How I Made a Friend Fall for Barcelona: our 2-Day Trip
Sometimes, to discover something new about yourself, you need to find yourself in an unconventional situation. When my delightful friend from Minsk, Victoria, booked tickets to Barcelona, I experienced a mix of emotions. On the one hand, I was excited to share the city's vibrant energy with her, but on the other hand, the responsibility made me feel a little anxious. How could I make sure we saw it all? What would she enjoy? How could we balance our activities? And how could I plan culinary delights that would fit in with her healthy diet? I grabbed a pencil and within 10 minutes I had a two-day itinerary.
We leisurely explored the prominent landmarks and hidden alleyways, ventured into the shops of familiar vendors where we were warmly greeted with kisses on both cheeks. We bought jamón and cheese as welcome gifts, and dined at places recommended by local foodies rather than relying on TripAdvisor ratings. Vika left feeling like she had "lived here for at least a month", and I realised that my connection with Barcelona was far deeper than I had first imagined.
DAY 1
Our first day started with a visit to the stunning Parque Güell. From April to the end of October, the paid section of the park opens at 8am. We arrived at 7.55am, allowing us to enjoy the city for free and take some captivating photos on the famous bench, which is decorated with a mosaic of ceramic tiles and glass pieces.
From there we made our way towards the city centre, passing through the Gracia district, which was a separate village two centuries ago. This area is lively, less frequented by tourists and full of charming spots. We rejuvenated ourselves with an exceptional coffee at Slow Mow, a place always full of locals with their dogs and books.
We then strolled along Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona's famous boulevard, lined with high-end shops and striking architecture. Our journey took us to Barcelona's most iconic house, Casa Batlló.
After admiring Antoni Gaudi's house, we shared our impressions over lunch in a charming restaurant serving authentic Catalan cuisine!
With renewed vigour, we set off to see the most outstanding work of Catalan genius, the Sagrada Familia. On the way, we admired the Eixample district and visited attractive and iconic places.
After two hours of deep immersion in the beautiful, the enchanted and the happy, we walked slowly towards the sea, talking about the eternal and the coming dinner to the sound of the waves.
DAY 2
We greeted the new day with a walk to Casa Mila, another world-famous Gaudi house. The locals call it "La Pedrera", which means "The Quarry". Once there, you will learn why it was so named, who the master built it for and why he faced the resentment of the client's wife and the townspeople.
After another awe-inspiring exploration of Casa Batlló, where stereotypes were shattered and imaginations were ignited, we made a delightful discovery next door - an enchanting Gothic house concealing a charming café. There we enjoyed the finest hot chocolate, made to an old-fashioned recipe, and perused a delightful selection of chocolates to suit every palate.
Invigorated, we took a brisk stroll towards the Gothic Quarter, hoping to experience at least a fraction of its magic. There, we sat down for lunch at Bar de Pla. We enjoyed a classic Spanish treat: a glass of dry red wine paired with a tasting of tapas. It was then that my guest began to seriously consider moving to this charming country!
Full and satisfied, we allowed ourselves to wander aimlessly around our beloved shops and dressing rooms for a few hours. Having found a dress to our taste, we changed and headed off for the evening show - the dancing fountains at the foot of Montjuïc.The feeling of happiness was enhanced by a delicious portion of beef tartare for dinner in Pepito restaurant.
