I was slightly saved from holiday blues this morning by receiving a 2:1 overall for second year! It's the grade I wanted, but I am slightly worried that many of the good grades came from my Texas courses...definitely need to crack the whip next year at Keele, and I am sure I shall! I'm now sat making my way through all of the photos, and thought I should put together my blog post about it.
To go through the holiday day by day, would take an absolute age, and even though I'd love reminiscing you'd probably fall asleep reading this, so instead I shall let you in on the highlights.
Our Hotel - Hotel SB Plaza Europa
Though it was a half an hour walk from where we had to get the bus from - Espanya square, a secondary one to the main one Catalunya, which is at the top of La Rambla. The entrance hall was really well designed, and the roof top pool had stunning views.
I think that visitors may miss out on Espanya, and only focus on Catalunya unless they are told to go, so I am telling you to go!! An old bull ring has been turned into a shopping centre that has restaurants on the top floor with stunning views, including the art museum. While we were there we found out the road up to the museum hosts an annual Harley Davidson exhibition - a fab surprise! Catalunya is still worth it though of course. It sits at the top of La Rambla, which is nice but nowhere near as buzzing as I heard it was, and houses an impressive shopping centre with a restaurant with stunning views at the top, and Alex's 14th and my 6th Hard Rock Cafe.
City Sightseeing Bus ToursEven though I had to spend about an hour cropping the bus rails and people's heads out of pictures, as I said before about New York, and New Orleans, these bus tours are THE BEST way to see a new place. We probably didn't need all four days, especially as we also bought four days of the Barcelona card (definitely unnecessary), but the views from the buses, and the amount you can see in a short space of time in unrivaled.
Sagrada Familia
This stunning cathedral was a highlight of my trip. You can tell that it's an outpouring of Gaudi's passion for architecture and God. Walking indoors to the cast white space, decorated with stunningly vibrant stained glass was one of the times I have felt most impressed. As a Christian, the giant building and sharp edges, mixed with colour and warmth really blends the more harsh God of the Old Testament with the calmer one of the New Testament through Jesus, our friend.
Camp Nou
One of the other 'churches' we visited was Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona FC. It really is a massively impressive stadium, and in some ways is superior to Wembley, the Molineux and Anfield, except of course that Anfield houses 5 UEFA trophies and Camp Nou only has 4...just saying...
Even if you're not a football fan, you HAVE to visit it, and they do reduced student prices!
Must Eat and Drink at
You MUST eat at El Nacional. It's the most quirky place, about 5 different restaurants all under one roof, providing some of the tastiest food. Alex and I ate in the meat restaurant and split a kilo of beef, it was wonderful, as were the Canarian potatoes we had to start.
I also really advise that you drink in the ice bar. It's right on the beach, which only adds to the weirdness of being submerged into -15! As it was so warm outside the cold was actually more refreshing than anything, and my poor swollen blistered feet most certainly benefit!
The seven days away were so enjoyably relaxed that when it was time for our beach afternoon, I found sitting around a bit boring! Not it a bad way, but because I was so chilled already, having done everything we wanted to, and not had to leave the hotel before half 1 each day, the enforced chilling of sitting around wasn't necessary. Barcelona is an absolutely lovely place, and when they officially finish Sagrada Familia I'm most definitely going back, but until then there are far too many places on my must see list to visit first!
<3
To go through the holiday day by day, would take an absolute age, and even though I'd love reminiscing you'd probably fall asleep reading this, so instead I shall let you in on the highlights.
Our Hotel - Hotel SB Plaza Europa
Though it was a half an hour walk from where we had to get the bus from - Espanya square, a secondary one to the main one Catalunya, which is at the top of La Rambla. The entrance hall was really well designed, and the roof top pool had stunning views.
City Sightseeing Bus ToursEven though I had to spend about an hour cropping the bus rails and people's heads out of pictures, as I said before about New York, and New Orleans, these bus tours are THE BEST way to see a new place. We probably didn't need all four days, especially as we also bought four days of the Barcelona card (definitely unnecessary), but the views from the buses, and the amount you can see in a short space of time in unrivaled.
Sagrada Familia
Camp Nou
One of the other 'churches' we visited was Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona FC. It really is a massively impressive stadium, and in some ways is superior to Wembley, the Molineux and Anfield, except of course that Anfield houses 5 UEFA trophies and Camp Nou only has 4...just saying...
Must Eat and Drink at
You MUST eat at El Nacional. It's the most quirky place, about 5 different restaurants all under one roof, providing some of the tastiest food. Alex and I ate in the meat restaurant and split a kilo of beef, it was wonderful, as were the Canarian potatoes we had to start.
The seven days away were so enjoyably relaxed that when it was time for our beach afternoon, I found sitting around a bit boring! Not it a bad way, but because I was so chilled already, having done everything we wanted to, and not had to leave the hotel before half 1 each day, the enforced chilling of sitting around wasn't necessary. Barcelona is an absolutely lovely place, and when they officially finish Sagrada Familia I'm most definitely going back, but until then there are far too many places on my must see list to visit first!
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