The perfect Sunday afternoon in Barcelona is at Tibidabo Amusement Park. The very reasonable price of admission gets you amazing views of the city, a breathtaking panorama of the coast, and, if you’re lucky, a mesmerizing display of clouds racing across the sky. I adore a sky full of clouds; blue, black, fluffy white, whatever, they all work for me. Then my imagination takes over and I start playing a game of naming each animal I can find (:D) and my heart begs for rain! Yes, I’m a pluviophile, proud and unashamed!
So, were heading there, Tibidabo Mountain, which overlooks Barcelona from 515 meters above sea level, with its Sagrat Cor Church crowned by a statue of Jesus (reminiscent of Rio in Brazil) and the amusement park.
Tibidabo
Looks like the origin of the name comes from the Bible; “Tibi dabo”, meaning “I will give to you” as said to Jesus by the Devil as he tempted him looked down from a high mountain upon all the kingdoms of the world. The name of Barcelona’s hill thus refers to the popular tradition that it was, in fact, the exceedingly high mountain from the passage.
Sagrat Cor Barcelona
All along the road, up the mountain, we are spoiled with amazing views of the city. When we get there we can really take it in and say WOW!
Best views of Barcelona
Just look at this! The perfect paradise, intended mainly for children but frankly, I don’t know who’s having more fun, the kids or the adults.
Tibidabo Amusement Park
I just had the chance to play along … talk about the Imitation Game.
Two can play at this game!
I took some time to breathe in the views and trying to spot familiar landmarks.
Close up
I spotted the famous W Hotel and the Montjuic Castle.
W Hotel and Montjuic Castle has seen from Tibidabo
Of course the Towers, one being the Arts Hotel and the other one the Torre Mapfre, home to one of the biggest insurance companies in Spain. Can you spot the Tower Agbar?
Torre Agbar, Hotel Arts and Torre Mapfre seen from Tibidabo
Time has come for something more serious, a true test of my courage: getting on the Wheel, on Miss Giradabo (Catalan word saying it really spins).
Sing it! At first, I was afraid; I was petrified!
Giradabo Tibidabo
Then lost myself in the landscape and started waving at the people on a plane that just happened to be flying by. Not a real plane, of course! I’m talking about Avió Tibidabo, he’s been flying since 1928.
Avió Tibidabo
If you’re getting hungry during your adventure, there are few good places where you can grab a bite. Maybe you can try some tapas, since you are in Barcelona, or you can try the Jamon kiosk, serving the ham “with its own name” just like the commercial says.
I love it when I feel like a tourist at home, and I love it, even more, when I feel like a child. Safe to say I loved every minute!
The end of a beautiful adventure