Ahao's Travelogue | Ultimate Romantic Halloween Three-Day Trip in Barcelona

If you've never been to Barcelona, how could you know what romance is!

Three days in Barcelona, each day felt like a dream. Walking in the world of art, everything was so unreal that I have no overall impression of the city in my mind. There were also regrets. I didn't make it to the 'fairy-tale' basilica on the mountaintop in Barcelona. Perhaps this will become the reason I miss Barcelona the most.

I flew to Barcelona the night before. At the airport, I studied for a while to figure out how to buy a T10 ticket. I arrived at the hostel at midnight.

Day 1: Sagrada Familia.

The Sagrada Familia has become the embodiment of Gaudí. Not visiting the Sagrada Familia feels like not having been to Barcelona at all, so I chose it as my first stop. And indeed, the Sagrada Familia lived up to its reputation. Its complexity and individuality everywhere reveal Gaudí's extraordinary dreams and even ambition.

Second stop: Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. But I didn't go inside. I heard the pink building inside is great for photos, but there were also differing opinions. With a tight schedule or perhaps feeling the ticket price wasn't worth it, I just passed by and took a look.

Third stop: Park Güell. As one of Gaudí's works, it's also a must-visit. With similarly whimsical architecture, can his mastery of trencadís rival that of China? It's said that if you arrive before opening hours in the early morning, you can visit for free.

Overlooking Barcelona from the top. After leaving Park Güell, I climbed a bit up the mountain path, then scrambled to the abandoned castle on the hilltop to watch the sunset and night view. On clear days, you can see Barcelona under a pink sunset here, said to be very romantic. Unfortunately, the day I went was cloudy.

If I had to choose between this place and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, I would prefer here. But as a perfectionist, I still feel it's a pity that I didn't make it to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Barcelona Beach. After watching the sunset and night scene, I went to Barcelona Beach, wanting to see how the beach at night differs from Qingdao's. The answer: no difference at all, but equally romantic.

Day 2: Casa Batlló. First stop, Casa Batlló. If the Sagrada Familia is Gaudí's first masterpiece, Casa Batlló should be second, surpassing Casa Milà. So I chose Casa Batlló for the second day. Humans build straight lines; God only loves curves. My words are not enough to praise Gaudí. Inside Casa Batlló, you will feel profound reverence for Gaudí—just how whimsical his thoughts were and how creative.

Second stop: Museu Picasso. Following someone's advice, I changed my schedule on the spot and visited the old master Picasso. As one of the three major Picasso museums, it is undoubtedly a must-visit. Of course, to be honest, I find it really hard to grasp the painter's profound meaning. But when you listen to his life story and experience his various types of paintings, maybe you can better understand the life of an ordinary person. Perhaps as long as you stay true to your original heart, everyone is their own legend.

Old Town. After leaving the Picasso Museum, I strolled around the old town and visited the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar along the way. The old town is full of artistic shops and people expressing art. People painting on the street—so cool!

Then I cut across to the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA). Contemporary art, with its usual sex and abandon, for those of us outside the art circle, it's more about curiosity before understanding beauty. This museum was no exception.

When I came out of the museum, it was already dark, but because it was Halloween, there were even more people on the streets than during the day.

Day 3: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. My knowledge of Catalonia is basically zero. But in the movie 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' the old man's persistence and the fact that Catalan is still a must-learn language make me want to visit the special culture of Catalonia's capital. But honestly, I really couldn't understand it. Without Chinese audio guides, I didn't want to read every description one by one, so I just skimmed through.

Plaça d'Espanya. I was in a hurry when I arrived, so I only looked at it carefully before leaving. In the distance was my regret of this trip: the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Second stop: Casa Milà. As Gaudí's third masterpiece, I chose to visit it on the third day. Regarding Gaudí's works, I can only say that I have to admire his whimsical imagination and creativity.

Setback. Then I went through a not-so-pleasant experience. After much trouble, I still couldn't find the way to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart—of course, purely because I wanted to save money.

Beach Sunset. So I finally decided to go to the beach to watch the sunset. Fortunately, the sunset was beautiful, and I got some great aerial photos.

End of the trip. Had a good sleep and went home the next day.

Afterword. Oh, by the way, along the way I was amazed that renting a bicycle didn't require a deposit—just filling in a bank card as guarantee. The landlady even enthusiastically told me how to get there.

In Barcelona, I met a guy from California at the hostel who greeted me in Chinese. A very cool person. We chatted a bit and added WhatsApp. He invited me for a drink, but I wasn't willing to trust people that easily, so I declined.

Then the next day, at a trendy restaurant, I ordered 500 or 1000ml of sangria by myself, almost getting myself drunk. There I also met a Chinese couple at the next table, both medical researchers from UCSF. To my shame, I had never heard of that institution until he mentioned that the latest Nobel Prize came from there—then I felt awe. We talked a lot. I envied their respectful and harmonious relationship and lifestyle.

Barcelona under the night sky, T10 ticket, the hostel I stayed at

Right next to Casa Batlló

Hostel offered free breakfast

Selfie at Sagrada Familia

Selfie at Park Güell

Trapped in the rain

Trapped in the rain, so I went to H&M for a while

Fancy H&M

Halloween got me drunk

Famous foie gras steak

Barcelona airport, huge crowds

Finally boarded the plane to go home

Bye bye Barcelona