Barcelona!

After three months in what I am starting to think is perpetual Winter Wonderland, I was definitely looking forward to using my last travel break as an opportunity to soak up the sun. Flights through Ryanair to Barcelona and Palma were SO cheap, we just knew we had to snatch up tickets immediately. (I'll post more about how to use Ryanair and how to get to and from Malmo in a bit.)

Round trip tickets to Barcelona for $36? Hot mama, sign me up!!

A picture summary of our trip:

We lived right around the corner from Casa Battló, one of Gaudi's famous works.

Casa Mila, definitely worth checking out. Unfortunately,
 we didn't have the chance to go in.

On sunny days like this, no day goes by without gelato!
 The  blue flavor is called "pitufo" which is "smurf" in
Spanish Yes...I am eating smurf flavored gelato.

 There was no way we could visit Spain without trying sangria and tapas. Be careful, this icy cold sangria tastes like juice and goes down waaay too easily.

At 6 euros a glass, skip the sangria in restaurants and instead
buy cartons at the grocery store for  less than 2 euros.
 Tastes exactly the same!

Pan Con Tomate - bread with tomatoes and olive oil. Amazing.

Spanish meatballs in a zesty, savory sauce

Patatas Bravas. Classic.

Barcelona has signature cold cuts that must be tried. Mmm...

Grilled salmon

Grilled calamari

After a leisurely lunch outside, we decided to hit up the beaches in Barceloneta. The beaches were crowded with tourists and locals alike...some more topless than others. There were also people trying to sell mojitos, beers, coconut, and...massages??

Fighting that Vitamin D deficiency

You absolutely cannot go to Barcelona without seeing La Sagrada Familia, the famous cathedral designed by Gaudi and under construction for over 100 years.

When we emerged from the underground metro, this sight simply took my breath away. I may have said
"Oh, shit" out loud. Classy American.

The outside alone is awe-inspiring, but if possible, the inside is even more spectacular. It's 13.50 euros for a normal ticket with no guides, but if you bring a student ID, you can get a 2 euro discount. I forgot my DIS card but I managed to fool the ticket man with my Danish residency card. :X "Sorry, it's in Danish". I'm going to hell.

Beautiful stained glass windows

This was hands down the most beautiful
 building I've been in my entire life.

If you're looking for cheap eats, don't pass by Bo de B. It's like Chipotle in concept. You choose a meat (vegetarian options are available), ask for avocado and feta cheese, then go down the line and pick the toppings you want. My advice? Beef or chicken,  avocado and feta, ALL the sauces, ALL the toppings. Your taste buds and your stomach will thank you.

Located near the Gothic District

Look at that delicious goodness. This is only half of my sandwich.
All this for only 5 euros.

Even if you hit up Casa Mila, Casa Battlo, and La Sagrada Familia, you must take the time to go to Parc Guell to truly appreciate Gaudi. The steep walk up the hill is worth it...and an escalator is even provided to help you up the last leg. Bring a lock, ribbon, or hair tie if you want to leave a memento on the fence!

After we asked another tourist to take our photo, people started clambering for this spot. TRENDSETTERS!!

Eerily accurate.

The park is huge, with so many contrasting elements.
It may take over an hour to see it all.

The famous lizard....chameleon? thing. 

Don Simon was our best friend this trip. He fuelled many
 late night conversations on the terrace.

Located off Las Ramblas, La Boqueria is a great place to find fresh produce.

Vast candy selections on every corner!

At one point, a tourist had to catch a shrimp that was trying to flop away.
Brings a whole new meaning to the word "fresh"!

My favorite part was the fresh fruit and fruit juices. Papaya, mango, kiwi, coconut, dragonfruit, you name it. Mmmmm....

Croquettes and other fried goodies in a handy portable cone! 

That is literally a cup of melted chocolate for your dipping pleasure.
 Only 3 euros! The churros are made fresh...I'm drooling
just thinking about it

I really wanted to go to the Magic Fountain show, but it only happens on weekends. Still, I'm glad we made the trip out to Montjuïc. We didn't get to check out the Palau Nacional (National Art Museum of Catalonia), but the view from the hill was gorgeous!

Finally, just because I find such things amusing, check out this restaurant. Wish we had the time or the inclination to go inside...

Things you should know about Barcelona:

1.) According to our host, 20% of tourists get pickpocketed in Barcelona. Keep your belongings close!

2.) They don't speak Spanish there, they speak Catalan. Still, you can usually get by using Spanish or English.

3.) Most things are within walking distance, but if prolonged ambulation is not your thing, invest in a T10 ticket. 10 single rides that can be divided amongst multiple people for only 9.80 euros. This saves you over 50% considering most rides are 2 euros in Barcelona. It works for the metro, buses, and most modes of public transportation and gets you to most places within the city center (including the airport). 

4.) Many stores are not open on Sundays so plan accordingly.

Barcelona is definitely doable in three or four days. Two days would be pushing it. We didn't get to try montaditos, which are slices of baguette heaped with various toppings or visit Els Encants, an open-air market for various trinkets and souvenirs. Oh well, there's always next time. Overall, a great trip!