I arrived in Barcelona on Thursday night (so happy I got to miss my two Friday classes), checked into the hostel, and had a WSA “meet and greet.” About 20 excited, American study abroad students from Seville, Spain, Paris, France, and Limerick, Ireland came to Barcelona for a great trip. That evening we enjoyed a few tapas at Sagardi and Italian gelato.
Friday morning we headed out for a walking tour of Passeig de Gracia, Casa Mila, and the Block of Discord. This walk incorporated Gaudi’s most famous work, including the Casa Batllo. I was so excited to Casa Batllo, as I’ve wanted to take a picture of it for over two years now!
It was absolutely extraordinary and very interesting to see Gaudi’s mosaic modern builsings with curved balconies next to the traditional art nouveau buildings.
We grabbed little “mouth bites,” petite sandwiches, en route to the Sagrada Familia for a picnic. Then, we got to skip the line and enter the church, designed by Gaudi. I’ve never seen such intricate, well-thought-out design before I saw the Sagrada Familia.
Gaudi’s work is so comprehensive that over 300 workers everyday continue building the church to complete Gaudi’s plans.
It’s quite an impressive cathedral with 26 naves and plans for 18 spires. Catalans hope that the church will be finished in 2026, 100 years after Gaudi’s death.
From there, I visited Parc Guell, Gaudi’s famous attempt at one of the first gated communities. While it never realized its goal, the park is a must see (and free)!
Gaudi’s work, to me, is so new and fresh. He was very imaginative and created abstract work.
Later that night, we left the hostel for paella and sangria at Tasca I Vins. It was great paella and the closest meal I’ve had to shrimp and grits in long time!
Saturday we headed out to ramble on Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas, a good pickpocket spot, was filled with mimes and open-air vendors selling t-shirts, flowers, microchips, magnets, and more.
It was very crowded, but we slipped into the Mercat de la Boqueria. It was filled with produce, fish, vegetables, spices, dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, tiny cafes, and so much more! I enjoyed fresh strawberries, eaten with a mini pitchfork!
Later that evening we left for a tapas crawl and night out on the town. I find tapas to be irresistible now! I love the idea of getting to try a few bites and sample appetizers.
The combinations of the tapas were great- fried goat cheese with blueberry jam, chorizo sausage, stuffed red peppers, crab, and more. The sister restaurant of Sagardi had so many tapas to choose from!
When you’ve finished eating, you simply hold onto the toothpicks that were stuck in the tapas, show them to the barista, and pay. It was a great way to mingle with everyone on the trip as well!
That night we also went to the Pipa Club where you had to buzz to enter the club on the 3rd floor. It was an intimate, cozy place where you felt like Sherlock Holmes.
We rounded out our last day in Barcelona with a trip to the Cathedral and a free afternoon for the beach. I loved walking through Las Ramblas to La Marina and watching the sailboats leave the harbor.
I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend shared with a great group of people. It was relaxing, fun, and exciting! My weekend student adventure (WSA) to Barcelona will be one of my most memorable study abroad trips.
I’m off with IES to Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania on Thursday! Traveling is contagious!
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