Be still my heart.
There is something about Barcelona that gets to you.
A mix of elderly men & women meandering the streets and sharing drinks & patatas bravas in the local pub, while the next establishment is full of surfer-hipsters (is that such a thing?) from all over the world who've found a home within it's narrow streets.
Our AirBNB Apartment on the 5th floor was a quiet haven providing a glimpse into local life. Mouth-watering smells wafted from nearby open windows, women stood gossiping in the corridors while squeals of children were heard from their respective flats.
But at night, all was still despite being in the middle of the liveliest part of the city.
Having previously visited twice, the main sights were checked off and all we wanted to do was eat. And good, sweet Lord did we eat!
It was wonderful to connect with our dear friends Byron and Lauren whom we've known for practically half our lives by now. They graciously allowed us to crash their honeymoon since we were unable to make it stateside for their gorgeous wedding in St. Auggie. Having previously visited twice, the main sights were checked off and all we wanted to do was eat. And good, sweet Lord did we eat.
We spent time exploring Parc Gruell with its famous Gaudi mosaics, overjoyed at the fact that we were actually hot and possibly about to be sunburned (okay, maybe that was just me.)
Drank sangria and people watched at Barceloneta beach, which brings back memories of jumping off rocks when the water was warm last summer and Alex being stung (impaled?) by a sea urchin.
Took the funicular up to Montjuic (which was anticlimactic, to be honest,) then laughed harder than we have in a while on our 'hike' down (aka how the heck do you get down this thing?) We knew it was time to hail a taxi when Byron began shouting and kicking leaves in a hilariously delusional need-more-sangria state.
Maybe Barcelona is special to me because it was one of the stops on my first European invasion, freshly graduated from high school and with my dearest friends traveling the world. It was on this trip that I gained a bit of independence and realized that nothing would ever be the same.
I need to see the world. As much as I can. Ready, go.
It was in Barcelona that I figured out the bus system with another friend as we made our way down to the beach. We probably weren't meant to do so, but figured we weren't necessarily told NOT to...
And for some reason, I felt so cool, so grownup for having done so.
Add Barcelona to your bucket list. And when you've finally arrived, don't be surprised at how easily you assimilate to the lifestyle, arriving at the restaurant after midnight to be seated for dinner (and make sure one of those restaurants is Paco Meraldo.)
Consume tapas like it's your job.
And make sure you've invited me to come play as well!
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