Weekend Trip to Barcelona

I’m trying my best to catch up on long-overdue posts!

Winter here was pretty mild, but by the time January had rolled around, Budapest was grey, bitterly cold and a bit depressing. The endless heavy clouds reminded me of Michigan. I had to get away. I missed the sun more than I thought was possible.

That is why I spent a weekend in Barcelona in January. I soaked up some sun, stuck my feet in the sea, and enjoyed some delicious food. Spain is such a happy, bright country. A simple walk through the city was enough to shake off the winter blues.

La Sagrada Familia
One of the goals of this trip was to see all of the famous Gaudi buildings. Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish-Catalan architect who influenced the Modernist movement. His most famous work is La Sagrada Famila, an enormous Catholic Church. Gaudi took over the project in 1883. It is still incomplete, and continues to be under construction today.

It is truly an awe-inspiring building. In fact, I’d say that it is overwhelming. I wasn’t sure where to look, as every space seems to be covered in intriguing little designs.

Casa Batlló
Known as the House of Bones, this was my favorite of Gaudi’s designs.

Park Güell
Park Güell is a large park and garden designed by Gaudi. A long row of beautifully-tiled benches overlooks the city skyline. We happened to find the perfect place to picnic with a view of the beach.

Tapas and The Beach
On the last day, we finally tried some tapas and Sangria. I thought I ordered two large glasses, but the waiter brought us one very large glass to share. Cute.

I can’t tell you how sweet it was to dip my toes in the sea. The water was cold, but I was just content to be by water again.

The Market
I can’t forget to mention the market. The place was packed, and we just grabbed a couple sandwiches, but I loved browsing through the aisles. The bright colors of the fruit, and the large selection of fish, eggs, and meat was incredible.