Barcelona 2006

Barcelona. A city I've always wanted to visit. I'd heard so much about the architecture, the beaches, and the great food. So I decided I wanted to go and explore it on my own. This would be the first time I ever traveled overseas by myself. I couldn't wait!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona

Days 1 and 2

Layover in Boston. As the plane was landing, I noticed a lot of trees and water. I liked the lighthouses and rocks along the bay. While I was in the airport, I went to seafood restaurant. I think it was the best fish & chips I've ever had. I've got to come back and visit this area!

Long flight to Paris. When I went to the agent for my next flight, I realized that I had left my plane ticket to Barcelona at home! For some reason, the airline only allows paper tickets. I had been used to traveling with e-tickets for so long, that I didn't even realize that I needed the actual ticket. After an hour of miscommunications, I ended up paying for another ticket. 500 euros. ugh.

Arrived in Barcelona to find a beautiful city along the Meditteranean coast. My heart was racing! I had no idea what I was going to do when I landed, and that excited me! I took a taxi to the hotel and stared in awe at the beautiful buildings as we drove through the city. Gaudi's work is breathtaking and it was almost impossible to take it all in. When I arrived at the hotel, I threw my bags in my room and started walking the streets taking as many pictures as I could before it got dark.

My hotel was in the heart of the city so it was nice to be able to walk around and capture the sights. Once it got dark, I went back to my room and changed for dinner. From there I went to the rooftop where there was a quaint restaurant and swimming pool overlooking the city. A musician was playing some sort of soft drum-like instrument as he sat by the pool. I saw there for a long time looking at the beautiful city lights. There was a full moon that night and it couldn't have been any more peaceful. A perfect way to end the first day.

Day 3

A lot of walking today! Got up early and took a tour bus around Barcelona. I felt like a dork riding around the town with the other tourists, but I was able to see a lot more than I would've on my own. Went to Sagrada Família, which is a massive church that you can see pretty much from anywhere in Barcelona. It was designed by Gaudi and has been under construction since 1882 and isn't expected to be completed until at least 2026. It was amazing!

When I planned the trip, I decided that I would stay in different hotels around Barcelona. Since I didn't know the area, I wanted to make sure that I experienced the variety of flavors of the city. The first 2 days were more centered around the history and architecture. Next up, Las Ramblas!

Las Ramblas....a bustling street filled with street perfomers, markets and outdoor cafes. Very exciting and fun! My hotel was in the center of the action with a small balcony overlooking the street. My room was very tiny, but the balcony was where I spent most of my time. I discovered during those 2 nights that the party never seemed to end on Las Ramblas. When I checked into my hotel, it was like I had started a new adventure. I spent hours walking the tiny streets and enjoying the open markets and street performers.

Later that night, I went to an Irish pub for dinner and met a fun young couple from England. We had a great time talking about music and different cultures. I went back to my room and crashed. I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the city. There's just so much to see, but not enough time to take it all in.

Day 4

Slept in today and took a train to a nearby coastal village called Sitges. It was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The small cobble-stone winding streets were confusing and fun, and I was able to follow the locals with their beach towels to find the ocean. I immediately settled into a "rented" lounge chair and people watched. I noticed that the locals were pretty obvious, because the women were topless. Okay. Well I certainly didn't want to look like a tourist, so I went for it. Once the initial awkwardness was over, it felt pretty great! I was hanging with the locals, experiencing their culture, and loving it. Although I think my tan lines gave my citizenship away. :)




After my beach experience, I walked around and took pictures. I found a small American owned-cafe playing some Jack Johnson tunes. It had a great vibe. I hung out there for a while and took the train back to Barcelona.

Later that night, the commotion on Las Ramblas was so loud, I decided that sleep wasn't an option. I went on the balcony and people watched for a while until the waiters at the outdoor cafe called me down. We had made friends the night before and they were like my big brothers, telling me where to go, what to see, etc. Since this was my last night on the Ramblas, I decided to enjoy the free sangria they offered me and we chatted with people on the street until I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.

Day 5
The food here has been really good so far. One of my favorite breakfast treats has been the churros with a side of hot chocolate (to dip them in). Pure heaven!



Today I leave the city limits and head to my next hotel in Tibidabo. Tibidabo is a beautiful mountain overlooking Barcelona. I took a taxi to the hotel and enjoyed the curvy ride up the mountain. At the top of the mountain, there's a beautiful catholic church called Temple de Sagrat Cor which took 60 years to construct. According to the hotel website, it is right next to the church.



It turns out, the hotel is also next door to an amusement park and there were several cars parked along the road near the hotel. I was hoping it wouldn't take away from the peaceful and relaxing experience I was looking for. Once I walked in the hotel, I was blown away. The hotel was beautiful and had a retreat type of atmosphere. The view of the city below was amazing. There was an indoor pool and spa, outdoor pool, and a multi-leveled deck along the mountain. It was breathtaking. I spent most of the day relaxing with a book on the deck and swimming in the evening.



The next day was my last one in Barcelona and I tried to hang on to every last moment I had. It was a wonderful trip and I was sad to leave, but I knew I would be back at some point. I knew there so much more to experience in the beautiful country.