Barcelona, Spain

It has taken me a long time to write this post because of how my last day in Barcelona on my most recent visit went (more on that below). However, as with anything in life, I can't let one bad experience ruin what was overall a wonderful trip. After all, I've now been to Barcelona twice and I rarely visit the same place more than once because there are just too many other places on my list to visit! I was happy going back to Barcelona though because I really loved the city on my first time as a solo traveler and now could experience more with a friend. After my two visits, here are some of my favorite spots in Barcelona, my go-to food and drink to try, and sadly a warning to all travelers so as not to end up like me!

Must See Spots

As with any new place you visit, there are bound to be "must see spots" that everyone tells you are worth it. I tend to see those first and then explore some on my own. With Barcelona, every place that is a "must see" place is actually worth seeing! So much so that I saw almost all of the same places on this recent trip that I did 3 years ago. There's so much beauty in the city that it's worth a look.

1. La Sagrada Familia

Ahhhh what can I say about this church that will truly capture how beautiful and unique it is?! Words can't do much, but I'll try. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família is a large Roman Catholic bascilica designed by famed and innovative architect Antoni Gaudí. The construction began in March of 1882 and to this day is still not complete. It has been said (or at least that's what our Hop On/Hop Off guide told us) that Gaudi knew it wouldn't be complete in his lifetime stating "My client is not in a hurry, God has all the time in the world." The actual design on the church is somewhat of a guess because, like many things in history, parts of the unfinished basilica and Gaudí's models were destroyed during war. What is currently being constructed is based on reconstructed versions of the Gaudi's models that were burned in a fire. You can see from the exterior the "old parts" and the "new parts" based on the coloring and how fresh the new parts look. The design though is what will catch your eye as it comes into view.

Gaudi has a very distinct style to his work. For the basilica he combined Gothic and Art Nouveau forms, which give this church such a one-of-a-kind look and feel. First there are the eighteen spires representing the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists, and Jesus Christ (each ascending in height, with Jesus being the tallest spire). Next, you have the three façades: the Nativity façade, the Passion façade, and the Glory façade. Then there is the enormous amount of detail everywhere you look on the building. You could walk around for hours just taking in all of the different scenes depicting Jesus's life. Then as you walk inside, the true beauty hits you. The inside of the basilica is like no other church you will see. Laid out like a Latin cross with five aisles, the center vault is 200 feet tall. There are columns all along the nave which give off a skeletal feel which lead up to a plethora of stained glass windows in every color of the rainbow. Depending on the weather and time of day, if the sun is beaming in through the windows, it makes for some truly stunning photos!

2. Park Güell

There is a lot of Gaudi in Barcelona and I'm going to recommend most of it! Next up is Park Güell. This park was designed by Gaudi and features gardens and architectonic elements. Located on Carmel Hill, it gives you great views of the city of Barcelona all the way out to the sea. Walking around the park you will see thousands of mosaic tiles along columns, benches, fountains, and more. When you enter you will see a colorful mosaic salamander, popularly known as "el drac" (the dragon). Flanking both sides of the main entrance are two buildings featuring even more mosaics on the roofs and chimneys. Venture further in, up the stairs past el drac, and you will find an open space filled with columns. Look up and take in more mosaics on the ceiling. Walk around some more and you'll discover a colonnaded footpath under the roadway viaduct, which looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. So creepy and yet, so cool!

3. Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is next on the Gaudi spots to see. Casa Batlló was originally bought by Josep Batlló in 1900 due to its desirable location in the middle of Passeig de Gracia (a very prestigious and fashionable area). Given the uniqueness of Park Güell, Batlló hired Gaudi to design his home. As with any wealthy man about town who wanted to be noticed, Batlló wanted his home to stand out from all the rest. Gaudi was just the man for the job, incorporating his skeletal designs, stained glass, and of course, mosaics! The front of the building features several floors with color mosaics and protruding balconies. The roof features more multicolored tiles used to look like the scales of the spine of a dragon. The roof also features a tower topped with a cross of four arms oriented to the cardinal directions. It is an amazing sight to see!

4. Tibidabo Amusement Park

On my first visit to Barcelona, I saw the ferris wheel from a distance, but didn't venture up to the park. This time around I did and boy am I glad I did! First of all the views are amazing! You can see the whole of Barcelona, the sea, and many miles more of Spain. The Amusement Park itself is filled with fun rides for both adults and children. Our first stop was the swings, which I hadn't ridden in decades and it was so much fun! Next we went on a roller coaster, then a log ride, and then headed to the Ferris Wheel. We wanted to time it just right with the sun since the park faces out to the west. We knew as we were riding around the Ferris Wheel, we wanted to sun setting behind us. I definitely recommend the same! After you've taken in all of the rides you can handle, obviously then comes the food. From churros fresh out of the fryer, to cotton candy, to popcorn, and more, it is a junk food dream! When in Rome right?!

5. The Beach

Depending on the time of year you visit (my first time was in November, this time in August), the water might be too cold to swim. However, Barcelona's beaches are very clean and feature a great boardwalk filled with restaurants and shops. Plus, you can see the work of one of my other favorite architects: Frank Gehry. The Peix Olímpic Frank Gehry is a giant gold fish sitting high above the boardwalk. Constructed in 1992 in what was being built up as the Olympic Village for the Summer Games, you can see it from just about anywhere on the beach. It really shines in the sunlight! Along the beach you can find chairs and umbrellas for rent, or just take your towel and enjoy the fresh sea air.

6. Las Ramblas & La Boqueria

Las Ramblas is a tree-lined pedestrian street connecting Plaça de Catalunya (the main square of Barcelona) down to the Columbus Monument at the waterfront. It's a quintessential tourist thing to do, but it's a great place to walk along and shop at the stalls, sit and have a coffee at a cafe, stop for dinner, or just enjoy the people watching and street performers. Along your walk you will also come across La Boquiera Market. This giant food market features 200 stalls offering everything from meats, to cheeses, to seafood, to desserts, to sandwiches, to fresh and dried fruits, to all the fruit juices you can imagine. It is such a visual experience just to walk around and see what there is and can be a great place to buy fresh foods and produce if you're staying somewhere you can cook. It's a bit overwhelming, so don't walk in with an empty stomach or you might just grab the first thing you see and miss out!

Food & Drink

Ok if you're going to Barcelona, obviously food is going to be a big priority! Some of the best are paella, tapas, and sangria. We had all of these and they were all amazing. Some lesser known Catalan specialties worth trying are esqueixada de bacalao (salad with with diced cod as the base), pa amb tomaquet (literally bread with tomato olive oil, and sea salt), jamon iberico (ham), bombas (croquettes filled with all sorts of good things), and patatas bravas (potatoes, fried and served with a creamy sauce on top). If you're drinking, it goes without saying you need to have all the sangria! You're in Spain after all!

My recommendations for places to eat are the following:

Mirabe - located near Tibidabo Amusement Park, this restaurant has gorgeous terrace dining looking out over the city. Their food was amazing and decently priced. Their sangria was pretty great as well! It was a wonderful evening dining outside and taking in the city as the sun set and the nightlife came alive below us.

Bo de B - located about two blocks from the marina, this hole in the wall sandwich shop was so good! It was recommended to us by someone who visited shortly before us and we are so glad they told us about this gem! You can pick whatever you want for your sandwich from meats, veggies, sauces, cheeses, and more. And the best part is they're so cheap! Only €4 for a rather large sandwich! Just note that they only accept cash, so have your euros ready.

Tapa Tapa Rambla de Catalunya - located right off the main square, this is a great option for tapas and sangria. Between the two of us we ordered 8 things and they were all pretty tasty. Their patatas bravas was my favorite and the crab bread bocadito. We sat outside and had a lovely evening meal (close to 10pm as the Spanish do!).

Beware!

It pains me to have to even write this part, but I wouldn't be an honest blogger if I didn't tell you the bad stuff as well as the good. Unfortunately, Barcelona is a prime city for theft. Due to a high unemployment rate and little legal deterrent for petty crimes, tourists are a target for theft. Prior to leaving the United States we read a US State Department notice about recent violent thefts in the city, particularly in the busy city center areas. Most stories of theft in Barcelona you read will be your every day pick pocketing. Any time you aren't paying attention or giving a thief an easy target, they will get you. It's also know that thieves in Barcelona are very good at slight of hand and will get your stuff without you even realizing. As with travel to any major city, it is always advisable to keep your money in a front pocket or small purse that is on your front at all times.

Well, what I didn't read about before my trip and sadly was a victim of is the "Barcelona Bird Poop Scam." Yes, that is a thing and it worked perfectly on me. I had just left my hotel and was waiting to take a shuttle to the airport. I had my backpack on top of my suitcase, with the backpack attached through a strap on the back side of the backpack that slides over the handle of my suitcase. I was standing there, at 9:15 am on a bright and sunny Sunday, when all of the sudden I felt something spray on me from the back. I looked over my shoulder at my back and my right arm and saw a white substance that at the time I thought was bird poop. Lucky for me (ha!) a nice gentleman was near me that had baby wipes in his bag (ha again!). He offered to help clean it off. Honestly I'm amazed I didn't put two and two together, but damn was their plan flawless! Next thing I knew (after maybe 30-40 seconds of him cleaning my back and arm), some man across the street started waving at me to get my attention. He pointed back behind me down the street but was only speaking Spanish. By the time I realized what he was saying/motioning, I realized that both my backpack (with my iPhone sitting on top after setting it down amidst being sprayed) and the "nice gentleman" were gone. I heard nothing happening behind me while he was cleaning me off, but apparently his partner in crime was quiet enough to pull off my bag and run without me even noticing. To that I give them credit because the execution was flawless. However, my backpack and phone were gone! Thank God I had my passport and wallet in a fanny pack around my waist or I would've had a complete breakdown.

It sucked royally and I lost a lot of electronics, jewelry, and makeup. However, one thing I learned upon my return home (and off the suggestion of my friend to check), is that Renters Insurance protects your property worldwide! You read that correctly! You don't have to be in your apartment/home when the theft occurs. Your stuff is covered no matter where you are! All you need is a police report and receipts for your items (or other proof of ownership) and you just file a claim. I did not file a police report in Barcelona because honestly, what good would it have done? But fortunately (silver linings people!) you can file one online. Granted, it's not an "official" report until you go into a police station and sign it, but for my insurance claim it was enough. Within 3 days (yes, only 3!) I had a check for the full value of EVERYTHING I lost deposited in my bank account. Just like that, I was made whole again. And also, I'm very happy to say that I was never in any danger during the ordeal. It happened so seamlessly, that only my emotions took a hit.

So moral of this shitty story: always be cautious and don't fall for ANY scam no matter how innocent it may seem; never let go of your stuff or lose sight of it; and get Renters Insurance if you don't have it!!!

¡Buen viaje!