August 12, 2015. BARCELONA!
We had a very early flight this am and got little to no sleep. We arrived in Barcelona around 10am and were on the search for our last Airbnb apartment accomodations. Hopefully it will be better than Venice! Luckily, I know the city pretty well from being here 3 years ago and we did not have a problem whatsoever finding the apartment. It is a cute 2 bedroom apartment, 6th floor, located in the gothic/raval area of downtown Barcelona. It is right in the thick of everything with a great view of the plaza. We were very relieved to see it was a great apartment.
We decided we needed a nap after the flight and having no sleep from our last night in Rome. After we were refreshed from our nap it was time to explore.
We walked around Las Ramblas; which is the main street with many shops, restaurants, bars and stands where vendors are selling anything you can imagine. We then walked around Mercat de San Joseph de la Boqueria and had some amazing fresh fruit and juices. Having fresh produce is a nice change from all the other cities we have visited.
After walking all afternoon we made our way to Barceloneta Beach, we sat and people watched while enjoying the beautiful weather. Once we started to get hungry we were in search of a paella restaurant. Since that is a staple food in Spain there are a lot of knock off places along the main touristy areas, so we asked Gonzcelo (the person we are sharing the apartment with) where a authentic place was to go. After a few suggestions we landed on a cute little restaurant with a terrace, we grabbed a seat outside and had delicious paella and sangria.
I am very happy to be back in Barcelona, I feel comfortable walking around and it is nice not to have to bring a map everywhere. I am also brushing up on my Spanish, which has been quiet helpful during our stay.
After stuffing ourselves with paella we wanted to check out a bar that is know to have 150 different shots, Chupitos. We had a campfire shot where the bartender lit the bar on fire and we roasted marshmellows, we had a Finding Nemo shot with m&ms, and then we met some other Americans and we had a Tabasco shot---- this was then the end of the shots. My lips burnt the rest of the evening. It was one of the worst shots I have ever had and a good spot to call it a night. We were flying to Ibiza in the morning so an earlier night was in store.
August 13, 2015.
Ibiza- the party island of Europe! We made it Ibiza around 1pm, with nothing but our swimsuits, coverup and 1 purse. We planned on staying up all night and then catching a flight back to Barcelona at 8am.
The beaches there were incredible- so clear, warm and blue! The weather was spot on as well, we laid around the beach all day. We then decided to grab a bite to eat for lunch and walk around Ibiza Town, there was a very nice refreshing pool along our walk, so we made a pit stop. It was too hard to pass up, surprisingly there was no one monitoring who was coming and going from the pool area so we got to enjoy the resort.
We then headed back to the beach and hung out there the rest of the evening. Every few minutes people were coming up to us trying to sell us tickets to go to the clubs for the evening; simliar to the men trying to sell trinkets in every city we have visited- this was quiet irritating. We did not know where the clubs were nor did we know what they looked like so buying a ticket from a guy off the beach was out of the question.
Once it got dark we went in search of a place for dinner. We decided to walk towards the nightlife and pick a spot on the sea to relax and eat.
After we filled up on paella and sangria... again.... we walked around the club scene. Honestly, I was not that impressed, it seemed like a downplayed Vegas. Maybe we were not in the right area but there are multiple places in the US that seemed like more of a party scene than Ibiza. Regardless we had a great time people watching and making friends. We stayed up until 4am and decided to call it a night and head to the airport; the bars were closing and our flight was in 4hours.
August 14, 2015
Sleeping at the airport is no fun! I would not suggest it to anyone! We were relieved to finally get back to Barcelona, in the apartment, shower and grab breakfast. A nap was then definately needed. It was nice to catch up on sleep and we felt recharged for a full afternoon.
I wanted to show Blythe Parc Guell and the area where I used to live. We went to my old apartment and by some miracle I remembered the apartment number I used to live in with my house mom, Maria. I rang her, not thinking she was going to be home, and what do ya know-- she was! Blythe and I went up to the apartment and Blythe got to meet Maria and see my old bedroom. It was a flash from the past but very nice to see Maria again.
We then wandered around Parc Guell for awhile and had some stunning views of the city. For dinner we wanted to do a picnic by the port, similar to the picnic we had by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was nice and relaxing to have dinner while watching a storm roll in, especially since we were still feeling the sleep deprivation from being in Ibiza.
August 15, 2015
Our last leg of the journey!!! We leave for Dublin today and then only have a day there until we head back home. I think we are both ready to go home, sleep in our own beds and see our friends and family.
We got up this morning and grabbed some breakfast at a cafe along Las Ramblas. Blythe had pancakes with strawberries and cream while I had the 'English breakfast'. The English breakfast consisted of eggs, grilled vegetables, toast, bacon and beans. It was delish but a little different with the vegetables and beans.
Time to get on yet another plane! We have flown everyday for the past 4 days, we will be very happy not to fly for awhile, eventhough it was all worth it!
We are not staying in the same hostel as we did before in Dublin. This time it to located near Christ Church Cathedral, so it will probably much quieter compared to staying above Temple Bar.
We had a very early flight this am and got little to no sleep. We arrived in Barcelona around 10am and were on the search for our last Airbnb apartment accomodations. Hopefully it will be better than Venice! Luckily, I know the city pretty well from being here 3 years ago and we did not have a problem whatsoever finding the apartment. It is a cute 2 bedroom apartment, 6th floor, located in the gothic/raval area of downtown Barcelona. It is right in the thick of everything with a great view of the plaza. We were very relieved to see it was a great apartment.
Our bedroom, a full bed!!!
Tiniest elevator- had to open and shut the doors manually.
Harbor at Barcelona
We decided we needed a nap after the flight and having no sleep from our last night in Rome. After we were refreshed from our nap it was time to explore.
Mercat de San Joseph
Las Ramblas
I am very happy to be back in Barcelona, I feel comfortable walking around and it is nice not to have to bring a map everywhere. I am also brushing up on my Spanish, which has been quiet helpful during our stay.
typical Gothic area street
After stuffing ourselves with paella we wanted to check out a bar that is know to have 150 different shots, Chupitos. We had a campfire shot where the bartender lit the bar on fire and we roasted marshmellows, we had a Finding Nemo shot with m&ms, and then we met some other Americans and we had a Tabasco shot---- this was then the end of the shots. My lips burnt the rest of the evening. It was one of the worst shots I have ever had and a good spot to call it a night. We were flying to Ibiza in the morning so an earlier night was in store.
August 13, 2015.
Ibiza- the party island of Europe! We made it Ibiza around 1pm, with nothing but our swimsuits, coverup and 1 purse. We planned on staying up all night and then catching a flight back to Barcelona at 8am.
Flying into Ibiza
The beaches there were incredible- so clear, warm and blue! The weather was spot on as well, we laid around the beach all day. We then decided to grab a bite to eat for lunch and walk around Ibiza Town, there was a very nice refreshing pool along our walk, so we made a pit stop. It was too hard to pass up, surprisingly there was no one monitoring who was coming and going from the pool area so we got to enjoy the resort.
We then headed back to the beach and hung out there the rest of the evening. Every few minutes people were coming up to us trying to sell us tickets to go to the clubs for the evening; simliar to the men trying to sell trinkets in every city we have visited- this was quiet irritating. We did not know where the clubs were nor did we know what they looked like so buying a ticket from a guy off the beach was out of the question.
Once it got dark we went in search of a place for dinner. We decided to walk towards the nightlife and pick a spot on the sea to relax and eat.
After we filled up on paella and sangria... again.... we walked around the club scene. Honestly, I was not that impressed, it seemed like a downplayed Vegas. Maybe we were not in the right area but there are multiple places in the US that seemed like more of a party scene than Ibiza. Regardless we had a great time people watching and making friends. We stayed up until 4am and decided to call it a night and head to the airport; the bars were closing and our flight was in 4hours.
August 14, 2015
Sleeping at the airport is no fun! I would not suggest it to anyone! We were relieved to finally get back to Barcelona, in the apartment, shower and grab breakfast. A nap was then definately needed. It was nice to catch up on sleep and we felt recharged for a full afternoon.
I wanted to show Blythe Parc Guell and the area where I used to live. We went to my old apartment and by some miracle I remembered the apartment number I used to live in with my house mom, Maria. I rang her, not thinking she was going to be home, and what do ya know-- she was! Blythe and I went up to the apartment and Blythe got to meet Maria and see my old bedroom. It was a flash from the past but very nice to see Maria again.
Maria and I- she was so kind and helpful when I was living there on my own.
We then wandered around Parc Guell for awhile and had some stunning views of the city. For dinner we wanted to do a picnic by the port, similar to the picnic we had by the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was nice and relaxing to have dinner while watching a storm roll in, especially since we were still feeling the sleep deprivation from being in Ibiza.
August 15, 2015
Our last leg of the journey!!! We leave for Dublin today and then only have a day there until we head back home. I think we are both ready to go home, sleep in our own beds and see our friends and family.
We got up this morning and grabbed some breakfast at a cafe along Las Ramblas. Blythe had pancakes with strawberries and cream while I had the 'English breakfast'. The English breakfast consisted of eggs, grilled vegetables, toast, bacon and beans. It was delish but a little different with the vegetables and beans.
Time to get on yet another plane! We have flown everyday for the past 4 days, we will be very happy not to fly for awhile, eventhough it was all worth it!
We are not staying in the same hostel as we did before in Dublin. This time it to located near Christ Church Cathedral, so it will probably much quieter compared to staying above Temple Bar.
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