Barthelona!

Hola familia! Como estas? So last weekend was spent in the awesome city of Barcelona, Spain. Katie and I decided last minute to surprise our best friend Caitlin Brison, with the help of another friend Jac. We bought the tickets Tuesday night and by Thursday at 10pm we were there. Brison had no idea we were coming, although everyone else did. We met Jac after she and some friends went out to dinner, quickly went back to her place to change, and strolled into the bar Brison was at. She started crying, obviously, because who wouldn't after seeing my beautiful face for the first time in 2 months! It was awesome and I'm so glad she had no idea.

We spent the weekend hanging out and having a blast. Friday, we walked around the city, checking out the famous areas such as The Gothic district, the Ancient Rome district, Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya. Las Ramblas was awesome! Its this long street which has different sections of vendors. For example, the first section of vendors sells nothing but birds and other pets. The second sells flowers, etc.

Plaza Catalunya is kind of known as the center of the city, with beautiful fountains. That night, we had tapas and sangria for dinner and drink! Such a typical Spanish dinner, and sooooooooo good!!! After dinner we hung out at our friend Maegan's apartment. Maegan went to LVHS with us and now goes to UCSB, so it was really fun seeing her after so long. We somehow found ourselves at a typical Barcelona night club called Pacha, and since it was so far away from Jac and Brison's place, we danced the night away until circa 5 am to catch the first metro home. We ended the night with some Patatas Bravas from a street vendor right outside their rooms. Obviously I would love Patatas Bravas, as it is nothing but a cup of french fries with ketchup and mayo on top. HEAVEN is what I like to call it.

Saturday we spent the day doing touristy stuff. We went to La Sagrada Familia, which is the Gaudi cathedral 120+ years in the making. It is BREATHTAKING. Honestly one of the most amazing churches I've ever seen. We explored Las Ramblas and the open air market near there a little more.




That night, we made Mexican food and had 2 of our friends from BC, Pat and Alex, over for dinner. It was really fun to see them and hang out for a little. I haven't had Mexican food in entirely too long so it was delicious.



Sunday, we woke up and went back to La Sagrada Familia because we never got the chance to go up in the towers. We paid the 5 euro entrance fee and then the additional 2 euro elevator fee to see one of the most beautiful architectural structures in the world. A small price, if you ask me. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done and I'm really glad I was able to have that experience. After La Sagrada Familia, we went to Parc Guell, the park designed by Gaudi with all the mosaics. We were there right around sunset and had the best view of the city. The mosaics were incredible. We ended the weekend with some nice pasta bolognese and gelato. Obviously I began to miss Italian food after only 3 days!

All in all, the weekend was incredible and I had such a great time. It was awesome to see Brison and Jac again and see a new city which is like nothing I've ever known! I really want to go back when the weather is warmer and spend a couple days lying out on the Mediterranean which is a mere 5 blocks from their dorms.

I love Europe. Vivo la dolce vita (I live the good life).




These pictures are from La Sagrada Familia. The first is the inside architecture and the second is Jac and I in one of the towers overlooking the city of Barcelona. The third is of the other towers. La Sagrada Familia was started in 1882. Gaudi died in front of it in the 1970s when he was hit by a tram when crossing the street.

The ones below are from Parc Guell. It was a park originally built by Gaudi for the Spanish elite to relax and enjoy the outdoors. There is a little house that looks like a gingerbread house that Gaudi lived in that is right behind my head in the picture below.