I did a lot of research on laundromats, mailing items, and internet access while we are in Barcelona. And, I wanted to share with everyone what I have found.
There are a few self-service and serviced laundromats in the Old Town, including Tigre, Carrer de Rauric 20, and Lavamax, Junta de Comerç 14. Some dry cleaners (tintorerías) also do laundry.
The local postage system is both reliable and efficient, though services such as FedEx are available if you prefer to use them. To send an airmail letter or postcard to the United States costs .78 ($1) for up to 20 grams. Airmail letters to Britain or other E.U. countries cost .60 (78¢) up to 20 grams; letters within Spain cost .39 (51¢).
Post your letters in the post office itself or in yellow post boxes called buzones. Buy stamps in an Oficina de Correos (post office) or in an estanco (a government-licensed tobacconist easily recognized by its brown and yellow logo). For further information, check the Spanish post office website,
www.correos.es.
Postcards have the same rates as letters. Post your letters in the post office itself or in yellow post boxes called buzones. Allow about 8 days for delivery to North America, generally less to the United Kingdom; in some cases, letters take 2 weeks to reach North America. Rates change frequently, so check at your local hotel before mailing anything. As for surface mail to North America, forget it. Chances are you'll be home long before your letter arrives. For more information, check the Spanish post office website,
www.correos.es.
If you don't want to receive your mail at your hotel or the American Express office, direct it to Lista de Correos at the central post office (Correu Central). To pick up mail, go to the window marked Lista, where you'll be asked to show your passport. Barcelona's central office is in Plaza San Antonio López, past the southern end of the Born; the nearest Metro station is Barceloneta (tel. 93-486-80-50).
Internet access is plentiful, both in cybercafes and more and more frequently in hotels. The Bornet Internet Café (Barra del Ferro 3, Born; tel. 93-268-15-07;
www.bornet-bcn.com) has 16 terminals and charges 2.60 ($3.40) per hour.