I visited Barcelona back in March of 2007 with my friend Lisa. It had been long on my must-see list.
We got our flight through the always-cheap Ryan Air, flying into Girona, a city about 1 hour away from Barcelona. It was £85 return per person. The great thing about Ryan Air is that the flights are affordable, but in exchange they almost always fly into airports that are a bit out of the way from large cities.
Lisa and I easily took the train into Barcelona from the airport though, and found our way to HelloBCN, a hostel we booked through Hostel World. I’m more of a holiday apartment kind of person, so this was my first hostel experience. I think it would be fair to say that this was not your average hostel, and my experience was pretty damn far from creepy expectations (as in Hostel).
We spent three days exploring the beauty that is Barcelona, largely amounting to markets, picnics and Gaudi. If you have never heard of Gaudi (shame on you), let’s say he is one of the few architects who left a lasting impression for me since art school days. You don’t have to be an artist to appreciate his work – I think anyone who has seen photos or walked through one of his buildings will fall in love.
Now before we get into Gaudi, I want to say that I absolutely love markets, and the ones in Barcelona didn’t disappoint as they were all FOOD! This probably deserves its own posts but ah, well.
Back to Gaudi. We visited three of his creations:
Casa Milà – Located near Diagonal metro station, the Casa Milà (also know as La Pedrera) was originally built in 1905 for a rich couple who wanted a building of rental flats. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the interior as well as the awesome roof and rooftop can be visited almost any day of the year.
Looking up on the Casa Milà, outside from the street
Catenary arches in the attic, which lead you to the rooftop
The amazing chimneys on the rooftop!
Closest metro station: Diagonal
www.lapedreraeducacio.org – Casa Milà website
Regular entry is €11, students are €7
Parc Güell – that same day, Lisa and I made it out to Parc Güell for a picnic and some relaxation. But in order to reach that point, we had some serious hiking to do. Because Parc Güell is not just any old park; it’s a park designed by (you guessed it) Gaudi, and it’s seemingly located at the top Mount Everest, especially when you’re out of shape. But yes, it was worth the hike!
As always, I packed a picnic because that is what I do at every park. Sandwiches got a little squishy. We bought some fresh pineapple and watermelon along the way. Orange Nestea is delicious, by the way.
Everyone chilling on the famous serpentine bench.
Closest metro station: Lesseps
Entry is free into the park. It opens at 10 in the morning and closes around 7 at night.
Sagrada Família – to close off what was now officially our Gaudi tour, we went to the Sagrada Família, fully known as the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. I was most excited to see this. It’s a Roman Catholic church that was never completed in Gaudi’s heyday and has been in construction for over 125 years. Even though it’s not finished (and has eternal cranes around it), it’s jaw dropping. You will have seen nothing like it.
Closest metro station: Sardenya or Mallorca
http://www.sagradafamilia.cat - Segrada Família website
Regular entry is €12, students are €10
It rained on our last day, so we just strolled around the city before we had to get to the airport. Only Barcelona can look beautiful while pouring cats and dogs. Some cities have all the luck.
