I’m finally catching up after a whirlwind of Barcelona-Christmas-festivities-New-Years-celebrations. My week in Barcelona was fantastic!

Looking back at my notebook, my impressions of the city include:

• Tapas are everywhere.
• People seem to love shaved meat.
• Shopkeepers are friendly.
• It is noisy but clean.
• The hip-length coat seems popular.
• You have to turn a handle (or push a button) to open the subway car door.
• The metro is amazing – efficient, clean, and cheap.
• Groceries are pretty reasonably priced.

Here are some photo highlights from the trip!

#1. Barcelona Eat Local Food Tour

My dad and I joined the Barcelona Eat Local Food Tour because we wanted to experience local food that we would not know about ourselves. On the tour, we got to eat lots of delicious food at local family-run businesses. The food was fantastic.

Really though, the tour was much more than just a food tour. The tour guide taught us about – local history, culture, architecture, and politics. After the tour, I saw the city in a new light. The tour was pretty small, just three of us and our guide. It felt relaxed and casual, like hanging out with a nice group of friends. If you are ever in Barcelona, I cannot recommend the tour highly enough! Check it out – Barcelona Eat Local Tour.

#2 – Casa Mila designed by Gaudi

My inner art history was totally geeking out when I saw the Casa Mila. Now I am studying psychology but I studied art history for many many years – 3 years in elementary school, 1 year in high school, and 4 years in art history. In all my classes, we always studied the Casa Mila. Seeing it on the street corner, I felt like I was glimpsing a celebrity. I did not keep my cool… >_<

#3 – Sagrada Famila designed by Gaudi

I was completely unprepared for the scale and grandeur of the Sagrada Familia cathedral designed by Gaudi. The cathedral has been under construction since 1882 and is still not completed. Even so, the building is awe-inspiring. My dad said that the cathedral was worth a visit to Barcelona. The main entrance to the cathedral is scheduled to be completed in 2026. I would love to go back to see it finished!