b a r c e l o n a

My after-internship-before-semester trip -- Barcelona (Spain) and Rome (Italy)!
Was so looking forward to it, since they seemed to hold such promise of very different experiences in countries which I haven't visited before, and it'd be a good break from work and before starting to mug all over again.. Then my dreams almost got smashed when I received an email from Alex the day that I was leaving Leipzig, which was only 1 day before the trip. His granddad just passed away so he needed to return to Singapore and wouldn't be able to join me for our trip. I went into a mad hustle, trying to ask around my friends for who would like to travel in his stead, amongst my already crazy rush to wrap up ends at my office (esp the internship report) and pack my bags and get ready to leave Leipzig.

Thankfully, Tse Siang decided to join me for Rome too (the Heidelbergers were already going to be in Barcelona for the period that I'm there too)!! Wah can't thank him enough sia.. Especially since he was already quite tired from travelling the previous week in Portugal and Spain already, and he would be missing his orientation.. =P

So I travelled to Barcelona by myself, checked into the hostel alone, and met up with the Heidelbergers!

We had dinner at some not-so-expensive restaurant, food in Spain in super ex! Even more ex than Germany! Makes one appreciate the cost of living in Germany haha.. That's Squid Ink Paella.. A pan of Paella (1 person's portion) costs at least 9.90 Euros, and apparently doesn't contain as much seafood as the picture in the menu alludes to...

Then went to watch the musical fountain (1st photo above).. So reminds me of the musical fountain in Sentosa before they tried to spice it up with laser effects and some storyline.. Just plain ol' water, lights and music.. =)

Went to one of the famous Gaudi's creations, a church he designed.. Much more modern and in a very different style from the Gothic or Baroque churches I've been visiting in Europe so far..

The statues tend to be very angular and made of rather white stone..

Went to La Rambla.. Their famous street bustling with shops and buskers.. Kinda like their buildings with all the intricatelly designed rod-iron balconies...

Yupz, that's us walking down the street... Adding to the number of gawking tourists there..

The mediterranean sea!! Unfortunately it was still kinda cold, not exactly welcoming enough to jump into the waters for a swim.. Some of us played frisbee on the beach, while the rest of us just sat on the beach, chatted and enjoyed the view and breeze..

Can you believe the Metro station closest to the hostel which I lived in, is called Parallel? Couldn't resist taking a photo of this amusing name.. =P

Made a friend at the hostel.. Yudi who's Chinese but studying full-time in Scotland now.. We were both staying alone in the same room and hit off so well we went around together for our Barcelona trip (with the Heidelbergers most of the time too)... Was really happy with the HelloBCN hostel which we stayed in.. Very organised, professional place with friendly receptionists and clean rooms and a modern cozy common dining area and a substantial breakfast and even a gym (which I didn't use of course haha)!

We went to a Park that Gaudi designed.. Very colourful designs and mosaics..

Even the buildings look very different from what I've ever seen so far..

Plenty of stone pillars and passages.. Palm trees and cacti too..

Doesn't this remind you of the Merlion Walk in Sentosa? Hee..

We hiked all the way up Tibidabo Hill! It was quite nuts, we almost thought that we wouldn't be able to reach there after all, cos it's really quite high and a long walk, so weren't sure if we would be able to return before the sun sets.. But it was really worth the workout, the view was breathtaking! Especially when the sunrays highlight only certain parts of the town!

There was an amusement park and hotel and church at the top... There was a statue of Jesus with hands outstretched at the top of the church..

Yudi and I picking pinecones off the hill!

Dusk falling upon the town.. Love the lighting.. And we managed to return down the hill just in time, phew!

On the last day, we all went our separate ways (other than Tse Siang and I who continued with our last day in Barcelona, then our trip to Rome).. Went to the wet market and saw all sorts of stuff -- from Emu eggs to legs after legs of dried pork... They have these stores in the wet market that you can order seafood and they will cook it there for you.. Makes you wonder about the hygiene in the wet market though, hee.. =P

Went to take a look at their shopping malls too.. Most of their brands seem to have arrived upon Singaporean shores -- Zara, Desigual... Though it's not really cheaper there, unfortunately.. Interesting shops sometimes, like these slippers and cap -- made of chocolate!