Flying out for a quick weekend break, Fishbrain and I met with NCKapita, who was living out here in Barceolona. It would have been silly to not have taken advantage and come out to see him. Listen to the local knowledge that flowed from his wise head and the contacts he'd made while out here. As we went up to a possible entrance lid, he described how this kind were opened, and promptly failed to open it. The local utility and rail services security people also had wise heads, and were aware of the exploits people were using to get into the system. The problem is, Barcelona is plagued by graffiti writers, everywhere is scrawled with hideous tags by nobodies trying to be a somebody. Anywhere that has easy access is immediately covered in graffiti. Making it very obvious that there is access nearby.

We visited one such place in the neighbourhood of Mr. Gaudi's religious masterpiece. Sitting around waiting for the staff at a cafe to bugger off, we leapt into the metro system, the familiar smell of a billion particles of brake pads floating about. We dropped down and ended up in a small corridor next to a ventilation fan. Something that would be a common feature of the Barcelona set up. A box next to where we were stood seemed to blink a minute before a train turned up, so we timed our shots for that. Although the one below was a high ISO handheld shot with NCKapita on the right.

The proximity to the tracks, meant it was difficult to get decent light trails, this being my best shot. It was very easy to be seen here, as the trains have bright lights, and anything different to the driver would be easy to spot.

After walking off, we went to another access point in a small paved park. In Barcelona there seem to be lots of pedestrian areas in the middle of the road, the most famous of them all being the Ramblas. All down, the ever cautious NCKapita pulled back a protective slide to reveal a ladder that went down deeper into the ground and the tracks. Again, we were greeted by a ventilation fan in regulation style. We squeezed out and onto the tracks. Service was over, so the lights were on. Graffiti writers scrawl on the walls to make sure the authorities can see where they got in.

We wandered down the tracks and ended up in the never opened Gaudi station. The marble walls and floors never walked on by the paying public. I was keen to see the inside of the station, converted to offices for the Metro's security teams. However NCKapita was very much against the idea, so I conceded to local knowledge. This is why this station doesn't have a separate entry, as I don't feel I really explored it.

Hopping up onto the platform was about as reckless as it got here.

It was then back up the tunnel to our access point. The roof ringed by wires, but only the ones near the top need to be seriously avoided.

It was then on to another part of town. NCKapita said it was covered in cameras and that trains can come through at any time. So basically this station would be exciting then, risks are always exciting and a cheap source of adrenalin. It's called  B!furcació-Vilanova, and has been long abandoned. The light and stairs on the far left allegedly lead to a security office. No one so far wants to prove the rumour wrong.  The tracks on the right lead to a double back into the open air and more tracks that join these.

The reverse to the shot above, looking down the former platforms. NCKapita described previous adventures here before we arrived, and in my head i'd built up a picture of the place in my head. It was totally different to what I eventually saw. On the right over the tracks and the chainlink fence, is a sloping track into tunnels.

The sloping track built into the former station, the track goes downhill from right to left. Stairs to the surface and mystery security office are lit up.

With few places to hide and little else to see without lots of effort, we gaily skipped back to whence we came. Thanks to NCKapita and his splendid tours. Fishbrain for his usual perspective.