Hola Chica 🇪🇸

I pull into Barcelona Sants and am greeted by a familiar voice. My long time friend Rosie, stands awaiting my arrival and helps me drag my luggage to the hostel. We spend the evening catching up on all the news from back home and plotting out tomorrow’s escapades.

When we finally make it to bed, we’re both kept awake by the bloke in the bed above, snoring like a chainsaw. Safe to say it proves to be a rather sleepless night.

Nevertheless we hop over to the Sagrada Familia the next day and take a wander round. Built by Antoni Gaudi, the Catholic Church remains unfinished despite the ground for the project being broken in 1882. There are 3 facades to it, one representing the nativity, one representing the crucifixion and the stations of the cross and one dedicated to ‘the glory’ of Jesus. Looking at it, it’s easy to see why it’s taken 141 years to build. The designs and details are incredibly intricate. It also looks a lot like someone’s changed their mind on the design every few years as none of the designs are particularly cohesive, with architectural hallmarks from a huge variety of styles and eras. One things for sure though, it’s an impressive building. When Gaudi died in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was completed and looking up at the eclectic building today, I wonder what he’d make of it. The project is scheduled to be finished around 2026 however covid has delayed things somewhat so it sounds like the completion date is anyone’s guess at this point.

Rosie takes me for my first ever Spanish churros, which prove to be incredible and then we take a wander down La Rambla which is one of the most well known streets in Barcelona. Lined with shops and stalls for tourists, it’s worth a short wander. My Spanish is almost entirely non existent and so Rosie acts as translator.

After a short siesta and a shower to cool off from the Barcelona heat, we head out to see Park Guell. Another creation from Gaudi, this time created by the request of a rich Barcelona man to house 61 families. It’s now open to the public and is a popular tourist attraction. We spend a few hours wandering around and watching parakeets fly over head.Read more