Sunbathing in Barcelona

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Sept 8th, we headed back to warm weather and sunshine in Barcelona. Four days of perfect weather, back in our flip-flops and bathing suits. We stayed in the Albergue Palau Hostel in the Gothic Quarter, very quaint with its narrow cobblestone streets angling off in every direction, old worn buildings, and a funky restaurant and bar scene. Laundry hanging on clotheslines above , and all the locals out on their little balconies. The only bad thing was all the tourists!

We spent our days walking everywhere, from musems and the markets, to the harbor and beach, to the top of a big park on a hill above the city. The city comes alive at night, and we enjoyed the cheap wine and Sangria! Buskers and tourists line the main street, Las Ramblas, and the local beaches are packed with people. After cold weather up north we ended up spending a couple of days lying on the beach 😊

LOVED this city, it will definitely be one that we come back to some day!

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Photos

Heidi strutting by the harbour
This long walkway runs along the huge harbour, another place packed with people, especially on the weekends. (Monjuic is the hill in the background)

The Barcelona Beach
Warm water and thousands of bodies everywhere, many topless when they shouldn't be!?!

Sweets anyone?
Heidi was in absolute heaven at the Mercat de la Boqueria, the best and biggest market in Barcelona. They had EVERYTHING from meats, veggies and fruits, wines, tapas, nuts...we drooled as we admired it all.

Fountain in Parc de la Ciutadella
A beautiful little park in the heart of Barcelona

Barcelona Harbour in the early morning
We walked to the top of Montjuic, a hill-park in the city with lots of trails and trees. Gorgeous views

An old fortress on top of Montjuic
I told Dan to strike a pose...impressive, but his body wasn't too impressed afterwards!

"Magic Fountains" at the Plaza de Espana
We heard that this fountain only goes off on certain nights and we randomly came across it. All the local families are there with all the kids, people selling food, and everyone admiring the light show. This is in front of the Nationl Palace.

Catalinia Support
In the Gothic Quarter, this old woman had her flag out supporting Catalonia, the region Barcelona is in. Catalonians are very proud and she was yelling out to everyone on the street and let us take her photo.

Sagrada Familia (aka "Gaudi Catherdral")
The most famous buildings in the the city, Antoni Gaudi began building this in 1882, and today, it is only half-finished. Such detailed architecture, its pretty immpressive, both inside and out.

Statue at the Gaudi Catherdral
An example of the eccentric and contemporary Gaudi style.