My 30th in Barcelona

We had booked some flights to Barcelona for my birthday, and despite fairly tumultuous times for the two of us, we decided a break would be a ripper idea. So, with brand new Nikon DSLR in hand, courtesy of my family and friends, (best present ever!!!!!!!!!) We were off to Stansted and on our way. I was so excited to have a quality camera again I cant tell ya.


Ryan air, its a love-hate relationship.

The weather was beautiful, it was so nice to get some real sunshine.

Back streets in Barca.

Ghery's fish sculpture on the beach.

We flew out of Stansted at 6.20am, so we were up at about 4 or something. We were pretty knackered on the first day, so we just hung around the beach and drank sangria and ate tapas.



Cafe on the sand. Was pretty exciting to be back in Europe proper. It was amazing to think that it was almost 1 year since we had first gotten over here.

This afternoon pretty much set the tone for much of the weekend as we relaxed and ate and drank our way around Las Ramblas and the surrounding areas.

On the Saturday night, FC Barcalona won the championship, and the people lost their marbles!!!
Las Ramblas was packed with rabid footy fans showing their colours, singing, lighting flares and going mental. No bad feelings tho, all good vibes and no violence. Was a good first hand experience of the famous Catalan spirit.



This is one of my fav photos of the wkend.


This car had about 15 blokes in it hanging off all sides, driving down a main road, the cops drove right past, looked at them and couldn't have cared less.
Angie in the back streets

As an architect, Gaudi is a massive draw when visiting Barcelona. We headed up to Parc Guell first up to have a look.

Super steep ascent to the Parc.


Parc Guell, this was originally slated as a housing development, but only a couple of houses were ever built and Gaudi ended up buying the place and lived there. Today its a municipal park.


Sunburned from the day before on the beach.

Thats me in the front. Gaudi was a maniac, the stuff he designed was too complex to detail and was mostly worked out on site.... maniac.

Sun, sangria and seeds. We had such a good day up at Parc Guell, the weather was spot on, and it was really nice to have a bit more cash behind us as this was the first trip we had done since having jobs. So we just ate and drank whatever we felt like, bought a few bits and pieces that we liked and did it like normal people do when they have a holiday. Nice.

Continuing the Gaudi trip, we visited the famous and absolutely amazing Sagrada Familia. Gaudi's most famous, unfinished project.


The details are phenomenal, again, the man was a maniac. To undertake the projects that he imagined and actually get them built, even part way is pretty impressive.


This is the view from one of the narrow walkways joining two sections high up in the the towers.

It was really windy, narrow, crowded and not overly safe, hahaha, Angie was petrified.

Decorative detailing to one of the spires.

I loved the stained glass.

The buttresses at ground level, they look like some kind of organic material that has been stretched up to meet the main structure. Some of the most impressive architecture Ive seen in the flesh.

Angie in the park afterwards.

I also checked out Gaudi's Casa Battlo, a single dwelling that looks like its some kind of underwater cave made of fish scales and bones.


Casa BattloGaudi you maniac!!!!


These are shots from the roof.

Atrium, no straight edges, few repeated details. Such a daunting undertaking, but an awesome result.



Barca is full of cool bars and tapas and little places to drink and eat away an afternoon or evening.

This was one we found.


A market off Las Ramblas

Shops somewhere off Las Ramblas

We spent the last afternoon on the beach, casually eating and drinking again. When we mustered up the energy to look at the time, we realised we were way late, and there was no way we were going to get out bus out to the hotel near the airport. Oh well, it was worth it for another killer afternoon in the sun. We got out there some other way anyway, and headed off early in the morning back to London.

And so now I'm 30.

Barcelona, add it to the list of cities that I could live in...