Barcelona and Paris

Hello everyone! It is that time again for another update. These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. From Barcelona to Paris to taking final exams in four different classes, I have been very busy. But I’ve finally been allowed some respite to relax, take a breath and write my next blog post.

First, I am excited to talk about my trip to Barcelona where I also met up with my Dad and Susan. We spent our time there enjoying the beautiful weather, eating great food and sightseeing. 

Right outside of our hotel was La Rambla which is a tree-lined pedestrian mall with shops, carts and vendors of all sorts. Here is a picture of the end of La Rambla where there are fountains, statues and people strolling casually, enjoying their day.

We did a lot of walking in Barcelona and a lot of our  ability to transverse the city was determined by our capacity to read a map. This was oddly novel to me since we all have GPS guidance systems on our phones. However, I eventually got the hang of it. 

In the beginning I just took pictures of them looking at the map, which is the origin of this photo.

The first meal I had in Barcelona was at a market called El-Nacional where I got this artichoke and ham dish. As I came to learn, both of these foods are coveted amongst diners in Barcelona. 

One of my favorite sights we saw, or rather group of sights, was the works of Antoni Gaudí. Gaudi was a distinctive architect whose works contrasted greatly from those of his professional counterparts. 

This is the outside of one of the houses he designed, Casa Batlló.

We also saw an apartment building he designed called La Pedrera. The peculiar rooftop features were meant to emphasize the bareness and frank ugliness of the rooftops of neighboring buildings which had boring chimneys and unsightly metal poles. 

Instead La Pedrera featured beautiful sculptures such as these.

And of course, possibly the most well-known of Gaudi’s works,  although still unfinished, is  La Sagrada Familia, which is a monstrous Basílica. It isn’t expected to be finally built until 2026, even though construction began in 1882. 

The intricate exterior of the building is matched only by its breathtaking interior.

Tall, columns reach for the sky while colorful stained glass windows paint the inside of the building with splashes of glowing hues. I definitely hope that I can visit Barcelona again to see this manmade masterpiece once it is completed.

On another day, we went to El Mercado de La Boqueria which is a huge venue where all sorts of food vendors sell their offerings, whether it be fresh fruit, seafood, meats, candies, or pre-prepared meals. There were crowds of people and an overwhelming amount of choices, which is why I could only decide on getting a juice.

That same day we visited one more Gaudi work, which was Parc Güell. Parc Güell is a park that sits at the top of the city and allows visitors captivating views of Barcelona and it’s oceanfront skyline.

The day that we went there, the sky was a bit cloudy, however the weather was still warm and I still got good shots of Barcelona. 

In this picture you can see La Sagrada Familia dominating the skyline. 

There was also a band playing at the park whose song I admittedly could not get out of my head for the better part of the trip so I had to share the video with you too.


After our adventure through the park we went to get some lunch and unwind.

My time in Spain was amazing and, as I’ve felt with all the places that I’ve been to, I can’t wait to go back again one day.

On the other hand, Paris was a city that I got to revisit. Last year I, along with four of my friends, stayed at my friend’s uncle’s apartment in Paris for spring break. While there, I got a nice taste for the city, its people, food and culture. It was odd visiting the city again since so much of it felt familiar even though I was so far from home.

We did a lot of the standard sightseeing activities, such as seeing the Eiffel Tower,

the Arc de Triomphe

and the Louvre.

But  we also saw some other less recognizable sights.

Here is The Hôtel de Ville, which is Paris’ city hall. It has been at the same site since 1357.

We also went to Montmartre which is a hill that stands 426,509 feet tall. Atop the peak sits The Sacré-Cœur, or the Sacred Heart of Paris, a basilica that opened in 1914.

While some may argue it pales in comparison to La Sagrada Familia, the quaint beauty of the basilica is still worth admiring.

The vantage point at the the top of Montmartre also offered impressive views of the city below. 

On our last day in Paris, we visited Angelina, which is a teahouse that was founded in 1903, yet still operates as a hallmark of Parisian patisseries. It is known for it’s pudding-like hot chocolate. So of course, before leaving, we had to try this decadent treat. We all got a table, and indulged ourselves. To say the least, it was a satisfactory ending to our time in Paris. 

And if my words aren’t enough, perhaps a picture of the aftermath can prove it.

I have only about a month left in Copenhagen and no other plans to travel to other countries. With only one more class to finish, that means I have a lot of time to see the sights in Copenhagen that I have not yet seen, such as Tivoli, Deer Park, or any of the various beaches that the city features. Keep your eye out for future updates as I hope to have at least one or two more and thanks for following me on my European adventures!