Barcelona break and on to Genoa

November, 2015

Sadly, just a two-day break in beautiful cosmopolitan Barcelona before heading to Genoa on an overnight ferry.

The Schengen clock is ticking so, need to get a move on.

Whilst working on Reg back in Cambrils, decide that a jaunt over a couple of days in Barcelona would be an excellent break.

Off we set leaving Reg behind this time. Parking a motorhome in this massive city is a tad stressful and probably expensive.

Travel

The comfortable train (€19.10 return) from Cambrils to Barcelona’s Estacio de Franca is a nice change from the roads.

The first day’s train trip to Barca takes around 1.45hrs and the second day just over 2 hours – not sure why – Spanish time.

The train travels through many picturesque orange orchards, olive groves, vineyards, and many vegetable farms until nearing Barcelona.

Travelling along the Mediterranean Sea for snippets of the journey provides stunning water vistas – flat as a millpond. Sometimes it feels as if the train track almost kisses the sea, whilst moving close to the water’s edge.

Our first stop is to the Port of Barcelona to find out information about the ferry from Barcelona to Genoa (Italy).

Finding the Grimaldi ferry building along Ronda Litoral, this houses the ticket counter for the Grandi Navi Veloci ferry.

Trying to buy the tickets we’re told we can’t as we don’t have passports or Reg’s registration papers with us, so we buy the tickets online instead.

Around the port

Beautiful architecture graces the port so take some time to explore.

Sights

Walking about 15 kilometres around the city on the first day as there’s so much to do in Barcelona that it makes you giddy just trying to choose a day’s sights to visit.

A plethora of options awaits, in this amazing city: art galleries, cathedrals, city walks, tours, museums, wonderfully superb architecture, and theatres.

The list goes on and this is just in the city centre, not surrounding areas.

Barcelona is a massive sprawling metropolis and even if you live here, you can probably still spend every day of the year experiencing a new site. And, then when you think you have finished seeing everything, still more countless restaurants, bakeries, cafes, takeaways, and eateries to try.

Sagrada Familia – Gaudi’s masterpiece

Didn’t know what to expect with this cathedral as I’ve heard quite a bit about the gaudiness.

Well, it doesn’t disappoint – they say you either love or hate this cathedral. I’m not sure which one it is for me. It’s massive, loud, and un-uniformed pieces that fit together to form the cathedral could stand alone to make separate buildings -everything looks disjointed.

It’s almost as if there were too many architects in the making – all with their own ideas and designs – fighting to have their piece built.

To think this is still not finished 100 years later, is incredible in itself.

Apparently, the cathedral won’t be finished until 2020-2040! At €14.95 entry fee, which doesn’t give you access to everything. Decide to give the look inside a miss although I hear it’s worthwhile.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is the main and bustling tourist strip with many tourist shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, side-show human statues, expensive prices, and a sea of heads!

Although you must walk down this street to see what all the hype is about, as soon as you have  and if you’re like me, you’ll want to get out quickly.

Plaça George Orwell

An interesting square in Barcelona’s Barrio Gotico with a few bars scattered throughout – although some say it’s a little seedy, I like the square.

Named after the British writer who penned Homage to Catalonia, which is a personal account and experiences during the Spanish Civil War.

Although the square is named in honour of George Orwell, the irony of this square is that for years a security camera has been mounted next to the plaque with Orwell’s name.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

Constructed from the 13th to the 15th centuries, this cathedral is certainly impressive from the outside. I wasn’t prepared to pay €7.95 to enter. I refuse to pay a church an exorbitant fee to enter – goes against the grain.

Port Vell

The fabulous Port Vell is Barcelona’s waterfront.

With a major revamp for the 1992 Olympics, the city’s once disused empty warehouses and factories were rethought to an urban playground for all with tourist attractions, pedestrian bridges, and restaurants.

A pleasant area to sit and relax.

Food

A plethora of scrumptious food awaits in Barcelona.

Mercat – La Boqueria

This market is amazing and you can buy every imaginable thing here…

Frequented by many locals, you just know this is an excellent find.

Love wandering around looking at all the interesting and varied produce on offer.

If you are feeling peckish after all the hard work of shopping around the city, then why not stop at one of the many delicious fresh seafood or food bars within the market, to stave your cravings.

Drinks are also always on offer here, so you won’t die of thirst.

Super Awami

Nestled on C/Sant Antoni Abat 42, this is the best place for inexpensive dried fruit and nuts. Everything is charged at a kilo rate and is a very good price.

Other groceries are available such as spices, different cereals, and rice in large sacks – great for stocking up Reg.

This street is kind of a dingier road than the main cleaner tourist strips of Barca. Very multi-cultural and loads of Graffiti.

I don’t see any tourists here so we receive many sidewards’ glances. A mostly north African, Asian, and a migrant populace. This doesn’t bother me at all but some may find this street a little seedy.

Forns Del PI

Great bakery, coffee shop, and serves local meals also at very cheap prices on Carrer de Ferran, 12. Excellent service and cool ambience. Heavenly warm pastry smells linger through whilst you eat.

Try the mouthwatering freshly baked local pastries – divine! Many locals dine here and don’t see any tourists.

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Cambrils to Sitges

From one of our favourite campsites, which happens to be in Cambrils, and back to Sitges for a quick overnight stay, before leaving on the overnight ferry from Barcelona to Genoa…Italy at last!

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Summary

Distance: 95 kilometres

Diesel: No fill

Roads: Ap-7, C-32, B-211

Tolls: €7.30

Campsite: €19/night including power (with ASCI Camping Card)

El Garrofer – Second time staying at this campsite and as always, great facilities and staff.

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Although we provisioned Reg at the Mercadona in Cambrils as there is open-spaced parking and enough parking room directly opposite, still manage to walk about 3kms to the Mercadona in Sitges for a couple of last minute things.

This Mercadona is right next to the train station and also has a bakery section selling wonderful fresh bread. Hate saying goodbye to the Spanish supermarkets and hope Italy has similar.

Sitges to the Port of Barcelona

An early start today as check-in for the Grandi Navi Veloci ferry trip is at 11:00hrs.

Only a 45-minute drive from Sitges to the Port and Lizzy gets us here without any hassles or becoming lost.

Arriving half an hour early, we check in, have a coffee in the lovely new modern building that’s not even on Google Maps yet and wait to board.

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Summary

Distance: 40 kilometres

Diesel: No fill

Roads: B-211, C-32, C-31, B-20, B-10

Tolls: €6.55

Ferry: Grandi Navi Veloci (19-20 hours – overnight)

Ferry cost: €344 one-way for a motorhome and cabin for 2 people

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What to expect on a Grandi Navi Veloci ferry

Whilst at the ferry terminal, we’re told to get in our cars to board to set sail at 13:00hrs, we wait…and wait. Remember, this is an Italian ferry in Spain.

The only reason the Captain gives for the wait is that he doesn’t give permission to load the cars or to leave the loading area. No one knows how long before the ferry leaves. So, 13:00hrs comes and goes, and still we wait at the ferry’s loading area on the wharf, none the wiser.

Finally, after a 2-hour delay, we’re told to start our engines, everyone makes a mad dash onto the ferry – vehicles everywhere.

The guys loading the ferry motion us to proceed. But Reg is not allowed to be driven on. As with all the cars, Reg has to reverse up a very steep ramp, revving the engine whilst trying to go over the large steel domes that vehicles are clamped onto. Thought we would burn the motor out as there was so much smoke bellowing out of Reg!

The 4 guys directing us onto the ferry each had a different idea on which way Reg should go, so, 4 sets of arms were directing frantically in every direction, but none in the same direction – very confusing and stressful!

Finally, in place, I was expecting that Reg (and all vehicles for that matter) would be chained on, which is typical practice on Brittany Ferries. Vehicles were not chained on. Loads of vehicles were rammed together with only half a foot in-between as a walkway.

Staff on the ferry

All the workers seem to be from the Philippines.

Asking a worker in Spanish whether the cars are clamped on, but he doesn’t understand, so I opt for English. Response: “no, it’s a calm sea tonight”, to which I respond: “yes, now it’s calm but this can change at any moment during a 20-hour crossing”.

Without clear instructions on how to get our cabin key or directions to the cabin, I wonder over to the boat’s reception desk and ask in Spanish first – we are still in Spain after all – then Italian – it’s an Italian ferry – but no one understand either language.

Instead, we’re motioned upstairs to yet another Filipino guy sitting at a small table handing out cabin keycards. This must be our guy. He can’t speak English or anything else apart from Filipino.

Collecting the key and finding the cabin down the very long narrow corridor, this company isn’t as slick and efficient as Brittany Ferries.

Although our cabin fits 4 people, 2 bunks are folded up against the bulkhead to accommodate a 2-person cabin with an ensuite – enough room and larger than the cabin on Brittany Ferries.

The ferry

The ferry has 9 decks and many long narrow corridors with hundreds of doors, which seems more like a massive hotel than a ferry. Oh and the walls between the cabins are paper thin – you can hear everything in adjacent cabins.

There’s also a restaurant, cafeteria, a couple of bar/coffee stops, a couple of praying rooms, an indoor pool (closed as it’s autumn), a Duty Free shop, but not much else.

Wandering around the ferry, I can’t but help notice all the North African males – only a few women and children. From the sideward glances received, they can’t but help notice us westerners as there are only a handful on board. After all, this ferry started at Nador (Morocco) and finishes in Cittavecchia, Italy.

I’m also surprised to see that blankets and pillows are strewn around the floor in corners, and foyer areas around the ferry’s seating level. Guess this is allowed as it’s a long journey in a seat from Morocco.

The ferry announcements are in Italian, French, and Arabic.

All food signs advertise “Halāl Certified”. There is a Mosque room for praying, the communal TV is always on an Arabic channel and I dare not change this. And, Arabic males make themselves at home in most of the prime areas, permanently.

Quite surprising for an Italian ferry. I wish the ferry caters for all paying guests equally as we paid to be on the same ferry and expect to be treated equally.

Back on deck, it’s fun watching cars offloading on the port.

We finally leave Barcelona late at 14:40hrs – we’re on Spanish time and on an Italian ferry.

To be continued: The Grandi Navi Veloci ferry experience. Onwards to Genoa.

Hope the Balearic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) is feeling kind tonight and everyone can enjoy a smooth sail.

Visit my Nilla’s Photography for more global images. More posts on Spain at my Image Earth Travel site.