barca

continuing the 'while the mister was away' series, i thought to solo trip to barca. i'm not a fan of weddings and don't believe in flying halfway round the world for them. a bit rich coming from someone who had people fly more than halfway round the world for hers in iceland, but hey, i'd been happy eloping but nooo the mister is a social creature much loved by family and friends. i've, maybe, three friends. so when it came to returning the favour, i pleaded busy-ness (true) but not disinterest (also true). solo-tripped barca while backpacking a few summers ago on my grad trip and have always felt strangely safe in this city of dodgy repute. everyone knows someone who was mugged / pickpocket-ed in barca, no? i cite my mother, and her insistence that i've an unhealthy lack of fear but really, it's more about being sensible, having one's wits about oneself, and not looking like i'm worth robbing. it was nice to return to barca on my own, having last been on our first wedding anniversary with in-laws in tow. not the most romantic of getaways, to say the least!

gorgeous lounge at gatwick - not entirely necessary as the flight times were very civilised, none of that leaving home at 4am nonsense. but i'm not one to turn down a free lounge!

really only had one full day in barca (landed in the afternoon) and spent day 1 wandering around and riding the cable car. i like cable cars, so much so i rode another one on day 2!

the esplanade

view from montjuic where cable car 1 terminated

oops more views from the cable car

climbed a hill in parc guell in lieu of paying EUR4 to enter the mosaic terrace-y bit that was free the last time i went

did the hop on hop off bus tour on the second day as figured it'd be the best way of getting around and there were two different loops that would occupy most of the day. alighted to walk at some stops, found food at others.

and no trip to barca would be complete without a pilgrimage to el quim for fried egg and baby squid. worth every (EUR)cent despite the hefty EUR19 price tag.