Red Ships of Sppppaaaaaiiiin...

Ahh, Barcelona. Home to Picasso, paella, Antoni Gaudi, sangria, palm trees, and the Mediterranean. And, this past weekend, a temporary home to an excited 11-pack of North American girls, all prepared to have the best weekend trip a backpacker can have...


We flew from Newcastle on our incredibly cheap Ryanair flight in the afternoon and arrived at the Barcelona Girona airport around 5 pm. We then had to take a bus to get to the actual city, but it allowed us to see what the Spanish countryside (sort of) looked like-- I think I was expecting something desert-like, but the landscape is actually very hilly and green.


Our hostel was fantastic, a homey place that was surprisingly well-located, with marble floors, a central staircase, and a rowdy common room. We were right on a major shopping street that was rather ritzy, squished between an H & M and a Cartier across the way. No complaints from us though- we managed to fit in some shopping time during our short time there as well… :)


Our first night we went out and explored the city. We ended up visiting a couple of bars and eating at an Italian restaurant, which had some of the best pizza I’ve ever had… it’s strange, but you tend to eat a lot of Italian while travelling, because it’s literally everywhere. Bryan and I had amazing pasta in Berlin, too.


Saturday found us taking a day-long bus tour, where we paid for the day and got to get on and off whenever we liked. It’s an ideal system for getting the lay of the land, as they say, and seeing some gorgeous parts of Barcelona with a bird’s-eye-view. We made it from our hostel in the city centre to the coast, where we got to see the world-famous marina and docks right on the Mediterranean.


We also explored La Rambla, a kilometre-long strip of street performers, vendors, and strolling people, which, while confusing to find, was definitely worth going back to again and again throughout the trip. Gelato, cheap trinkets, and the proximity to the beach made it perfect.


Saturday night we decided that an essential part of a trip to Barcelona included going out to its biggest and most famous club, Razzmatazz… let me just say that Spaniards are incredibly fun and laid-back, but also incredibly CRAZY for not even getting to a club until 2 AM and then only leaving at 6! Razzmatazz has a fantastic atmosphere and we all had one of the best nights out we’ve ever had…even getting up the next morning at 8 am wasn’t that difficult once you remember that you’re in Barcelona and there’s tons you still haven’t seen … :)


On Sunday morning Marcie and I split from the rest of the group and toured La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s most famous landmark. The church has been under construction since 1883, and its strange and amazing architecture continues to surprise visitors. Everyone thought that Antoni Gaudi, the architect, was insane for designing a Catholic church so oddly, but he really is a genius: the inside of the church is meant to look like a forest, with the pillars as trees and the massive windows in the walls providing a speckled light. Against all odds, it really does look like one. And the two entrances, one depicting Jesus’ birth and the other his death, are starkly opposite to one another, albeit both ornately decorated.


Seeing La Sagrada was definitely a highlight. The rest of the day was spent wandering the beach, eating REAL paella (so good) and visiting the Picasso Museum, which is full of the artist’s many, many pieces of work. I had no idea that Picasso was a) Spanish (why did I always think he was Italian?) and b) not always a Cubist painter. He started off traditionally enough and years later developed a more avant-garde style. He loved Barcelona too, and always came back after living in places like Paris and Madrid.


Is it too much to hope though, that I might be able to always come back too??


So after a busy, awesome weekend, Marcie and I packed up and left early Monday morning and, after taking a cab, two buses, a plane, and two trains, we made it home to Leeds around 5 pm, exhausted but elated.


I had to go straight to followspot training for Backstage after that, and only made it to Bodington around midnight, unfortunately, but I’m glad I went. I’m doing the spotlights for the Musical Theatre Society’s production of Sweet Charity this week and needed the practice! The first couple of nights have gone well, and I have one more performance until we leave for Edinburgh this weekend … I’m incredibly excited for this trip, too. It’s about a 180 switch from Barcelona, but no doubt just as fascinating.


Annnd for some reason, the pictures won't post on here again. However, I've posted my pictures on Facebook already, so click here if you fancy seeing all of my Spain photos in one place, and I’ll be in touch right after I get back from Scotland!