My weekend in Barcelona

Ever since I could remember, visiting Catalonia's vibrant capital has been my dream. I'm a big architecture buff, so naturally I found myself attracted to Bracelona's finest pieces by Antonio Gaudì and other, less famous architects. Once I got the opportunity to visit the city, I simply couldn't resist. Here's my weekend itinerary for exploring the wonders of Barcelona.

Friday

Since I've arrived in the evening, I took a night stroll along Plaça de Catalunya ( http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_directory/mo… )and had my dinner at a restaurant in one of the corners of the Las Ramblas area. Walking along the Rambla, I reached the Port Vell and admired the statue of Christopher Columbus. During this hot summer evening, the harbor was full of inviting buzz and I was more than happy to join in.

Saturday

On Saturday morning I headed back to Plaça de Catalunya to pick up a free map of Barcelona and ask for some tips. Since it was still early, I decided to visit Barcelona's landmark – Sagrada Familia church.

I was surprised to find out how finished it looked. While the outside of the church is still under construction, the inside is just stunning. The mix of natural imagery with religious sculptures is just breathtaking. Sagrada Familia has the kind of architecture I'll remember for the rest of my life.

I decided to continue my Gaudì experience and spend the afternoon admiring casa Batllò! Walking along its beautiful interior full of lights, colors and mosaics, I felt as if I traveled to another planet. And yet I was still in Europe! The views from the roof are to die for.

The uniqueness of Gaudì's work left me speechless and pretty tired – after a light dinner, I went to sleep, dreaming of strange shapes and textures I've been admiring all day long.

Sunday

I woke up early and headed straight to the amazing Boqueria Market for some cured ham and fresh fruit. This iy simple an explosion of colors, sounds, smells – a must see if you find yourself in Barcelona.

I decided to buy my breakfast here and enjoy it in Parc Guell ( http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/barcelona/sig… ), another of Gaudì's treasures adorning the city. I found it remarkable how easy his architectural designs merged with natural enthronement – it's as if they were created to amplify and honor nature's beauty.

For my last afternoon in Barcelona, I chose to explore the district of El Born. This is easily the best place to have drinks with friends and try some of the typical tapas in one of the many bars scattered across this vibrant neighborhood.

I wanted to share some photos on Facebook, but couldn't find a place with a free Wi-Fi. Finally, I located a spot with a public connection – but then I remembered that it's actually pretty dangerous to connect to public networks. Fortunately, my friend told me that a good way to protect yourself against data theft is to use a VPN – here's a review of best VPNs on Secure Thoughts blog ( https://securethoughts.com/vpn-review/ ).

I had a friend join me and we went to some really nice places close to the Church of Santa Maria del Mar located in the lower part of El Born.

Monday

To celebrate my last day in this beautiful city, I spent the morning on the wonderful Barceloneta beach. Sipping on my mojito, I was already planning my next visit.

What can I say? Barcelona simply stole my heart!Read more