This is a continued recap of my recent trip to Europe. Read about days 6 and 7 in Nice, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer here. Read about days 3-5 in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France here. Read about days 1 and 2 – my travel days – here. See a complete map of my travels here.
Day 8
I woke up the next morning, frankly ready to get out of Nice. I really enjoy train travel and had decided to train from Nice to Barcelona, despite it being far. I find riding on a train to be so relaxing and love reading on trains or listening to music while watching the scenery out the window. I took the train – by myself – from Nice to Avignon, then another from Avignon to Montpellier (which had the nicest station!), and a final train from Montpellier to Barcelona. It might sound crazy to have done so much, but I loved it all – seeing how the landscape changed, sipping on Earl Grey tea – and luckily had no trouble navigating the way on my own and had no mishaps.
I arrived at the Barcelona Sants station at 7:30 p.m. (or 19:30, rather) and was able to hop right in a taxi to the hotel that FTLO Travel had booked for our group. Driving through Barcelona, I was immediately captivated by the architecture and the gorgeous trees lining the streets. It may sound silly but I had no idea that Barcelona was such an attractive city! My taxi dropped me at the Room Mate Carla Hotel, a funky stay with modern decor on a quiet street and an extremely kind staff.
I was the first there, as the rest of our group was to be arriving late in the evening via airplane. The front desk pointed me up to my room – which was beautiful and had an extremely comfortable bed and lovely amenities. I settled in and walked back downstairs around 9:00 p.m. (21:00) – knowing that Spaniards eat much later – to ask for a nearby dinner recommendation. They told me to walk just across the street to de Tapa Madre, which I did.
A sweet server (who did not speak English!) sat me at one of her tables outside (restaurants in Spain do not have hosts – you must find a server). I ordered a glass of rosé (only 2 euro!) and a few tapas (also quite cheap). Everything she brought me was delicious – patatas bravas, tomatoes with mozzarella and pesto, and bread seasoned with garlic, tomato, and olive oil. The bread, I soon discovered, was prepared the same and served in every restaurant in Barcelona, just as bread and butter is placed on the table in the States.
I finished my meal and asked for the bill (you must ask in both France and Spain as it is rude to deliver a check without the guest’s request) and felt quite satisfied from my first (inexpensive!) dining experience. I headed back to the hotel and settled in for a deep sleep in my cloud-like bed at Room Mate Carla.
Day 9
I awoke eager to explore Barcelona and headed downstairs to join the group for the included breakfast at the hotel – which was fresh and delightful. We then embarked on a walking tour of the city with a local guide, who took us down Passeig de Gràcia and showed us Casa Milà and Casa Batlló – two famous Gaudí buildings – and around the Gothic Quarter, an old, charming pedestrian-only area of town.
Near the end of the tour, I received a text from my boyfriend, Harrison (whom I call “H”) that he had arrived in Barcelona! We were to be traveling together after the group trip was over. I met up with H at La Boqueria, the famous (and huge!) market in Barcelona. We explored everything – the fresh fruits, the live seafood, the sweet delicacies. We grabbed a few things for lunch and excitedly talked about everything we would be doing over our next two weeks together in Europe.
H and I then strolled the city for a long while, mainly trying to keep him from falling asleep so that he could adjust to the new time. We walked past numerous plants and stunning buildings, through the Gothic Quarter, even across the beach and stuck our toes in the water. He at last walked me back to my hotel where I was going to freshen up before dinnertime, and he headed back to his hostel to surrender to sleep.
That evening, I met back up with our FTLO Travel group to embark on an 18-course, 4-hour foodie tour! A local guide took us through several different tapas bars where we sampled small bites of seafood, vegetables, breads, and glasses of wine. We laughed, drank, and felt merry throughout this quite absurd and incredible evening. I do not consider myself a foodie, but this was so special and unique – I could not help but love every minute of it. I would highly recommend this experience if you are in Barcelona. We dined from 7 – 11 p.m. and when it was over, had no choice but to fall into a heavy sleep.
Day 10
This day was a dream. It was H’s birthday, and we started it by sailing on a private catamaran, organized by FTLO Travel. Our group met at the port, and we took off. We laid in the sun, soaked in the views, indulged in a glass of wine, and all jumped off the boat for a refreshing swim in the sea. Although we had a few hours, it flew by and just felt like a few minutes. It was an exceptional morning, one I will never forget.
After, H and I broke off from the group to celebrate the rest of his birthday just the two of us. We first walked the length of the beach down to the W to treat ourselves to a leisurely poolside lunch with a view of the sea.
We then freshened up and went to a flamenco show at Palau Dalmases, a pretty little spot in the Gothic Quarter that H discovered. It felt incredibly authentic. We were mesmerized by the intense dancing and the super talented flamenco guitar player.
From there, we headed to an incredible dinner from start to finish at Viana – an absolute must in Barcelona. You can make reservations, but we chose to wait in the short line outside for a spot at the bar. It did not take long – soon enough we were seated, being served complimentary treats along with glasses of sangria the size of our heads. We shared a plate of Iberian ham, patatas bravas, fresh burrata, and a tomato salad. Everything blew us away. Bottom line: Go here.
We ended the day full and content, and once again, I slept like a baby.
Day 11
Our final day in Barcelona was a full one. It was a free day for the group trip (and our last day), and H and I had made thorough plans. We started the day touring the work of Gaudí at Park Güell. H got our tickets in advance (this is a must, as it is always crowded and selling out). We strolled and admired the bright colors and mosaics.
I loved seeing more of Gaudí’s work in person. The park buzzed with warmth and energy.
We then walked to the hill on top of Park Güell (just look for the cross!) for a spectacular 360-degree view of the city.
Our next destination was La Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s most famous work (that is still being built), where H also smartly booked us tickets in advance to be able to go inside. I was blown away by the enormity of this place. It is bigger than you could ever imagine – photographs simply do not do it justice.
We walked through its tall interior, in awe of Gaudí’s architecture.
The vivid stained glass echoed Gaudí’s mosaics in Park Güell.
There was even a choir singing, filling the grand space with the prettiest songs.
When we were finished, we headed just a few blocks down to La Monumental, an old bullring that finally closed in 2011. Bullfighting is, of course, a part of Spain’s history, and we were extremely curious to have a peek inside.
We paid 3 euros for entry and found ourselves in the midst of a music and food truck festival – inside the ring!
We were quite hungry and split some tasty guacamole from one of the trucks and listened to the music.
This is one of my favorite aspects of travel – stumbling upon pleasant surprises and hidden gems. Who knew they would be having a festival in an old bullring?
Before exhausting ourselves entirely, H and I popped by the Picasso museum to view the most extensive collection of Picasso’s work. We had never seen his earliest work, and it was fascinating to see all of his creations, particularly the ones pre-Cubism.
That night, we met back up with the group for a farewell dinner at Julivert Meu. We reminisced about the trip over fresh cheese, ham, bread, and vegetables, and said our goodbyes while clinking glasses of wine. Most were heading straight home the next day, but I was going to travel across the coast with H to San Sebastián.
And I went to sleep that night ready for our adventures to come.
Upcoming post: Days 12-15 in San Sebastián, Spain.
