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Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Barcelona Day Three.



Sunshine and clear skies! We were determined to spend the whole day outside!




We ventured up to Mount Tibidabo and got there so early we had to wait an hour for the funicular (like a tram that goes up and down) to go! We sat in the sunshine eating cherry tomatoes.





We packed a picnic and enjoyed sitting on a bench and seeing the amazing views. This was one of my highlights of the trip and I would definitely recommend doing this if you have a couple of days in the city! There is an amusement park but only a couple of rides were open; in the summer I can imagine this being packed!



Told you I went back to the ice cream parlour. Today's was pistachio and banana. For some reason my lactose intolerance didn't play up at all whilst away!


We headed down to Barceonleta, the beach area at around 3pm where it started to get a little cloudy but still warm! The boardwalk was so much fun watching people on scooters, bikes and roller skates! The only people brave enough for the sea were surfers as there was some great waves!



For dinner we headed to the Olympic Marina as I wanted some decent seafood! We found a deal for 15 euros each. Now my sister doesn't eat seafood but they had options for her. We got so much! The starters were bread (for Keira) and seafood tapas for me. I had 4 plates, prawns, fried fish, calamari and mussels. I left so much and felt to bad but they give you so much! I then had a lovely tuna steak and Keira had pasta. We also got wine, water and dessert. Oh and shots! Amazing restaurant!


We walked all the way back to La Rambla to work off our dinner and it was nearly midnight by the time we got back! We were merry after our bottle of wine and decided we would rather get up extra early to see lots of things on our last day so called it a night!

Monday, 11 March 2013

Barcelona Day Two.


Day two we woke up to an even windier and rainier Barcelona but with the added enjoyment of a hangover. We decided not to waste the day or let the rain ruin our plans so we went to the Aquarium. 






The aquarium was quite large with a lot of variety of fish and other creatures but I do feel it was a little overpriced as it cost us about 18 euros each. I don't know whether it was school trip day but in front if every display there was a class which made it quite impossible to get up close pictures. The penguin enclosure was in a different place and school children free; good as I am like a child around penguins. In my excitement I forgot to take a picture!


I was determined to try some churros on this trip and they really ain't all that. I thought they would be more like doughnut batter but they were hard and not that tasty. At least I tried it!


Our hangover (and weather) got the better of us at about 3pm so we thought a nap would help! I woke up and looked out the window and the sun was out! I woke up Keira and we legged it to one of Barcelona's many parks, La Parc de la Ciutadella.




This fountain was the reason I wanted to come and seeing it as the sun was going down gave it such a pretty colour! We sat on a bench and saw the many runners and dog walkers go about their business.



We decided to walk back as it wasn't raining and got an ice cream. The ice cream was so good we went back the next day!


Dinner was tapas, a seafood paella for me (chicken paella for Keira) and a Catalan cream pudding. Very Spanish! We then opted for a strawberry daiquiri in a bar near our hotel before heading to bed!




Saturday, 9 March 2013

Barcelona Day One




After travelling most of the afternoon and evening, me and my sister grabbed a quick Spanish ham sandwich and took a walk along La Rambla. It was then time to hit the sack so we could make the most of our first full day.

We woke up to a somewhat overcast and windy Barcelona. Not that we let it dampen our spirits. 







Our first stop was La Boquiera a huge food market on La Rambla where the colours are amazing. We picked up some fresh smoothies and fruit cups before trying to locate our way to our first attraction. It started to bucket it down so we popped into a café and I had the best coffee ever. Starbucks was put to shame (It's also very overpriced priced in Spain)!








La Sagrada Familia was stunning. The outside had so much detail and it's hard to imagine how long all the sculptures took. I can't believe it won't be done until about 2026, it will be huge! 

The inside was my favourite part and I would recommend going inside. The museum was good as it taught us about the architectural details and then we could see them put into place within the basilica. I really liked the stained glass windows and the roof. The inside is made to look like a forest, with huge columns being tree trunks and then arching over into branches. If it had been sunny I can imagine all the colours would light up the inside beautifully!








Casa Batllò was another stop on our first day. It was a house designed by Antoni Gaudi for the Batllò family on the Passeig de Gracia which is a road which has all the expensive shopping! This was my sisters favourite place. Everyone gets an audio guide which explains all the little details of each room. Each room is unique and no detail was left by chance; everything has a meaning even the door handles.







After a quick lunch of pizza, pasta and salad (very Spanish I know) we took a long walk around El Raval, one of the districts in the Old Town. We didn't know why most places were closed then I remembered we were in Spain and they have a siesta! 



We were spent from our day so had a quick power nap. We woke up to pouring rain so grabbed our umbrellas and legged it. We went to a tapas restaurant and had a few different things but I loved the patatas braves! After running down the alleys to find a bar a read about online I found Sugar Bar which had a happy hour all night so very cheap cocktails. Their blackberry mojitos were amazing! After a few in Sugar Bar we headed next door to Sub Rosa with some friends we made and then headed to a Shisha bar! It was about 2am before we headed back to the hotel! Let's just say my sister was very worse for wear!

Monday, 4 March 2013

What I put In my hand luggage & What I wore for my flight.







In my hand luggage bag, a Ted Baker shopper which didn't really go with my outfit but was the only bag big enough to fit my Macbook I have packed the following things:

  • Travel Documents such as boarding passes and attraction tickets. I also gave my sister a copy of all of them incase anything happens to them.
  • Passport which has a case which can hold cards etc. In my case I have my train tickets and also my driving license.
  • My River Island purse which holds all my Euros.
  • A notebook where I have noted the address of all the places we want to go (Hello Sephora1), any offers and the nearest tube station.
  • Magazines. Standard.
  • My tangle teezer although I am throwing my hair up today as I can't be bothered to faff around with it whilst travelling.
  • My iPhone in it's ravishing penguin case.
  • Sunglasses, a £2 job from Primark.
  • That great big pewter thing is my Macbook in it's cover which was £4 from Primark and does the job!
  • Finally my Kindle as I will probably start a book that's been in my library for ages on the plane.

Other things not pictured:
  • Earplugs in case I want a power nap
  • Wire for my Macbook.
  • iPod (was being charged as I took these photos)!
  • Fluffy socks 
  • Medicines - I like to keep these with me incase something happens to my suitcase. 





Stripy top - H&M
Leggings - New Look
Jacket - H&M
Shoes - Vans
Watch - Micheal Kors
Ring - Folli Follie
(Penguin Slipper - Primark) ;)


I kept my outfit really simple as I wasn't feeling to great and just wanted to be comfortable, which I was! 
We've literally just landed and got to our hotel room and it's now about 9pm so although we are absolutely knackered we are going to take a stroll along La Rambla and get a drink!