Barcelona | Exploring Catalan Storybook Charms

2026.02.19-20 Girona, Spain; Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain

Day 4: We set off early in the morning, heading north to Girona, a well-preserved ancient city in Catalonia. It is also known for the filming location for TV series Game of Thrones.

We gave ourselves a buffer hour to catch the high speed rail. However, I made a big mistake handing out some coins to a homeless man, which caused a bit of a panic. To make matters worse, we entered the metro in the wrong direction and got locked out. By the time we finally got to the Spain Renfe Train station at Estació de Barcelona Sants, we realized it was as big as an airport. We watched the clock ticking. Within 10 minutes, we had to figure out the correct platform entrance, get through the security scan, and dash to the platform track. By the time we sat down in our seats, the door closed within 5 seconds. It took me half of the onboard time (total of 40mins ride) to catch my breath…  

Barcelona | Continue to Wander in Gaudí’s Masterpieces

2026.02.18 Sagrada Família/ Casa Milà, Barcelona, Spain

Day 3: We came to visit Gaudí’s most well-known masterpiece: Sagrada Família 

Even in the slow season, Sagrada Família remains no.1 attraction in Barcelona. It is always packed with lots of tourists. I couldn’t book the same time slot as Jess, so I spent the first 2.5 hours simply admiring it from the outside.

Barcelona | Immerse in the Art of Architecture

2026.02.16-17 Gothic Quarter/ El Born/ Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site/ Casa Batilló, Barcelona, Spain

I’ve been wanting to document this unbelievable journey since the day I returned home. It feels like only yesterday I walked down the narrow alleys, tasted the flavorful food, and visited the magnificent cathedrals. Every bit of Barcelona melts my heart. 

This trip was an absolute godsend. A text message from my college roommate one day caught me off guard. She asked me if I would like to accompany her to Barcelona, Spain. I woke up the next morning, re-reading our text exchanges to make sure it was REAL! I knew that if I turned this down, I would be regretting the rest of my life. Besides, Jess got almost everything planned, well planned! She highlighted most of the attractions, got the major tour, Sagrada Familia booked, and a few recommended restaurants reserved already. I basically just booked the flight and thumb twiddled until the departure day.