Basics - The Rough Guide to Barcelona - page 57

als; TelEntrada tickets at CatalunyaCaixa machines. Both websites have English-language
versions. In addition, there's a concert ticket desk in the FNAC store , El Triangle, Plaça de
Catalunya,whileforadvanceticketsforallcitycouncil(Ajuntament)-sponsoredconcertsand
events visit the PalaudelaVirreina , Ramblas 99. The official tourist office website bar-
celonaturisme.com also offers online ticket purchase for most city museums and attractions
(click on “BCNShop”), and gives a five- to ten-percent discount as well.
Time
BarcelonaisonehouraheadoftheUK,sixhoursaheadofEasternStandardTime,ninehours
ahead of Pacific Standard Time, eight hours behind Australia, ten hours behind New Zealand
and in the same time zone as South Africa. In Spain, the clocks go forward in the last week
in March and back again in the last week in October.
Tipping
In most restaurants and bars service is considered to be included in the price. Locals leave
only a few cents or round up the change for a coffee or a drink, and a euro or two for most
meals, though fancier restaurants will expect ten to fifteen percent. Taxi drivers usually get
around five percent, more if they have helped you with bags or been similarly useful, while
hotel porters should be tipped a euro or two for their assistance.
Toilets
Public toilets are few and far between, and only averagely clean. Bars and restaurants are
more likely to have proper (and cleaner) toilets, though you can't guarantee it - even in the
poshest of places. Ask for toaleta or serveis ( lavabo or servicios in Spanish). Dones or Da-
mas (Ladies) and Homes/Hombres or Caballeros (Gentlemen) are the usual signs.
Travellers with disabilities
The local tourist office has plenty of useful information on its website ( barcelonatur-
isme.com ; click on “Accessible Barcelona”), including a full guide to accessible sights and
facilities in the city. Barcelona's airport and Aerobús are fully accessible to travellers in
wheelchairs, though the bus gets very busy and can be difficult if you have lots of luggage.
Barcelona Sants has lifts to the platforms, though not all of the trains are accessible. There
are access ramps at Estació de França and lifts to the platforms at Plaça de Catalunya's FGC
andRENFEstations.Usingthe metro canbeproblematic,thoughimprovementsareongoing
-atpresent,lines2,9,10and11arefullyaccessible,withelevatorsatmajorstations(includ-