Casey and I were grabbing a quick bite to eat and a couple of beers before boarding our flight to Barcelona, Spain when we heard the news. A van had run into the crowded street of Las Ramblas, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100 others. We were in shock and unsure of what our next steps were going to be. The flight was still on time and boarding quickly, so we had to make our decision asap. After talking with our families and each other, we decided to go. Were we nervous? Of course! But we didn’t want that stopping us from taking this dream trip. So onto Barcelona we went and after the end of our long weekend there, I’m so happy we went!
Day 1
Unsure of what the city was going to be like, we didn’t really make any set plans for our first day of sightseeing. We started off exploring the Gothic Quarter area just walking around the little alleyways and awing at the architecture. While trying to find our way, we were stopped by a large crowd clapping and cheering. This was when we first experienced the strength and love of Barcelona. I had goosebumps just watching everyone cheer on the policemen and lifting each other up. It was an amazing site to witness!
This area is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. It has so much character and was definitely a favorite of mine! Make sure to stop by the Barcelona Cathedral. After exploring, we stopped at a cute little restaurant for some tapas and sangria. The prawns were so tasty!
After filling our bellies, we decided to head back towards our hotel and go to a spa. Casey found a Hammam spa close by called Rituels d’Orient. The spa is based on the Turkish and Moroccan traditions with their baths and also offers other spa treatments. It was unlike any spa day we have had before. It was a very soothing and relaxing experience! It kinda helped calm the jitters a bit.
We wrapped up our day with another tapas dinner followed by drinks and dancing. The Spanish culture is definitely different and one I’m not used to! Late dinners cause for late nights out and then late mornings of recovering! We didn’t quite get the hang of it until our last night there. Whoops!
Day 2
As mentioned before about the Spanish culture, Casey and I didn’t start our day until 11:30 am. The struggle was real, y’all. (Do people even say that anymore?) We grabbed a quick bite to eat and decided to rent bikes for the day to do some exploring. First stop – Park Güell. I will start by saying, this was a BAD idea! Why? First off, Casey and I decided to save money by renting some bikes from the budget bike shop. And they gave me the WORST bike on the lot. It was rusted, slow moving and was spray painted gold (Of course I didn’t get a picture of my hot ride). In hindsight, we probably shouldn’t have even rented it, but we did. Casey got the better of the two. Then secondly, there is a BIG hill up to Park Güell. I had read this before our trip, but I somehow forgot this when we were on our way (probably due the fact we were up till 5 am with our friend). We had to walk our bikes up the hill and by the time we reached the top I was sweaty and cranky. But once we entered the free area of the park my mood lifted. The view from the top gives you an almost 360° view of Barcelona. It’s beautiful and well worth the climb! You can even see La Sagrada Familia. We opted out of the monumental zone (you need tickets to visit this area which I highly encourage you to book online ahead of time and visit first thing in the morning for shorter lines and less people) due to time constraints, but we did visit Gaudi’s House. It was neat to see some of his personally designed furniture and learn more about such an influential man.
For dinner, we were recommended a local taco spot. Yes, I am aware that tacos aren’t traditional Spanish cuisine, but when you live in Germany, tacos are a rarity and we were craving them! Our same friend mentioned before also had a great list of recommendations and this taco place was one of them. They we so delicious that we ended up getting seconds. The margaritas are delicious as well!
To end our night, we went to a fun rooftop bar for some cocktails and once again, the views! This bar is called Sky Bar and is located on the roof of the Axel Hotel. This hotel is best known to the LGBTI community but is heterofriendly (their tagline, not mine). The vibe there was so fun and the views were once again, amazing.
Day 3
Of course we couldn’t leave Barcelona without seeing the infamous La Sagrada Família. We purchased tickets online ahead of time (also highly encouraged!), but unfortunately we couldn’t go inside. We didn’t read our email letting us know to reschedule due to a mass being held for the victims of the terrorist attack. With this being our last day, we weren’t able to reschedule, but the outside was seriously breathtaking! It’s supposedly going to be finished by 2028, but we will have to wait and see.
Once we got our pictures, we headed towards the beach. It was a perfect day to catch some sun and drink some cava (sparkling spanish wine) and sangria. And to top it all off, we stuffed our faces with paella for dinner, YUM! I couldn’t imagine spending our last day here any other way.
We had an early night and flew back to Germany the next morning. In conclusion, our trip to Barcelona will be a trip we will never forget! A few months back, I remember reading this article that really hit my feelings spot on. While living in Europe, it’s easy to get nervous or scared to want to travel, but don’t let it stop you from exploring the world and making the best memories of your life! Thank you, Barcelona, for showing me that even at the worst of times the world can come together.
No tinc por. (I have no fear)