Barcelona Spain
The second stop on the Iberian Peninsula for us during Eurotrip 2018 was Barcelona, Spain. We arrived via train (using our Eurail Passes) from San Sebastian in the early afternoon. The train ride was only about 5 hours and went through the heart of northern Spain. This was my first time in Barcelona. However, my daughter was here a few years ago when she lived in Paris.
We grabbed a ride to the apartment that we had rented for the next two nights. The apartment was listed as a studio apartment and could sleep 4. It was located on a small side street near cafés and the Arc de Triomf. It was a little tight and awkward as the only way to get to the bathroom was through the bedroom. However, it worked fine for a couple of nights.
Park Güell
After dropping off our backpacks, we decided to visit Park Güell as it was still early in the afternoon and we had about 5-6 hours of sunlight left. Park Güell is a public park system composed of gardens and architectonic elements located on Carmel Hill just west of downtown Barcelona. The park is considered one of the best in the world with its architectural elements and overall appearance. The structures in the park had beautiful tile work, including the roof tiles. In addition, it has some of the best views overlooking Barcelona due to its elevation.
Afternoon Walk
We returned from Park Güell and decided to head out for a walk around the apartment area. Due to our proximity to the Arc de Triomf, that was our first stop. This area is full of tourists and locals enjoying the scenery and people-watching. We then walked through Parc de la Ciutadella and by the Barcelona Zoo on the way to the beach. Although it was a short distance, it seemed like it took forever to get to the beach. I am not sure if we went in the wrong direction or not, but what should have been a 15-minute walk, turned into a 45-minute one!
Unfortunately, it was not warm enough to swim and Greenpeace usually tries to push me back in the water if I am near a beach. So we hung out on the boardwalk for a little while before heading back to the apartment to find a place for dinner.
Rainy Day in Barcelona
The next morning we woke up to a wet day in Barcelona. However, it was not a hard rain and more of a mist for most of the day. Unfortunately, one thing we always forget to pack is an umbrella. So, we had to plan our outside activities carefully.
We started the day with a walk down La Rambla. Unfortunately, it started to rain cats and dogs as we arrived at the station. We found shelter for a few minutes until the rain returned to a light mist. Luckily, if you walk down the middle of La Rambla you can stay fairly dry due to the tree cover. This area is full of shops, restaurants, and vendors to help you spend your money.
Museum of the History of Barcelona – Plaça del Rei
The Museum of the History of Barcelona at Plaça del Rei includes an underground city of Roman ruins and it covers an area of over 4000 m2. The ruins date back to the 1st through 6th centuries and it was excavated between 1930 and 1960. The walking tour takes about an hour and a half to complete. It is worth the visit if you enjoy history and/or architecture.
La Sagrada Familia
We had a reservation at La Sagrada Familia in the afternoon, so we took a tram to get close to the cathedral and then walked a few blocks. La Sagrada Familia is a massive cathedral that has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026. The cathedral is one of the most impressive that I have seen, even before you even enter through the doors. Unfortunately, this is a major tourist attraction with long lines to get into the building. Also, you have to go through security checks due to arsonists in the past.
We had purchased tickets to go up into the towers. However, due to the weather, the towers were closed. Therefore, we had to stay in the main structure for the most part. This is one of the largest cathedrals I have seen, there were at least a thousand people in the cathedral and it seemed empty. We spent about an hour and a half walking around into all the side areas and the lower levels. It felt like the cathedral was never-ending, with always another area to walk into.
Back to the Apartment
We left the cathedral and headed back to the apartment to take a break and to dry off as there was still a light mist falling. After a short rest, we headed out for a bite to eat at a street café near Arc de Triomf and about 10 minutes from the apartment. We were leaving early the next morning to see an old friend who was on vacation in Torrevieja. Therefore, it was going to be a fairly early night for us.
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