Barcelona

The family lived in Sant Quirze, a quiet suburb forty minutes away from downtown. It was the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown, with lots of parks, trails, shops, and restaurants. I will miss all my morning runs here; for some reason, running in Spain is much easier than in Missouri...

Watching the sunset at the bunkers is a must (ok, I will just say this now - everything on this page is a must). Spanish Civil War soldiers built the bunkers at the top of a hill overlooking the city. Although crumbling concrete is the only thing that remains of them, the 360° views from the top are timeless. I saw some of my favorite sunsets here (which is saying a lot because I'm a sunrise/sunset fanatic). 

Antoni Gaudi was a world-renowned architect from Barcelona, and his influence spread throughout the city. He was the prime mover of the Modernisme architecture movement, which mixes color, nature, and geometry to produce stunning designs. I was never a big architecture person before coming here - but oh my gosh! I fell in love with all of Gaudi's work. His creations are unique and whimsical, bringing art to life in the form of architecture. 

Tibidabo is a church/theme park located at the top of the tallest mountain in Barcelona. The church is stunning, both inside and out, and the panoramic views of the city are unbeatable. You truly are at the top of the world (or at least Barcelona) when you stand next to Jesus at the top. 

I will admit that the first time I came to Plaza de España, I didn't like it. I will also admit that the first time I came to Plaza de España, I was late picking someone up from the airport and had gotten off at the wrong metro stop. So I frantically tried to catch a bus all the way across the round-a-bout and got so overwhelmed by the traffic and people - you don't know true adrenaline until you are running through city streets at night trying to catch a bus. Needless to say, when I came back on purpose, my opinion changed entirely. The lively (yes, that is the word I will use now for the traffic and people) plaza is lined with many restaurants and shops. It is also a great place to watch the sunset at the end of the day! 

Castell de Montjuïc is hands down my favorite spot in all of Barcelona. It's located on the other side of Plaza de España but feels like it's worlds away. It's tranquil up there; the pine trees, green grass, and chirping birds are so serene. Not to mention, the views of the marina and city are spectacular; I could (and did) sit up there and watch life go by for hours.

I wasn't planning on visiting the stadium, considering I have no knowledge or care about soccer. However, someone recommended that I see it anyway. So, when I showed up in my pink tennis skirt - severely out of place amongst the diehard soccer fans, I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it. I loved walking through and learning about the history of the sport and team in Barcelona. The number of trophies and their presence in the soccer world were impressive. It was also cool to see the European soccer culture - it really is a whole new level of sports. 

Plaça Catalunya is truly the heart of the city; there are so many shops and restaurants nearby. It's the starting point of the Gothic Quarter, which is the oldest neighborhood in Barcelona - it dates back to when the Romans occupied the city in 10 BC. The name lends itself to the gothic architecture that encompasses the area. Las Ramblas, the world-famous shopping strip, is always bustling with people, street vendors, and pickpocketers (watch out!). It was amazing to wander around and explore all the nooks and crannies of this fascinating neighborhood. 

Parc de la Ciutadella is a beautiful park in the city's center. Luscious green trees surround the pathways that wander around gorgeous architecture, lakes, and gushing fountains. The Arc de Triomf and the Barcelona Zoo are notably the top attractions; however, there is so much that this park has to offer. My favorite thing was renting a row boat and paddling around the lake. 

When most people think of Barcelona, they think of sunbathing and swimming in the Mediterranean. While the beaches can be very crowded, it is definitely where all the partying happens in the city. Most of the top clubs are located along the beach boardwalk. My mom and I visited Ice Bar-celona, where we put on gloves and jackets and drank from ice cups. Since the sun is always shining, the beach is the perfect place to hang out and relax. 

Sitges is a gorgeous beach town located about thirty minutes south of Barcelona. I took a few day trips here because it was such an easy train ride. It's much less crowded than the beaches in Barcelona, so I felt like I could truly relax. It is such a quintessential town, and it looks like it's straight out of a picture book. I loved being so close to this beautiful Spanish gem. 

Costa Brava is the northern coastal region of Spain/Catalonia. It is known for its rugged coastline, beautiful beaches, and small beach towns. I knew I had to visit it at some point this summer; however, I had no car and, thus, no way of getting there on my own. Luckily, I found a tour that took me north, and I spent the day kayaking along the coast. I had so much fun, and the scenery was so beautiful!