Barcelona

After Morocco, I spent a few weekends just in Madrid doing homework and studying for tests, but then  my roommates and I decided to head over to Barcelona for a day. We took an early morning train straight to Barcelona and after a 3 hour train ride, we finally arrived and made our way to Park Güell. 

Park Güell was a very cool place to go but it was definitely a good idea to get tickets ahead of time because it was very busy and sold out on the Saturday we were there. We spent around 2 hours walking around and it was a beautiful day to do some sight seeing. Some history behind Park Guell is that Park Güell is an architectural masterpiece designed by Antoni Gaudí The park was originally conceived in 1900 as part of a luxury residential project initiated by Eusebi Güell, Gaudí's patron. Güell originally envisioned a garden city with 60 plots for homes, but the project was not commercially successful, and only two houses were built. In 1926, the site was transformed into a public park and has since become one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks. Its design reflects Gaudí's distinctive style, of intricate mosaics, colorful tiles, and organic architectural elements. 

Afterwards, we walked over to the Sagrada Familia which was the main thing I wanted to see. Unfortunately, as this was a last minute trip, we could not get tickets to go inside which I am still sad about. It was a lot bigger than I had expected to be and far more intricate than I thought. I could've looked at it four hours and still found new details in the facade. 

The Sagrada Família is a basilica also designed by Antoni Gaudí. Construction began in 1882, initially led by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar in a traditional Gothic style. However, Gaudí took over the project in 1883 and transformed it into a groundbreaking masterpiece. Gaudí dedicated much of his life to the basilica and by the time of his death in 1926, only about a quarter of the structure was complete. Subsequent architects continued his work based on his detailed plans and models. Construction progressed slowly due to interruptions from the Spanish Civil War and funding challenges. Modern techniques and technology have accelerated the process in recent decades, with significant portions completed, including the Nativity and Passion façades. The basilica is still under construction, with completion anticipated in 2026.

After we saw the Sagrada Familia, we got a quick boba snack and then walked towards the beach. Once we got to the beach, we took our shoes off and walked along the shore for about half an hour which was very refreshing especially after walking all day. Then we got burgers for dinner and headed back to the train station to head home. I admit, I was kind of disappointed by Barcelona because there wasn't that much to do and everything was so expensive. This is likely because Madrid spoiled me a little bit with having so many free museums and so many things to do. Either way, I'm glad I went and I hope I get to see the Sagrada Familia when it isn't under construction.