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Wonderful Waterfront - Barcelona Guide
By Anil Gupta
There's nothing quite like dining outdoor with the blue waters of the Mediterranean spread out before one's eyes. Pop a bottle of cava and raise the glass, 'Salut' this is one of the most inviting sides of the 'new' Barcelona.
The pre- and post-Olympic redevelopment passion opened Barcelona to the sea again, and its new marinas and ports brim with yachts, pedestrian promenades, palms, beaches, restaurants, bars and shops. There are madcap public sculptures by artists such as Frank Gehry and Roy Lichtenstein, and places like Port Vell with its Maremagnum commercial complex, and the rejuvenated Barceloneta residential district, where one can dine on the day's fresh catch and hearty Spanish paellas. Alternatively one can amble down to Olympic Village and sip a tall, cool cocktail on a terrace or catch a few rays on the bustling beach.
An estimated 700,000 cruise passengers visit Barcelona aboard more than 500 ships each year, it all adds to making Barcelona the busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean. It isn't unusual for a dozen ships to be in port at the height of the summer season. Cruise ships are generally moored at various locations, with berths being assigned on the day of arrival:
Muella de Adosado is a long quay in the industrial port with several berths and cruise terminals. Allow 20 or 30 minutes to walk from the ship to the Barcelona waterfront over the high bridge, plus another 5 minutes to the popular Ramblas pedestrian street.
Barri Gòtic is next to the excesses of the 19th-century modernist period, Barcelona's golden age was between the 13th and 15th centuries, the Gothic period. The city expanded rapidly in medieval times, so much so that it could no longer be contained within the old Roman walls.
The glitzy Port Vell (Old Port) consists of a marina and large expanses of open recreational areas where people get out and enjoy the sun. It is also home to the city's Aquarium. On one side it is flanked by the Passeig Joan de Borbón, the main street of Little Barcelona. Formerly a fishing district dating from the 18th century, the neighborhood is full of character and is still one of the best places to eat seafood in the city. The blocks here are long and narrow - architects planned them that way so that each room in every building fronted a street. The streets end at Barcelonese beach. From Barcelonese, they sprawl out northwards to the Vila Olímpica and beyond. The Olympic Village dominated by a pair of landmark, sea-facing boasts yet another marina and a host of restaurants and bars. The entire length of Barcelona's man-made waterfront can be viewed by a stroll along the Passeig Marítim.
Although Barcelona has a long seagoing tradition, its waterfront stood in decay for years. Today, the waterfront walkway, Passeig del Moll de la Fusta, bursts with activity. The best way to get a bird's-eye view of the area is to take an elevator to the top of the Columbus Monument in Plaça Portal de la Pau at the port end of Les Ramblas.
About the Author
Anil Gupta recommends that you visit http://www.bookings.es/city/es/barcelona.html?aid=305255 for more information on barcelona hotels.
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