Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Barcelona

1,552 bytes removed, 13:21, 10 June 2016
no edit summary
== Hitchhiking out ==
<map lat='41.45816618938139' lng='2.140960693359375' zoom='10' view='0' height='400' width='400' float='right'/>
=== North towards [[Girona]], [[PerpignanLa Jonquera]] , ([[France]]) {{Aes|AP-7}} ===
In general your chances of being picked up are much better with cars with French number plates. For the options below it's good to have an idea about how many French cars you can expect.
==== Option 1: C33 Motorway service station Montcada ====
Take a ''Renfe'' train from ''Barcelona-Passeig de Gracia'' (there are even more trains from ''Barcelona-Sants'') -- on the R2 or R2 Nord line, direction: Granollers Centre (R2) or Macanet-Massanes (R2 Nord). Get off at station ''Montcada i Reixac''. (This train will take you about 20 minutes and costs €2,15 (2014)). Exit the train station to the left, through the second exit in the direction of the train. Walk under the railways and pass through the station building. At the other side you will find yourself at a small shopping district with a one way street. Follow it to the right. Pass the church, traffic lights, and cross the pedestrian bridge. Once over the bridge, turn left and follow the fenced in school playground around to the right. You should now see the motorway above you and parking below the motorway. Continue following the motorway until you see the road dip down and to the right under the railroad. Go under the bridge. Up ahead and to your left you will see a very broken vertical turnstile and a sign saying "forbidden" (see a picture here: http://imgur.com/MLxJc29). Ignore the sign and follow the foot path to the right, to the service road along the motorway. This service road goes right into the back of a Gasolinera Galp Montcada Norte petrol station.<br/ >
Hitch there by asking around, or with a sign where the exits converge. Keep in mind that the toll is only two kilometers ahead, so try for shorter distances to get past the toll and onto a different rest stop. [[User:sovereign|Sovereign]], after waiting for 15 minutes (standing, with sign) at the Galp station was told by an employee to fly a sign with "Girona" instead of "FR". Girona works far better and there is another station before and after Girona.
There is a This good petrol-station along is on the C33 motorway (which leads to the Autopista del Mediterraneo, AP7/ E15) and is just 10 minutes away from Barcelona city center centre by train. You can find cars going to Girona, Figueres , and sometimes eve even much further, : straight into France.
:This option worked very well for us (Steffi and Manu), the spot is easy to find, the description above is very good! takes about half an hour form Passeig de Gracia, people were helpful at the petrol station, we got a ride all the way to Switzerland.:This option also worked well for me (Tarik) in Jan-14. I just waited for 15 minutes until a gracious Spanish couple gave me a ride to Girona.:This option worked for me (Joel) too in June-15. Waited 20 minutes before I was picked up by some really friendly spaniards. The trouble for me was to get out of Spain (gave up after 4 hours) and I was stuck just close to the border to France in La Jonquera before I finally had to get a cab to Perpignan. Apparently -nobody- picks up hitch hikers just next to the border because this is a huge drug smuggling zone. Both rides I took before they clearly asked me if I had any drugs on me. I had no idea why but now I understand. My recommendation is that you find someone that goes all the way to France in Montcada / Girona, because believe me, there is absolutely nothing to see in La Jonquera. (In hindsight I should've just walked the remaining 5 kms to France where it's very easy to catch a ride.)
This option also worked well for me ==== Option 2: AP-7 Motorway Service Station Bellaterra ====Take train [http://www.fgc.net/accesible/cat/viatjar/s2.htm S2] from ''Barcelona Plaça Catalunya'', direction Sabadell-Rambla, and get off at ''Bellaterra''. (Tarik2 zones) in Jan-14. I just waited for 15 minutes until Turn left out of the station and walk 1.6km along C/ de Bellaterra. After you have crossed over the motorway bridge, you will see a small road to the left. Walk ≈400 along this road (you will pass through a gracious small tunnel) to the service station.<br/ >When asking locals, ask how to walk to Hotel Bellaterra, as Spanish couple gave me a ride people are clueless about hitchhiking and any other question will be answered with useless answers about how to reach the motorway. (EDIT: the hotel is closed and you have to climb two gates to get to the rest area).<br/ >There are not too many drivers going north though, and the (Spanish) ones who are don't seem to be eager to Gironapick up hitchhikers. Almost no traffic from Barcelona going north passes through here, so you miss out on all the French drivers - option 1 is probably much better.
This option worked for me (Joel) too in June-15==== Option 3: Barcelona Gran Via ====Take the metro L2 and get off at ''Monumental''. Waited 20 minutes before I was picked up From there, pass by some really friendly spaniards. The trouble for me was to get out of Spain the ''Plaça de Toros'' (gave up after 4 hoursBullfight Arena) and I was stuck just close to start hitchhiking at the last traffic light by the border to France in La Jonquera ''Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes''/''Carrer Padilla'' before I finally had street corner where the road leads to get a cab to Perpignanthe motorway C-31. Apparently -nobody- picks up hitch hikers just next to When the light turns red, ask people if they're heading towards the border because this is a huge drug smuggling zonemotorway. Both 2 rides I took before If yes, ask them if they clearly asked me if I had any drugs on me. I had no idea why but now I understand. My recommendation is that can take you find someone that goes all to the way to France in Montcada / Girona, because believe me, there is absolutely nothing to see in La Jonquera. first petrol station (In hindsight I should've just walked the remaining 5 kms to France where it's very easy to catch a ride"gasolinera"''). [http://www.wikimapia.)org/#y=41400908&x=2183522&z=17&l=3&m=h&v=2 Location Option3]
==== Option 2: Bellaterra ====
There are two ways of getting at this rest-area on both sides of the motorway - heading North and South, connected with a bridge. There are not many drivers going North though, and the (Spanish) ones who do don't seem to be eager to pick up hitchhikers. Almost no traffic from Barcelona going North is going through here, so you miss out on all the French drivers - option 1 is probably much better.
 
First option is through St. Joan station.
:Directions: Take a train [http://www.fgc.net/accesible/cat/viatjar/s2.htm S2] from ''Barcelona Plaça Catalunya'' to ''Sabadell-Rambla'', and get off at the ''St. Joan'' station (2 zones). It is another 10–15 minute walk to a good [[rest area]] at the AP7 which is the main motorway to go to the North (towards Girona and France ([[Perpignan]])) or to the South. Walk out of the station through the exit on the left, and take the road that follows the rail track. After a left-turn, take the third street to the right and follow it until you get on ''C/ de Bellaterra''. You should be able to spot a rest area after less then a 5 minute walk from here. To hitch South, stay on that side, to hitch North, take the footbridge. [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41491092&x=2093883&z=15&l=0&m=s&v=2 Location]
 
The second option: stay on the train one more stop and to get off at ''Bellaterra''.
:Directions: Exit the station, take the exit on the left and walk to the left following the main street for about 20 minutes. After a while you will then reach a bridge over the motorway. After the bridge, turn left at the second street that is parallel to the motorway. After 200 meter and a small tunnel you are at the same rest area. When asking locals ask how to walk to Hotel Bellaterra, as Spanish people are clueless about hitchhiking any other question will be answered with useless answers about how to reach the motorway. BUT: the hotel closed and you have to climb two gates to get to the rest area.
 
==== Option 3: Barcelona Gran Via ====
This is a good option to start hitching from the city itself. It works pretty well if you know how to hitch from petrol lights, have a big sign or know some Spanish.
:Directions: Take the metro and get off at ''Monumental''. From there pass by the ''Plaça de Toros'' (Bullfight Arena) and start hitchhiking at the last traffic light by the ''Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes'' / ''Carrer Padilla before'' streets corner where the road leads to the motorway C-31. When the light turns red ask people if they're heading towards the motorway. If yes, ask them if they can take you to the first petrol station (''"gasolinera"''). [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41400908&x=2183522&z=17&l=3&m=h&v=2 Location Option3]
 
Experiences:
:I tried today this central and easy to reach option 3) and waited only 5 minutes with two people and a huge Montgat sign to get a ride from Gran Via /Padilla street outside of Barcelona along the coast. The willing driver can stop on a marked area. See a [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=barcelona+bullfight&sll=51.344339,10.415039&sspn=13.601146,38.847656&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=41.400646,2.18356&spn=0,359.998814&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.400771,2.183726&panoid=3eh7O_7dn2E6LO-SVdRxKw&cbp=12,259.6,,0,12.74 photo-link]. In theory only cars on the right hand side lane of the 3 lanes going out of Barcelona can use this "stop possibility" marked on the street, but our driver crossed the still red traffic light to make it to the right even from the middle lane.
 
:I've also tried "Option 3," but I believe it's much too busy a street to get a ride. Also, the drivers will have to do some interesting maneuvers in order to pick you up. If you can blackride the metro, I would go elsewhere.
:I tried today this central and easy to reach option 3 and waited only 5 minutes with two people and a huge Montgat sign to get a ride from Gran Via /Padilla street outside of Barcelona along the coast. The willing driver can stop on a marked area. See a [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=barcelona+bullfight&sll=51.344339,10.415039&sspn=13.601146,38.847656&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=41.400646,2.18356&spn=0,359.998814&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=41.400771,2.183726&panoid=3eh7O_7dn2E6LO-SVdRxKw&cbp=12,259.6,,0,12.74 photo-link]. In theory only cars on the right hand side lane of the 3 lanes going out of Barcelona can use this "stop possibility" marked on the street, but our driver crossed the still red traffic light to make it to the right even from the middle lane.<br/ >
:I've also tried "Option 3," but I believe it's much too busy a street to get a ride. Also, the drivers will have to do some interesting manoeuvers in order to pick you up. If you can blackride the metro, I would go elsewhere.<br/ >
:There is construction work going on (April 2016) so the cars really can't stop or pull over anywhere anymore. A little bit further, shortly behind the train station, the cars can pull over to the taxi/bus lane. One time it worked, we were three people going to Palamós, the other time it was only me going to Figueres and nobody stopped even after waiting for 40 minutes. Walking even further is possible but there are many cars going in another direction, I recommend trying another option.
==== Option 4: Petrol station Barcelona Beach====Take bus H16 from ''Plaça Catalunya'' direction Fòrum and get of at ''Cementiri de l'Est''. Head towards the beach, cross the highway, and you will see the Repsol petrol station and McDonalds.[http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=barcelona&aq=&sll=43.846165,7.51585&sspn=0.063015,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Barcelona,+Provinz+Barcelona,+Katalonien,+Spanien&t=h&ll=41.392763,2.20439&spn=0.004129,0.009645&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.392668,2.204321&panoid=THN4T4qwi_RHw72drz6r8A&cbp=12,328.03,,0,-0.5 photo-link]
This is a good option to start hitching from near the beach itself in Barcelona. It works pretty well if you know some Spanish or even catalan as you have to ask the drivers at the petrol station.
you can take the bus 41 from Placa Catalunya towards Pg del Taulat-Pl de Llevant and get of at Bisbe Josep Climent-Cementiri de l'Est (there is a very modern church. that you head towards the beach, crossing the motorway. then you see MacDonalds and the petrol station. see a
[http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=barcelona&aq=&sll=43.846165,7.51585&sspn=0.063015,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Barcelona,+Provinz+Barcelona,+Katalonien,+Spanien&t=h&ll=41.392763,2.20439&spn=0.004129,0.009645&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.392668,2.204321&panoid=THN4T4qwi_RHw72drz6r8A&cbp=12,328.03,,0,-0.5 photo-link]
 
==== From airport El Prat ====
El Prat airport is on the opposite end of Barcelona. The easiest and cheapest way to get to a hitching spot is taking the train right from the airport. One end of this line is at the airport. The other end is in St Celoni, which is well out of the city towards Girona. Alternatively, you can get off in one of the places mentioned above. St Celoni is on the highway, the peage is a 20 min walk from the train station. It is a small entry peage, depending on the time of the day/week, it might have different traffic.
=== West towards [[Zaragoza]], [[Madrid]] ===
439
edits

Navigation menu