Barcelona / Spain
Day 1
Barcelona - our first visit to Spain. Making it a long weekend trip we flew in on the Thursday evening and left early Monday morning (which was a bank holiday) giving us three full days to explore the city. We had a loft style Airbnb on a ground floor, it was amazing. Exposed white brick and airy. It wasn’t super central but a train station a mere 30 seconds away, so it only took 15 minutes to get into the city. We had a three-day pass which included the train to the airport so we made the most of the trains when it was too much to walk.
On Friday morning we spent a couple of hours cruising on a yacht up the coast with a small group of people. We had booked this through Airbnb Experiences. After a week on a yacht in Greece, it wasn’t super exciting but we met some cool people. So afterwards we went and loaded up on some vitamin D at the beach with a couple from Pennsylvania and a girl from South America.
Enjoy - it's a long one!
With the couple from the States we wondered through the Gothic Quarter, checked out the La Boqueria (famous food market) and had a small bite to eat. We were introduced to Patatas bravas, they’re absolutely delicious. Read about them here. After lunch we headed back to our Airbnb for a rest before heading back out.
We had booked tickets to the monument area of Park Güell just before sunset. The public park was the idea of Eusebi Güell and designed by Antoni Gaudí. It’s a very cool area and well worth a visit, even to the free area of the park. Unfortunately, it clouded over so there wasn’t much of a sunset but at the top of the park are great views of the city. Before heading home, a little bit hungry and almost midnight we stopped off at the Fish and Chip Shop and had some of the best fish & chips I’ve had since leaving NZ.
Eats & Drinks
Lunch - Bar del Pla
Dinner - The Fish and Chip Shop
Day 2
Starting the day early we grabbed a coffee in the gothic quarter and joined a walking tour. It was pretty interesting and gave us a good understanding of how Barcelona came to be. It was so nice being out and walking with the amazing weather! After the tour we headed towards the beach and had Paella at Restaurante Salamanca. Super touristy but right next to the beach and delicious food.
After a bit of shopping we headed back to the Airbnb for a quick nap. We got ready and headed to an area called Barri de Gràcia. The area was its own town until the late 19th century. The locals here are proud and hang the Catalan flags. We bar hopped for pinchos. A typical tapa traditional to northern Spain. There are lots of cafes, bars and restaurants without the mass of tourists. We then headed back to the gothic quarter walking past Casa Batlló, a very epic building by Gaudí. Grabbed some ice cream and called it a night.
Eats & Drinks
Coffee - Satan's Coffee
Lunch - Restaurante Salamanca
Dinner - Maitea, Lo Pinyol and Gelaaati! di Marco
Day 3
Another early start we headed across town for breakfast at Brunch & Cake. We got there first and ate quickly as we had tickets booked to La Sagrada Familia. By the time we left there was a queue of people and the place was packed! The food was good, and the presentation exuberant. My waffles came out on a shovel head!
We bee lined it for the Sagrada Familia (which you must book tickets in advance if you want to go inside as turning up on the day will lead to disappointment). The inside literally left me speechless, it’s incredible. The audio guide takes about thirty minutes then there is a small museum at the end.
One place I really wanted to visit was MACBA. Not to go into the museum itself but because outside is a granite ledge that is world famous for skateboarding. On the way we walked past Flax & Kale and just had to get something to eat. Veggie raw options, cold pressed juices and some oily fish dishes in a very nice setting.
Barcelona is regarded as the skateboarding mecca in Europe. Didn’t see any pros but it was still cool to visit. After an hour or so we walked back through town to La Paradeta, a famous seafood restaurant recommended by our good friends in London. We waited around 45 minutes and finally got inside before they closed for dinner. You choose what seafood you want from a cabinet, then they cook it. We ate so much, then we had to head back for an afternoon nap, again.
We finished the day off by heading out of the city up to The Bunkers. We linked up with some friends from NZ and enjoyed the sunset and 360 views of Barcelona. Before heading our separate ways we had a few drinks and one last helping of Patatas Bravas.
Barcelona was amazing, a very nice intro to Spain.
Eats & Drinks
Breakfast - Brunch & Cake
Lunch - Flax & Kale and La Paradeta
I love creating images that speak to me.
I grew up in a small town that nobody really knows about, Levin. Spent a good ten years in Hamilton making some of the best friends anyone could have. And now I’m living, working and playing in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. Also a small country that people have trouble locating – I’m looking at you America!
Life is about stories, and that’s what I love to capture and document. My shooting style is unobtrusive. You may be a natural in front of the camera, or have no idea what to do but before we even start I’ll make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed.
Things I love: Travelling to wherever I can, my partner Monita, homemade burgers, wood fired pizzas, the smell of rain on a hot summers day, mountains, the snow, sunsets and sunrises, star gazing, natural light, the aesthetic of wood, crashing waves and day dreaming.