We arrived in Barcelona late afternoon on the 14th of April and were greeted by overcast weather in a beautiful city. First impressions are everything and as we disembarked the bus we saw streets lined with green leafy trees and brilliant architecture the likes of which we hadn't seen before. Compared to Valencia, Barcelona was a busy, bustling metropolis, which whilst different was not unwelcome.
We had our directions and, thanks to the information stand, a map (the first time we were even remotely prepared in our travels before starting to walk!), so we set off in search of our accommodation, the AWA Barcelona Plaza Catalunya Hostel. After a second stop at an information stand for more directions and another map, we found our destination and were pleasantly surprised. It did not look like a hostel. Set in an old building with big wrought iron and glass doors, the hostel was a converted apartment on the 3rd floor. We buzzed in and were met by Facundo, our lovely host, and Sara, a volunteer from the United States. The hostel was lovely, so homely, and after a quick cup of tea we set out with a map to explore the Gothic quarter.
The Gothic quarter of Barcelona is magical. Small, narrow, winding alleyways in between tall buildings containing both houses and boutique shops. Around every corner was something different; we found small squares filled with artisans and cafes, and large cathedrals surrounded by people both local and not. We were working against the clock to see as much as possible before walking back to the hostel, as Sara had invited us to see a magic light fountain show and we were meeting at 6, so we meandered out way back along the Ramblas, Barcelona's main street, to the hostel, where we met Joe and got ready to go out.
However, our plans changed on the way. As we walked to the metro to try to get to the fountain, it started to rain quite heavily. It was decided that we instead would go to a bar that did 5Euro cocktails with a free shot. After spending a while inside, we did a spot of grocery/beer shopping, and it was decided that since Eliza and I hadn't had dinner, we would go back to the hostel and make crepes.
Once back at the hostel, wine and beer was bought out as we attempted to make a crepe recipe without proper measuring equipment It turned out quite well, and we had a lovely dinner of crepes with smoked salmon, Swiss cheese and avocado, and then jam. It was one of the nicest and most relaxed dinners we had had in our entire trip. We sat and laughed and drank wine until around 12, when it was announced that we would go out and party.
Our first stop was the Bar Marsella, reputedly the oldest bar in Barcelona (200 years and still strong). I felt as though I had just stepped back in time; the walls were lined with dusty bottles, the mirrors caked with dust and the fixtures all aged but completely original. The reason behind going to this bar we were told, is because the true "Barcelona Experience" involves drinking 70% ABV Absinthe, the house drink. The method of drinking is traditional; one takes a glass of Absinthe and puts a fork over the rim, and on that fork a small sugar cube. After setting up your glass, you pour (very) cold water slowly over the sugar cube until it dissolves, and then stir. It tastes like pure licorice (aniseed) and you can feel it as it goes down. One glass was definitely enough! I didn't see any green fairies, but that was probably because we hightailed it to the clubs until 5am where we were enveloped in multi-coloured strobe lights and loud music.
At 5am when we couldn't find our hosts (Joe had gone home and Sara and Maya had disappeared telling us to "wait here") we took a taxi back to the Plaza. realising we didn't have a key to the door, we buzzed in but then went back outside to call Facundo to open the door (sorry!).
The next day we awoke to go to the bus station and buy our tickets to Madrid, however there was drama! Our travels had been going smoothly, and we had been wondering if we were going to run into any troubles. We did, but we used our amazing problem solving skills to get around them. We wanted to take the 2:30 bus to Madrid, but upon arriving at the bus station found that it was full and that the next bus didn't leave until 11:30. We would've stayed around and explored Barcelona more had we not already booked a hostel in Madrid and put a non-refundable deposit on it. We investigated, and ended up finding that we could take a bus to Zaragoza and then another bus to Madrid and get there at exactly the same time. The catch? We had to leave at 1, an hour and a half earlier, pushing us for time as it was by then 12. We would also have an our and a half wait in Zaragoza. We raced back to the hostel said a quick goodbye and then grabbed a taxi to the station.
We arrived in Madrid at 10pm, 20 minutes earlier than if we had taken our preferred bus, and found our way to a taxi and then on to our hostel.
The next part of our story continues in Madrid, so I will leave you here. Only a short one this time because we were only in Barcelona for 24 hours! I think I shall return after my time with Eliza comes to an end and do some more exploring. I am slowly catching up on my blogs but we're travelling so fast that by the time I've finished one blog, I've got at least one if not two more to write! Our time in Spain comes to end end with the next blog, and we move on again.
Until next time,
Love Love!
Clem xx
 |
| Gothic cathedral no.1 |
We had our directions and, thanks to the information stand, a map (the first time we were even remotely prepared in our travels before starting to walk!), so we set off in search of our accommodation, the AWA Barcelona Plaza Catalunya Hostel. After a second stop at an information stand for more directions and another map, we found our destination and were pleasantly surprised. It did not look like a hostel. Set in an old building with big wrought iron and glass doors, the hostel was a converted apartment on the 3rd floor. We buzzed in and were met by Facundo, our lovely host, and Sara, a volunteer from the United States. The hostel was lovely, so homely, and after a quick cup of tea we set out with a map to explore the Gothic quarter.
The Gothic quarter of Barcelona is magical. Small, narrow, winding alleyways in between tall buildings containing both houses and boutique shops. Around every corner was something different; we found small squares filled with artisans and cafes, and large cathedrals surrounded by people both local and not. We were working against the clock to see as much as possible before walking back to the hostel, as Sara had invited us to see a magic light fountain show and we were meeting at 6, so we meandered out way back along the Ramblas, Barcelona's main street, to the hostel, where we met Joe and got ready to go out.
 |
| Gothic cathedral no.2 |
However, our plans changed on the way. As we walked to the metro to try to get to the fountain, it started to rain quite heavily. It was decided that we instead would go to a bar that did 5Euro cocktails with a free shot. After spending a while inside, we did a spot of grocery/beer shopping, and it was decided that since Eliza and I hadn't had dinner, we would go back to the hostel and make crepes.
Once back at the hostel, wine and beer was bought out as we attempted to make a crepe recipe without proper measuring equipment It turned out quite well, and we had a lovely dinner of crepes with smoked salmon, Swiss cheese and avocado, and then jam. It was one of the nicest and most relaxed dinners we had had in our entire trip. We sat and laughed and drank wine until around 12, when it was announced that we would go out and party.
 |
| Dinner |
Our first stop was the Bar Marsella, reputedly the oldest bar in Barcelona (200 years and still strong). I felt as though I had just stepped back in time; the walls were lined with dusty bottles, the mirrors caked with dust and the fixtures all aged but completely original. The reason behind going to this bar we were told, is because the true "Barcelona Experience" involves drinking 70% ABV Absinthe, the house drink. The method of drinking is traditional; one takes a glass of Absinthe and puts a fork over the rim, and on that fork a small sugar cube. After setting up your glass, you pour (very) cold water slowly over the sugar cube until it dissolves, and then stir. It tastes like pure licorice (aniseed) and you can feel it as it goes down. One glass was definitely enough! I didn't see any green fairies, but that was probably because we hightailed it to the clubs until 5am where we were enveloped in multi-coloured strobe lights and loud music.
At 5am when we couldn't find our hosts (Joe had gone home and Sara and Maya had disappeared telling us to "wait here") we took a taxi back to the Plaza. realising we didn't have a key to the door, we buzzed in but then went back outside to call Facundo to open the door (sorry!).
 |
| Barcelona street scape |
The next day we awoke to go to the bus station and buy our tickets to Madrid, however there was drama! Our travels had been going smoothly, and we had been wondering if we were going to run into any troubles. We did, but we used our amazing problem solving skills to get around them. We wanted to take the 2:30 bus to Madrid, but upon arriving at the bus station found that it was full and that the next bus didn't leave until 11:30. We would've stayed around and explored Barcelona more had we not already booked a hostel in Madrid and put a non-refundable deposit on it. We investigated, and ended up finding that we could take a bus to Zaragoza and then another bus to Madrid and get there at exactly the same time. The catch? We had to leave at 1, an hour and a half earlier, pushing us for time as it was by then 12. We would also have an our and a half wait in Zaragoza. We raced back to the hostel said a quick goodbye and then grabbed a taxi to the station.
We arrived in Madrid at 10pm, 20 minutes earlier than if we had taken our preferred bus, and found our way to a taxi and then on to our hostel.
The next part of our story continues in Madrid, so I will leave you here. Only a short one this time because we were only in Barcelona for 24 hours! I think I shall return after my time with Eliza comes to an end and do some more exploring. I am slowly catching up on my blogs but we're travelling so fast that by the time I've finished one blog, I've got at least one if not two more to write! Our time in Spain comes to end end with the next blog, and we move on again.
Until next time,
Love Love!
Clem xx
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