Roses to Barcelona

[Perry]

I have chartered a Maryland 37 Trawler cat in June for a week from Roses in Spain and plan to cruise down to Barcelona and back, spent ages going through the pilot book and everywhere looks nice.

Has anyone got any top tips on where to visit/must see?

Perry

 

[tcm]

Re: Rosas to Barcelona

barcelona port olimpico is the only place in the western med (i think) with 24 hours attended fuel dock. Very good wizzy party fun and cd easily spend an entire week there.

Yep, that coast is traditional hol place, and best from boat to move on from to-crowded bits. You can stay quite close inshore, dramtic coastline altho ahem, bit built up here and there.

Rosaas is north of barecelona, and just west along along there is a nice anchorage, completely surrounded almost ooh dang, forgot the name.

Tossa de Mar isn't much of a place, but you can anchor in the bay, lucnh best on board, and buy a tshirt or sunhat with that name on. Most amusing.

 

[DavidJ]

I know you only have a week but spend as much time in the north as you can. Barcelona is great but the coastline doesn't get interesting until about 50 miles north of it.
Suggest doing the 'lump' north of Rosas, Salvadore Dali country, visit Cataques, Port Llegat (Dali's house) you can moor up in the little bay next to the Port llegat bay. Going south look for Cala Mongo a lovely secure anchorage near to Escala (great restaurent on the bay side). On the way stop off at Empuries near to the 2000+ yr old Greek jetty and visit the Roman ruins. Next spend a few hours snorkelling at the Medas Islands, it's a fish reserve so it's like swimming in a fish shop...some huge Groopers there. If you scuba dive you need a permit from Estartit (another good marina)
As you go south now it becomes less spectacular but still damn good
hope this helps
David

 

[Perry]

Thanks guy's, at the Medas Islands are there any mooring bouys so we can stop off for snorkelling or do you anchor there? We have 3 divers on board who will be on the look out for a diving trip somewhere along the route as it is quite dear to hire all the gear.

We plan on the last day to go north and check out the French waters as that looks OK as well.

Blanes looks OK for an overnight stop on the way to Barcelona any info on there?

Cheers,

Perry

 

[DavidJ]

The Medas has loads of red bouys to prevent anchoring, just tie up to anyone. There are bigger different coloured ones for the dive boats so leave them alone. If you want to hire equipment then go to Estartit. There is also a dive school there just up the road a bit, they should have a website.
Give St Felix de whatsit a miss. They will put you on the wall which is miles from anywhere and charge absolutly top wack.
No info on Blanes

 

[DavidJ]

Ah yes if you are going towards France I can recommend Llanca, a very nice marina just on the Spanish side.
As a guide I have done Barcelona to near Rosas (Empuriabrava) easily in a day (motor boat)

 

[Perry]

Thanks DavidJ, good info

Perry

 

[DavidJ]

I notice tcm mentions Port Olympic in Barcelona but I'm sure he would agree that Port Vell is the place to be. Also there are some 'forumites' in Port Vell. Worth making contact for a Barcelona party night. (suggest new posting)

 

[ccscott49]

If you are coming to Barcelona, come to port vell and look up "Englander" always cold beer on board!

 

[paulineb]

not once Mr B arrives there won't be /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tcm]

place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

they both have different attractions. Port vell is nerer the old part of the city, tho the whole of barca is quite big, and tramping around on foot ain't an option to get to the sights in a day or so - so it's not just a very big deal where you are based. taxis are cheap.

Port olimpic is a new port built in time for the er 94 olympics, and this area is more buzzy in evenings with restaurants etc.

Both have very good security, pv with barriers, olympic with plenty of staff restricting people in evenings.

Longterm, i think port vell is cheaper ansd more central but despite being protected up a long natural inlet/creek, every so often a sizeable wave comes into the marina, swoosh, easily enuf to wake you up. Why's that? It's cos the pilot boats are berthed not far away down the main route to the sea, and when finished they pile up towards the old port and then turn whilst still at speed and send wash into the marina, the ratbags...

So i suppose for a week i wd have one night in each!

 

[Tiger Rag]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

Just a quick aside re seeing the sights in Barca. Several times I have hired a bycycle from near the train station, very cheap and Barca is a great city to cycle around, it only takes about twenty minutes gentle cruising down to the Sacre Familia cathederal and even with frequent "refreshment" stops you can see a hell of a lot in a day, especially all the Gaudi buildings which are great but only really warrant e few minutes each, so bike is good, quick look, take piccies then off to next destination.

Onlt definite rule ONLY do it on a Sunday when roads are deserted unless you are either mad or a hell of a lot braver than me!!

 

[paulineb]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

I'll have my lil car in Barca but I'm seriously thinking of getting a new horn rather quickly before leaving. There are lots of 'toot em ups' there, and my horn sounds like noddy's parp parp. They will laugh at me /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[tcm]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

er i wd have thort the least of the embarassment

 

[Tiger Rag]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

Disagree, think you will find they will whistle and stare at your chest rather than laugh at you. You are entering macho nirvana where quantity far outweighs quality, anyway in a few months once you have truly settled in you should be able rant and shout far louder than any horn which seems to be the accepted practice.

edit - should clarify the quantity over quality comment! was referring to horns rather than chests and by that I mean mechanical devices rather than male libidos!

 

[paulineb]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

see that's your problem Matthew ..... no style /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[paulineb]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

[ QUOTE ]
edit - should clarify the quantity over quality comment! was referring to horns rather than chests and by that I mean mechanical devices rather than male libidos!

[/ QUOTE ]

hahahaha ...... nicely sidestepped Russell

 

[DavidJ]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

Pauline, You mean the Port Olympic restaurants with photos of plates of food outside are not stylish. I particularly like the way the owners stand in your way to try an entice you in as you walk around.

 

[paulineb]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

I think tcm is referring to my car ..... but I agree about Port Olimpic. we had several visits to Barcelona before deciding on a mooring and Port Olimpic lives up to your description. Although it can be fun there in the evening, which is another reason not the mooring there ..... noisy, drunken people - and that's just Mr B and his friends !

 

[Perry]

Re: place to be in Barcelona - port olimpic or port vell

Found this site.

http://www.portfocus.com/spain/zz_marinas_in_catalonia/index.html