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Slummin' it to Spain - BCN, PMI for some Park Hyatt, and MAD
A few months ago, there were some extremely cheap fares to Europe, which isn't all that uncommon. What was out of the ordinary was that these flights originated from the west coast, and were valid for not just LAX, but my home base of SAN. For just over $400 a person round trip, we decided to book for the end of February, which allowed us to burn some AA credit we had laying around as well. I'll be the first to admit that Spain wasn't really at the top of my list for places to visit. After recently completing our trip to Vienna, we had our sights set on southern Italy and Greece for the summer, and Spain was likely behind Prague, Budapest, and even re-visits to some previously seen cities. With the one week getaway behind us, I couldn't be more glad that we bit the bullet and had a chance to experience ever so briefly the lovely culture, people, and food, of España.
Itinerary SAN-DFW on AA Y (A321) DFW-MAD on AA Y (787-9) MAD-BCN on IB Y Alexandra Barcelona, A Doubletree by Hilton BCN-PMI on VY Y Park Hyatt Mallorca PMI-MAD on D8 Y AC Carlton Madrid MAD-DFW on AA Y (787-9) DFW-SAN on AA Y (A321) We started off in the Airspace Lounge https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3799/3...13b1cff3_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3926/3...5f6af9f0_h.jpg A soup and sandwich for breakfast https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3834/3...8e91063a_h.jpg Followed by a snack https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2821/3...3a97f486_h.jpg And some plane spotting https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2807/3...6cb8c308_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3946/3...2870019a_h.jpg The flight to DFW was short and uneventful. Once we got off, we took the Sky Link or whatever they call it to Concourse D and the Centurion Lounge. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/685/32...02e16744_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2916/3...4079943b_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/595/33...1c1e82cf_h.jpg After checking in at the front desk, we grabbed some food knowing the in air catering was going to suck. Too bad the massages were all booked :( https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/613/33...58c62dad_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2925/3...5a7a92f1_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3781/3...bec6d21e_h.jpg I grabbed a few more plates afterwards and made myself some nachos with the chicken and tortilla chips that were laying around. 10 minutes prior to boarding, we walked towards our D-gate and congregated with our fellow gate-lice. Gotta act like and blend in when flying economy right? ;) That wing flex https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/661/33...c94b073b_h.jpg IFE https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/611/33...0d19afe5_h.jpg Some others still getting situated https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/733/33...604a24d8_h.jpg Flight path https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/728/33...156b5614_h.jpg The disgusting "meal" if you can even call it that. It was supposed to be orange chicken and was largely inedible. It was way worse than any lean cuisine I have ever had... https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3867/3...c9dc4b9b_h.jpg And then this block of cheese which was reminiscent of a Nabisco crackers n' cheez derivative...better left untouched other than the photo op https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/653/33...2e146e66_h.jpg Getting closer https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2860/3...4da4676d_h.jpg Once we landed in MAD, we grabbed our luggage and re-checked it to BCN. We took the rest of the time looking through duty free and walking a bit of the terminal before departing. https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/718/33...57c79cdd_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3857/3...786493b9_h.jpg Some more plane spotting https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/571/33...fbb373e3_h.jpg Slightly over an hour later, we landed in BCN and took a cab to the hotel https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2816/3...273d551a_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/706/33...6ebc8039_h.jpg Time for some real food just down the street https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3915/3...c71dafa0_h.jpg Yeah, give it to me, boss https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/672/32...0f66561d_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2846/3...1f5a05d3_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2916/3...2b90ad56_h.jpg Tapas time! Starting with some fried cuttlefish https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2829/3...fd8b6af1_h.jpg Beef tenderloin with bread https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2930/3...fdc4630d_h.jpg Sliced Iberico ham https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2937/3...c9a191f7_h.jpg And finally, an assorted tapas plate with some more of the same, but also some padron peppers, clams, shrimp, and croquettes https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/746/33...1f48cefc_h.jpg All in all, the food was delicious and very pleasing to our stomachs. By this time it was late afternoon and we didn't have much of a desire to do lots of walking, so back to the hotel it was! Next up, more tapas and our first full day in Barcelona |
Heading to Spain in a couple of months. Keep those tapas shots coming!
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Padron peppers! Brings back fond memories, ate a bushel of them
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Originally Posted by andy2016
(Post 27992965)
Heading to Spain in a couple of months. Keep those tapas shots coming!
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Very detailed and nice pictures! Looking Forward to the next post.
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Great report so far. :)
Love the photos too especially the angle you've taken some of them from! |
Beautiful shots as always, chongl... ^
Looking forward to the rest, especially the PH Mallorca installment. |
Originally Posted by andy2016
(Post 27992965)
Heading to Spain in a couple of months. Keep those tapas shots coming!
Originally Posted by LANDJ999
(Post 27993494)
Padron peppers! Brings back fond memories, ate a bushel of them
Originally Posted by roadwarrier
(Post 27995252)
^^^
Originally Posted by offerendum
(Post 28017568)
Very detailed and nice pictures! Looking Forward to the next post.
Originally Posted by nequine
(Post 28017612)
Great report so far. :)
Love the photos too especially the angle you've taken some of them from!
Originally Posted by JohnRain
(Post 28017630)
Beautiful shots as always, chongl... ^
Looking forward to the rest, especially the PH Mallorca installment. |
After lunch, we walked around the marina a little bit before heading towards the Arc de Triomf. Spotted this nicely modded Fiat 500 along the way, and I don't even like the Fiat 500
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2838/3...af8559cf_h.jpg Further along, we can across an old town square of sorts https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2859/3...0baa990b_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/659/33...bf814ba4_h.jpg A tree https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3834/3...523f6128_h.jpg And some more historical architecture. The wall building had what looked to be '1806' carved into it https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2903/3...b7efb546_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3769/3...810e3bf8_h.jpg Rather than arriving at the Arc, we took a detour to Basilica of Saint Mary of the Pine https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3668/3...2196c5c9_h.jpg It was only a 5 minute detour, so we were back on track in no time https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2937/3...4d3e9e0c_h.jpg "Graffity sucks like deepthroat" - Barcelona City Council. Sorry, but I wouldn't know https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3848/3...187756fd_h.jpg Passing by the Picasso museum https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3932/3...b3ad4f70_h.jpg Through a park https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3798/3...5e4001e3_h.jpg And another monument... https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/673/33...0444eb13_h.jpg And there it is! https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3829/3...649f2cc6_h.jpg The Arc is very nice, but nothing close to the scale or grandness of the one in Paris. However, I kept ribbing my wife, who was born in Paris, that this version blew away the French one my miles :p. What was nice was the presence of a park with lots of benches and places to to lay around for people watching. We ended up staying for roughly an hour doing just that https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3914/3...8a78d81d_h.jpg Some sort of roller skate/skateboard hybrid https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3828/3...fc85a6f5_h.jpg Afterwards, it was back to the hotel for a few hours before tapas for dinner :D https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3916/3...c37f0caf_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3843/3...8a03b6f2_h.jpg More papas bravas https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/669/33...8e2604dc_h.jpg Artichoke with ham and truffle...delicious! https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/758/33...39aeaf6f_h.jpg And dessert https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/703/33...d9f54bf0_h.jpg The following day, we re-visit the Gothic quarter and see Park Guell for our last full day in Barcelona. Oh, and of course, more tapas! |
great TR and pictures chongl!
It seems that we follow eachother'steps: I visited Vienna right before Christmas, and will be visiting friends in Barcelona in June. |
The next day, it was back to exploring the Gothic quarter. Little did we know, we had just missed some 2000 year old Roman column ruins that were hidden in a tucked away area the previous days. After stumbling across mention of them online, it quickly became a priority to see the historical remains.
Walking towards the Gothic quarter https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2833/3...5f1984df_h.jpg Some familiar buildings from days prior https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/646/33...76f568ef_h.jpg And tucked away in a small corner, hidden from view https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3823/3...afb04ba2_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/767/33...e1d764be_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3821/3...b8dde869_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2813/3...6e5910ec_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3795/3...2e0d9544_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2863/3...a97b18f1_h.jpg Simply amazing https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3945/3...d430531b_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3696/3...64695044_h.jpg Looking towards the exit https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3826/3...0eb77e83_h.jpg And up at the sky... https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3849/3...f7a2b11f_h.jpg We spent roughly 45 minutes here, and then continued our wandering. https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2807/3...3ba8b8d7_h.jpg Lots of intricate details in this building https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3932/3...5913fd99_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2895/3...0f4d2b1e_h.jpg Coffered ceiling https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2825/3...8ee69a6b_h.jpg Saint George's door https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3714/3...c5f4bd24_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3891/3...7f6b11f6_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2820/3...b1118d79_h.jpg Upon exiting the other side of the building, we found ourselves in Plaça del Rei. The steps are the supposed area where the king and queen greeted Christopher Colombus upon his arrival home from his first voyage https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/570/32...84c52150_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3786/3...acf20cb6_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3897/3...bca206d0_h.jpg With stomachs growling, what was for lunch? Tapas, of course! Some cold beers to start https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3939/3...37f1c9e6_h.jpg Sardines in vingear https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3925/3...60b603f4_h.jpg The same mushrooms and asparagus https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2926/3...cba914e2_h.jpg Some string potatoes (similar to papas bravas) with broken egg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/737/33...e5ccfe3c_h.jpg More smoked salmon https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/568/33...85a7174f_h.jpg Thanks, Obama https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/627/33...d525a973_h.jpg Heading back to the hotel, we stopped by Haagen Dazs for some dessert https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3714/3...3d893d41_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/741/33...ddb87b54_h.jpg In the afternoon, we took the metro towards Park Guell, where it was a small hike to get to the park itself...lots of stairs on the route we took! https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2901/3...e4785f69_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/771/33...02d76879_h.jpg Inside the park https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3894/3...69964b9e_h.jpg Inside the paid zone https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3731/3...65469e7a_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/757/32...8778b904_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3716/3...349fe05d_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/689/33...4f536120_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/714/32...2333a222_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/760/33...4632496a_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/639/32...e0d9f6bb_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2844/3...2b7c114b_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3724/3...41d411ca_h.jpg And the area that shows up in many Barcelona photos https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2865/3...844f3a5b_h.jpg Some columns https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3829/3...11e8845d_h.jpg Metro back to the hotel https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/661/32...5cb423dc_h.jpg Dinner was more tapas. Sorry if you're getting tired of all the food shots :p https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3797/3...da47c774_h.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/584/32...51b8df21_h.jpg Tenderloin with foie gras https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2918/3...abb86523_h.jpg Cod with tomato https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2895/3...4d99f03e_h.jpg Shrimp skewer https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3924/3...2c10f3c3_h.jpg Razor clams https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/634/32...3b35e6e2_h.jpg Flan for dessert https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2913/3...97d2fdd8_h.jpg And a flower to end the night :p https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3888/3...9f695d12_h.jpg The flight to Mallorca and Park Hyatt is up next on the itinerary |
Originally Posted by zip10001
(Post 28026983)
great TR and pictures chongl!
It seems that we follow eachother'steps: I visited Vienna right before Christmas, and will be visiting friends in Barcelona in June. |
Great report!
What's with the place mats though? Did you go to restaurants that were part of the same chain three times in a row? :p |
a very nice trip:)
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