Where ya going? Barcelona!
I'm a Sondheim fan and love the show, Company. This song doesn't get much attention, but I love it and it's one of my favorites in the show. Enjoy the original recording...with the actors singing in the studio. It can set the tone for this post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04zBxmsE7zw
I've always wanted to go to Barcelona. I don't have the time or money to see multiple cities in Spain (Madrid, Granada, Mallorca, etc), but since I do have time for just one, I decided to make this dream come true. After planning FAR in advance and finding the best deals, the trip was set. There was much anticipation and waiting, but finally, June 26th arrived and I was set for tapas, sun, sight-seeing, and fun!
June 26
Day 1
My flight from London to Venice with British Airways was so smooth. I just knew the flight from London to Barcelona would be just a wonderful. Oh no. Not at all.
Our flight was supposed to leave London Gatwick at 6:50pm. We didn't leave until about 9:00pm. First, the plane was late, so we couldn't even board until one hour after schedule. Then, it turns out that while boarding the plane, the passengers filled all of the overhead cabin space (BA should be more strict about the hand baggage allowance!). So, by the time the last of us were boarding, we didn't have any space to store our carry-ons. The flight attendant had to quickly tag our bags and put them in the hold. Of course, this caused even more of a delay. We finally are set to go and begin the taxi to the runway. Then...
The pilot comes over the speaker alerting us that he needs to turn the plane around. A light was on indicating that a panel was loose. Thus, we had to return to the gate so the engineers could fix it. Now, I want to be safe in the air. I'm not complaining about this aspect of the delay. Better safe than sorry. But it meant another HOUR before take-off. Yikes! After it was fixed, we were off to Barcelona. Barcelona is one hour ahead of London, so we didn't get settled until well after midnight. :( Day 1 was a bust, but we got some sleep to prepare for the first proper day in this lively city.
June 27
Day 2
One the first full day of the trip, we went to La Rambla, Barri Gotic, and La Catedral de Barcelona. I think this is the best way to get acquainted to Barcelona. You stay in one vicinity and you get a feel for the city.
Las Ramblas & Barri Gotic
These are right next to each other. Las Ramblas is lined with shops, tapas bars, restaurants, and street vendors. It's great to just stroll through and stop when anything catches your eyes or piques your interest. Barri Gotic is an area which shows the gothic architecture of Barcelona.
Recommendations in this area:
The Stoke Bar
La Catedral
The Cathedral is beautiful. The architecture, stained glass, statues, etc., are all stunning. There is an entry fee unless you visit between 8:00am-12:45pm or 5:15pm-7:30. During these windows of time, the entry is free. Be mindful that your shoulders need to be covered if you want to enter the cathedral. There are women right outside on the stairs who sell scarves (costs between €1-€3) to anyone who needs to cover their shoulders.
After a long day, we just chilled in the hotel to get some rest. I also decided to make a plan for the next day.
June 28
Day 3
My third day in Barcelona consisted of tackling the metro system, visiting La Sagrada Familia, and exploring Casa Batllo. I'm happy to say that I reached all three goals by the end of the night!
At some point, you will have to use public transportation in Barcelona. Some sites are within walking distance. Others require transportation. The good news is that Barcelona has an excellent transportation system. There are several options for transport in the city--metro, train, bus, and tram. You could opt for a taxi, but this will get pricey really quickly. I'd suggest getting either the T-10 ticket, travel card (1 day, 2 day, etc.) or Barcelona Card. I chose the T-10 for the rest of my trip and ended up using on the metro 3 times today. I opted for the T-10 because it's only €10 and you can use it 10 times (it doesn't have to be in one day). With the average single ticket costing €2.15, I definitely saved money. With the T-10, it averages €1 per journey and doesn't expire within the calendar year until you use up all of your trips. So, I can use it 7 more times, which is about what I need. Living in London and using the underground was adequate preparation as the Barcelona underground uses the same system. They have different metro lines and the map is pretty straightforward. Just look up the site you plan to visit and locate the nearest metro station.
The first stop was La Sagrada Familia. Let me tell you, it is jaw-dropping! It's incredible to see in person. The cathedral is incomplete, as Gaudi was killed by a tram in 1926. Hopefully, they will have it finished by 2026. I believe they rely on donations and entrance tickets for the building's upkeep and ongoing construction.
Tip: If you are a student (high school, college, postgrad--doesn't matter) bring your ID! You get an awesome discount on the ticket prices.
Next up was Casa Batllo. This is another design by Antoni Gaudi. The entrance price is a bit steep, but I think they rely on these ticket fees for upkeep. The house is funky and pretty cool. If you're into architecture, I'm sure you'll love it even more than the average person.
Besides these two stops, I also enjoyed another day or walking around and soaking in the Catalunyan culture.
Restaurant Recommendations:
Bopan
The Raven
June 29
Day 4
Well, today was a busy day. I went to the Parc de la Ciutadella, the Arc de Triomf, the Picasso Museum, and enjoyed the water show at The Magic Fountain of Monjuic.
Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella
This was a fantastic way to begin the day. The sun was out and the weather gorgeous. The Arc de Triomf is a popular tourist spot, but wasn't crowded when I arrived. I just saw people lounging on benches, walking hand in hand, taking pictures, and enjoying the beautiful day in Barcelona. The Arc leads to Parc de la Ciutadella, which is huge and filled with trees, flowers, art, architecture, and pretty much everything else you'd see in a public park. It also leads to the zoo, so there a lot of families with children in the park, enjoying the day.
Here are a few pics.
Entry into the Picasso Museum is free after 3:00pm of Sundays. You should definitely have this as a stop on your list of things to do in Barcelona. See the awe-inspiring works of the legendary artist, Pablo Picasso. No pictures allowed in the exhibitions. :( But, I enjoyed the artwork and the shop. I'm bringing back a Picasso print as a souvenir.
This was such an awesome way to end the night. The Magic Fountain of Monjuic is located in Parc de Monjuic. At night, there are several water shows which last about 20 minutes and include musics. The shows start to run at 9:00pm and I think they last until 11:30pm. It's free to watch, so no excuse not to go!
Restaurant Recommendations:
No Se? Bar
Euskal Etxea
June 30
Day 5
My last day in Barcelona! :( If that wasn't sad enough, there was an issue at the hotel in which I stayed. Without going into detail, let's just say I would never stay there again. I was really upset about it. But! Something exciting happened to end my last day in Spain on a high note. I got to meet Eurovision 2014 winner, Conchita Wurst! I accidentally walked by their photo shoot at Parc de Montjuic . I was able to get a picture with Conchita, but I look a hot mess, so I won't post those. I'll just post these:
Before heading to the airport, I also got more pictures from the view on top of Parc de Montjuic.
Last but not least...
For no other reason than to get this off of my chest, I'm going to offer some advice to anyone who is new to traveling abroad and/or new to traveling Europe. Besides the obvious ones (DON'T over-pack, DON'T turn up your nose before you try something new, etc.), I think the following is important. And if what I'm about to say can help the next person who plans to travel out of the country, then great. I'm so happy to be in Barcelona & proud that I made this dream come true. If you want to come to Barcelona, plan to immerse yourself in the Catalunya culture. Try to say a few words in their language before asking if they speak English. A little effort goes a long way. Plan to learn something new while exploring the city and visiting some of Barcelona's most beautiful sights (see above). Don't waste your money & come all the way to Europe just to be able to tell people "I was in [fill in the country name]! Aren't you jealous?!," yet you have no intention of making the most of your trip. You're in freaking Europe! And for a short amount of time! Seize the day! I'm not saying every minute of the day needs to be planned or filled with an activity, but do take advantage of being in a foreign country. Walk around and take in the sites. Visit museums. Go to a couple of tourist spots. Yes, be safe about everything. But don't cocoon yourself in a hotel out of fear and uncertainty. Don't go into a new country deciding what you won't do, rather than being open to new experiences. This would defeat the whole purpose of a European adventure. Don't be unwilling to do or try anything out of your comfort zone. And if you finally do, don't do it begrudgingly & make complaints about how things are so much different than in America. This drives me crazy. Obviously, you're in Europe, so it's not going to be like America. Try to have an open mind and realize that being in a foreign country will mean making adjustments--and adjustments are not always a bad thing. If you are not prepared to adapt, don't travel.
I realize what an amazing opportunity I have to travel abroad and see another part of the world. There are times during my trips when I just stop and take everything in--I can't believe I'm actually in another country! No way would I come all this way to remain close-minded and opt not seize the day and make the most out of learning about different cultures & exploring beautiful cities. I'm not a rich person (yet?) and I don't know when/if I'll be able to cross the ocean again. For this reason, I've tried to make the most of my time living & studying abroad. I've made myself proud in the process--leaving my comfort zone and conquering some of my fears. I hope my family & true friends are just as proud.
Ok, I'm done. I just had to get this off of my chest. I've had an eye-opening experience and have been in position to compare/contrast travel attitudes. My conclusion is that you cannot and should not travel Europe with a bad attitude and making constant complaints about how you're inconvenienced. It's not cool and don't rain on someone else's parade. Last but not least, check out this video with more helpful tips for Americans traveling to Europe ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KebJkfLoEfA
My trip in Spain was wonderful. I did most everything that I wanted to do and I feel more confident than ever in my independence. I know how to plan, how to navigate, and how to immerse myself into all of the goodness that a new city has to offer.
Alright, back to the updates. My next stop is Amsterdam! So excited!
