When planning a trip, I always look for real travel experiences. No matter how much research you do for your next travel destination, nothing is more important that the opinion of the actual traveler. Starting from today’s post, I’m introducing a new feature to the Wanderlust category, a guest post spot for anyone who wants to share his/her travel experiences. 

So if you want to share your travel experience with the world, email me at ioannasnotebook@gmail.com with the subject “Wanderlust Guest Post” and … be my guest.

The first guest post spot goes to wonderful Rania (my over 27 years BFF). Rania loves to travel as much as I do and she is sharing today all about her recent trip to Barcelona. 

I had the opportunity and the pleasure to visit the city with my husband last May, on the occasion of his 40th birthday. I was impressed … first of all with the amount of tourists. I had not realized until that moment, that the second largest city in Spain is one of the most popular European destinations.

This is probably due to the fact that this city has found a way to combine the historic character and traditional monuments with modern architectural trends. In all squares you will suddenly see a work of art, contemporary or classic, which gives a completely different style and a special beauty to the point of lying. Even within the marina the buoy is an artwork !! It’s a great idea that could be applied in our city too!!!

Barcelona requires a lot of walking and exploring !!! For me personally, in order for your trip to be a life experience you need to get lost in the city, to move as the residents and try to live as authentically as you can. Especially, as you walk around in this European city, among the modern homes and postmodern buildings, suddenly, as if from a fairy tale, you are admiring all the famous creations of Gaudi, the man who has strongly left his mark there.

The imposing Sagrada Familia, the impressive Park Guell, beautiful house Batlló and La Pedrera is for me the main creations of Gaudi worth visiting. The truth is that almost all Gaudi buildings are quite expensive to visit !

The avenue La Rambla and the streets around it, which starts from the square of Puerta de la Paz where the statue of Christopher Columbus stands, and ends at the Placa de Catalunya and the Gothic Quarter (Barrio Gótico), is certainly two places to go. Shops, lovely restaurants, cafes and bars, the Picasso Museum with the largest collection of works of art of the famous painter and important buildings such as the Barcelona Cathedral are located in these areas.

Do not forget to go to the most picturesque food market of Barcelona, La Boqueria.

You will go crazy and want to try everything … I tasted a delicious fresh fruit salad and my husband a fresh juice while we did not resist to try also a cone with Spanish sausages and cheese !!!!

Of course, we all know that Barcelona attracts many visitors for its great football team Barcelona and the famous stadium Camp Nou, which also has a museum where all team trophies are kept. As you can imagine, my husband could not resist this visit since he is a fan of all sports and especially football!!! Apart from this, he wanted to go to the celebration of the team for winning the La Liga, the Spanish Championship!! Unique experience, with all the inhabitants in the city streets, babies in strollers and elderly people sitting in chairs on the sidewalks!!!

On the occasion of the celebrations, we visited the southwest side of the city. We stood in the Placa d’Espanya and from there we walked to the magic fountain of Montjuic and the National Art Museum of Catalonia. On top there is the hill of Montjuic where you arrive by cable car and you can make walks in the countryside and see the Olympic properties.

One of our evenings we visited the other end of the city, the Barceloneta beach. The Barceloneta, as we learned, changed completely with the 1992 Olympic Games. There are dozens of hotels, restaurants, and a large pedestrian area ideal for walks and cycling.

Arriving at the edge of Barceloneta, near La Rambla, is the city’s Aquarium and a mall for shopping addicts!!! Of course, if your wallet can afford it, a walk in the Passeig De Gracia, the street with all the major fashion companies, will reward you both with nice buildings and the shops.

What I left for the end is the food … Gastronomy in Barcelona has reached very high levels. This city competes deservedly cities like Paris. This is because even in the small tapas bar but also in some of the tourist restaurants (which believe me are so many that in some point you may be forced to sit) you will find quality food. Tapas of all kinds, paellas, meats, seafood and desserts such as Crema Catalana will compensate your appetite! And do not skip to accompany your meals with Spanish wines that are truly remarkable!

Finally, eventhough I would not consider Barcelona my first choice among the many options of the Old continent, I must admit that it is an astonishing city that well combines a modern European town with the Spanish tradition.