Las Ramblas.



One leisure activity that I love, especially when people are visiting. Down on Las Ramblas there is so much to see and explore. People come from all over the world to Barcelona to tour this infamous street. Las Ramblas is located right near Plaza Cataluyna and if you walk all the way down the street towards the statue of Christopher Columbus you will find the Mediterranean Sea. Las rambalas has so much to offer and there is always so much going on. From the colorful flowers being sold to the birds ready to buy in their cages, you will find it difficult choosing your favorite part of Las Ramblas.

One of the most entertaining things to see are the street performers and live human statues. You can find people dressed up in elaborate costumes with detailed face paint to grab passerby’s attention. These entertainers are great photo ops but it’s typically expected to tip them a euro to snap a picture. The human statues are dressed up as all types of things from angels to head-less men, you never no what you might see as you walk down this lively and rambunctious street. Some of the street entertainers are out there performing tricks to get your euro. At any given time you can find a man juggling a soccer ball, or a magician performing magic trick, or even a group entertaining masses of people with an acrobatic routine.

Other people try to earn money on Las Rambalas by selling their artwork. If you wander though some of the art stands you will find some masterpieces. A lot of the artists on Las Rambalas are extremely talented and they are selling beautiful painting and drawings right there on the street. You can even watch them as they work on some of their pieces. They have their canvases all set up right on the street in the middle of all the action of this crowded street. A fun thing to do in the art section is to get a caricature done of you or with a friend. They are extremely fun and a great keepsake. To get a caricature made it cost about 15 euro and it only takes roughly 10 minutes out of your adventure down the street.

All in all one thing is for sure Las Ramblas has a lot of character. It is a lively street and definitely a sight to be seen. I highly encourage people to experience Las Ramblas!

The W Hotel

Roommates at Eclipse Bar.



The Eclipse Bar at the W Hotel.



This past weekend my roommates and I went to The W Hotel for drinks. We got all dressed up and lounged at the Eclipse Bar on Saturday. When we walked through the hotel lobby towards the elevators we were greeted by a hostess. We were taken aback. Although we did make a reservation, we were unsure whether or not we were allowed to visit if we were not guests at the hotel. The elevator doors opened and all I saw were the city lights. We continued into the bar and there were modern couches and tables all over the room. The DJ, located next to the bar, was spinning some great beats. The Eclipse Bar was very swanky.

As we sat at our reserved table, sipping on Cava and other fancy drinks, we felt like the women of Sex and the City. It was so beautiful to look out the massive windows and see the city's waterfront. This really added to the fun atmosphere of the bar. The lights were dim, the music was blaring, and people were conversing with others. It was one of the most friendly bars I've been to in Barcelona. Not only were the waitresses/bartenders friendly, but we were approached by a couple sitting at the table next to us and another group standing at the bar. After a little while, we were all buying drinks and taking pictures for and with one another. It was a really fun night and I would definitely go there again. Perhaps it'll be the spot for our final goodbye to the wonderful city of Barcelona!

FC Barca Game

Katie and Ruby at the game!

Camp Nou is the essence of Barcelona sports. Walking into the stadium you are immediately struck with the magic and awe of European futbol. The fans are the most loyal fans that you could imagine. The chants and roars fill the stadium with excitement. To say the least Camp Nou was an amazing experience.
Prior to the match my friends and I bought matching Messi jerseys. Upon purchasing these jerseys we were unaware of the magnitude and fame of the player who sports the number ten for the Barca futbol team. Messi is an extreme and utter phenomenon not only is he the most famous player on the Barca team but his skill and ability to shoot the ball to the back of the net has made him a European mega star.

The game we attended was on March 17th the home match against Stugarrt. The Germans surely showed their loud and proud personalities as their chants began to fill the stadium. Germans have always been known for their massive consumption of beer and more often then not this consumption leads to a rowdy and arrogant attitude. The screaming Germans only made this experience even more memorable because the fierce competition gave the stadium more thrill and adrenaline.

The night ended in a joyous victory for the home team as the people of Barcelona sang their anthem with great pride. I proudly swayed to the tune as I now consider myself a Barca fan. This was truly great experience and I can only hope to come back to Camp Nou in a very new future. GO BARCA!

Tapa Tapa Maremagnum

Lunch with Katie.



When the sun is shining and the water is glistening, Tapa Tapa Maremagnum is a delicious restaurant choice for lunch or dinner. A party can either sit inside or out but when it is a beautiful day, outside is the way to go because the delightful views of the sea. This restaurant has a wide variety of tapas. The portions are very tiny so it is fun to order many different tapas and share with the table. Some of my favorites are the mini hamburger, cheese and ham croquettes, chicken and asparagus kabobs, and paella. The sangria is delish and very refreshing.

When my friend was visiting for the weekend, my roommates and I decided to take her to Tapa Tapa. I had been there once before and had a good experience, the service was alright but the food was pretty tasty. We order many of the tapas I had the first time and a few new ones. Everything at the time was great. It was until later that night when my friend Hope felt very sick. Her stomach was upset and she felt extremely nauseated. Her illness continued throughout the night but in the morning she was a whole new person. So in the end she had had food poisoning from the food at Tapa Tapa.

My most recent visit to this restaurant was definitely under par. Everything that we wanted to order was sold out, plus the service was the worst ever! The waiter was slow and did not understand anything we were trying to say. He was unfriendly not accommodating at all. This by far was the worst service I have experienced during my time in Barcelona. My visits here started out nice but continued to get worse. It is an alright restaurant but after my three times there I would rather choose a different restaurant to eat at.