. You’ll find many beachside bars and restaurants as well as a promenade. If you enjoy people watching, this is a wonderful location to indulge.
Bogatell Beach
Great stone walkway for jogging, roller blading and biking, this beach is a great place to relax after a good cardio workout. Bring a picnic lunch and something cool to drink – there are not many restaurants or bars along this beach.
Barceloneta Beach
The beach is lined with bars and restaurants serving a variety of mouth-watering cuisines. This is a very popular beach with the locals and is quite festive.
Mar Bella Beach
Barcelona’s only naturist beach is, not surprisingly, tucked away behind a small hill of rustling bamboo. This is another great beach for a picnic and some quiet time with your partner.
If you’re a beach lover like I am, I suggest you include a visit to the beaches in your Barcelona itinerary because this is one beautiful City. The men (and women) are stunning and plentiful and what better way to see them than under the canopy of a deep blue sky and warm Spanish sun? Muy Hermoso! It is intoxicating!
After a day on the beach at Barceloneta enjoying the sun and sipping Sangria at a beachside bar, it was my turn to exclaim to my partner, “I love Barcelona and I never want to leave!”
Speaking of Intoxicating…
Gayxample, (the locals’ nickname for the area known as the Eixample) is located in the central part of the city and in addition to being home to many wonderful modernist buildings; it is the gayest (and consequently the coolest) part of the city.
The Club scene in Barcelona is chic, slick and very hip; rivaling Madrid in its sense of fashion and fun. And remember, this is Europe. Dinner starts at 10pm and the clubs don’t get started until after midnight. This was great for my partner who is a DJ by trade and never goes to bed before 4am; for me, it was a challenge to stay awake past 10pm, let alone eat dinner at that time! I persevered however and was very glad I did. We had an incredible time club hopping! The guys were great fun and we danced until we were ready to drop. I was surprised to discover that it was 6am as we headed back to our hotel!
Whew! What a blast!
Here are some of our favorites:
Arena Classic – Handbag Music
Diputación, 233(Balmes)
www.arenadisco.com
Arena Dandy – Utlimate House Music
C/ Gran Vía, 593
(entre Blames y Rambla Catalunya)
www.arenadisco.com
Arena VIP – Techno Music
C/ Gran Vía, 593
(Blames y Rambla Catalunya)
www.arenadisco.com
La Madame – After Hours Event on Sunday Ronda Sant Pere, 19-21
www.matineegroup.com
Salvation – Disco Party Starting at Midnight
C/ Ronda San Pere, 19-21
www.matineegroup.com
In addition to the super-clubs listed above, there are a number of wonderful small venues that offer a variety of entertainment. Some feature drag shows, dancers, acrobats and many of them serve food.
Check out these while you’re in town:
Bar Lola - Tapas and good drinks. A great place to start your evening.
Dietrich - Daily shows with a great crowd
Fenix - Don’t miss the underwear party on Thursday. Young crowd.
SM55 - For those who don’t scare easily; visit one of the special rooms for some spicy fun.
Zelta’s - This is the place to warm up your dancing shoes. Busy from Wednesday right on through the weekend, it is a great start for your night of fun and dancing.
