Weekend In Barcelona
Spain! We finally made it. After missing our Valencia flight and spending an unplanned day and a half in Paris, we managed to salvage the rest of our original itinerary. While in Paris we booked a flight from ORY-BCN on Vueling for $158 total. Our 2 nights at the H10 Cubik hotel was paid for with 36,772 Chase UR points.
We arrived in Barcelona late in the evening, and as usual we were hungry. We asked the front desk at the hotel where we could find some paella at that hour and we were given instructions to Restaurante Gloria near the Plaça del Rei. With memories of Swedish Sushi fresh in our minds we headed out into the streets of Barcelona. No crazy stories this time, just decent paella. We then went to a nice wine bar called Vistro49, for a glass of Spanish wine before heading back to the hotel.
La Sagrada Familia
The next morning, one of the first places we visited in Barcelona was La Sagrada Familia. This is a church that has been under construction since 1882. Turns out it isn’t unusual for major European churches to take over 100 years to complete. What makes this one unique is the architect Antoni Gaudi. This guy didn’t believe in following the normal rules of architecture. This is probably the most uniquely designed christian churches in the world. The north side of the church is dedicated to the nativity and nature. The stone walls are carved to resemble animals and trees amidst scenes from the nativity. The south side of the church is dedicated to the passion. In stark contrast to the north side, the stone is cut very angular. Even the figures, from the roman soldiers, to Jesus Christ are carved with sharp edges. Inside the church is once again nature themed. The columns are meant to invoke the feeling of a forest of trees. The colors of the stained glass invoke invoke the four seasons. It is almost impossible to describe the this place as it is unlike any church you have ever been to. As this was an actual functioning church, I felt a bit weird taking pictures while people were worshiping, so unfortunately I did not take many pictures once inside.
We left La Segrada Familia and went in search for a place to get lunch. We headed to El Cafè de la Pedrera which had a patio outside the Casa Mila (another famous building designed by Antoni Gaudi).
After some mussels and mimosas we walked over to the Plaça de Catalunya which is a large square in central Barcelona. After spending some time in the plaza we headed back to our hotel to relax for a bit before heading to Las Ramblas and meeting up with one of Gina’s childhood friends for dinner.
Las Ramblas
On our way to dinner we took a stroll down Las Ramblas, which is a crowded pedestrian street full of kiosks selling souveniers, street performers, and restaurants. There are a ton of tourists on this street so you have to be vigilant for pickpockets, but it is definitely worth a visit. We turned off Las Ramblas onto a shady looking side street full of graffiti, but it did not take long to find Güell Tapas Restaurant. I was not surprised to find out that across the street from this restaurant is yet another building by Gaudi called Palau Guell. Everything in this city seems to be by Gaudi. I am a big proponent of eating and drinking local, so in Spain I looked for paella and tapas to eat and Tempranillo, and Garnacha wine to drink. Güell Tapas was good for both!
We spent the next day wandering around the city. We headed to the Cathedral of Barcelona, then back towards Las Ramblas before getting lunch near Plaça Reial, which is a large plaza.
Our last day in Barcelona was partially a travel day, so we decided to spend most of the day at the H10 Cubik rooftop pool. Most Americans are probably unfamiliar with the H10 Hotel chain. They are a Spanish based hotel company with about 60 hotels, most of which are in Europe or the Caribbean. The H10 Cubik had a nice rooftop bar, a rooftop pool, a glass of cava at check in (sparkling wine) and a central location in the heart of Barcelona. The hotel also had a afternoon happy hour, and I am always happy to find free wine!
After a few hours at the pool, it was time to head to the airport for our flight to Marrakesh.
Morocco Trip Report
- Accidental Trip to Paris
- Weekend in Barcelona
- Lost in a Moroccan Back Alley
- Night in the Sahara
- Stopover in Portugal
