End of May in Barcelona was sunny, with temperatures in the twenties, and the combination of sunshine and sea breeze was very comfortable. I planned a three-day trip and stayed near the relatively safe Passeig de Gràcia, which was also convenient for getting around.**
Day 1:Took a morning train from Madrid to Barcelona. After checking in, I wandered around the city. I walked into a restaurant called Cerveceria Catalana, which turned out to be unexpectedly delicious. I strolled to the Barcelona Cathedral and the "Kiss Wall," wandered around the Gothic Quarter, and enjoyed some coffee. By around four or five o'clock, I set off for Tibidabo. It's essential to plan your time because the church on Tibidabo Mountain stops selling tickets at 8 PM, so you can't go to the top after that! Since the bus schedules are fixed, it's crucial to head up the mountain early (The consequence of not planning well is that I reached the top but couldn't take pictures from the summit). After coming down, we headed to a Chinese restaurant called Xiang Yu as we couldn't resist the craving.
Day 2:Woke up naturally, grabbed a light snack, and then headed to the notoriously hard-to-reserve La Pepita (if you want to book a table, you need to do so a week in advance). It's best to arrive before they open at 1 PM. We waited for more than half an hour but eventually got a seat. Although it didn't quite meet expectations, it was still good. We walked along the way to the Sagrada Família, passing many beautiful women's clothing stores! (There are so many good-looking people on the streets of Barcelona!) I had bought the tickets for the Sagrada Família in advance and scheduled our visit for the afternoon when the lighting is at its best, around 3 or 4 PM. After taking some photos, we quietly sat down to soak in the art. Don’t miss the surroundings of the Sagrada Família! They are simply stunning! After leaving, we headed straight to Barcelona's most famous ice cream shop, and if you time it right, you can head to Carmel Hill to watch the sunset. Bring some beers and snacks, as the atmosphere on Carmel Hill is fantastic, and you can stay from dusk until nightfall. We saw the Sagrada Família by day and night from the hilltop. In the cool evening, we craved something warm, so we went for hotpot at Yiguo. Although it's not cheap, the portions are generous!
Day 3: While in Barcelona, a visit to a seaside town was a must, so after much comparison, I chose Tossa. I finally saw the famous "dog hole," and there wasn't much of a line, so I checked off that spot. Tossa is really sunny, so make sure to protect yourself from the sun. Having just been to Southeast Asia, I was a bit “disillusioned” with seaside towns, and the five- to six-hour round-trip bus ride was quite tiring. However, if you want to see a seaside town, Tossa is a good choice—it's quite commercialized with plenty of restaurants. Next time, I want to visit Mallorca!
In the three days I spent in Barcelona, I felt a sense of freedom in both body and soul. Even after returning home, I still miss that feeling of aimlessly wandering around yet feeling completely at ease. I stayed in Barcelona for 72 hours, but it didn't take 72 hours to fall in love with this place.**
