This trip was definitely needed, it was 1) so extremely nice to see Katie and berkeley people :) I just realized how much more genuine they are hahah 2) I got to see a beach!! 3) party party! hahah... Barcelona is definitely known for their clubs
Thursday, day, well really just night, number 1:
So Stacie and I flew Ryan air (oh how i hate ryan air haha) into Girona airport (of course it doesnt go into barcelona airport) and landed around 8pm, then took an hour bus ride and ended up, well really we didnt know haha. oh and get this, I forgot to write down the address or phone number of Katie’s place before we left (stupid me!) hahaha so I had to have Ariel log into my facebook and text it to me, so nice J, but after walking for quite awhile we found it!!
That night we spent hours pre-gaming and catching up that by the time we went out, we just went straight to the clubs! We went to a club called Sutton. It was me, Katie, Stacie, Carrie and her brother (J!! So glad I got to see her because she leaves for Sensation White on Saturday), and also Gaelen (She goes to cal too)… It was so fun, we just danced until like 5 am!
Friday
So Friday, Katie had an all day field trip with her program, so I hung with Staice and her pi phi friends (5 of them were coming from AIFS Rome to visit their other pi phi friend Taylor who is studying abroad in Barcelona). After we finally connected with them in the morning, we went to this local spot near the water called La Champagneria… oh goodness, so the best part of this place is the cheap rose champagne and its super crowded, and you just eat your food standing at the bar. Did I mention that there is meat hanging everywhere!? But I would have to say it was one of the best cheese burgers I have ever had! And it was fabulous to put rose champagne in my body before any other liquid that day hahah
After that we made our way over to Park Güell, the park that was made by Gaudi originally as a neighborhood. The reason I loved Barcelona so much is because of Gaudi, I am obsessed!! It took us forever to finally get to this park which overlooks the entire city, but when we finally made it, I fell in love with all the colorful and weird architecture … I took a bunch of amazing pictures too… it was good to have Taylor there because she gave us a little history lecture on everything hahah gotta love personal tour guides J
After that we went back into the city center, walked around, got starbucks (don’t worry I would never succumb to starbucks haha) and then we went to a cheap restaurant and got sangria and food (I got nachos… so healthy haha)
The pi phis were going to rest (they rented an apartment for all of them to stay in), so I went to meet Carrie and her brother to ride the gondola thingies up Mount Juac, another beautiful view of the city, and also a view of the palace where Barcelona fought against enemies. I love Carrie and her brother, they are always so fun and so nice!!
Now it was the end of the day, so I went back to meet Katie at her place and we rested a bit…well rested a lot hahah until all of a sudden it like like 11 o clock! We went to this Bar that is super fun for drinks etc, and of course they had cider!! Thank goodness! Oh how I miss Cider… and I got Katie hooked! Hahah and then I practically died when I saw that on the menu that had wedges with sweet chili and sour cream sauce (take me back to Australia!!!) but of course the kitchen was closed L … so instead, after having our cider, we made a pit stop at Pans (aka their type of burger king) ahha and both got our own orders of fries and chicken mc nuggets… so then I realized my diet for the day (breakfast was a healthy one, but then a cheeseburger, then nachos, then fries and chicken nuggets… wow.) oh and did I mention how the one day I eat meat (I usually don’t really), it’s the first Friday of lent!! Gah! Hahaha
After our quick food, we made our way to meet Katie’s friends at La Ovella Negra , a beer garden in this hugeee ware house. They are known for their HUGE beer towers and pitchers of Sangria . oh we bought WAY too much sangria hahah! After that we went to this club called Shoko, which was super hip and fun too!
Saturday
So of course, the first time since Katie has been in Barcelona, it decides to pour! Ewww! But of course that was not going to stop us J After a quick breakie on the go, we walked to the La Sagrada Familia, the church by Gaudi that has been in the process of being built since the 1800s or something crazy like that!! Apparently they said it will be finished by 2030, so I cannot wait to bring my kids back J. Also, only private donors are funding it too… no wonder its taking so long… but wow, this was one of the most amazing churches I have seen yet! (I know I say that a lot, but I really mean it this time)... it was just so different! Gaudi said that he was always inspired by nature, and its true when you walk in, you feel like you are in a forest! And the ceilings are exceptionally high!
After that, we had a romantic lunch along the waterfront and had the BEST fish paella I have definitely everrr had!!! They made it in a pan fresh just for us, and brought out the huge pan and then divided the portions for us… and they were HUGEEEE ! I defs didn’t think could finish, and towards the end probably could have been satisfied by half, but Katie had finished so I just had too J hahaha… major food coma after that!
Then we went to the barca soccer stadium! We went to the museum there, which was awesome… we saw all the medals and cups the team has won (so crazy as spain just won the world cup, and Barcelona itself is number 1 right now!) all the players are so hot! Hahah Picque especially! And the stadium is breathtaking!
Then we went to Plaça Espanya to watch this water fountain show that takes place in front of the palace… the fountain shoots up water and plays along with classical music and lights, so relaxing! Hahaha
Then we picked up food to make dinner at Katie’s place! We made seriously SO many grilled vegetables (we ate them all too, I don’t know how haha) and then had a baguette and tomatoes and Camembert cheese, and of course a bottle of wine! By the time we were ready to start making motions to go out we were sooo tired that we decided to call it a night in, because the next morning we were going to meet Gaelen and her mom at 8 to take the train to Tarragona!
Sunday: Tarragona
Today we met Gaelen and her mom to take the train to a ancient, Roman, beach town called Tarragona. It was SOOO HOT! I miss sun! hahaha But we did a tour of all the main ruins and sights of the little city.. we had churros at 10 am in the morning of course hahaha, and had a wonderful lunch of croquettes, pomme frites, and a really amazing salad!
Then we headed back to Barca where we went to a beautiful park near the Arc de Triumph (its funny how Barcelona has everything that paris has too hahaha) even Los Rambos, the really long street of outdoor stores with treats etc reminds me just of the Champs Elysees … we perused around more areas and even went to the Gothic quarter… I really like this area too. There I ran into a boy who was in one of my business comm. Classes, so crazy! Haha That night we went back to that bar with the cider to watch the soccer match… gotta love soccer and cider! Haha it was packeeed too! And Stacie and her pi phi friends were there too. Afterwards, I made late night pasta for Katie and I hahaha and then it was to bed!
Monday
Monday morning I had to say goodbye to Katie L she had class and I was leaving that afternoon. That morning I walked around and went to Gaudi’s apartment La Pedrera, I did the audio tour and it was fabulous!!! Then I went to Los Rambos where I met Katie at the La Boqueria but this is the famous indoor fruit market. Aka my HEAVEN!!!! Soooo much fresh fruits (exotic ones too) and juices and smoothies and nuts and candies galore!! I spent more money here then I spent anywhere else the whole trip hahaha… I bought a whole pineapple, a fruit salad, two smoothies (one cactus fruit and one coconut strawberry, but omg I wanted everyone!! They had guava and passionfruit etc etc) and I also bought 10 euros worth of dried fruits and nuts, whoops haha but omg it was amazing!!
Then it was back home to Florence!! What a great trip J
on top of Gaudi's La Pedrera
only some of the fruit i bought, it was SOO good!! i bought two of the smoothies too (one cactus fruit and the other strawberry coconut, omg i could have had like 890389043 haha.. and i also spent 10 euros on mixed nuts and dried fruit, whoops :) )
