24th-26th of February 2017
Introduction:
In August 2016, just after I came back from Ibiza, I told to myself that I need to come back to Spain as I really loved my first experience over there ... well I know that some people won't agree with me considering Barcelona as part of Spain but for the moment it still is.
While in Bulgaria for Christmas my sister told me she wanted to offer a trip abroad for my brother in law's birthday (the 24th of February). We first thought about Berlin, but my sister thought it might be very cold so we switched for Barcelona. I haven't been to neither of them so every option was convenient for me :).
We booked the tickets and 2 weeks before my sister decided to get my niece with them. So it would have a big family reunion there ...:)
Here we go:
23rd of February.
My sister, my brother in law and my niece have arrived the 23rd in the morning and I arrived in the night. The plan was to meet them in the Airbnb we have booked in the Poble Sec district nearby Parralel station and plaça Espanya.
The landing was amazing ! The plane was passing near the sea coast of Barcelona from which I had a really nice view over the city and the lights.
As soon as I left the plane I felt that the weather was much wormer than Paris and also quite humid.
I managed to reach our apartment by midnight and went directly to bed.
24th of February
I was awaken by my niece in the early morning. We got ready and left to visit.
Unfortunately the weather wasn't with us: it was raining. Well when you are tourist you don't have a choice: rainy or sunny you need to go out and visit.
So we did:) we decided to go and visit the Sagrada Familia and expect the rain to stop in the afternoon. We have booked tickets in advance to avoid queue...the problem my sister has selected two different entrance hours (30 minutes from one to each other).... so my sister got in with Mia (my niece) and Mitko (my brother in law) and me went for a coffee while waiting to get in. It was the opportunity for both of us to try the traditional "churros con chocolate" which is basically churros with hot chocolate. Really delicious and a good way to start the day :)
The Sagrada Familia !!!! No words could describe the beauty of this Cathedral ! An incredible master piece ! Totally different from all the cathedrals I have ever visited! Magnificent pieces of colors and sculptures. There are so many details that I was not really surprised that the cathedral is still no finished ... I guess also the fact that it is not finished makes it even more charming.
As soon as we were done it started raining again... as it was almost lunch time so we went for a Tapas restaurant that Clémence has mentioned us: Cerveseria Catalana. And indeed, really delicious tapas.
We went back home expediting the rain to stop, unfortunately it took a lot of time to do so. In the late afternoon with my sister we managed to go out and walk around the coast and the port, the custom building, the Columbus monument and we came back walking in the small streets in the gothic district. While coming back the weather started to get better ... good sign for tomorrow.
In the night it was Mitko's birthday celebration and we ate a delicious paella and homemade cakes combined with sangria.
In August 2016, just after I came back from Ibiza, I told to myself that I need to come back to Spain as I really loved my first experience over there ... well I know that some people won't agree with me considering Barcelona as part of Spain but for the moment it still is.
While in Bulgaria for Christmas my sister told me she wanted to offer a trip abroad for my brother in law's birthday (the 24th of February). We first thought about Berlin, but my sister thought it might be very cold so we switched for Barcelona. I haven't been to neither of them so every option was convenient for me :).
We booked the tickets and 2 weeks before my sister decided to get my niece with them. So it would have a big family reunion there ...:)
Here we go:
23rd of February.
My sister, my brother in law and my niece have arrived the 23rd in the morning and I arrived in the night. The plan was to meet them in the Airbnb we have booked in the Poble Sec district nearby Parralel station and plaça Espanya.
The landing was amazing ! The plane was passing near the sea coast of Barcelona from which I had a really nice view over the city and the lights.
As soon as I left the plane I felt that the weather was much wormer than Paris and also quite humid.
I managed to reach our apartment by midnight and went directly to bed.
24th of February
I was awaken by my niece in the early morning. We got ready and left to visit.
Unfortunately the weather wasn't with us: it was raining. Well when you are tourist you don't have a choice: rainy or sunny you need to go out and visit.
So we did:) we decided to go and visit the Sagrada Familia and expect the rain to stop in the afternoon. We have booked tickets in advance to avoid queue...the problem my sister has selected two different entrance hours (30 minutes from one to each other).... so my sister got in with Mia (my niece) and Mitko (my brother in law) and me went for a coffee while waiting to get in. It was the opportunity for both of us to try the traditional "churros con chocolate" which is basically churros with hot chocolate. Really delicious and a good way to start the day :)
The Sagrada Familia !!!! No words could describe the beauty of this Cathedral ! An incredible master piece ! Totally different from all the cathedrals I have ever visited! Magnificent pieces of colors and sculptures. There are so many details that I was not really surprised that the cathedral is still no finished ... I guess also the fact that it is not finished makes it even more charming.
As soon as we were done it started raining again... as it was almost lunch time so we went for a Tapas restaurant that Clémence has mentioned us: Cerveseria Catalana. And indeed, really delicious tapas.
We went back home expediting the rain to stop, unfortunately it took a lot of time to do so. In the late afternoon with my sister we managed to go out and walk around the coast and the port, the custom building, the Columbus monument and we came back walking in the small streets in the gothic district. While coming back the weather started to get better ... good sign for tomorrow.
In the night it was Mitko's birthday celebration and we ate a delicious paella and homemade cakes combined with sangria.
25th of February
We woke up in early in the morning... when having a small child with you, you usually wake up early. It is good though because this way we had all day to visit.
We were hesitating going to the market: Mercat de la Boqueria or the park Güell, but we saw that we won't have enough time to visit everything so decided to go for the park and then go down and visit the Gaoli houses and the downtown.
The sun was shining in the apartment and I couldn't wait to get out and indeed I wasn't disappointed... we reached the park which is on a hill and offers a splendid view over the city. We saw a huge queue of tourists waiting to buy tickets. Indeed, the most beautiful part of the park was allowing only 200 visitors per hour. This time we haven't bought the tickets in advance ... we had to wait for an hour before getting in which wasn't really a problem as the "free" part of the park was huge and with really beautiful pictures spots. In the meantime it was getting warmer ... wearing a t-shirt in February: priceless !
We entered in the paid area which looks like a nice terrace full of colors and the buildings and churches around around like made from candies. A perfect place to enjoy Barcelona !
After the visit we decided to go walking to the downtown and see the Gaoli houses, passing through the small streets full of chilling people and coffee shops. I really loved this part of Barcelona!
We finally reached the Gaoli houses who looked like Picasso's master piece in the middle of traditional art museum: amazing paintings sticked in the middle of the buildings. Really beautiful pieces of art.
We stopped for a coffee and went home.
My sister and me finished the tourist day by going to the singing fountains near the Plaça de Espagna which were impressive!
I managed to go after to buy myself some souvenirs especially a painting I really liked when I was passing by Rambla Santa Monica Street with my sister the day before.
Funny part: I stopped by the paintings I wanted to buy but the seller was not around. I decided to leave few minutes later and then I saw a guy running behind me: the seller. He told me he was drinking beer in the nearest bar with friends, that he didn't have time to bargain so he gave me his last price (20 instead of 35€... wow I didn't hesitate long time). I gave him the money and he ran back to join his friends at the bar :)
We woke up in early in the morning... when having a small child with you, you usually wake up early. It is good though because this way we had all day to visit.
We were hesitating going to the market: Mercat de la Boqueria or the park Güell, but we saw that we won't have enough time to visit everything so decided to go for the park and then go down and visit the Gaoli houses and the downtown.
The sun was shining in the apartment and I couldn't wait to get out and indeed I wasn't disappointed... we reached the park which is on a hill and offers a splendid view over the city. We saw a huge queue of tourists waiting to buy tickets. Indeed, the most beautiful part of the park was allowing only 200 visitors per hour. This time we haven't bought the tickets in advance ... we had to wait for an hour before getting in which wasn't really a problem as the "free" part of the park was huge and with really beautiful pictures spots. In the meantime it was getting warmer ... wearing a t-shirt in February: priceless !
We entered in the paid area which looks like a nice terrace full of colors and the buildings and churches around around like made from candies. A perfect place to enjoy Barcelona !
After the visit we decided to go walking to the downtown and see the Gaoli houses, passing through the small streets full of chilling people and coffee shops. I really loved this part of Barcelona!
We finally reached the Gaoli houses who looked like Picasso's master piece in the middle of traditional art museum: amazing paintings sticked in the middle of the buildings. Really beautiful pieces of art.
We stopped for a coffee and went home.
My sister and me finished the tourist day by going to the singing fountains near the Plaça de Espagna which were impressive!
I managed to go after to buy myself some souvenirs especially a painting I really liked when I was passing by Rambla Santa Monica Street with my sister the day before.
Funny part: I stopped by the paintings I wanted to buy but the seller was not around. I decided to leave few minutes later and then I saw a guy running behind me: the seller. He told me he was drinking beer in the nearest bar with friends, that he didn't have time to bargain so he gave me his last price (20 instead of 35€... wow I didn't hesitate long time). I gave him the money and he ran back to join his friends at the bar :)
26th of February
My sister, brother in law and niece left in the morning and I had almost all the day to enjoy Barca. I took a coffee in the apartment and decided to spend my day walking in the city.
I started by the Plaça Real which was a square full of green palm trees which were letting the sun shine over the surrounded cafés. It was time for another coffee and to turn on the sun glasses mode.
I wanted to see on small wooden bridge between two buildings which I found in google images but didn't know its name. After asking several people I managed to find it next to the city hall. Really beautiful one.
As the weather was getting better and better I decided to spend some time on the beach. I passed by the Cathedral of Barcelona which was huge! Much more traditional compared to the Sagrada Familia.
I walked on the Via Laietana to reach the the port and then the beach of Barceloneta. Really beautiful and big sand beach. It was so good to feel the sand on my feet! In moment like this I realize how much I miss sea and sand, and was even imaging myself living in a city like Barcelona later. I spent 2h laying there before leaving. There were two last things I wanted to see before leaving and one of them was the Arc of Triumph which was 25-30mins away from the beach. While walking to there I was regretting I didn't spend more time in this area: the Zoo and the park of the Ciutadella (where the Catalan Parlement stands) and they were looking promising. Well next time...
I finally went to check out, grab my luggage and walked to the Christopher Colomb monument under the sun which was my second desire to see before leaving. Indeed, seeing his monument was like reliving my history classes when younger.
I stopped for a coffee and hit the road for the airport. The stop was on Plaça Espanya which allowed me to get two last snaps before leaving.
My sister, brother in law and niece left in the morning and I had almost all the day to enjoy Barca. I took a coffee in the apartment and decided to spend my day walking in the city.
I started by the Plaça Real which was a square full of green palm trees which were letting the sun shine over the surrounded cafés. It was time for another coffee and to turn on the sun glasses mode.
I wanted to see on small wooden bridge between two buildings which I found in google images but didn't know its name. After asking several people I managed to find it next to the city hall. Really beautiful one.
As the weather was getting better and better I decided to spend some time on the beach. I passed by the Cathedral of Barcelona which was huge! Much more traditional compared to the Sagrada Familia.
I walked on the Via Laietana to reach the the port and then the beach of Barceloneta. Really beautiful and big sand beach. It was so good to feel the sand on my feet! In moment like this I realize how much I miss sea and sand, and was even imaging myself living in a city like Barcelona later. I spent 2h laying there before leaving. There were two last things I wanted to see before leaving and one of them was the Arc of Triumph which was 25-30mins away from the beach. While walking to there I was regretting I didn't spend more time in this area: the Zoo and the park of the Ciutadella (where the Catalan Parlement stands) and they were looking promising. Well next time...
I finally went to check out, grab my luggage and walked to the Christopher Colomb monument under the sun which was my second desire to see before leaving. Indeed, seeing his monument was like reliving my history classes when younger.
I stopped for a coffee and hit the road for the airport. The stop was on Plaça Espanya which allowed me to get two last snaps before leaving.
In conclusion, amazing family trip which made us discover a wonderful city. I did love the city, the colors, the food, the sea ... basically everything.
While I am writing this article I am realizing how much I did love Spain and can't wait to go there again.
While I am writing this article I am realizing how much I did love Spain and can't wait to go there again.