Overview:
As I planned my November Trip to Great Britain, I decided to include a day trip from London to Barcelona to visit my friends Shruti and Joy who I met during my August Ecuador trip. I found a relatively well priced RT same day ticket on British Airways and investigated transportation options from the airport into downtown Barcelona. I decided on the airport shuttle run by Aerobus that schedules a bus every five minutes that makes the connection between the Barcelona Airport (BCN) and the center of Barcelona at the Placa de Catalunya. Their website: http://www.aerobusbcn.com/en/discover-aerobus. As I worked through the “what to see in one day” opportunities with my friends, we decided that I would check out La Familia Sagrada then meet them at the Costa Coffee across the street to the northwest of the Cathedral.
There is a website at http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/ to purchase advance entry tickets and inclusions such as the elevator ride up the North and South towers. The website is a good reference and easy to use. Only so many people can enter the Basilica per day, so you buy your entry ticket for an available three hour window and if you want to visit a tower you can select a time within the 3hr window at 15min increments. I have an airplane ride, an airport shuttle bus ride, a ticket for the Basilica and a rendezvous point set, so with this basic outline of a Barcelona travel plan in place, the next step is to get to London.
London Trip
Thursday 11/16 – in transit
Last International trip for 2017. 8am ride out to DIA, busy drop off, easy check in. TSA on the south end is stacked up so go through north security access which goes quickly. Gate B17, flight to Newark. United Airlines flight 1105, Boeing 737-900. Full flight, delayed due to traffic control on the East Coast. Number one on the upgrade list for both of today’s flight, so maybe someone will be a no show. Seat 10A at this point.
On board. No upgrade. Running late to Newark, but should have time to make the LHR flight. Advertised 3hr 8min flight. Heading towards a runway at 10:30. Then Parking.
10:52 moving out of the penalty box. 10:57 waiting at head of runway.
Off the ground at 10:59am MT.
Touchdown EWR 4:03pm ET at gate 84.
Flight 110 to London is leaving from gate 121. United has transformed their C concourse presence. What they have done so far is good and more improvements are underway.
Temporary “pop up lounge” by gate 124. Battery recharge and a Budweiser.
Easy on time boarding, seat 2L.
On time push back at 6:15pm and then just sitting. First officer announces they can’t start the engines on this Boeing 767 aircraft and we will be towed somewhere to get the problem resolved. At 6:55pm the tow truck arrives and we are now parked at a gate awaiting the repair team.
Supposedly the issue is resolved. It’s 7:15pm. Waiting to push back and depart.
Pushing back at 7:38pm ET. Moving under power. Lift off at 8:10pm, now due to arrive in London at 7:30am GMT. Original schedule had us on the ground in Heathrow at 6:20AM GMT.
Friday 11/17 – London
On the ground at 7:30am GMT, however we are once again put in the penalty box, no gate available. After 20min a Lufthansa plane pushes back and we get a gate a few minutes before 8:00. A long walk to immigration only to stand in a long serpentine queue for almost an hour. Once clear my bag is waiting at carousel 4 and I head to the bus station.
Bus stop 19 has free buses to the Renaissance Hotel, my base for the next three nights. The airport perimeter hotels are serviced by the local buses that access the airport for no charge, and they run a 24hr schedule. A beautiful chilly morning at Heathrow. A short ride to the Nene Road stop and then a short walk to the Renaissance. Despite the early hour, now 9:30am GMT, they have a room for my early check in, room 3516. They have runway view rooms if you are interested in checking out the air traffic. A quick regroup and I am headed to catch the Tube to London. Better to walk off my jet lag than succumb to it.
I purchased an Oyster Card on line prior to arrival in Britain. You can charge them for whatever amount you want, I chose 30 pounds. The RT on the Tube from Heathrow’s Zone 8 into the center of London, Zone 1, is 12 pounds. Once in London the fares using the Oyster Card were difficult to assess, however I used the Card several days and didn’t overspend the card. I will have to figure out what value remains and recharge it the next time in London.
The Airport is serviced by the Piccadilly Underground Line. I changed to the Northern Line at Leicester Square and headed to Camden Town to start my walk about.
Camden Station has a long steep escalator ride to the surface and I exit on the Camden High Street to the buzz of traffic, people and tourist shops.
After checking out the High Street, I head up the hill on Parkway and my memories go back in time to the experiences of my youth when I lived in Camden Town. The sign for the pet shop sign still remains, but now below it is a hair and nail shop. The green grocer and butcher shops are gone, now there is a Whole Foods instead, where I stop for a water. The American School by Gloucester gate has moved and Park Village West has a newer home undergoing a revamp on the old bomb site lot. As I pass my old school I remember the interior and where I took different classes. Walking into Regents Park I notice the old soccer field and I walk up the hill we ran down at the end of gym class. The coach would start all the boys and make me wait until they had a good head start before turning me loose to see if I could beat them all to the finish. Nostalgic Moments…..
Jet lag is starting to kick in. Back down the hill to the Tube Station. I stop at a couple of pubs near the station before navigating the tube ride back to the Airport.
Saturday 11/18 – Barcelona
The London Transport airport buses run all night and I caught a 4:30AM bus to the Terminal. My understanding is that the Airport and London Transport have an agreement that the London Transport buses on routes that intersect the Airport will provide free rides along the Airport perimeter where there are numerous hotels. Once outside the airport zone I assume there would be a fare.
I am early. The Terminal is barely open. Street side has a few shops opening. Security isn’t open yet. I get a coffee. Security opens at 5:30AM.
BA0472 London to Barcelona Heathrow (London) – Terminal 3
Departure 2017-11-18 06:15 (local time)
Arrival 2017-11-18 09:20 (local time)
Operated by British Airways
BA0487 Barcelona to London Barcelona – Terminal 1
Departure 2017-11-18 20:30 (local time)
Arrival 2017-11-18 21:45 (local time)
Operated by British Airways
Theoretically the above schedule gives me a 13hr day in Barcelona. Weather forecast: Sunny w/ some clouds, temperature in the 60’s/70’s. Easy immigration between EU countries and followed signs for the Buses. Aerobus was easy to find, short line to buy ticket, on the bus, seated and we are moving. There are intermediary stops, I am getting out at the last stop, Placa Catalunya.
This Link should take you to the Aerobus site: http://www.aerobusbcn.com/en Worked for me, in/out of the city.
It’s quiet at the Placa de Catalunya. Beautiful day. I get my bearings and head out to find La Sagrada Familia.
North on Passeig de Garcia, right on Carrer de Mallorca and I arrive at the Placa de la Sagrada Familia. (approx. 2.7K or 1.7 Miles) in 30minutes. Nice easy walking with interesting views along the way. Once on Carrer de Mallorca I started to get views of Sagrada Familia when I reached the Avinguda Diagonal crossing.
As described earlier I purchased my entrance ticket on line. At the entrance, which is on the Northeast side (Nativity Facade), my print out was scanned and I was in. The ticket included an audio guide that I picked up once inside. (Go right to pick up the device.)
Construction began in 1882 with Antoni Gaudi taking over as the Chief Architect the following year. He worked on this project until his death in 1926 at which time the building was only 1/4 completed. Funded primarily by Public Donation (example: entrance ticket price ) this Unesco World Heritage Site is scheduled to complete in 2026.
Everyone takes away their own feelings and impressions from visiting sites such as this, so suffice it to say for me it was like being inside something organic and I was totally immersed in the colors, angles, scope and textures. Here are some more photos:
The audio guide didn’t work for me, so it ended up just sitting around my neck. I couldn’t code in the location and just stand and look and listen. I was too distracted by the architecture, the powerful peaceful setting and the amazing light. I felt compelled to move around. I also had a ticket to ride the elevator up the Passion Tower. Some limited view points, but you can look out over Barcelona as well as see some of the upper level detail and construction underway.
No elevator down, just a long spiral staircase. My backpack wasn’t allowed to go up in the tower and had to reside in a locker in the elevator lobby, so I reclaimed it and headed back into the church.
The light through the stained glass envelopes this southwest section of the Sagrada. Very enjoyable visit. Selling timed tickets seems to take care of overcrowding.
Time to go. I exited through the Nativity Portal. There are restrooms and the requisite gift store on the way out.
I met my friends and after lunch at a Peruvian restaurant we caught a taxi to the waterfront.
From there we walked west along the beach, north around the marina then west again to the Christopher Columbus Column. At this point we entered La Rambla. Many pedestrians, shops, restaurants, coffee shops, tourist stores, markets etc. energize this lively passageway.
After a stop for coffee and pastry we emerge at Placa Catalunya where I say goodbye to my friends Shruti and Joy and board a waiting Aerobus for my return to the airport and my subsequent return flight to London.
Sunday 11/19
I caught the underground to the Green Park stop and headed towards the Palace. From there I walked through St James Park to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Thames.
I spent the afternoon walking the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge. Crossing the bridge towards the Tower of London leads to the Tower Gateway Station for the DLR line (Docklands Light Rail), where I caught the train over to Greenwich.
I checked out the Cutty Sark, rebuilt after a damaging fire in 2007. The 143-year-old vessel is the world’s last surviving tea clipper — a type of nineteenth century merchant sailing ship renowned for its speed — and was once considered the epitome of commercial maritime technology.
https://www.cnn.com/2012/04/24/world/europe/cutty-sark-reopen/index.html
I also made a stop at the Gipsy Moth Pub before heading back to my Airport hotel. The Gipsy Moth sailing ship was at one time displayed in this same area. The Gipsy Moth and its skipper, Sir Francis Chichester, were the fastest around the world by a small vessel, among other firsts, in 1967. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gipsy_Moth_IV
Monday 11/20
Travel day. I am taking the train from Paddington Station in London to Bristol Meads Station, Bristol. Direct service from Heathrow Rail Station to Paddington. A good ride from London to Bristol, then a walk through a downpour to the Hotel. I am here for two nights to revisit Bristol and attend a Van Morrison Concert at Colston Hall. Bristol has many interesting sites and walks. I will not go into much detail about this segment of the trip, but it was a good visit, the concert was great and the hotel I stayed in, The Bristol Marriott Royal, was a great base for my visit. The Royal has been serving the public for many years and is a very enjoyable and comfortable hotel.
Wednesday November 22
After a good breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Harry’s, I checked out and walked to the Temple Meads Station. No rain this time.
Travel back to Paddington Station, London was on time and I caught a direct train from there to Heathrow Aiport. A medium walk and I was in terminal one for my first of two flights back to Denver.
Summary:
This was a quick trip with a lot going on. The Barcelona visit to see my friends and check out La Sagrada proved to be an easy addition travel wise, though I was a little jet lagged.
Lesson learned: No need to get to Heathrow Airport early as security doesn’t open until 5:30am GMT.
The Sagrada was exceptional and easy to visit. The Aerobus was comfortable and easy. Walking around Barcelona was stimulating. I will get back there for a longer duration.
My British adventure was somewhat of a nostalgia tour with some notable interjections such as the Bristol visit and the Van Morrison Concert. Many good walks and memories.
All of the travel went well and the lodging ranked from accommodating to excellent. A good trip to cap a big travel year. Next up…2018.
Resources:
Marriott.com
UnitedAirlines.com
BritishAirways.com
La Sagrada Familia Website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/
Wikipedia.com
VirginRail.com
Aerobus Website: http://www.aerobusbcn.com/en/discover-aerobus.
Jay Geiss - Walkabout 
This looks amazing! I cannot wait until I can go 🙂 I really like what you have done with the home page!
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Thank you Jo – You will love Barcelona
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Amazing pic!!
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Thank you Helen!Always nice to hear from you
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