Be it Sangria, Flamenco, Soccer, Tapas or the ever scintillating bars, Spain has something for everyone. Barcelona, home to the world famous soccer team 'FC Barcelona', attracts many to its home ground-the Camp Nou. Barcelona, the land of Messi and the land of Gaudi.
We were there for a week in the end of September and the weather was just perfect. Barcelona was our 1st destination, followed by Madrid. Barcelona has more of a Catalan culture, and is the more cosmopolitan part of Spain. Where as Madrid is more cultural and immersed in tradition. Lets get started with Barcelona. Its modern, yet cultural, its a metropolitan yet historical. I'm bit of a history person, so I relished strolling the cobblestone lanes of the Gothic quarter, thinking about all the people in past centuries who walked these same streets. And then there's food and drinks – the first-rate tapas bars, the abundant and inexpensive wine, the superb and reasonably priced multi-course lunches. Add to all this, Catalan bohemian bars and stunning nearby getaways and you have, quite simply, one of the world's most captivating cities.
Barcelona, is a moveable feast. Barcelona's great artistic traditions don't end at the canvas. Simple, flavourful ingredients turn into their traditional cuisines like Paella, different plates of Tapas. You can feast on hearty, rich paella at an outdoor table overlooking the sea or step back to the 1920s at an elegant art nouveau–filled dining room. You will find all this in abundance at the ever happening streets of La Rambla. We visited Park Guell, Casa Batlo, Casa Mila. It was great to see Catalan architecture and Gaudi's art. Then we saw Sagrada Familia, a marvelous masterpiece by Gaudi's. Its a Roman catholic church with the most beautiful architecture and history one could ever see. I have not or will ever see a more beautiful cathedral like Sagrada Familia. It has been under construction from over a hundred years and is estimated to be completed by 2028. Its a beauty in itself, I would say. The famous Picasso museum and Gothic quarters is a must see.
Our next destination was Madrid. As I said before, its a cultural part of Spain and Spain as a country is very rich in culture and tradition. We were in Madrid for a couple of days and I just enjoyed hanging around the city. We went to the Royal Madrid Palace, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and just trying to understand Spanish :)
Barcelona, is a moveable feast. Barcelona's great artistic traditions don't end at the canvas. Simple, flavourful ingredients turn into their traditional cuisines like Paella, different plates of Tapas. You can feast on hearty, rich paella at an outdoor table overlooking the sea or step back to the 1920s at an elegant art nouveau–filled dining room. You will find all this in abundance at the ever happening streets of La Rambla. We visited Park Guell, Casa Batlo, Casa Mila. It was great to see Catalan architecture and Gaudi's art. Then we saw Sagrada Familia, a marvelous masterpiece by Gaudi's. Its a Roman catholic church with the most beautiful architecture and history one could ever see. I have not or will ever see a more beautiful cathedral like Sagrada Familia. It has been under construction from over a hundred years and is estimated to be completed by 2028. Its a beauty in itself, I would say. The famous Picasso museum and Gothic quarters is a must see.
Our next destination was Madrid. As I said before, its a cultural part of Spain and Spain as a country is very rich in culture and tradition. We were in Madrid for a couple of days and I just enjoyed hanging around the city. We went to the Royal Madrid Palace, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and just trying to understand Spanish :)
We also went to the Prado museum and I must say its beautiful. There were so many artists and their artwork that I was simply mesmerized. I am an art lover, so I would never escape a grand opportunity like this. I was lost among the artwork and my husband literally had to drag me out of the museum as we were about to miss our flight back :) To end the evening and our trip on a good note, we watched Flamenco. Its a traditional dance performance beautifully put together by a group of locals. I would highly recommend it and would say our trip would be incomplete without it. So, that was Spain for us. Below are some tips and recommendations from me.
What not to miss in Spain? Just don't miss having the finger licking tapas plates, paella, sangria and chocolate dipped churros. Don't miss watching the soccer game on the legendary Camp Nou ground and enjoy Flamenco performance.
Note of caution: One thing I forgot to mention, you need to be careful with your belongings while touring the city. Barcelona is notorious for pick-pocketing. So, the thumb rule, don't look like a tourist with a big camera and a tourist map in your hand. Women should try to carry cross bags rather than shoulder bags, men please carry your bag packs.
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| La Rambla |
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| Sagrada Familia |
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| Gaudi's architecture |
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| Camp Nou |
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| Park Guell |
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| Park Guell |
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