SIN-MXP-BCN by 77W and a revieW of W Barcelona

[9V-SIA]

I'm sure...you sat on the wing?

Yes. I get God-like treatment on SQ

The rarefied air of PPS membership

I meant 2F of course!

Suns out!! This TR will have to wait..

[9V-SIA]

SQ378 March 2011

I've posted the menu here.. SIN-MXP-BCN March 2011

This is what I had for supper..

Ramen with kurobuta pork belly in miso broth and vegetables



and breakfast..

Sliced fresh fruit



BTC Nasi Lemak



Pictures of the highly coveted mini cabin..



12K: my seat SIN-MXP



11K: from MXP-BCN



That's the kind of muscular arm you need to fly SQ's 77W. Tech crew seat



I want to highlight the significant improvements to the New Business Class seats that have been instituted:

Thicker padding & footrests ( compare thickness with pic of post #3 circa 2009 ). Leather replaces cloth.



Arm rest à la First Class



Overall a much better place to be

En route to BCN. Never tire of this view



9V-SWH at BCN

[9V-SIA]

SQ68 SIN-BCN July 2011

Sorry no pics till I sort out my Photobucket account issues

The flight was delayed. Push back 0230h. Wheels up 0300h.

No supper for me. Slept immediately and didn't wake up till we were arriving at the Middle East...



... whereupon I chose my breakfast ( Singapore time ) from the Supper Menu.

SQ68 Menu

I was actually looking at the Light Bites menu since I'd slept through supper.

The LSS suggested I should look at the Supper menu, which was more interesting.

And then I couldn't decide which appetiser to have so the nice LSS gave me both!

If robots behave like this, more robots please!

My breakfast...

Goose liver pate, apple-raisin salad with mesclun and Cold poached lobster, caviar, quail egg, Russian salad



Chinese style seafood soup... and a word from my sponsers



My lunch ( Singapore time ) flying over Italy...



... from the Breakfast Menu

Fresh fruit..



Yoghurt..



BTC yu pian mi fen



Always sit on the right hand side of the plane to BCN for a view of the city. Nice weather. Rained once early morning, the day I restarted this TR



Welcoming party at BCN



9V-SWS. Flew her home from LHR last month too

[9V-SIA]

Mandarin Oriental BCN

I thought I'd check it out so I split my stay in March between Omm and MO.

Location

They are both located north of Placa Catalonia, on Passeig de Gracia, my preferred location for shopping,eating and security.

MO is nearer Ramblas and the old city ( Barri Gotic / Born / Ribera )

I don't mind the walk to Ramblas but there's a subway nearby if you don't want to walk.

Just beware of pickpocket gangs during rush hour.

In Europe, I don't allow strangers to "brush" past me.

I avoid subways during rush hour and unless absolutely necessary

MO is very understated. You'll walk past it if you weren't looking for it. I did. Several times.



This is it



Public Areas

A walkway...



.. leads you through an atrium from Passeig de Gracia..



... into the Lobby, as seen from Reception. Concierge at the far end.



The dark carpet is a continuation from the ramp

My Room

There aren't many twin share rooms at MO. Bear in mind also that it used to be a bank,

but I didn't like the high-placed windows which made me feel like I was in a dungeon



Looking back at the entrance. Long, narrow room



Desk by the window



"Dry" bathroom



Shower, which overflows into the "dry" area when in used



For what I paid, not much hotel. But the worst crime in my books is the poor sound insulation.

I could hear the rolling wheels of suitcases moving outside in the corridor!

[9V-SIA]

Hotel Omm

After 3 trips to BCN this is my favourite hotel in BCN

It is located at the junction of Passeig de Gracia and Diagonal.

Cross the Diagonal and you are in Gracia, a charming part of BCN which caters more to locals than tourists.

With the exception of Park Guell, not many things for tourists north of Diagonal so it is where you'll find "Real BCN".

There is a subway running N-S and E-W from Diagonal subway station in front of the hotel. Red M sign is for Metro



Head east 2 stops and you're at Sagrada Familia.

West takes you to Badal and that "other Place Of Worship"... Camp Nou, home of Barcelona FC.



South brings you to the old city and the beach ( Port Olympic )

So Hotel Omm is slightly out of the way but well connected

Our twin room works so well for me that I stayed in the same room

Viewed from the entrance. Interestingly, TV is via overhead projector onto the back of the cupboard



Looking back at the entrance. Desk by the door



The bathroom. WC behind bathtub accessed from bedroom



And this alcove is why I like this room so much. Nice place to surf the net ( free wifi ) or read a book



And the views of Passeig de Gracia from the alcove ...

March 2011..






July 2011...

[9V-SIA]

Camp Nou

Here is a cure for jet lag.

We arrived on a Sat morning in March and my daughter wanted to watch Barcelona play.

We were in luck. They were playing at home against a less famous side than Real Madrid so there were tickets available!

The concierge recommended a company that would hotel deliver tickets to our hotel but I wanted to recce the route as well as to see the stadium in daylight

Buying tickets and souvenirs during our afternoon recce



Never heard of Getafe before this match.

They have beaten Barcelona 4-1 before! It's outside Madrid, where A330s are converted to airborne tankers



It's an occasion for local residents. Older generation dress formally, young families bring along a picnic for half time.



These lucky kids get a photo opportunity with the team



Clean match please gentlemen



Nearly time for kick off



And the match begins. Barcelona won 2-1. The silence when the visitors scored was deafening!

Wish they had replays on the giant monitors at either end, a surprising omission for the World's Best FC



I think watching Barcelona play at Camp Nou is a Must Do in BCN.

Seats 100,000 but there are 100 gates so good crowd control

[9V-SIA]

Sagrada Familia

The interiors were not ready when I visited with my wife in Oct 2009.

I saw it in June ( missed it and Dent@SUB in March ) and it is spectacular. Another on my "Must Do" list

It is worth investing in the audio guided tour & lift ticket in addition to the admission ticket.

Nativity Facade on the East



Simply gorgeous interior. Definitely feels like communion with God in a forest as Gaudi intended



.. or mountain biking through a forest?









Could double up as the Bat Cave

[cally]

i fly this route in economy starting from malaga (agp) with ryanair

[CarbonMan]

What happened to the rest of this TR, 9V-SIA?

[9V-SIA]

What happened to the rest of this TR, 9V-SIA?

OK. Let me go through my pictures and upload the good ones

[CarbonMan]

Thanks, 9V-SIA! Am heading there in May, need some inspiration!

[9V-JKL]

Am heading there in May, need some inspiration!

11-13/May - Spanish F1 GP

Sorry 9V-SIA. OT-ed your TR.

[9V-SIA]

Orientate Yourself Here

Placa De Catalunya is probably where you first set foot in Barcelona.

This is where the bus from the airport drops you off.



Running from the north east corner of the square is Passeig De Garcia that takes you to Gracia.

Passeig De Gracia.. Seen from MO rooftop pool..



Looking south towards Placa De Catalonia



Heading north towards Gracia



From the north west corner of Placa de Catalunya, is Rambla De Catalonia, closed to traffic. Nice walk amidst roadside cafes...



... even nicer in the Summer!



The famous La Rambla ( from the south west corner of Placa De Catalunya ).....



.... leads to Port Vell. Foreground is a drawbridge to let sailboats leave the marina



Next to Port Vell, is working class area of Barceloneta....



A walk along the beach south of Barcenoleta is mandatory for me..

I take the subway to Port Olimpic then walk west towards Barceloneta or Port Vell for a meal



.... to Port Olimpic. Blue signage is Agua, recommended restaurant in guidebook



Looking west at W from Port Olimpic. Constant stream of mostly single aisled aircraft can be seen on approach to BCN



East of La Rambla is Barri Gotic , sandwiched between La Rambla & Via Laietana

Born Ribera lies east of Via Laietana

[9V-SIA]

Passeig De Gracia

Apart from the tourist attractions & hotels already mentioned, worth mentioning Tapas24 my favorite tapas bar in Barcelona.

Located round the corner from Mandarin Oriental ( same block )



Tapas is cooked to order here..



Go early to avoid queueing like I had to..



.. but worth it in the end

[CarbonMan]

Yummy, 9V-SIA! What's early for Barcelona? 9pm?