Enjoying Gaudí's Art and Mediterranean Cuisine! Barcelona Travel Diary, May 2024【116】
May in Spain
Using 3 days of paid leave for a 5-day, 4-night trip to Barcelona.
This is the last overseas trip during my stay in London.
2024/5/11
Departed London Gatwick at 3 PM and arrived in Barcelona around 6 PM.
From the airport, I took a bus and train to the Airbnb in the city.
The weather was great and it was warmer compared to London.
After walking around the city for a while, I had dinner at a nice tapas restaurant.
First, a toast with sangria.
Jamon, tomato bread, padron peppers, baby octopus
Everything was incredibly delicious.
After dinner, I took a walk by the seaside.
Returned to the hotel while eating ice cream.
2024/5/12
Morning of the second day
Barcelona continues to have great weather.
Walked from the hotel to a cafe.
Had coffee and avocado toast.
After eating, visited the Picasso Museum.
The Picasso Museum (Museu Picasso) in Barcelona, Spain, showcases the works of 20th-century artist Pablo Picasso. Opened in 1963, it houses a diverse collection of his works from his early years to his later life. The museum is located in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and integrates five medieval buildings. It features pieces from Picasso's Blue Period, Rose Period, and Cubism, tracing his artistic evolution. Regular special exhibitions also explore Picasso's influence and related themes. It's a must-visit spot when in Barcelona.
After exploring the museum for about an hour, we headed to the Sagrada Família.
I was thoroughly satisfied viewing the building both from the outside and inside.
Feeling tired, we took a break at a café.
We had some time before our next scheduled visit, so we decided to go to the casino.
We actually tried to go last night but couldn't get in without a passport, so this was our second attempt.
I won a small amount at roulette and left.
From the casino, we went to Park Güell.
You can overlook the city of Barcelona from the park.
After sightseeing at Park Güell, we had dinner at a tapas restaurant near the hotel.
A toast with white wine sangria.
Jamon and paella.
All the Spanish food we had was incredibly delicious.
2024/5/13
Morning of the third day in Barcelona
We went out early to join a tour this day.
The bus departed a little late.
We took a break at a rest stop along the way.
Breakfast was coffee and a pastry.
Ax-les-Thermes is a spa town in the Ariège department of southwestern France, located at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains. Known as a thermal spa since ancient Roman times, its sulfur-rich hot springs are effective for rheumatic and respiratory diseases. The modern thermal spa facility, "Les Thermes du Couloubret," is popular as a ski resort as well. In winter, you can enjoy skiing, and in summer, hiking and mountain biking are popular outdoor activities. It is about a one and a half-hour drive from Toulouse and also accessible by public transport. Historical buildings and local markets are also highlights.
Since we didn't have much time to stay, we explored the town a bit and then headed to the next destination.
We took a short break at the top of the mountain along the way.
There was snow all around, and it was very cold.
Before long, we arrived at our destination, Andorra.
The Principality of Andorra (Principat d'Andorra) is a small landlocked country located between France and Spain. Its capital is Andorra la Vella. The official language is Catalan, and the population is about 77,000. Established in the 9th century, it has been under the joint sovereignty of France and Spain since 1278. The economy is centered around tourism, with ski resorts and shopping being particularly popular. The financial sector is also significant, characterized by tax advantages. Tourist attractions include the ski resorts of Grandvalira and Vallnord, as well as historical buildings such as Santa Coloma Church and Casa de la Vall. Outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking are also popular. It is conveniently accessible by bus from Barcelona or Toulouse.
Although it's called a shopping paradise, we didn't find anything we particularly wanted, so we just did some sightseeing and headed back.
After spending about three hours to get back to Barcelona, we hurried to our final destination of the day.
We watched the match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Olympic Stadium.
Unfortunately, Camp Nou was under construction...
While cheering with a Pedri jersey, we saw Takefusa Kubo starting to warm up.
Barcelona, whom we were cheering for, won, and we got to see Kubo play, making it a fantastic match.
2024/5/14
The morning of the fourth day in Barcelona.
I wasn't feeling well since morning, so I decided to take it easy in the city today.
I bought a cappuccino and bread at a cafe near the hotel for breakfast.
Zara is a fast fashion brand originating from Spain, and there were many stores in Barcelona.
The buildings are more stylish compared to other parts of Europe.
Since it was raining heavily, I bought a coffee and returned to the hotel for a short rest.
I took a walk around rainy Barcelona again.
Barcelona is so vast that even on the fourth day, there were still many places I hadn't walked through.
I bought an acai bowl on the way back for lunch.
While resting at the hotel and having lunch, the weather improved, so I took a walk by the seaside.
For dinner, I bought fried rice and dumplings from a Chinese restaurant near the hotel and ate them.
2024/5/15
The last day in Barcelona.
I had breakfast at a cafe again, just like yesterday.
After packing my luggage, I went for one last sightseeing.
The home of Barcelona, Camp Nou.
I explored the area around the stadium and looked around the shop.
I returned to the city from Camp Nou and had lunch at a cafe.
Finally, I visited the Barcelona Cathedral, marking the end of my trip to Barcelona.
It was my first time staying in one city for five days, but I never got bored.
The city is large with many tourist spots and museums, making it a very attractive city.
Above all, Spanish cuisine is delicious no matter where you eat.
