Spanish adventures

Hola!

While we are waiting for the Spanish GP, here are some of my adventures from Spain to help get in the mood - not that I would need a lot of help, but still... 

I've visited two cities this spring - the biggest ones, Madrid and Barcelona. I flew in to Madrid, and I didn't really have a lot of F1 plans there, except for visiting the Carlos Sainz Karting Center, but right on my first day, I managed to stumble upon the new track. :D As far as I know parts of it are not built yet, but I took some pictures with the gate and everything, while smiling like an idiot... khm...khm... carhappy I mean. If you need to find it, it is at IFEMA.

Then came the Karting Center, where I desperately wanted to bring someone with me, as I have never done karting before (not counting a tiny stint in the amusement park in Vienna), so I was scared shitless. Yet, I was there by myself, and first I didn't even found the entrance. To be honest, the organization levels of the whole thing were not what I would have expected...

When I finally found my way in, I "got stuck" on the ground floor for a good 10 minutes, looking at Papa Sainz's rally championship winner car (at that point I knew almost nothing of his career or rally in general, the latter bit hasn't changed much, but for the change of the first, I can thank the Sainz docuseries), and an unidentified F1 Ferrari (I think it's a replica, but please, do enlighten me if you know). I wish I could say that I entered my usual euphoria that happens when I see car stuff, but I was a bit too nervous for that.

All in all, I had a blast, I was high on adrenaline afterwards. I didn't crash at all, and I didn't finished last. I was NOT scared but enjoyed the speed (obviously not the same speed the 7 other people who finished in front of me, but still), and I was completely in the zone. These are the moments to live for. 

Barcelona had a bit more to offer F1-wise. I took a trip to FerrariLand, of course!! I didn't even know it existed, but thankfully I was informed of it before the trip, and honestly, I had a great time there. The ticket prices are not crazy, so definitely not Disney and such levels. To be fair, it is also a lot smaller, but there are some rides, free fall towers, an awesome rollercoaster called Red Force, some simulator, a lot of photo ops, and of course CARS!! Even a tiny museum type of thing! The gift shop is great as well, I bought a nice yellow mug. It can be reached from Barcelona by train.  

But of course it wouldn't have been me, if I didn't have any train troubles, on the way their, the train was like 1,5 hours late, and the way back, I had to take a bus substituting for the train. Afterwards, I wasn't too much bothered, but I was quite annoyed with the being late thing, as I felt I was robbed of time spent in FerrariLand.

The second agenda point was the McLaren Barcelona and the Chelsea1979 museum. The previous is effectively the dealership, and honestly, I had to be very ballsy to be able to go in and check out the cars, because I felt 100% not belonging there (well, I'm definitely not in the financial situation to be able to buy a McLaren). I also asked about visiting the museum, but I was told that I should have made an appointment and it is also only possible to visit it with groups. I'm not sure what other conditions are there, but I already felt too much of an impostor so I didn't dare to ask anything else, but next time, I'll definitely send them an email asking these questions before...:D

And I'm talking about next time, because not only could not check out this museum, I was also an idiot and didn't prebook the Sagrada Familia, so I couldn't go in, and I also didn't know of the existence of the Olympic Museum, which apparently also has a lot of motorsport and F1 stuff, so unfortunately, I have to go back.

Do you know of other places that are worth visiting in either Madrid or in Barcelona?

(Magyar verzió: https://www.motorsportol.hu/f1/2024/06/12/32-forma-1-es-program-spanyolorszagban-a-nagydijon-innen-es-tul/)