ZARAGOZA, CITY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT

EXPO2008 has just opened. Visitors are arriving and face the first of problems. Zaragozans are not very confident when they are requested to speak English, let alone French, German... Italians and Portuguese are better off, as these languages tend to be understandable for us, and they understand us too. So, if you are planning on coming over to visit us, make sure you have your basic phrases learnt to get by.

As for transportation, there is a website for our TUZSA, (in Spanish only) the company that serves our standard bus routes, and BUSEXPO, (in various languages, with some Spanglish expressions, but still understandable) for those services particularly offered to access the EXPO grounds from most parts of the city. If you are lucky enough to have one of these EXPOBuses near your hotel or wherever you are staying, then, I recommend using these to get into the EXPO grounds.

My recommendation is for you to get a bus card "TARJETA BUS” that you will buy for 7 Euro with only 5 for use within the network. The other two, are a deposit you can claim back on returning it. Anyway, the use of this card is simple. You just get it near a rectangular machine behind the bus driver, exactly where the big yellow dot is, and it will deduct the cost of trip (50 cts vs. 90cts that costs the single ticket). Additionally, the use of this ticket allows you a transfer to another line without any extra cost within an hour after validating it the first time. Have you seen a cheaper way to travel? Don't be a fool and get that card from the Tourist Information Offices. If needed, you can top it up in many kiosks or even in the Tourist Information Offices.

If you are planning a day visit and you want to come on the high speed train (AVE) into Zaragoza, there are ways to get to the nearby EXPO area. The most logical, is to get there on foot. You will need to follow the pedestrian bridge over the road, to cross over. If you feel like it, you can always get the cable car that will offer you a nice overview of the EXPO grounds and will take you to the TORRE DEL AGUA entry at a mere 9 Euro fare. If you want, you can continue walking and a few meters downhill, you will find the ENTRADA SUR, which will allow you to enter the EXPO grounds crossing the exciting PABELLÓN PUENTE or Pavilion Bridge, designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. Impressive, I would say.

Alternatively, you can pay a bus fare and get the EX6, or wait for the shuttles: the "Chu-Chú" train or the Hydrogen bus will take you to any of the 3 EXPO entrances, AND THEY ARE FREE! Unfortunately, outside the Station, there are no signs or stops marked for this service, YET! Hopefully, the EXPO people will get their act together and will, eventually, mark the place adequately. However, I can tell you to wait at the back of bus stop for 51,129 and 142 buses, (any of this will NOT take you there, so don’t get on any if you are heading towards EXPO. There you should wait for the Chu-Chu Train. There is an EXPO office at the station, so, you are better off, asking over there and, hopefully, they will indicate you where to wait. DON'T EXPECT THE BUS DRIVERS TO SPEAK ENGLISH. If they do, you should go and get a lottery ticket. ;))

If you are in the CAMPING site, you have a little bit of a problem, as there is no direct service (unless, the council has organised a special shuttle bus, which seems, very unlikely). Bus 41 or 141 stops fairly near, and this will take you to PLAZA EMPERADOR CARLOS, where you will have to get 129 towards ESTACIÓN de DELICIAS. And from here, follow the same indication than those arriving to DELICIAS STATION. However, they may ask you to get off at the Arrivals area...

No matter where you come from, the best thing is for you to enjoy it. Your best bet in order to make yourself understood is to get whatever you need, from the hotel receptionist (who will be expected to know how to say things in English) or tourist information. Ask them to help you with your basic Spanish. It will be of use when you get out there, in the city.

And don't forget to save some time, to visit our splendid city. Outside the EXPO area, there are many things to see and are bound not to be similar to a work site. Get the Tourist routes if you don't have much time, to get a taste of the city and, hopefully, we will see you back soon.