The vibrant city of Barcelona has got something for everyone thanks to its fabulous parks, architecture, shops and beaches. Add to that, countless art galleries and museums and you truly have a city brimming with an exciting mixture of fun and culture!

It is a great destination, summer or winter, and in these credit crunch times, there is accommodation available to suit every pocket.

If you are a fan of art, this is the place to be as, over the centuries, this Catalan city has been home to many famous artists and architects.

The most famous of these is without a doubt Antoni Gaudi, and many of the buildings in Barcelona are monuments to his very distinctive style. Not to everyone’s taste, but an absolute must-see for every visitor.

The most famous landmark in the city, the Sagrada Familia Church, is his masterpiece and is a fabulous fairytale building. It was started in 1852, and unbelievably, is still being worked on today.

Pablo Picasso lived in Barcelona for many years, and there is a permanent exhibition of his paintings in the Picasso Museum. There are dozens of other museums and art galleries, but don’t worry if culture is not your thing.

Head for Las Ramblas, a wide tree lined boulevard that stretches over a kilometre all the way to the waterfront. It is home to all sorts of shops, cafes and bars, and boasts one of the biggest and best indoor food markets in Europe. It really has to be seen to be believed. There are hundreds of stalls selling every kind of food imaginable, and of course, this being Spain, samples for tasting are freely and willingly offered!

Five things you MUST do in Barcelona.

1- Stroll slowly along Las Rambles, Barcelona’s wonderful shopping boulevard, and enjoy the shops, and street stalls. Stop for a coffee or a drink at one of the many cafes and bars, and just people-watch!

2- Visit the famous church of La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s famous masterpiece. This is the city’s most iconic building, and will feature on any tour of Barcelona. And no, from the outside, it really does NOT look real! Truly a fascinating building.

3- Don’t forget Picasso! Even if you are not a fan of his style of art, you really must not leave Barcelona without viewing his paintings at the Picasso Museum. The entrance fees to all the museums and galleries in the city are very reasonable, but do check the opening times, as they can vary quite a lot.

5- Visit Sitges, the historical seaside district, which is just a short train ride from the city centre. As well as its historic sites, Sitges is well known for its night-life and beaches.

4- Eat Paella! There are so many different versions of this national dish, with each region claiming theirs is the authentic one! You will find dozens of restaurants in Barcelona each with their own receipe….take your pick and enjoy with a glass or two of cava!

Whatever you decide to do in Barcelona, you will find yourself wanting to return again and again to this most colourful of Spanish cities.

 

The Oregon Dunes State Park and Oregon Dunes National Park are among the most unique features of the Oregon coast. Located near the beautiful coast, the sand dunes in Oregon are a favorite tourist spot because of the wide variety of recreational activities available and the unexpected beauty of the dunes. Suited for outdoor adventures, peaceful camping or retreating, or just enjoying natural surroundings, a trip to the Oregon Dunes complete any vacation to the Oregon coast.

WHAT ARE THE OREGON DUNES?

The Oregon dunes are a beautiful formation of shifting sand, often referred to as the American Sahara. They are caused by the extreme erosion and water evaporation over thousands of years. The Oregon coast dunes stretch over forty miles along the Oregon coast, beginning in the north with the Florence Oregon sand dunes and ending in the south at the Coos Bay dunes. The Oregon sand dunes are the largest coastal dunes in North America. Rising to up to 500 feet above sea level, this unusual formation is set against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful coasts in the Northwest. From the rising sand peaks to the island-like tree formations, the dunes in Oregon are one of the most ecologically diverse features in the United States. Combining shifting desert-type sands with coastal waters, lakes, streams and forests, the Oregon coast sand dunes are a must-see on any Oregon vacation.

OREGON DUNES CAMPING

There are three major sand camping areas on the Oregon dunes recreation facilities. The first is located in the north dunes called the Florence Oregon sand dunes. The two major camping sites in the Florence dune area are called Driftwood II and Honeyman State Park.

Driftwood offers 68 OHV slots for trailers or automobiles.

Honeyman boasts a close proximity to the ocean and dune access points as well as two freshwater lakes within its park borders.

Just south of Florence is the second major recreational area called Winchester Bay or the Umpqua Dunes. The largest camping area in the Winchester Bay dune area is called Discovery Point resort. The resort offers over 60 RV slots with complete hookups. Discovery Point is located just below the Umpqua lighthouse and very near the Umpqua dunes access point.

The southernmost Oregon dunes recreational area is located at Coos Bay. The Coos Bay dunes area offers several options for camping. The major camping areas are Spinreel OHV (Off-Highway motor Vehicle), Oregon Dunes KOA, Hauser Overflow OHV camp, Horsfall OHV, and Horsfall Beach OHV.

Spinreel OHV campsites are located eleven miles south of Reedsport and offer 36 auto, trailer, and tent sites.

Oregon Dunes KOA (Kampgrounds of America) is located further from the dune access than most of the other campgrounds, but boasts water, sewer, electric, and TV hookups on every campsite. Oregon Dunes KOA offers 62 large campsites that accommodate RV’s and tents. Oregon Dunes KOA also has a selection of cabins available.

Hauser Overflow OHV is only used during Memorial Weekend, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day Weekend.

Horsfall OHV is located a mile and a half from North Bend. Horsfall OHV offers 70 OHV campsites.

Horsfall Beach OHV is also located a short distance from North Bend. Horsfall Beach consists of 41 OHV, automobile, and trailer sites.

Before planning a camping trip on the Oregon coast dunes, make sure to check out the local rules and regulations, costs, seasonal availability, and amenities. Also try to make reservations if possible. Many sand campgrounds do not accept reservations from October 1st to April 30th, and many sites require reservations during the summer months. Plan ahead to make sure and get the best camping site available. Check out the Internet websites for each campground to check out the cost, availability, reservation information, amenities and other particulars for each private campsite.

OREGON DUNE FEST

The Oregon Dune Fest is an annual event that usually takes place around the first week of August. This event is located on the sand dunes in Winchester Bay. During the day, Dune Fest has exciting racing and events for all ages, genders, and skill levels, such as moto-cross racing, barrel racing, dune drag racing, relay racing, and many more. Children can get involved, too. A variety of activities are available during the day just for children. One of the main activities for children involves a treasure hunt and dig on the dunes. At night, things heat up with concerts, dancing, and bonfires. Local DJs are invited to spin their stuff and acclaimed rock groups give a wild concert during the last night of the festivities. Every year the Annual Charity ATV Auction is held, raising money for various causes. More information about this year’s event can be easily found on the Internet.

DUNES NATIONAL PARK

The Oregon Dunes National Park is part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation

Area. The National Recreation Area consists of the sand dunes, coastal areas, rivers, lakes, streams, and forests located in the forty-mile stretch on the Oregon coast. Dunes National Park is only small part of the National Recreation Area established in Oregon. The Oregon Dunes National Park is a great place for outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, sand boarding, OHV use, and horseback riding. But the recreation area is also home to more solitary and relaxing pursuits, such as bird watching or trail walking. The National Park is shelter to many rare birds, such as endangered shore birds, osprey, bald eagles, and egrets. The ecological diversity found in the Dunes National Park creates a perfect sanctuary for many types of wildlife. Enjoy the conveniences of the local campgrounds and Oregon coast dune access points. Explore the natural wonder of the winding trails, and the beauty coastal waters. Camping is also available in the Dunes National Park. Campgrounds can be easily searched on the Internet and can accommodate most of the average vacation’s camping needs. Campgrounds can be found that house RV parking and hookups, showers, water hookups, traditional tent camping, cabin camping, and nontraditional camping, such as teepees and covered wagon camping.

Here’s the rub: It’s a beautiful day in Oslo (summer, preferably), and you want to be outdoors in the fresh and sunlit air, perhaps have a picnic on the grass, stroll and enjoy the sights. But you also want some culture, a bit of art, yet not be cooped up in a museum on such a glorious day. Where do you go? The Vigeland Sculpture Park, part of the Frogner Park, located in Oslo, is one of the most popular and visually compelling places to visit in Norway’s capital. 

Three kilometers northwest of the Oslo city center, the park covers 80 acres and features 212 bronze and granite sculptures by Gustav Berg. Each figure was personally sculpted out of clay by Vigeland and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what visitors see today. These works of art reside along an 850 meter-long axis divided into six sections: The Main Gate, The Bridge, The Children’s Playground, The Fountain, The Monolith Plateau and The Wheel of Life.

The Main Gate is made of forged granite and wrought iron and serves as an entrance to the park itself. It consists of five large gates, two small pedestrian gates and two copper-roofed gate houses, both adorned with weather-vanes. Financed by a Norwegian bank, The Main Gate was erected in 1926. Walking along the 328 feet long, 49 feet wide Bridge, you will encounter 58 of the park’s sculptures. The Bridge serves as a connection between the Main Gate and the Fountain. All of the sculptures are bronze-clad and contribute to the “Human Condition” theme of the park. One of the Oslo Park’s more popular statues, Sinnataggen, or “The Little Angry Boy.” This was the first part of the park to be opened to the public, in 1940. While most of the Oslo Park was still under construction, visitors could enjoy these sculptures.

Next one arrives at the Children’s Playground, located at the end of the bridge. This is a collection of eight bronze statues, all representing children at play. In the center, mounted on a granite column, is a representation of a fetus. One cannot say that there is no attention to truth.After the Children’s Playground is the Fountain, fabricated from bronze and adorned with 60 individual bronze reliefs. It portrays children and skeletons in the arms of giant trees, symbolizing new life emerging from death. It took Vigeland from 1906 to 1947 to establish this monument in Oslo.

Finally, you arrive at the Monolith Plateau and the Monolith. The Monolith Plateau is a platform made of stairs housing the Monolith totem itself. Thirty-six figure groups reside on the elevation carrying with them the “circle of life” message. Eight figural gates forged in wrought iron give access to the Plateau. They were designed in Oslo between 1933 and 1937 and erected shortly after Vigeland died in 1943.

The Monolith (Monolitten) is unquestionably the most popular attraction in the park. As the name suggests, the work is created from one solid piece of stone. This massive work was begun in 1924 when Vigeland himself modeled the monument out of clay in his Frogner studio. The design process took ten months. Then the model was cast in plaster. In 1927, a block of granite weighing several hundred tons was delivered to the Oslo park from a stone quarry in Halden and was erected the following year, protected against the elements by a wooden shed. It took 14 years and three stone carvers, beginning in 1929, to transfer the figures. The Monolith towers 46.32 feet high and comprises 121 human figures rising heavenward. This is meant to symbolize man’s desire to become closer to the spiritual and the divine. The tightly embraced nude figures convey a feeling of togetherness as they all make their way to salvation.

At the end of the park’s 850-meter-long axis is a sundial, forged in 1930. This is followed the Wheel of Life, completed between 1933-34. It is essentially a wreath depicting four people and a baby floating in harmony. It symbolizes eternity and suggests the Oslo park’s overall theme, which is man’s journey from cradle to grave.

Marvelous and powerful as these works are, not everyone has appreciated the sculptures. In March 2007, this park in Oslo was defaced when an anonymous person or persons affixed black strips of paper to every exposed nipple, crotch, and posterior on the park’s sculptures. As always, there is no accounting for taste.

For more information on Oslo, visit http://www.blogoslo.com and http://www.oslomicroblog.com.