Barcelona, Spain

October 28, 2016

http://www.forevervanny.com/2016/10/barcelona-spain.html
There is a special place in my heart for a city like Barcelona. Growing up, it was probably one of the only cities that I felt really captivated by with that romantic vibe (I know, even more so than Venice). And thinking back, I really can’t recall why it ever left this impression on me. Maybe it’s the flamingo dancers or the exotic music? I mean, I’ve been dreaming about Park Guell for so long that I was too gleeful to contain myself when I was physically there. But surprisingly enough, one of the best things I did in Barcelona was seeing a game at the Camp Nuo stadium which filled up with 89,000 people for a Barcelona vs Atletic Madrid match.

I don’t really have a strict itinerary when I’m traveling abroad. It’s not my goal to see every attraction that a city is famous for. In fact, my trip was pretty much revolved around the restaurants that I really wanted to try. I was glad that I skipped the Sagrada Familia since it’s still not quite finished. I stopped by Casa Batllo and Casa Mila since they were around the hotels I stayed at. Personally, I enjoyed Casa Mila much more as it felt like I was in a playground. I pretty much spent most of my time wandering El Born, and the Gothic Quarters. I highly recommend visiting Girona as well. It’s only 40minutes away from Barcelona and it reminds me of a medieval Venice with its Cathedral giving off major Game of Thrones feels (see my outfit post for that day trip here). Eating fresh seafood right inside Boqueria Market is also something really fun that you should consider experiencing as well! And if your heart is calling for you to visit again, make sure to drink from the Fontana so that you’ll always find a way back.

Where I Stayed:
Praktik Garden
Praktik Rambla
The Moods

Where I Ate:
Windsor: A great Michelin recommended restaurant that I feel deserves a star of its ownn.

El National: Tapas of all sorts in a really sophisticated open space that allows for tapas bar hopping in one building.

Vinitus: Highly recommend going here later in the night for tapas as it is extremely packed early evening.

Brunch and Cake: You'll be blown away by the portion-size colorful masterpieces of the brunch-inspired dishes here. At least it's super healthy! I highly recommend their smoothies.

Maestro: This place has a beer of their own that's done in-house. Best 5 euro beer-tasting sampler you'll have in your life.

El Catala: Hands down my best lunch in Barcelona among so many good paellas that I've had on my trip.

Artesans: A gem in the outskirt of El Born. It's quiet and quite cozy for the most contemporary take on some of Barcelona's most popular tapas.

Cafe Le Bistrot: This one is in Girona and is my recommended spot to stop for a drink and people watch as seating for this restaurant scatter on the massive historic Jewish steps of this small town.