#Palace of Montjuic

[frank-o-meter]

(1) Palace of Montjuic (looking up from Plaça Espanya

(2) Park Güell (designed by Gaudi)

(3) Plaça Reial (near the end of Las Ramblas)

Barcelona (by Michaela Loheit)

[bestplacesofinterest]

10 Best Places of Interest in Barcelona

Best Season to Visit Barcelona: Top 10 places to check out: Park Guell Park Guell- Andrew Larson Gothic Quarter Aquarium Barcelona L’Aquarium in Barcelona IC- Martin Pilát Boqueria Market La Boqueria (Food Market) Barcelona IC- Emyr Jones A spice & dried fruit stall in La Boqueria Market just off La Rambla in Barcelona. Palace of Catalan Music Girona Magic Fountain of Montjuic Temple…

[umichenginabroad]

Madrid Week 16: Barcelona vs Madrid Smackdown

Hola a todxs!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted something here (week 16....) — between the end of the semester & finals, my move back home, and subsequent move to California 3 days later (and sub-subsequent start of an internship after 2 more days) — I’ve been a bit busy. Consequently, this blog is more than a little late, along with the rest I have yet to write. I will get there! Hopefully the summer bloggers forgive me for infringing on their territory. Let’s get into it.

May 2nd (yeah, we’re going back… way back) is known as the Fiesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, AKA Madrid day. It commemorates the Dos de Mayo Uprising of 1808 — when the Spanish fought against French occupation of Madrid — and students get a long weekend out of it. My parents took the opportunity to visit, and we explored Spain together. Their first few days were spent with me in Madrid, and I served them as their little tour guide around the city.

This trip highlighted something that I’ve felt for a while, but never put into words. I love getting visitors in a place I’ve grown accustomed to — whether that’s Madrid, Ann Arbor, or DC. It lets me look at the place with a fresh set of eyes: the eyes of the people that are visiting. Being a tourist in your own city (bold move calling Madrid your city, Niko) is fun. My parents and I went out for tapas, saw the royal palace, walked around the barrios — things I hadn’t done for their own sake in months. It’s easy to get used to the amazing things that surround us, and to take them for granted. Beginner’s mind is a concept in meditation that describes the mental state I just explained — and is one that must be consistently and consciously cultivated. My parents’ visit was a reminder of how important it is for me in living a fulfilling life. 

For the long weekend, my parents and I went to Barcelona and Costa Brava (think: Mediterranean beach town), both in Catalunya. I hadn’t been to Barcelona since my visit in 2017, and to be honest, I didn’t remember much. Only that the Sagrada Familia was incredible, and that I wanted to go back. We did go back, and it was, indeed, incredible.

A common question I’ve heard from a lot of prospective study abroaders in Spain is whether to choose Madrid or Barceona — the two biggest cities in Spain, with 3.2 million and 1.6 million inhabitants, respectively. Instead of just describing my experience in Barcelona, I’ll do my best to compare the two cities through my personal experiences and opinions in a (somewhat, I’m a [wannabe] madrileño now) unbiased way. Keep in mind that I was in Barcelona for 3 days, and Madrid for 5 months, so the comparison won’t be perfect — but hopefully it will make your decision a little bit more informed if you’re choosing between the two cities. I’ve picked the brain of a friend who studied abroad in Barcelona to fill in the gaps of my knowledge. vamossss

Variety

Barcelona and Madrid have very distinct feelings. To me, Madrid feels more uniform in terms of its energy. Each barrio has its own distinct flavor and amazing things to offer, but things feel cohesive. Walking from Lavapies, to La Latina, to Sol, to Malasana makes sense. The city flows into itself, it’s really pleasant. 

To me, Barcelona feels somewhat like the opposite. It’s a mishmash of distinct energies all combined into one city — you’ve got beachy vibes at the coast, narrow old streets in the gothic quarter, big boulevards in the Eixample, a literal castle in Montjuic — all seemingly stitched together with little to no transition. I could certainly see it keeping things interesting. I preferred the cohesiveness (and the energy overall) of Madrid, but that’s just me.

Walkability / Public transit

Both Madrid and Barcelona, like many Spanish cities, are extremely walkable. The cities are designed for pedestrians, everything you need is walking distance away, and the urban planning is really on point. You do not need a car to go anywhere (take notes, USA). 

Madrid is arranged somewhat radially. Things start at the center, the Puerta del Sol, and extend radially. Closer to the center, things are generally busy and it feels like there is more to do (there’s really a ton everywhere in the city, maybe just the more obvious things are near the center). Due to this radiality, if you start in the center (I lived in the center), most of the things you might want to do feels really close — 30 minutes walking or less. Madrid’s center is also almost entirely made up of winding streets with no set order, which gives sensation of variety and leaves a ton of room on the sidewalks for beautiful patios to chill on.

Barcelona feels more spread apart, which could be due to the fact that this radiality isn’t as present. Also, since Barcelona is newer, much of the city is divided into large (113 meter) blocks, which made walks feel a bit more monotonous to me. Barcelona has a windy-street district just like Madrid called the gothic quarter, which is really beautiful. Although it feels more spread apart to me, it’s important to note that Barcelona has a population density over 2x that of Madrid (which could contribute to some of the overcrowding many have noted — see metropolitanism). Weird.

Thankfully, both cities have extremely efficient and effective metro stations. Madrid’s is very well connected and very well reliable — I never waited more than 10 minutes for a subway, and the Cercanias (longer distance train) connects Madrid very well to the surrounding cities. I didn’t have to take buses as much, but they were also effective.

My friend in Barcelona (let’s call them Barcelona friend from now on) asserted that you would never be more than 10-15 minutes walking from any metro station, offsetting any long walks to get to other regions. Barcelona’s metro costs 45 euros for 90 days, and Madrid’s costs 8 euros for 30 days (for people under 25). Both are both incredible deals.

Metropolitanism

The two cities have really distinct vibes, and part of that is due to the metropolitanism /internationalism present in Barcelona, which isn’t present to the same degree in Madrid. Madrid feels uniquely Spanish nearly everywhere you go, Barcelona feels more international (and Catalan — I’ll get to that). Barcelona friend told me that compared to Madrid, Barcelona feels a bit more touristy and overcrowding feels a bit more apparent, but Madrid has its fair share of this as well. Barcelona’s architecture is more modern than Madrid, which could contribute to its newer, more international feel.

Architecture

Speaking of a more modern city — architecture. Madrid’s architecture is eclectic, but generally has the “old european city” vibes. Barcelona, on the other hand, is dominated by Modernisme, which was a style of architecture that was most prevalent in the late 1800s/ early 1900s. The most notable architect of Modernisme: Gaudi. His influence is everywhere, and the buildings he created are truly spectacular. La Sagrada Familia, a massive cathedral, is still being constructed today. The inside is probably the most beautiful man-made thing I’ve ever seen, no exaggeration (go around the evening, when the sun hits the stain glass windows just right). Barcelona and Gaudi take the cake for me with this category, but both have tons of beautiful and iconic buildings. Madrid’s Cibeles Palace is one of my favorites.

Nightlife/Daylife:

Madrid has amazing nightlife. From my friend, so does Barcelona. Nightlife might start and end later in Madrid, which might be important to you if you’re a big fan of clubbing, but you can’t really go wrong either way. The culture around going out, getting tapas, drinks, etc. with your friends and family exists in both cities. Spaniards, in general, are very social and value quality time with loved ones. One of the many reasons I would suggest studying abroad in Spain.

Cost of living:

I couldn’t find any consistent data on which is cheaper. Just know that Spain in general has some of the cheapest cost of living in Europe, and will almost certainly be less than Ann Arbor or any other major USA city. I still managed to spend all of my money tho.

Weather/Beach-ability

Worth noting that Barcelona is on the coast, meaning it has a beach (and is close to even more beautiful coastline). Madrid is landlocked AF, so you’ll be swimming only in pools. This would probably be a game changer in the summer — due to its geography, Madrid gets extremely hot (it started to heat up in late May/June, right when I was leaving). Not too significant for study abroaders either in Winter or Fall semesters (but if you’re going to Barcelona in the fall semester, you might have a bit more beach time !). Being on the coast, Barcelona also has a more humid climate than Madrid, and is a bit more temperate in general. In Madrid, summers are hotter, and winters are colder.

City size

I mentioned this before — Madrid has 3.2 million, Barcelona has 1.6 million. Both give you ample opportunities for whatever activity you could think of. Madrid may offer a little more “hustle and bustle” if that’s something you really want.

Parks

Both cities have plenty of nice parks, so you’ll be able to hang out in green space in both cities. Barcelona has the epic Park Guell, one of Gaudi’s works (along with many other spaces free to the public). You have to pay to get in, but it’s really nice, and really unique. Madrid, being a much larger city, simply has more (and El Retiro / Parque del Oeste are huge and absolutely beautiful, and have ample space to set up for a sunny sunday for a picnic hangout vibe). Madrid wins this category for me.

Surrounding areas

Around Madrid, you have tons of worthwhile trips to make — Toledo, Segovia, Cuenca, etc — and the Sierra de Guadarrama (mountain range/hiking). Around Barcelona, you have Montserrat, Girona, the very beautiful Costa Brava (mediterranean seashore — highly recommend) etc.. Can’t go wrong here.

Soccer (Football)

Barcelona has FC Barcelona. Madrid has Real Madrid (and Atletico de Madrid, the underdogs). Real Madrid is the most successful team in European history (won the Champions league this year, and beat Barcelona). Do with this information what you will.

Catalan vs Spanish (Language)

I saved the best (and one of the most important topics, in my opinion) for last. The official language of Madrid? Spanish, obviously. However, Barcelona lies in Catalunya, a region of Spain with its own language and cultural identity. Catalan is not a dialect of Spanish. It’s about as similar to Italian and French (it’s kind of a mix of all three), and is not something that is a breeze to pick up if you already speak Spanish (hearing it on the streets really confused me. I started listening expecting to understand, and yet could not get anything). Although most Barcelona locals will speak Spanish, it’s not preferred. Catalan people are very proud of their heritage — so much so that they’ve attempted to gain independence from Spain multiple times. Many Catalan people identify much more with their region than they do with their country (kind of like Texans or Californians with the USA — but to a much, much higher degree).

I firmly believe that the most direct way to connect to a different culture and its people is by speaking its language. If cultural exchange is something that you’re prioritizing in your study abroad experience, I recommend going to Madrid. 

Speaking from my own experience and opinion, learning Spanish feels much more attainable than Catalan. Many study abroaders like me already have a basic level of Spanish, either from high school classes or community exposure (Spanish is the most common language in the USA after English). For me, starting with a good level of Spanish made engaging with the language in my everyday life from the start much less intimidating. Combined with the Spanish class I took during the semester, I was improving my language abilities right off the bat, which added up quickly. 

I also had a lot of motivation for learning Spanish. Not only did I want to attain a deeper level of cultural connection with locals, but I have a strong desire to use the language in my life moving forward, in the USA and in travel*. I believe that both of these factors would be strong motivators for anyone, and motivation is worth its weight in gold when it comes to learning a language. 

With all this said, you’ll certainly be able to practice Spanish in Barcelona. It may be a bit slower due to peoples’ tendency to use Catalan, and it would be a weaker connection to the local culture, but Barcelona is still in Spain after all. If you don’t have a desire to learn Catalan or Spanish, you can certainly get by in both cities. Many Spaniards, especially young ones, speak English, and you will be able to use this almost anywhere you go. 

--------------------------------------------------------------

So after 10 rounds of comparison, who’s the winner???

Well, it depends on the reader and their personal preference. If you ask me, I’ll confidently say Madrid — but I did live there for almost half a year, and I was in Barcelona for 3 days. Maybe a bit biased.

Hopefully this blog is helpful to someone, be it a potential study-abroader, Spain-vacationer, or just someone who’s really interested in the two biggest cities of Spain. If you have more specific questions about Madrid, stay tuned — I’m cooking up a blog that I hope will be more than a bit useful for anyone going to there.

Per usual, I made a list for my trip for Barcelona (and Palafrugell, Costa Brava~) that you can download to your map:

Barcelona Google Maps List

As always, thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day wherever you are in the world.

Adéu,

Niko Economos

Aerospace Engineering

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Madrid, Spain

economos@umich.edu 

*Catalan is spoken by only 9 million people in specific regions of Spain, Italy, France, and Andorra. Spanish is spoken by around 500 million natively.

[stilltravels]

Relax in this sophisticated, five-star hotel in the modernist L'Eixample district, next to Paseo de Gracia and "La Pedrera".

Round trip air transportation from Atlanta to Barcelona, Spain (direct flight)

Dates - June 13-19, 2024

Room - Cozy Room with American Buffet Breakfast

Nights - 5

Private Airport Transfers included.

Amenities includes but not limited to:

24-hour Front Desk

Bar

Concierge

Conference Rooms

Dry Cleaning

Elevator

Internet Access in Lobby Wi-Fi

Restaurant

Small Pets Allowed

Spa

Sound proofed rooms

Swimming Pool

Fitness Center

Tour - Extended Montserrat, Tapas & Wine tour from Barcelona

You can also request for a different tour at the hotel.

Total Package Price - $5120.80 per person

Call or text 6784691977 or email yourstilltravels@gmail.com

stilltravelsllc.com

Places of Interest:

Museu Egipci de Barcelona – 0.5 mile

Camp Nou Stadium – 0.5 mile

Casa Vicens – 1 mile

Museum of Illusions – 1.5 miles

La Sagrada Familia Church – 1.5 miles

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art – 1.5 miles

Guell Palace – 2 miles

Mirador de Colom – 2 miles

Barcelona Zoo – 2 miles

Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona – 2 miles

Parliament of Catalonia – 2 miles

Agbar Tower – 2 miles

Picasso Museum – 2 miles

Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau – 2 miles

World Trade Center Barcelona – 2.5 miles

Nova Icaria – 3 miles

Monasterio de Pedralbes – 3.5 miles

Botanical Garden of Barcelona – 4 miles

Montjuic Castle – 4.5 miles

*Price and availability are subject to change

+5

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[nibaldop]

Vista del Palacio Nacional de Montjuïc, sede del Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña, fundado en 1934, desde la avenida María Cristina, entrada principal a la montaña de Montjuic desde la importante plaza de España. Este palacio fue construido para la Exposición Internacional de 1929; hoy, convertido en museo, contiene una amplia y significativa colección de arte español con más de 5.000 obras procedentes de todo el país. ... View of the National Palace of Montjuïc, headquarters of the National Art Museum of Catalonia, founded in 1934, from the María Cristina avenue, the main entrance to the Montjuich mountain from the important Plaza de España. This palace was built for the 1929 International Exhibition; today, converted into a museum, it contains a large and significant collection of Spanish art with more than 5,000 works from all over the country. ... #turismo #turisme #tourism #turismourbano #urbantourism #tourismeurbain #arquitectura #architecture #edificio #building #palacio #palace #palacionacionaldemontjuic #montjuic #museo #MuseoNacionaldeArtedeCataluña #museum #MuseuNacionaldArtdeCatalunya #barcelona #catalunya #cataluña #españa #spain (en Montjuic, BCN) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3z4E4lHzX/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ernestdescalsartwok]

BARCELONA-CIUTAT-ART-PINTURA-ARTE-PLAÇA ESPANYA-FONT-MONTJUIC-PALAU-FIRA-TORRES VENECIANES-PAISATGES-CATALUNYA-ARTISTA-PINTOR-ERNEST DESCALS por Ernest Descals Por Flickr: BARCELONA-CIUTAT-ART-PINTURA-ARTE-PLAÇA ESPANYA-FONT-MONTJUIC-PALAU-FIRA-TORRES VENECIANES-PAISATGES-CATALUNYA-ARTISTA-PINTOR-ERNEST DESCALS- Paisaje urbano de la ciudad de BARCELONA, la fuente de PLAÇA ESPANYA, las TORRES VENECIANES i el PALAU de MONTJUIC, un gran tema que he pintado buscando la simplicidad, muchos elementos urbanísticos, monumentos y detalles paisajistas resumidos en una pintura en la que se primado la sensación de movimiento y el querer pintar el aire que todo lo junta. Pinturas del artista pintor Ernest Descals sobre papel de 50x 70 centímetros, simplificando en el Arte de la plástica paisajista.

[glittertrail]

Random Question Wednesday

What’s the most beautiful place you have ever been?

You are visiting a museum (art museum, science museum, etc). What kind of museum is it? And what section are you spending the most time in?

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

What is your favorite type of humor? And do you like standup comedy? Who’s your favorite?

If you wear makeup what color eyeshadows do you wear and do you have a favorite pallet?

Happy Wednesday darling!

The most beautiful place i have ever been is a though one because i used to travel a lot and i am horribly indecisive so have my very biased list:

In Venezuela (because i grew up there and have parents that loved adventure traveling probably more than they should): mochima national park, canaima national park (the place Disney used to inspire Up!) and the paria peninsula (Christopher Columbus called it the land of grace and i mean dude might have been a genocide but he wasn't wrong it is beautiful... it is also overrun by pirates)

In the rest of America: Playa Estrella and Panama City in Panama and Cartagena in Colombia

Europe:

Fisherman's bastillion in Budapest, the plaza de España of Seville and the Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna

more notable mentions because this one was *hard*: the magic fountains of Montjuic in Barcelona, the Oceanographic in Valencia, the Petřín gardens in Prague (this is all a v subjective list okay i am sorry)

If I'm visiting a museum it's likely an art museum (either the Thyssen-Bornemisza or the Reina Sofía bc they're my favorites if we're talking local) and I'm either in the Kandinsky and Pollock section of the former or the never ending visiting collections of the later (either at the main building or at the cristal palace and the Velazquez palace in El retiro park)

Obligatory mention to El Guernica @ Reina Sofía because i might dislike Picasso and cubism might not be my favorite but it is a mandatory stop. And shout out to the gift shop of the Thyssen because they have probably my favorite kid book section of all times and i am 7yo at heart.

When i was a child i wanted to be an artist? That roughly meant for me i wanted to keep colouring. That then extended into wanting to be a storyteller. The first "profession" (as an actual profession bc "artist" is a bit too nebulous for adults) i liked was reporter.

My favorite type of humor is either absurd humor or dry humor. Sometimes all i need is a good pun. Depends on the mood. I am not huge on standup but i can get behind it, a lot of drag stand up here is word play (i *have* a drag sideblog lmao so i had to mention it). My favorites, because i recently rewatched the Drag Race Spain Gran Hotel special, are Pupi Poisson and Supremme Deluxe, I'm sorry to say i don't really have a favorite in English, but if you have one, I'm willing to give it a watch 💖 (of any kind)

I do wear makeup and usually i wear pinks, browns and reds. My go to palette for the last few years has been this one from revolution beauty because the thing is indestructible and has just pretty day time colors i can turn into a night look if i'm heavy handed enough. Other favorites bc 2022 is the year i go back to doing fairy colorful makeup (like this) are this, this and this

[dyadyavasya]

Мустанг на фоне фонтана Монжуика и Национального дворца Барселоны #spain #barcelona #cityscape #city #travel #travelphotography #street #streetphoto #streetsituation #mustang #car #palace #fountain #montjuic #испания #барселона #город #улица #здание #архитектура #дворец #фонтан #architecture

[cizymfo]

Traslated interview with Tobias Forge in Spain

So The Metal Circus posted an interview with Tobias on the 10th of July, I just read it today and since it’s interesting, I decided to translated it for you guys. Please have in mind that my English is not that good so I apologize beforehand for any mistakes.

The man behind Ghost

We had an exclusive interview in Spain with Tobias Forge, the undisputed leader and mastermind of Ghost.

“I can exclusively tell you that, when we go to Madrid, we’ll do it with white robes”. A Nameless Ghoul, that was obviously Tobias Forge, was explaining that to us in 2012 a few weeks before they participated in the Sonisphere festival in Gefate along Metallica, Soundgarden, Slayer and many others.

In just seven years since that interview, Ghost has become a band of big venues preparing their definitive assault to the big audiences in the United States and Europe. But it’ll be “on the next album cycle”. In two years, at least, according to Forge. With “Prequelle” they’ve reached levels of success that were already glimpsed with "Meliora" and especially with the EP “Popestar", where the single "Square Hamer" made them cross into the mainstream in a place as complicated for rock as the United States.

Now they are comfortably installed in venues of 4,000 to 6,000 of capacity but already entering the macro places of 15,000 of capacity. All thanks to a tireless persecution of the vocalist and leader for an excellent production that honors his rock idols: Rolling Stones, Kiss, Mötley Crüe, Metallica. It’s precisely as a guest of the latter that the group visits Barcelona again, two years after the last time.

The venue is the Estadi Olimpic Lluís Companys of the mountain of Montjuic and Ghost play for an hour focusing on the best of their repertoire: far away are the concessions to their first and less refined work "Opus Eponymous". Hardly sounds "Ritual" of that time. Much of the set circulates around "Meliora" and "Prequelle", the two albums that marked Ghost's rise to fame. With the Sabbath-like riff of "Cirice" they dazzle 42,000 people in a stadium who are not even Ghost fans. They confuse them with "Miasma" and its excessiveness. They make them sing with the pyrotechnic "Absolution". Cardinal Copia a.k.a. Tobias Forge has the audience eating from the palm of his hand. And, I repeat, they are not even his fans.

That was at 7:30 p.m. But at 6:15 p.m., a completely unmasked Tobias Forge received this journalist in the interiors of a clean and well-cared for tour bus with which he is crossing the old continent - and will continue to do so until the end of August, when the tour with Metallica ends. This is nothing like those infernal tour buses with 30 people, smell of feet and drunken Scandinavians. Forge is alone - his tour manager appears from time to time to remind us that, well, it's getting late and the Cardinal doesn’t get ready in five minutes - and he looks at you while offering the most elaborate and loquacious answers that a modern rock musician can give.

Ahead, the imminent confirmation of a European tour that will arrive in Spain at the end of the year. And an everlasting warning via e-mail a few days before: "No photo, no video". The legal dispute with his former bandmates may have finally revealed that Forge is the man behind Ghost, but mysticism is still mysticism. Even in the age of social media.

One year after "Prequelle", what is your assessment of what Ghost has achieved during this time? Have you reached the point you wanted?

I think so. One of the main goals I had with this album cycle and tour was to get to play in arenas or, at least, to be in a situation where we can play arena scale shows. Now we’re facing the end of the tour cycle and we know how we are going to finish. If nothing drastic happens, at the end of the cycle we’ll have achieved that goal. After this tour with Metallica we’re going to the United States to make another tour and they all are going to be arenas.

After that, we’re going to do a European tour at the end of the year and we’re returning to Spain, I can confirm it. Although the size of the spaces in which we play can vary from sports palaces to large venues. My goal is not to play in front of a certain number of people but rather that the show can be developed in a concrete way and under optimal conditions. I want to be able to bring the full production on stage and I can’t do that in Razzmatazz, for example. But if I go to Club Sant Jordi in Barcelona, where 4,600 people can fit, I can do it.

Anyway, we were lucky the last time we were here on tour. I think we came on tour just in Easter, which was a small suicide (laughs). We had no idea. If we managed to come to the Sant Jordi Club this time, I am confident that the next time, with the next album, we’ll make it to the big venue, the Palau Sant Jordi. I hope.

Do you usually plan each of these steps consciously and precisely?

Absolutely. I think many of my goals, many of the things I wanted to achieve in my life and in my career, were planned a long time ago. I was clear about what I wanted to do. Another thing would be knowing if all this was going to happen with Ghost and not with other projects or bands.

I'll give you an example: when I was 8 or 9 years old, I was a big fan of the Rolling Stones. I'm still a fan but that was the highest point. The Rolling Stones were my favorite band, I knew everything about them, I saw everything that could be seen, I listened to everything that could be listened to. In 1990 there were not many things to see, certainly, although they were one of the first bands to make a documentary about their own career, something especially remarkable. It was titled "25x5". As I said, there was not much to see but, in the summer of 1990, there was a great concert that was broadcast live across Europe and it was the one they did at the Estadi Olimpic in Barcelona during the "Urban Jungle" tour.

It must be a dream come true to play here today.

God, I’ve seen that concert so many times. It was the tour for the album 'Steel Wheels' and since then I've wanted to play at the Estadi Olimpic in Barcelona. Now I'm here, I'm playing tonight. It wasn’t the way I could imagine back then but I’ve been able to cross off the list one of my goals. I imagined this moment thirty years ago and it’s happening now.

The undeniable influence of Metallica

Metallica was one of the bands that supported Ghost the most on the early years. You have the same agent, John Jackson of K2, and you’ve been on tours like those of Sonisphere in 2012 and 2013, which served to position Ghost strongly in the European market. What role have Metallica played in helping to put Ghost on the scene?

A huge influence. We wouldn’t be where we are if it weren’t for them - not just geographically, but at this level of popularity. They were the first great artists who promoted the band and showed their support publicly. They were a great influence and if it had not been for them ... well, I could’ve had the influence of the Rolling Stones, of course, but Metallica had a huge impact on my youth because I discovered them after the Stones.

I listened to Metallica at that time but not as much as I would later. When they released their films, "A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica 1 & 2", they had a great impact on me and my way of seeing a band. When the Stones talked about how they came to be big in their documentary, it seemed like a distant speech, realistic but distant. In the case of Metallica, we’re talking about a more contemporary band, closer in time for me at that time.

I come from a metal background. My first idols were not Muddy Waters. I didn’t aspire to do something derived from blues. I wanted to be a rock star. The Stones began when the rock stars were something embryonic that didn’t even exist, while Metallica and I are closer in the sense of having developed from the same musical approach.

I’m not ashamed to say that Metallica, directly or indirectly, have influenced me to become everything I am today and that they’ve been instrumental in achieving many of the things I wanted. This tour is a good example of this. They were the ones who asked us to accompany them on this European stadium tour. It was their initiative.

Would you say that "Prequelle" is Ghost's 'Black Album'? It’s the album that has brought the haters but also a more mainstream audience. Would it be a valid comparison?

No. I think if we can compare it with something it would be with "... And Justice For All" regarding Metallica's career. It's a therapeutic album and it's not the best record I can make, but it was a necessary record.

Do you see “Prequelle” as a transitional record?

I could say that. If you want me to make an analogy with Metallica, I can point several factors with which there is similarity with respect to their fourth album. It’s a record they made in response to a tragedy. Obviously, theirs was a real tragedy, the death of Cliff Burton. Mine was a concatenation of legal problems, a severe bombing. I had the wind against me and a lot to prove. "... And Justice For All" took Metallica from one point to another, elevated them to large arenas and turned them into a much more autonomous band. In that sense, "Prequelle" has done the same for Ghost.

Now, with several years of career behind me, I’ve learned what I want and how to get there. Therefore, our next album could potentially be the equivalent of a 'Black Album', so to speak (laughs). I don’t know, it's hard to imagine. I don’t like to make those comparisons because the "Black Album" was released in another time, in another era and went down in history as one of the greatest and best-selling heavy metal albums of all time.

There is a thin line between love and hate 

I remember reading how you explained that the character of Cardinal Copia caused you a certain displeasure, that he was an impertinent character even for yourself. A few months ago, it came to light that an alleged friend had 'ceded' the character of Papa Emeritus and that there was some legal dispute about your use within Ghost. Is Cardinal Copia a way to put aside Papa Emeritus and to overcome some legal impediment?

Not at all. To be totally honest, that person never gave me the character, but the name: "Papa Emeritus".

You said that everything that happened last year was like “a bombing”. Behind the character is the person. How has Tobias Forge lived the harassment and demolition to which he was subjected? Did you consider leaving all of this?

I never thought about quitting, to be honest. It’s not even on the table to do something like that. I think that, analyzing what happened and paying attention to small specific facts, it was inevitable. Socially I was within a group of people – I’m not talking about the band, but socially. I have many friends but in a specific group of them it happens that we were all the same. We all had a similar income, a similar educational level, etc. Within social circles like these it becomes very problematic that one of its members grows more than the rest. In my head I was still the same person. When I returned home, I tried to hang out with them and for me things were going as usual, but I wasn’t the same person for them.

Another problem is that within that social group, which was not the band itself although there were some members of my band, I was the only one who had children. When I returned home after six weeks of touring, I wouldn’t go to the bar with them, but I would go home. That means time was passing, even years. It seemed to them that I was changing, that I was disengaging. Of course I was, because I was working hard and when I came home I wanted to be with my family. But then, five years later, I gave them an excuse to be angry at me.

When all of that happened, I couldn’t believe that the ones I thought were my friends were doing all this to me. Some were very nice to me and gave me all the support, but others stabbed me in the back with no hesitation. They didn’t call me to tell me anything and try to know my side of the story. No. They went on social media and wrote posts saying 'oh, he used to be my friend but now he changed'. I didn’t even know what changed! We didn’t even talk to each other for three years. Then I stopped to think about what the problem was, and I understood that the problem is that I hadn’t had time to be close to them and to maintain friendly relationships afloat.

What happened to me is not original. It’s a classic and it’s inevitable. That's why I look at it with some distance, because it seems inevitable to me. Had it not been that incident, it would have been another. It was inevitable. I couldn’t have done anything to prevent it. I was more worried about the people in that circle than about the band. There was only one of my friends in that social group that I refer to. The members of the band that were denouncing me last year were not even my close friends. What hurts is that people you trust, people you’re close to, come to have a big problem with you that comes from afar and that they never told me anything. Being in the middle of all that is very confusing.

When you are reaching a certain age, time goes by very quickly. People like you or me see how one year, two years, five years ... fly by. When time goes by, you meet people you may not have seen in two years and you think it was yesterday. In my case, having been around doing 'funny things', I was like a traitor to them. I had preferred to do 'my things' rather than foster those personal relationships. But it is what it is. I can’t do anything to change it.

What’s the next step for Ghost?

Now I’m going to be with Metallica all summer, and in the fall we’re going to do the American and European tour. This summer is a little relaxed because the shows are outdoors and we play only one hour, even at festivals. At the end of the year, when we have finished the European tour, I’m going start recording the next album. In January of 2020 I’ll start to work progressively on it and 2021 would be a good approximation regarding the release date.

[tayspurrito]

Taylor Come Back To Europe Project: Spain’s week.

Hi there!

So, as a little explanation before we start: last January I created on Twitter an account called @Europe _ Loves _ TS in order to try to get Taylor back to Europe. It works this way: each week is dedicated to one different country, this one’s being Spain, and each day I post different stuff about the country, Taylor’s charts there, where she could play and that kind of stuff. I started posting this week because it took me quite a long to finish with all of the preparations but now it has already started, and Day 6 (a.k.a. Tumblr and sign the petition) is about posting everything done on Twitter but on Tumblr, that’s why the texts will be really little. Also, here you have the summary, in case you want to see something first:

Day 1: Where would Taylor play?

Day 2: About the city.

Day 3: Swifties day!

Day 4: Taylor and the city.

Day 5: Conclusion.

Day 6: Tumblr and signing the petition.

Day 7 (does not appear in here): New country announcement.

Here you have the petition’s link https://www.change.org/p/ticketmaster-taylor-swift-european-tour?recruiter=931350637&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition , just in case you want to help us.

And the first country of the week will be... 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻!

Barcelona, Spain: Palau Sant Jordi (although there is also a stadium, Camp Nou).

Madrid, Spain: WiZink Center.

𝖂𝖍𝖞 𝕻𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖚 𝕾𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖎? 

Palau Sant Jordi, located in Barcelona, is the largest indoor arena in Spain, with a maximum seating capacity of 17,960 people. It was opened in 1990, and it has a 3,000-seat club behind the main building.

𝕺𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝕻𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖚 𝕾𝖆𝖓𝖙 𝕵𝖔𝖗𝖉𝖎:

-Madonna. -Shawn Mendes. -Rihanna. -Ariana Grande. -Beyoncé. -Avril Lavigne. -Ed Sheeran. -Lady Gaga. -Tina Turner. -Frank Sinatra. -Elton John.

𝖂𝖍𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖎𝖅𝖎𝖓𝖐 𝕮𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖗?

The WiZink Center, located in Madrid, is an indoor sporting arena with a capacity of 15,500 people for concerts and a standing public ramp. It was built in 1960, and rebuilt in 2005 due to a fire.

𝕺𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝖜𝖍𝖔 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖎𝖅𝖎𝖓𝖐 𝕮𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖗:

-Nirvana. -Elton John. -Taylor Swift. -Lady Gaga. -Rihanna. -Imagine Dragons. -Bruno Mars. -Shawn Mendes. -Whitney Houston. -Spice Girls.

𝕬𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝕭𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖊𝖑𝖔𝖓𝖆:

Located in Spain, Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, with a 1,6 million population (yeah, a lot of them Swifties), and it counts with a great number of museums, parks and beaches.

𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖛𝖎𝖘𝖎𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝕭𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖊𝖑𝖔𝖓𝖆:

-The Sagrada Família, which is the main symbol of Barcelona.

-The gothic basilica of Santa Maria del Mar.

-The Palau de la Música Catalana, in English "The Palace of Catalan Music".

-Parc Güell, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 

-Casa Milà, one of the most emblematic places of Barcelona. 

-Parc de la Ciutadella, which also has the Barcelona Zoo. 

-Magic Fountain of Montjuic, a magic spectacle of colors and lights. 

𝕬𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝕸𝖆𝖉𝖗𝖎𝖉:

Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest municipality, with almost 3,2 million inhabitants (Swifites!). It's also considered an amazing destination when talking about art museums, such as the Museo del Prado.

𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊𝖘 𝖙𝖔 𝖛𝖎𝖘𝖎𝖙 𝖎𝖓 𝕸𝖆𝖉𝖗𝖎𝖉:

-The Parque del Retiro, one of the largest parks of Madrid. 

-The Museo del Prado, its most famous museum. 

-The Puerta del Sol, a public square and the nerve center of the city.

-The Plaza Mayor, a major public space in the heart of Madrid.

-The Casa de Campo park, which is the largest park in the city, and it also has the Madrid Zoo inside.

-The Fuente de Neptuno, which is located inside the Paseo del Prado.

“I started to be a Swiftie by the end of the RED era, when I saw the “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” video, by the end of 2013 (yes, I know that I saw the video a bit late). I don’t know why but I realized that Taylor is the only one that can help me with my depression (unfortunately I suffer a lot of depression) and put a huge smile on my face just with her songs. She means the entire world to me. While I was studying in high school, I worked as a teacher for another students, and I started saving money to be able to go one day to any Taylor’s concert. And finally, after two years of saving money, on November 29 2017 (the day after my birthday), I bought two tickets for the “reputation Stadium Tour” in London, one for me and one for my sister. After seven months the day finally came and I traveled from Spain to London just to see Taylor for the first time. That was my first concert. That day I realized that Taylor is a real angel, and that she is always going to be there for us. And also I’m so grateful since because of her I met a lot of new friends. My dream is to one day be able to hug her and tell her how much she helped me, and also I would ask her if she could draw a thirteen on my ankle, because I always wanted to get a thirteen tattooed on my body. Thank you for reading this.”

-Javier, 16 years, Barcelona (@tattshold on Twitter).

“I’m not good at English but I’ll try. I was always bullied, had no real friends so I never went out with people and stuff like that. When I was 14 I sit in class next to a redhead called Claudia and she played me “Tim McGraw”. I started listening to the song at home and soon enough I was addicted to Taylor Swift. Taylor was here when the first boy broke my heart, I don't know how many times I played “Should’ve Said No” during that time. Taylor was there when people called me slut and bitch, telling me that they were just “Mean”. Taylor was there at my spinal surgery, I played “Speak Now” in the hospital every day. Taylor was there while my depression and my self-harm problems. Taylor was there when my (ex)boyfriend broke up with me on my birthday... That year she recorded RED and “All Too Well” made me cry every day, but it also made me stronger. My dad left and only Taylor knew how I wanted him to “Come back” and “Be here...”. He started a new family without me, obviously. 1989 was my very first Taylor’s show in Germany, Köln, whit my mom. We had so much fun. Some economic problems started and I had to work while studying my nurse degree. I saved a lot and I went to “reputation Stadium Tour” in Dublin with my mom. Andrea gave us rep room passes and I showed her my “fighter” tattoo. She knows my story now. I hugged Taylor and somehow that was everything.”

-Clàudia, 23 years, Spain (@alltoo_swift on Twitter).

“When I was 12 (in 2009), one day I was watching Disney Channel and the “Love Story” mv came on. I just fell in love! Me and another friend started listening to more and more of her songs and we were really crazy about it! We were always singing her songs, laughing and dancing. We planned on going to her shows and meet her.”

-Sara, Spain (@EverySwiftieDay on Twitter).

“I haven’t been part of this fandom for a long time, at least compared with half of it. At the beginning, it made me feel uncomfortable, as if I wasn’t worthy of all the joy this family brings. Now, though, I’ve realized that this big family welcomes everyone, and I feel confident to tell my story. I have this weird “ritual” of walking from side to side of my corridor while listening to music, and that’s how I started listening to her music, back in 2017, with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “You Belong With Me”. I knew who she was, but I couldn’t consider myself a Swiftie, not yet. And then, “Look What You Made Me Do” came, and I wasn’t ready for that. I just clicked on it because I was curious, but once I heard it I stopped walking in the middle of the corridor, my phone in my hand, my eyes wide open, freaking out. I didn’t get all the references, but I knew some of them, and when the phone part arrived... I went to my mom running and told her all about it, and she was like “Since when are you a huge Taylor Swift fan?”. Days passed, “...Ready For It?” and the album came and I loved them too, and the “reputation Stadium Tour” began, and I really wanted to go. She didn’t come to Spain, so I knew I had to figure out a way to go to London. I made a presentation to my dad, with all of the prices, hotels and transportations, and he incredibly said yes. I remember that night as the best night of my life, and I can’t explain how happy and free and loved I felt there. I saw Taylor Swift’s magic happening in front of me, and I will be forever grateful for that.”

-Núria, 16 years, Spain (@TaysPurrito on Twitter and on Tumblr because yes, that is me).

𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖎𝖙𝖞:

Taylor's albums are still breaking records on the country. "reputation" debuted at #3 on the Spanish Albums Top 100 list, and has been there for 17 weeks, and "1989" debuted at #4 and stayed 70 weeks.

𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖎𝖙𝖞:

Taylor has a big importance on the country, and the only show she has played there was for the "Speak Now World Tour" at Madrid, on the WiZink Center and had all 3,962 seats occupied.

𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖈𝖎𝖙𝖞: 

Spain has a very big Swiftie fan base. Its biggest fan account, @rincondetaylor on Twitter, counts with over 12.3K followers, still growing. When she came, she sold out, and the fandom wasn't as big as it is now.

𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖈𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓: 

Spain is an amazing country, with big stadiums for Taylor to play and her presence still very active on the radios of the country. Although she hasn't come back since the "Speak Now World Tour", she is still breaking records.

𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖈𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓:

Also, Barcelona and Madrid are the best places to host the show, not only because they have the enough capacity to but also because of the easiness to go to both of the places.

𝕮𝖔𝖓𝖈𝖑𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓:

I just wanted to thank every single person (especially @EverySwiftieDay on Twitter) who has helped with this week's challenge. You are all amazing, and one of the most supportive parts of it all. Thank you so so much. Os quiero.

Duh.

https://www.change.org/p/ticketmaster-taylor-swift-european-tour?recruiter=931350637&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=share_petition&recruited_by_id=a8694c60-1e79-11e9-8dcf-1bb98ece69a1 (This one is the link for the petition to get Taylor to come back to Europe).

So thank you so much for reading this! If you want to take a look to the Twitetr account, that’s the link https://twitter.com/Europe_Loves_TS and the account is called @Europe_Loves_TS . I would recommedn you to check it, since the stuff will be posted there before and the new country announcement is tomorrow.

Thank you so much again!!

@taylorswift @taylornation

[geostrip21]

Spanish Cities 3.3.4

Barcelona 3.3.4 -- random walks through the city: Ciutadella, Sants, Montjuic, Poble Sec, Plaza de España

A lot of the most interesting buildings in Barcelona were built as part of international expositions, and most recently, the 1992 Summer Olympics. In 1888 Barcelona hosted the Universal Exhibition and this Arc de Triomf was built as the gateway to the fair which was held in the Parc de la Ciutadella, just beyond.

This enormous glorious fountain (with many DUCKS) -- called the Cascada Monumental -- is in the Parc de la Ciutadella. This park has a long and dramatic history. The area was once a crowded residential district called La Ribera. After the complicated War of the Spanish Succession in 1714 (a sort of practice world war of Europe) the Spanish government wanted to punish the rebellious Catalans, and so razed most of La Ribera, evicting the residents to the new neighborhood of Barceloneta (on a sandy spit by the shore used by fishermen) and building a huge fortress (citadel = ciutadella) to keep an eye on the angry locals. Over 100 years later, the hated citadel was finally razed and in 1869 the area was turned over to the city and the large green park was created. The fountain was designed by Josep Fontsére and to a small extent by Antoni Gaudí, who at that time was still an unknown student of architecture.

It is next to the park's bandstand, Glorieta de la Transsexual Sònia, dedicated to a transsexual woman, Sonia Rescalvo Zafra, who was murdered there on 6 October 1991 by right-wing extremists.

Back up in the Eixample, here's a view of the steeples of La Sagrada Familia from a few blocks away. When they are finished, according to Gaudi's intended design, there will be 18 steeples.

Here is Las Arenas, on the Plaza d'España near the Sant neighborhood. This former bullfight stadium is now a mall. Note the Moorish arches.

The Venetian Towers (in Catalan: Torres Venecianes) is the popular name for a pair of towers on Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina at its junction with Plaça d'Espanya. Built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition they served an ornamental function, to mark the entrance to the exhibition district, now known as Fira de Barcelona, and the start of the grand avenue leading up to the Palau Nacional on Montjuïc, which houses the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC). Like the Palace of Fine Art in San Francisco, they were built of cheap materials with the understanding that they would be destroyed after the exposition. But they public liked them so they were renovated and preserved, but still generally not open to the public.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Catalan: Font màgica de Montjuïc) is a located at the head of Avinguda Maria Cristina in Montjuïc below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc mountain and near the Plaça d'Espanya. The fountain, like most of the surrounding developments, was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. At night it has colored lights and dancing waters set to music.

The Four Columns ("Les Quatre Columnes" in Catalan) are four Ionic columns originally created by Josep Puig i Cadafalch in Barcelona, Spain. They were erected in 1919, where the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc now stands.

They symbolized the four stripes of the Catalan flag, and they were intended to become one of the main icons of Catalanism. Because of this, they were demolished in 1928 during Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, when all public Catalanist symbols were systematically removed in order to avoid their being noticed during the 1929 Universal Exposition, which was to take place on Montjuïc.

After eight years of campaigning by Catalanist civic bodies and the pro-independence political party Esquerra Republicana, a replica of the columns was erected in 2010 very close to the original site and following Puig i Cadafalch's original plans.

--wikipedia

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, abbreviated as MNAC, is the national museum of Catalan visual art. Situated on Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, the museum is notable for its outstanding collection of romanesque church paintings, and for Catalan art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Excellent view from the front of the MNAC of the Firs de Barcelona, the 4 columns, the Venetian Towers, the Las Arenas mall and the city beyond up the the Collserola mountain range.

[mehmanpk]

Top 10 visiting countries in the world | Book Cheap Flights | Mehman.pk

Top 10 Beautiful Countries for Visit are:

France 

Spain 

United States 

China

Italy

Turkey

Thailand

Germany

 United Kingdom

Importance OF Tourism

Tourism is the industry that develops peace in countries. This is because tourism provides jobs to people, produces income for them strengthens the economy of the countries, saves their environment, and develops cross-cultural awareness. There is an extreme diversity of destinations in Europe due to which it is a top world tourist attraction.

Mehman.pk Provides World Wide Tour Services. 

 FRANCE

One of the most visited countries in the world is France. In 2019, 89 million tourists visited France. In 2020, due to covid-19, the level of tourism fell to 35 million. In 2021, France welcomed 50 million foreign holidaymakers.

France provides the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Following are the top fascinating sites in France are

1-Eiffel Tower

    Eiffel tower is the most tourist attraction destination. 

    It is designed by Gustave Eiffel. It consists of eight thousand metallic parts. Its height is 320 meters. It is also known as “Iron Lady.” 

2-Louvre Museum

    It is one of the best fine arts European collections. It is a collection of thirty-five thousand artworks. It takes more than one week to visit the whole museum. Because of its fabulous construction, it induces a great tourist attraction.

3-Palace of Versailles

    It is a royal residence; it has a beautiful part called “Hall of Mirrors”. It causes tourist attractions to a great extent.

4-Cote d’Azur

It is a fabulous cost line near the border with Italy. 

Mont Saint-Michel. 

It was built in the 11th century. It is “Pyramid of the Seas”.

5-Loire Valley Chateaux

The main tourist attraction Valley Chateaux when visited gives the feeling of entering into a storybook of children. It is also called the ‘Garden of France’.

6-Cathedral Notre-Dame de Chartres

The greatest tourist attraction, the Cathedral, shows the marvelous architecture.

It has glorious stained glass windows

7-Provence

It has glorious natural beauty and tourist attractions.

8-Chamonix Mont-Blanc

    It has glorious stained glass Windows.  It has fabulous purple lavender fields.

The tourist attraction” Mont-Blanc “is the highest mountain in Europe. Its height is 4810 meters.

9-Alsace Villages 

It is the most beautiful village in France. 

10-Carcassonne 

It gives a scene of the fairy story. it is a fabulous tower. 

11-Brittany

 It is a marvelous coastline situated on the North-Eastern Coast of France. 

12-Biarritz:

It is a brilliant ocean.

The sights of the ocean which are tourist attractions are

Aquarium de Biarritz 

Light house

Rocher de la Vierge

13-Rocamadour:

It is a tremendous sheer limestone cliff.

It is the main tourist attraction.

14-Prehistoric Cave Paintings in Lascaux:

 This main tourist attraction is a Paleolithic art in the world. If you are planning for world tour then contact us now for cheap flights booking. Mehman.pk

SPAIN

    The second most tourist attraction in the world is Spain. In 2021, Spain welcomed 83.7 million foreign holidaymakers. Spain consists of 192,588 square miles of land.

 Following at the top tourist attraction in Spain:

1-Barcelona: 

This marvelous city has the following tourist attractions: 

Fundacion de Joan Miro 

Barcelona F.C.’s stadium 

Montjuic 

Picasso Museum 

 2-Madrid: 

This city is famous for its top-class museums. 

3-Seville: 

This city is a tourist attraction because of its sunny weather. 

4-Palma de Mallorca:

 If you wish to enjoy sunny weather on the coastline on the sand, visit this tourist attraction.

5-Granda:

 It is a piece of astonishing architecture. 

UNITED STATES

In 2021, United States welcomed 79,300,000 International tourists. 

The top tourist attractions in the United States are: 

New York 

San Francisco 

The Grand Canyon 

Houston 

Las Vegas 

Wailaki 

Washington DC 

Miami

Los Angeles

New Orleans

Utah’s National Parks

Orlando

Chicago

Phoenix

Savannah

Boston

Yosemite National Park

Colorado Rocky Mountains

Seattle

CHINA

China is a very attractive destination for tourists. In 2021, 65,700 ,000 International visitors visited China.The top tourist attraction in China are:

Beijing 

Xian 

Summer Palace, Beijing

Cruising the Li River, Guilin

ITALY

It is one of the major tourist attractions.In 2021,64,500,000 holidaymakers visited Italy.

Tourist attractions in Italy are: 

Rome 

Florence 

Venice

Tuscan Hill Towers 

Milan 

TURKEY

Turkey is a fascinating destination which is situated in Asia and Europe. 

In 2021, 51 ,200 ,000 International tourists visited Turkey.

Top tourist attractions in Turkey are:

Hagia 

Sophia Mosque 

Ephesus

Cappadocia 

Topeka pi Palace 

Pamukkale

MEXICO

Mexico is a fabulous tourist attraction. In 2021, 45, 000 ,000 visitors visited Mexico. 

Top tourist attractions in Mexico are:

Tequila 

Cancun 

Copper Canyon

THAILAND

Thailand is one of the most visited tourist attractions. In 2021, 39 800,000 visitors visited Thailand. 

Tourist attractions in Thailand are: 

Railay Beach 

Koh Phi Phi

Bangkok

GERMANY

Germany is a remarkable tourist attraction.

In 2021, Germany welcomed 39,600,000 international tourists. 

Top tourist attractions of Germany are: 

Heidelberger Schloss, Heidelberf

Television Tower

Anbach of Mittel Franken

United Kingdom

When discussing tourist attractions, we cannot ignore the United Kingdom. 

In 2021, 39,400,400 International visitors were welcomed by the United Kingdom. 

Tourist attractions in the United Kingdom are:

Stonehenge, Wiltshire

Natural History Museum, London

Angel of the North, Gateshead.

Roman Baths, Bath

           From the above discussion, we can conclude that there is fabulous and fascinating beauty in this world to be seen and enjoyed. The top 10 countries are earning a lot by Tourism Industry.

Tourist attractions in these countries are really to be visited again and again and are unforgettable. 

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10 Best Romantic Things to Do in Barcelona

New Post has been published on https://www.travelonlinetips.com/10-best-romantic-things-to-do-in-barcelona/

10 Best Romantic Things to Do in Barcelona

Known for its design, gastronomy, architecture and nightlife, Barcelona is a Mediterranean playground. It strikes a healthy mix of romance meets leisure and no matter what your ‘gusto’ (taste), somehow every activity seems to possess a romantic flare. Whether you’re visiting Gaudi’s Park Guell and overlooking the gorgeous city views, or taking a bike ride along the boardwalk, or even touring Picasso’s Museum, the city’s rich history and striking buildings can’t help but provide for an extremely romantic vibe.

In addition to what the city itself has to offer, just a short train ride or drive outside the city itself are some excellent day trips. Cadaques is a beautiful little town, home to renowned artist, Salvador Dali, it’s a quaint place to stroll, eat, drink and go for lunch at Cap De Creus, where you can see views of the Iberian Peninsula at the one restaurant at the top. Besalu is also a wonderful day trip if you’re looking for an authentic Medieval town and Sitges, just 40 minutes by train outside of Barcelona, is the ideal romantic beach town. Here you will get a great mix of fiesta as well as siesta, especially if you come during the summer months.  

Without a doubt, this is Gaudi’s crowning glory. Set to be completed in 2046, the Sagrada Familia is a Barcelona must-see. Even if you don’t want to go inside, the outside facades, history and master design are equally breathtaking. This is definitely one of Barcelona’s top attractions. A mix between Star Wars meets Gothic architecture, the Sagrada Familia was the last project Gaudi worked on before he was sadly run over by a train. His greatest achievement, however, lives on and is fueled by donations from locals and tourists alike. The hope is that one day his greatest creation will be completed.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: The views from the elevator are incredible, not to mention the Church itself is breathtaking.

Sam’s expert tip: Take elevator to the top and you get sturnning city views.

Read more about La Sagrada Familia →

Tibidabo is one of the best places to take in panoramic city views of Barcelona. Atop this mountain, which is accessible by tram, there is an amusement park, Church of the Sacred Heart as well as some excellent restaurants and places to picnic. This is a perfect way to see some of the outer lying areas in the city, get some fresh air and see gorgeous views. It’s also nice for walking and hiking and if you feel like renting a motto for the day, this is the perfect place to ride through; even park the bike, walk around and go for lunch.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: A great mountain-top just outside of Barcelona for fresh air and gorgeous city views.

Sam’s expert tip: Check out Can Marti restaurant. Excellent during Calcot (spring onion) season and a nice outdoor place for a BBQ.

Read more about Tibidabo →

This modern palace features kaleidoscopic colors in tile, sculpture, stained glass and mosaics. Originally built as a home for the Choral Society, it now hosts musical concerts and is a gorgeous forum to watch live bands and classical concerts. If you’re able to experience a concert in this gorgeous music hall, then definitely do it! Palau De La Musica is a modernist masterpiece, designed between 1905-1908 by architect, Lluís Doménech i Montaner. This is the best place to watch a concert, even if you’re not into the music itself, the design and ambiance provide for a truly unforgettable and fascinating experience.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: The most romantic concert hall in Barcelona to enjoy music.

Sam’s expert tip: Try to catch a concert inside the Palau during your visit.

Read more about Palau de la Música Catalana →

Photo courtesy of Mariah Quesada

Less of an attraction, Hi. This Is Barcelona is a private tour company with a high volume of honeymoon couples and those looking for romantic getaways. The company customizes all of its tours, so if you’re looking to spice up an experience with a touch of something special, these guys have some amazing ideas. From private walking, biking, car, and specialty tours, they can arrange a day in wine country at a private family-run vineyard, or set up a cooking class with professional chefs, or arrange a shopping day with designers. They’re also able to help set up surprises for loved ones and have a network of people who can help them make an ordinary experience, that much more special.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: A private tour company specializing in customized tours including romantic experiences.

Sam’s expert tip: Ask about their special honeymoon tours.

Read more about Hi This Is Barcelona →

Fabulous cooking classes by a professional nutritionist and vegan cook. Pabulum focuses on fresh, organic, local and in-season foods, providing private and group cooking classes in a modern, trendy loft in the Gothic Quarter. Classes are run by a native American with a passion for food and not only are incredibly fun and informative but focus on creating pretty, elegant dishes that are sure to impress vegans and non-vegans alike. Cocktails and an amuse-bouche accompany the classes. This is a unique and special way to spend an evening with just two or four people and learn a lot while leaving with a full (yet not too full) stomach.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: An intimate evening with a private chef in a modern yet rustic loft in the heart of the Old City.

Sam’s expert tip: Be sure to schedule in advance as spaces are limited.

Read more about Pabulum →

What used to be ‘Mountain of the Jews’ (Montjuic literally means Mountain of the Jews) has turned into one of Barcelona’s greatest attractions. It’s hard to find views as gorgeous as the ones you get from atop the mountain. Easily accessible via cable car (two of them to get to the very top) train or bus, the panoramic city views you’ll find at the top are breathtaking. Where now sits a military museum and a castle, Montjuic used to be a fortress dating back to the 17th century. Today it is a hot tourist attraction and a nice place for locals to spend an evening. During the summer there is the open-air Montjuic cinema, which features a different movie every night.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: A great lookout point over the entire city and a magical place to walk around.

Sam’s expert tip: Go at night and watch the city light up.

Read more about Castell Montjuïc →

The Citadel was built on this site in the 1700s. After its fall, the fortress was turned into a park in the 19th century. Walk through the city’s Triumphal Arch to enter the park and admire the cascade, a fountain built by Josep Fontser�, who was assisted by his young student Gaud�. Wander through the beautiful gardens. Don’t miss your chance to visit the zoo and Museu de Zoologia, which are located in the park. This is a very romantic activity, as the park is quite big and has a lot to offer, including a mix of leisure as well as educational elements.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: A relaxing stroll through a beautiful park in the city center.

Sam’s expert tip: Make sure to stroll by the little pond and watch the swans.

Read more about Parc de la Ciutadella →

Another one of Gaudi’s masterpieces, Casa Mila, otherwise known as La Pedrera, is one of Gaudi’s most well-known creations and is situated on Passeig de Gracia, just a stone’s throw from Casa Batllo. Constructed between 1905-1912, from the outside La Pedrera looks like it is made up of skulls. Architecturally, however, it is considered to be incredibly innovative as its facade is self-supporting. It also has underground parking and separate lifts and stairs for the owners and servants. Something that many people don’t know, is that the structures on the roof were actually what inspired George Lucas’ Storm Troopers for his Star Wars series. This might not seem romantic, but it’s so stunning inside and the clincher is the roof where you can see the city and find alone time amongst Gaudi’s Chimneys.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: The roof is extremely romantic, as you can hide amongst the chimneys.

Sam’s expert tip: From the roof you have great views of the city.

Read more about Casa Milà (La Pedrera) →

Designed by Antoni Gaudi, this Barcelona mansion was created for the Catalan tycoon, Eusebi Guell and today is part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. This is one of Gaudi’s many architectural masterpieces and was specifically used for entertaining high society guests in the main room. Palau Guell is particularly special because it is one of the few Modernist buildings in the Old City. Most of Gaudi’s works as well as those of Luis Domenech i Montaner and the rest of their contemporaries are in the Eixample neighborhood, up from Plaza Catalunya and where the expansion began for the rest of the city at the turn of the century.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: A beautiful, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ esque park to walk around, laze on the grass and see beautiful city views.

Sam’s expert tip: Reserve tickets for group tours online and in advance.

Read more about Palau Guell →

Exclusive and authentic wine tastings in Barcelona and Sitges. These wines are locally sourced, from small-batch productions and each has a story to tell. New-Yorker, Ambika Kumar, hosts ‘secret’ venue tastings, focusing on high-quality wines from little-known wineries across Spain. Tastings are paired with delicious food and led by a wine connoisseur and fragrance expert. Each tasting is held in a different location and only revealed to the participants a day before the event. Ambika is professional, knowledgable and engaging so if you’re a wine aficionado or just want to have a romantic evening doing something a bit different, this is an excellent choice.

Recommended for Romantic Things to Do because: A unique, exclusive and authentic evening with a small group of people, great wine and fabulous food.

Sam’s expert tip: Email them in order to get on their mailing list as tastings aren’t posted online.

Read more about Barcelona Wine Tastings →

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Ubicado en la mítica montaña de Montjuic, el Palacio Nacional es uno de los lugares más emblemáticos de Barcelona, además de unos los más fotografiados y visitados.  📸💫 En Barcelona,  corrió la leyenda urbana de que sería demolido después de la exposición de 1929. 😲 Located on the mythical mountain of Montjuic, the National Palace is one of the most emblematic places in Barcelona, ​​as well as some of the most photographed and visited.  📸💫 In Barcelona, ​​the urban legend ran that it would be demolished after the 1929 exhibition. 😲 . . . . . . . . . . #museunacionaldartdecatalunya  #museunaciona #barcelona #bcn #barcelonagram #igersbcn #barcelonacity #catalunya #igersbarcelona  #reto12fotosleo #photooftheday #picoftheday #photographer #fotografo #likeforlikes  #followme #coment4coment #photo #amateurphotography #amateurphotographer  #fotografoaficionado  #fotodeldia #fotografía  https://www.instagram.com/p/CNX9IesBBIU/?igshid=tu9we5ubzazf

[stewardess-blog]

Национальный музей искусства Каталонии Музей является консорциумом города Барселона и министерства культуры Каталонии. Его штаб-квартира располагается в Национальном дворце у подножия горы Монжуик, открытом в 1929 году ко Всемирной выставке в Барселоне. Музей соединил в себе художественные произведения романского и готического стиля, эпохи Возрождение и барокко. National Museum of Art of Catalonia The museum is a consortium of the city of Barcelona and the Ministry of Culture of Catalonia. Its headquarters are located in the National Palace at the foot of Montjuic, opened in 1929 to the World Exhibition in Barcelona. The museum combined works of art of the Romanesque and Gothic style, the Renaissance and the Baroque. (at Barcelona, Spain)

[maksmosiej]

CREATIVITY

14.08

During my trip to Barcelona I have visited the MACBA museum, where I had the pleasure to see the works of one of my favourite artists, Jean-Michelle Basquiat.

ACTIVITY

15.08

I was sightseeing the city of Barcelona with my friends. We took the stairs to walk up the montjuic mountain. The titanic effort of the journey was compensated by the breathtaking view from the National Palace of Catalonia situated on the top of the hill.

SERVICE