Hotel Puerta de Pamplona

Hotel Puerta de Pamplona recently changed its name from Hotel Puerta del Camino. Located at the edge of the old town, it offers comfortable rooms, an excellent restaurant, and off-street parking.

Facade of Hotel Puerta del Pamplona, formerly Puerta del Camino.

Facade of Hotel Puerta de Pamplona, formerly Puerta del Camino.

I highly recommend the off-street parking. There are very few places in this part of town, and your vehicle will be right there if you want/need it. Moving inside, you’ll find a welcoming lobby with plenty of seating. The rooms are well-appointed.

Standard room at Hotel Puerta del Pamplona.

Standard room at Hotel Puerta de Pamplona.

Complete with safe, mini-bar, clothing rack and more:

Other view of standard room at Hotel del Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

Other view of standard room at Hotel de Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

Bathrooms have everything you need as you see in the next photo:

Bathroom in standard room at Hotel Puerta del Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

Bathroom in standard room at Hotel Puerta de Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

As well as a nice amenity kit that will come in handy and save you packing space.

Bathroom amenities in standard room at Hotel Puerta del Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

Bathroom amenities in standard room at Hotel Puerta de Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

Finally, here’s a view of an outdoor gathering space as well as the parking. Again, I highly recommend paying for parking at the hotel.

Parking at Hotel Puerta del Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

Parking at Hotel Puerta de Pamplona, Pamplona, Spain.

I had a great stay here. Sadly, only one night, but did explore the town, see the sights, and have a few conversations with the locals. Also, a great meal at the hotel restaurant, La Capilla. More on that in a future post, so check back often.

 

Lunch in Belchite, Spain

While roaming about Spain, of course one of my favorite things to do is enjoy a “local” meal. There’s hardly a bar-restaurante, truck stop, roadside stand, or snack shack that doesn’t catch my attention. That being the case, I have to make a selection and take my chances. Well, while in the tiny town of Belchite, Spain, I found the perfect spot. A corner place, with an awning and a few tables outside where the local older gents were having a chat. To this day, I’m not sure of the name of this place, but here’s a photo of the outside:

Exterior of a great little corner bar/restaurant in Belchite, Spain.

Exterior of a great little corner bar/restaurant in Belchite, Spain.

Going inside, I found several more guys at the bar, enjoying a tapas-style snack.

The tapas bar at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

The tapas bar at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

This place had a fine variety of tasty tapas, and I ordered several to make a meal.

Tortilla española and more at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

Tortilla española and more at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

Note the ice-cold Coca-Cola backing up the tapas. And there were plenty more, including these:

More tapas at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

More tapas at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

This was a great meal, served by a friendly lady who ran the place with a smile. I asked a few questions about the town, the bar, and such, which she was happy to answer, thereby giving me some local insight. Amazingly, the whole adventure cost me less than 15 euros. That’s an incredible value and a fun way to spend a few hours. Enjoy every meal!

Joséphine, Barcelona (restaurant)

Located in an upscale neighborhood on Pau Claris, Joséphine delivers atmosphere from a bygone age, complete with live music, fine food, and a great bar.

Joséphine, located on Pau Claris, Barcelona, Spain.

Joséphine, located on Pau Claris, Barcelona, Spain.

Seating inside and out provides options for all. I took a seat inside for supper one evening.

Dining room at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Dining room at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Tasty and well-presented food arrives thanks to a friendly staff. I tried a special of the night, which was a tenderloin served atop hot coals with artichokes and peppers:

Tenderloin atop hot coals at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Tenderloin atop hot coals at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

This dish was excellent because the coals stayed hot for quite a while, enabling me to let the meat cook to exactly my style. Of course, dessert was a must. Take a look at this chocolate cake and ice-cream:

Chocolate cake with ice cream at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

Chocolate cake with ice cream at Joséphine, Barcelona, Spain.

As sometimes happens, I was too busy eating and talking to photograph the starter salads, one Caesar, one mixed, both fresh, crispy, and delicious. Had a few cocktails after the meal while enjoying a woman singer who provided entertainment. And the people watching here is another bonus. A great experience while visiting Barcelona.

Along the beach, Barcelona, Spain

While in Barcelona, it’s fun to simply stroll along the promenade that fronts the beach. Here people come to exercise, take a dip in the ocean, to see and be seen.

A look at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

A look at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

There are also several marinas and yacht basins where you can tie up your boat or check out those belonging to others.

One of the marinas at Barcelona, Spain.

One of the marinas at Barcelona, Spain.

You’ll also find the W Hotel. Here’s the long view of it in the distance:

Another view of the beach at Barcelona, Spain, with the W Hotel in the background.

Another view of the beach at Barcelona, Spain, with the W Hotel in the background.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink as well. Here’s a look at one:

Snack shop at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

Snack shop at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

Of course there are many others, so you’ll have plenty of options for food. Here’s a close look at the W Hotel thanks to my wide angle lens:

The W Hotel at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

The W Hotel at the beach in Barcelona, Spain.

I ended my walk at this spot because it’s a convenient place to get a taxi. While traveling, be sure to do plenty of sightseeing on foot.

Published in: on June 15, 2014 at 5:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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