Charming Barcelona

Severe procrastination—a trip from a year ago, only now putting pen to paper.

Looking back, it's fortunate that we went out to travel last year. Now with the pandemic so severe everywhere abroad, I'm afraid we won't plan any overseas trips in the short term.

Last year (2018), we took Tomato to Paris (see 'Charming Paris'), and she was delighted. This year (2019), we planned another trip, also to commemorate our 10th wedding anniversary.

We were a bit conflicted about the destination. The general direction was still Europe. Originally, we considered a European river cruise, but after checking, the timing wasn't ideal. So we thought of Prague or Vienna—places I had always longed for—but the weather there seemed too cold at that time. Italy was vetoed by LP, and we finally decided on Spain.

As with last year, we didn't want to drag Tomato around too much, so we opted for a single-city trip, choosing Barcelona.

With last year's travel experience, Tomato seemed to be familiar with the routine—whether it was security checks, waiting at the gate, or boarding, she was very composed. And since she turned two this year, she could have her own seat, which made the flight more 'comfortable' for her.

The flight time was also good. Although we took off in the middle of the night, we arrived in Barcelona in the morning local time, allowing us to slowly start exploring.

After landing, we took a bus to the hotel area and walked to the hotel. It was too early to check in, so we quickly registered, left our luggage, and went out for breakfast.

Barcelona itself isn't very large, and for convenience, we chose a well-located hotel that allowed us to explore most places on foot.

Despite the long flight, Tomato seemed tireless, happily munching on crispy bread slices.

By noon, we checked into the hotel. The style and service of this hotel were excellent, living up to its name—it had a bit of a royal palace feel.

We rested until dusk, then walked to the nearby Plaça de Catalunya. There were many pigeons there, and one of Tomato's favorite activities was feeding them—she excitedly ran after them.

Then we randomly picked a restaurant on La Rambla for our first dinner in Barcelona.

This trip to Barcelona wasn't as meticulously planned as last year's trip to Paris. Apart from the must-visit spots, we often arranged our outings based on what was convenient on the map. Fortunately, everything was quite convenient overall, so there was no need to agonize over planning.

Not far from the hotel was the Barcelona Zoo. Seeing animals is one of Tomato's joys; she had great fun at the Paris Zoo last year. So we decided to visit the Barcelona Zoo too.

Leaving the hotel, we walked along and noticed several Chinese shops on the street—massage, acupuncture, and Chinese restaurants. After a European breakfast of bread and coffee, we arrived at the Arc de Triomf. The Arc de Triomf seems to be a 'must-have' building in many European cities—isn't this a solid proof of past formalism and grandiosity?

Beyond the Arc de Triomf lay Parc de la Ciutadella. Here, Tomato discovered another fun thing—a swing. The swing was like a chair, with a backrest and a front guard. Tomato sat on it without fear, laughing non-stop, asking us to push her back and forth.

After playing for a long time, we crossed the park and entered the Barcelona Zoo.

At the zoo, we saw kangaroos, turtles, hippos, tapirs, dolphins, and many other animals. We wandered around for a long time before leaving. The zoo's large plastic drink cups were quite nice, with a distinctive zoo design. After finishing a drink, if you return the cup, you get about 1 euro or 1.5 euros back; if not, they make a good souvenir. We specifically picked out a few cups as souvenirs at Tomato's request.

Leaving the zoo, we played a bit more in Parc de la Ciutadella, then went to El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria. Originally a market opened in 1876, it officially opened as a cultural center in 2013.

Churches of various styles in Europe are places I particularly enjoy visiting—especially Gothic-style Catholic churches in central and southern Europe, which are visually more appealing; the simpler Protestant churches in the north are less striking.

Leaving El Born, the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar was nearby, so we visited it on the way back to the hotel.

Spain has produced many great artists, from Velázquez in the classical period to Gaudí, Dalí, and Picasso in modern times, all creating admirable works.

This day, we planned to visit Casa Milà first. On the way, we passed a bookstore where Tomato browsed for a while before we continued.

Casa Milà is one of Gaudí's designs and a popular attraction in Barcelona, with many visitors. But the management was good—orderly and not chaotic; although crowded, it didn't feel packed or claustrophobic.

Both the exterior and interior of Casa Milà are captivating. Gaudí's unique creativity and style make Casa Milà endlessly enjoyable. On the roof, weaving among the dancing chimneys of various shapes and overlooking La Sagrada Família, it felt like being in a fantasy world.

After leaving Casa Milà and having lunch, Tomato fell asleep in the stroller, so we slowly walked to Casa de les Punxes on Avinguda Diagonal.

Casa de les Punxes is probably not a major tourist spot, with few visitors, but I found it quite distinctive. Its pointed roof (hence also called the 'Spiky House') resembles a small castle. Inside, automated doors open and close, guiding visitors through different scenes, while a large screen in the room tells a traditional story of a brave knight slaying a dragon to save a princess. After the story, visitors can explore further.

From Casa de les Punxes, we turned back and visited Casa Batlló, also a Gaudí design. The mushroom-shaped fireplace and blue-and-white tiles create a fairy-tale atmosphere.

Here, Tomato took a photo of the two of us.

Leaving Casa Batlló, we saw a second-hand bookstall with a storybook featuring cats as the main characters, costing only 1 euro. We bought it for Tomato, who loves cats, and she couldn't wait to start reading while sitting in her stroller. Even now, she reads it every now and then.

We walked along La Rambla to the sea, arriving at the Monument a Colom. Under the sunset, the waterfront and buildings were bathed in a beautiful golden glow.

As night fell, with a gentle sea breeze, we enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner.

We had booked tickets for the Picasso Museum and La Sagrada Família for this day. Early in the morning, we set off toward the Picasso Museum, making a slight detour to visit the food market on La Rambla, then had breakfast at a small shop next to the Església de Santa Maria del Pi.

On the way to the Picasso Museum, we also saw remnants of the Roman wall, then visited the Barcelona Cathedral. The cathedral is usually the main church in a city, and Barcelona is no exception—its cathedral was larger than others we'd seen (except La Sagrada Família).

At the Picasso Museum, Tomato fell asleep in the stroller, so we slowly admired Picasso's masterpieces. Picasso was a prolific painter into old age, and this museum houses a large collection of his various works. Picasso fans visiting Barcelona should not miss it.

Returning to the hotel, we rested briefly and also went to the rooftop—which houses a restaurant and bar—to overlook the cityscape of Barcelona, then headed to La Sagrada Família.

Even though we had prepared mentally, standing at the foot of La Sagrada Família, we were still deeply awed by Gaudí's design. The majestic basilica stands tall and imposing; every detail is meticulously crafted—truly a huge and perfect work of art.

Stepping inside La Sagrada Família was even more refreshing. Thanks to modern design and construction, though it resembles a Gothic church, it is taller, has wider interior spaces, larger windows, and white walls and pillars, making it much brighter.

The setting sun's rays filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting a holy light inside.

The Barcelona Aquarium is by the sea, not far from the hotel. On this day, we took Tomato to the aquarium. All kinds of marine creatures, big and small, were dazzling. After seeing the marine animals, there was a yellow submarine model inside, and Tomato happily went in and out, pretending to be driving it.

Just a few days ago, Tomato suddenly mentioned the yellow submarine, saying she was looking outward from inside. It's been almost a year, and we hadn't mentioned it, but surprisingly Tomato still remembered.

After the aquarium, we checked the schedule for the harbor cruise—it was just enough time for lunch. So after a simple lunch, we took the harbor cruise for a ride.

Dark blue sea, light blue sky; the boat rode the wind and waves along the coastline. Tomato fell asleep and woke up just as we returned to the dock.

After disembarking, we visited the nearby Museu de Cera. Tomato was indifferent, but her mother was terrified by the statues and scenery inside and rushed out quickly.

Later, we also visited the nearby Museu Marítim, just looking around outside.

We had initially debated whether to visit Parc Güell because it was relatively far from our location. But after checking the transport routes, it was quite convenient—one direct bus—so we decided to go.

It was definitely worth it. Visiting Parc Güell, we had no regrets. Standing on the hill, we could see the sea in the distance. The whole park is a fantasy world built into the mountain. Once again, we couldn't help but admire Gaudí's boundless creativity and imagination.

We spent a long time in the park, then returned to the hotel for a good rest. After nightfall, we went to the rooftop restaurant. With a gentle night breeze, melodious music, fine wine and food, we were intoxicated.

There are many charming towns around Barcelona. Before coming, we had decided to set aside time to visit one. Considering distance, transport, and other factors, we chose Tossa de Mar. Early in the morning, we went to the bus station and took a long-distance bus to Tossa.

The town hugs the coast, with beautiful scenery. An ancient castle stands by the sea, as if a witness to history, observing the changes of the world.

Tomato was especially happy by the sea. She took off her shoes and jumped around barefoot on the beach.

At a seaside restaurant, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch before taking the bus back to Barcelona.

Around midday, we took a flight and left the passionate Barcelona.

Farewell, beautiful Spain—looking forward to our next meeting…

Travel diary index: 1. Prologue 2. Day 1 (2019-09-28) – Departure/Arrival, Plaça de Catalunya, La Rambla 3. Day 2 (2019-09-29) – Arc de Triomf, Parc de la Ciutadella, Zoo de Barcelona, El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar 4. Day 3 (2019-09-30) – Casa Milà, Casa de les Punxes, Casa Batlló, Monument a Colom 5. Day 4 (2019-10-01) – Església de Santa Maria del Pi, La Catedral (Barcelona Cathedral), Museu Picasso, La Sagrada Família 6. Day 5 (2019-10-02) – L'Aquarium, Harbor Cruise, Museu de Cera, Museu Marítim 7. Day 6 (2019-10-03) – Parc Güell 8. Day 7 (2019-10-04) – Tossa de Mar 9. Day 8 (2019-10-05) – Return Flight

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