BARCELONA

Hola España!

Had such a great time in Barcelona - 2ish days was definately NOT long enough! It´s such a great city, very London-esk (with better weather). Horçtel was in ´San Just´ a little way out, but it was worth it for a nice comfy bed and decent bathroom...

The trams and metro are great, which meant we could get round to seeing loads of the sights without the mammoth trek on top. Park Guell was really cool (the one all Mosaicy designed by Gaudi) and the view was absolutely stunning, looking out over the whole intire city right down to the port. We then went to Sgrada Familia (the big unfinished gothic church) but ended up saving our entrance fee for a McFlurry and looked at it from the shade (apparently though there´s not too much to see inside and the extirior is the best)

Mooching (word of the holiday) along Avinguda Diagonal and Gran Via de las Corts Catalanes were so nice, like oxford street length but lined either side with big trees and monuments.

La Rambla was fantastic! (the long street leading down to the water) with loads of REALLY good human statues and people selling everything from PIGIONS?! to tortoices, flowers and artwork. Just on the left was MERCAT de la Boqueria (yes market = mercat, so i compared a few.com whilst I was there!) where we picked up fresh fruit and sandwiches for next to nothing.

We booked an evening Spanish Cooking Class and met at the Travel Shack where we joined some others from Busabout (including 3 Aussie girls weve made friends with). The woman showed us how to make the perfect Sangria (which I am now God at! I cant tell you the secret or I will have to kill you - BUUUUT a tip is muchos Brandy...) and we made Tapas and learnt and ATE loads of seafood Paella. YUM.

Second day saw ua down at Port Vell which had a massive shopping centre and Imax and resturants. We carried on walking all the way down to Parc De la Ciutadella, which was so nice with all the green areas and lakes and fountains. Nice people watching and chilling on a bench for a while, oh and a photo with a big elephant/mammoth thing - as you do obviously...

We checked out MACBA, CCCB (both arty places over by the University)and stopped off at a great shop called 'Holala Plaza' where I fed my addiction of arty magazines and big glossy books for a while and then browsed the Vintage clothes and house stuff - heaven.

Ii could easy live in Barcelona. Cool places to eat, drink shop, everything. Didnt get a chance to even hit any clubs (gutted) so that will be a must next time round. Long weekend (when i have the pennies) here I come!