BARCELONA
Breathtaking, Beautiful beach town of Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This beautiful paradise is in the Catalan City. Fun is the first thing that popped into my head when I arrived in this city. Laid back beach culture, enriched with history and exotic food, sprinkled with Spanish flavors and culture.
The fantastic mountain range of Collserola for all the nature lovers and hikers. The Beautiful Mediterranean Sea for all the beach and ocean lovers and the Llobregat river to the southwest and the Besos river to the north for all the boat lovers. It has a marina which is always busy with cruise ships arriving with tourist’s ready to take on everything Barcelona has to offer for them.
Barcelona is not just a popular destination for tourist from Australia, New Zealand, and America; it is also trendy for Northern European countries, the warmer temperatures, lovely beach and budget-friendly options for accommodation, taxi, food, etc. attracts tourists and travelers from all over.
Driving into Barcelona, my first stop was Salvador Dali Museum. This museum is located in a coastal town called Figueres. This city has a tremendous coastal charm about it. The locals told me that it comes alive in Summer. The Museums building is a fantastic piece of artwork in itself. The walls are a natural red color and the white oval or egged shaped objects get your attention miles before you arrive at the Museum. Whether you are a fan of Dali’s work or not his Museum and his hometown is a must visit. His art will get you thinking outside the square. I always believe there is a beauty in everything; you just have to look hard enough to see it.
Walking tour of the Gothic Quarter is the center of the old city of Barcelona. Gothic Quarter covers everything from LaRambla to Via Laietana, from Mediterranean saffron to Ronda de Sant Pere. Here you will see a 2000-year-old Roman Temple. The tour takes you back in time and gives you the feel of what it was like back in those olden days. Walking is the best way to see this area, but if walking is not your thing you can also get around on a push bike. Remember to stop and smell the roses. This area has so much beauty and is soulful if you don’t take your time to enjoyyou will miss the magic.
Hop on hop off tour – East Route and West Route. This is a great way to see all the highlights of Barcelona if you don’t have much time. For around 40 Australian dollars this is an excellent way to get around. It allows you to design your tour, comes with English commentary, you get to spend more time at attractions you find appealing, and my favorite part was, you get to use your ticket all day. I hopped off at every stop to get a more intimate feel for the area and its vibes.
Flamenco dance and Spanish Dinner. This is a must do in Barcelona, and I promise you, you will love every minute of this experience. The food is just beautiful. Wait there is more, you also get an endless supply of sangria to wash all that scrumptious food down. There are many companies who do Flamenco dance & dinner shows, but the one I went to was Tablao Flamenco Cordobes. The dance was so elegant with vibrant and colorful costumes. The music touches your heart and transports you to another world of history. Whether you speak spanish or not, you will find yourself so moved by the music and the dancing.
Coming from a beautiful beach town I was not fussed about going to the beach in Barcelona, but I decided to people watch one afternoon sitting in an elegant beach bar, relaxing with my Sangria. The Barcelona beach is the place to be during the summer months and swimming in the Mediterranean is a must if you haven’t already. Every bit of the sand was covered with beach towels, beach umbrellas, and people. Fantastic vibe, fun in the sun, the laughter of people was contagious. I do recommend to drink water with your choice of alcohol on a hot summers day, as one might get carried away drinking too much. ..haha
Cathedral Square, there is always something happening here, you get to enjoy the Traditional Catalan dancing or watch people busking. If for any reason you need to use the toilets, remember you have to pay for them. Its normal $1Euro and it’s always BYO toilet paper. That’s right… However, if you have lunch or dinner at a café or restaurant, you can use their facilities for free.
Another must visit when in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia – designed by Architect Antoni Gaudi. This was under renovation when I was there. Even then it was breathtaking, and Casa Batlló is a renowned building in the Center of Barcelona it is also designed by Antoni Gaudí’s, people say this is his masterpiece. The color, shapes, and shades of this building will blow your mind away.
Last but not the least – The Magic Fountain, designed by Carles Buigas. This little beautify is a must see at night. It is beautiful during the day, but it indeed is magical at night, the colors of light, the music, and the atmosphere will captive you. I spent hours watching this fountain doing its magic. It was my last night in Barcelona and what a way to end my incredible journey here.
#Travelquote: “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide
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