BARCELONA

Hola! Como estas?
Our9-day trip to Barcelona, Sevilla, Lisbon and Porto was fantasticcc!
But it wasn't all fun and no booboos. So much shit happened to us we can talk forever. In summary, we 1) missed a flight, 2) missed a bus, 3) ran after a plane/a train twice the 'Amazing Race' style, 4) had a rollercoaster-ish experience on our flight back. Phew. Despite all these, these 2 countries left us such an amazing experience, we want to go back now :)

BARCELONA - the highlights:

1. Nou Camp
Definitely an eye-opening experience for us soccer fans. Biggest football stadium in Europe, pride of the Catalans. The sheer size could intimidate the away team, not to mention the crazzzzy Barca fans. A pity we couldn't catch the Barca-Real showdown there (cos we were in Sevilla by then). We both had the persistent impulse to buy the Barca jerseys, to be part of the proud Barca fanatics. Sadly, we had to remind outselves to live up to a true budget traveller. Budget budget la. 2. La Rambla & the waterfront
The most famous street of Barcelona truly lived up to its hype. It's the street of action (also a tourist trap)! Artists + baskers + human statues galore, sandwiched by more than 20 Indian-owned souvenir shops (?). Thanks to the brilliant weather, our stroll along the waterfront was awesome. The sight of the uncountable number of yachts parked at Port Vell and thr seamingly endless sea was truly breathtaking.

La Rambla

The shopping street: Passeig de GraciaPort Vell The view from atop the Tower of Colombus 3. Parc Guell & Parc Montjuic
Parc Guell is located at the north of the city, perched on a hill that overlooks the entrie city right up to the sea. The famous lizard statue made with little colourful tiles is there too. Parc Montjuic is at the south, so the view from there was quite different. We took a funivular up and continue up the hill by foot. By the time we were so freaking tired and every bit of leg muscle was aching, we were rewarded with the magnificent Palau Nacional. The view from the top of Parc Guell, with the sea and the sky merged as one. Reaching the Palau Nacional at sunset... 4. The works of Gaudi and the arty-fartiness of this city

Gaudi was a religious architect, probably the most famous name in Barcelona (ya like about the same level as Ronaldinho heh). His works can be found all over the city, from cathedrals to towers to lamp posts. I particularly like the Batllo House, which resembles an underwater palace. Pretty eccentric, both.

This is the mostest most famous sight: La Sangrada Familia, designed by GaudiOther sights!
Arc de Triomf San Paul Hospital: it's a real hospital (saw some patients and doctors walking around)!

The beach of Barcelona (somewhat like Sentosa actually..)

The university (beside the shopping street!)Every of the 3 days we spent in Barcelona, there is a demonstration. This is one held outside the parliament.
With highlights, there are of course the lowlights. Now, we come to our first crisis.

As the brilliant 2 days in Barcelona came to an end, lucky us, we had Sevilla to look forward to. We've got the tickets all paid online, got the info to take the train to the airport, got our luggages all packed. And then, we had to miss the flight cos we took the wrong train. By the time the conductor informed us, the next stop was some 45min away. Got help from some realllly nice passengers and the conductors to throw us off the train from the emergency exit. Then, we had the big problem of getting a cab cos too ulu. The race to get a taxi to catch the plane gets your adrenaline pumping when you watch Amazing Race? Try doing the real thing. Backpacks bobbing up and down, sweat seeping through our longsleeved tops, we were running as fast as our already damn tired legs could take us. Ahhh no taxi. 20min later we werecatching our breaths on a taxi heading to the airport, getting the driver to go as rapido as possible. But but but, we still missed the flight by 15min. So, we bought 2 new tickets for 45euros each(rescue price, the airline calls it) and arrived in Sevilla 2 hours later. Coming up, SEVILLA, the cradle of bullfighting...