Hello... it has been a while since I have relyed on the thorn tree, actually it has just been a while since I have been travelling for pleasure... after reading today all of the great information I am hoping I can get some help...
I planned to come to Spain to go horseriding in Coín... 30 minutes west of Malaga. I need to be there Sat June 30th. I decided to arrive early to visit friends in France... In the meantime, I arrived to Barcelona last night from Geneva and hired a car and drove to a small town near Matero... I intend to have a leisurely day today driving up the coast to Costa Brava. I am travelling alone and intend to take some pics and make a day of it. But, what about tonight in Barcelona?? After all I hear Spain is a night country, right??? I surely don't want to miss out on the action, but am not too familiar with driving the spanish roads and driving into barcelona sounds maybe a bit nerve racking... but hey... why not! Just need to know where to go.
Tomorrow, I have a friend arriving from LA to Barcelona... and I want to have a "romantic" and off the beaten path journey. So, my question is this...
Option 1: his uncle lives in Barbastro... we can drive there and venture out from there for the three days until we would head back to Barcelona and fly to Malaga to commence riding...
Option 2: fly from Barcelona to Malaga tomorrow and venture from there for the three days...
Option 3: drive the coast from Barcelona to Malaga and take the three days to do it.
ps... while in Coín I will be riding for 4-5 hours a day and then we will have evenings free to venture as well...
Any suggestions very much appreciated !!!! >>>>>
If you are going to use Barbastro as a base, it is pretty far from Barcelona. I'd go north from Barbastro and visit the Pyrenees foothills; lots of nice little villages and mountain hikes and drives.
On your way to Barbastro you might take a roundabout way and visit the Poblet Monastery on the way, onto Zaragoza, north to Huesca and then on to Barbastro. There are lots of "off the beaten path" destinations or routes depending on what you are looking for.
Barcelona might be as confusing to drive into as any other big city you are not familiar with. Just get a good, up to date map of the roads of the city showing the freeway ons and offs clearly. Take your time and try to avoid going during rush hours.
Which "small town near Matero" are you staying in?
I am still in Caldes d'Estrac still awaiting my companion to arrive from america on standby "buddy pass" travel. I am hoping he arrives tomorrow. That said, it looks like either the 2+ hour drive to see his uncle in Barbastro or staying in Barcelona thursday and friday night until departing for Malaga.
I did drive to Barcelona last night to experience the "city that never sleeps" only to find that is was sleeping!! It was rather late... 1AM, but I was told by a friend that clubs do not even get going until midnight... I wasn't much in the mood for "clubbing" but I wanted to check out the experience... An hour and half later I finally found a place that was actually open... It was ok.
A map though would definately be a good idea. What time is rush hour here?
Thanks so much for your advice on the barbastro trip... as for "off the beaten path" I mean pretty picturesque places and drives and maybe a great little romantic cafe for lunch or dinner... I used to live in the UK and going for a drive through the cotswolds always yeilded a good day drive... Or in Ireland from Cork to Killarney or Kerry... I just got to Spain from Besançon, France which was great as well
Didn't make the drive to Costa Brava yesterday... off to do that now.
Many Thanks...
~cari
besançon picsbesançon pics
OK. Being in Caldes d'Estrac, here's a run you might try: drive up the coast to Arenys de Mar. Take the main street inland towards Arenys de Munt. Take it all the way to Sant Celoni. At Sant Celoni take the road toward Monsteny and follow the signs to Mosqueroles. There have lunch at Restaurant Can Net. It is run by a family I know and I have been going there for 25 years. They have a 'prix fixe' menu during the week and full 'a la carte' menu on weekends. Tell them "Guy" sent you. It is best to have a good map with you. If you have the time drive up to Santa Fe de Montseny and El Turo de l'Home.
There are some good restaurants in Arenys de Mar too.
If you want to experience the night life of Barcelona, you should go on weekeds. You know, most of we locals do have the strange custom of going to work early morning on weekdays... so we don't stay up until wee hours every day!
I'll follow the excellent advice above from Badger, he really knows what he's talking about!
Following the coastal roads along the Costa Brava, stopping at Tossa (even it will be already crowded at this time of the year), the archeological site of Empuries, Cadaques-Port Lligat (if you are not afraid of windy roads), and even crossing the border to Banyuls and Colluire is another idea (to pick just one or two of these places, not all!!). You can return faster using the highway.
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