Waking up in Barcelona was not only a dream because, well, it’s Barcelona. But after going to bed absolutely ravenous the night before, I couldn’t wait to jump out of bed and run to the market for all these yummies.
Bread, tomatoes, avocado, marinated grilled peppers, cucumber, chickpeas, olives. And of course, wine (€3 for a bottle…whaaat?!)
Now that my hangry had chilled out, my boyfriend was willing to take me out in public again 😉
Hopped off the metro at Basílica de la Sagrada Família, the massive, incomplete Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral by Gaudí.
Grabbing a coffee across the street from the basílica, we connected to wifi to buy tickets. On the website, we spotted a little deal and jumped on it: “Up to 30 September young people between 11 and 30 will have a 50% discount on all tickets on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays after 6:00 pm.” So we booked the following day.
As usual, we strolled around, with no agenda. I love how walkable Barcelona is (same as Madrid).
We stumbled upon Las Ramblas, a tree-lined central boulevard cutting through the heart of the city. A zillion and one things to eat, see, drink, buy, and goggle over – a tourist trap, maybe. But a must-do in Barcelona.
And of course, Mercat de Sant Josep (La Boqueria), a large public market overflowing with vegan-friendly fuel like fresh fruit and juices, veggies, breads, and olives.
*Look around at prices before you buy! I made the mistake of grabbing the first fruit cup I saw, and payed an extra euro.
In Europe, there isn’t as much of a disconnect between animals and meat. At La Boqueria, you meet your meat. 
I’ll stick with olives, thanks! 😉
We sat down for some wine and tapas at a bar close to the front of the market. Our plan to eat there got scrapped when the server refused to let us order a couple veggie side dishes without a meat ‘main’. We downed our wine and relocated.
We typically try to avoid dining in the more touristy spots (more pricey, less authentic), but the paella looked incredible, so we threw our budget aside for a few minutes.
Lunch: Paella de Verduras and a bottle of wine ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
And you ask if I ate the whole thing myself? Do you even know me at all?!
Then I needed a siesta before my meeting with Messi at Camp Nou
Witnessing a hat-trick by Messi himself and the energy in that stadium, though. So intense!
7-0 against the Celtics called for some celebratory brews. (Wait. I’m part Scottish. Oh well, not tonight;))
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Next morning before checking out Museu Picasso, we stopped in at a café nearby.
Tostada con tomate… naturally.
After Picasso, we took to the streets.
Fresh fruit is SO accessible in Barcelona! You will find little markets everywhere – perfect for snacks.
Sauntering around Gothic Quarter (centre of the Old City)
Barcelona is so packed with eateries, it’s insane! Vegetarian options are very common, so use your magic and you’ll always be able to veganize yourself something delish.
Found out what a piadina was at INA Espacio de Cafe y Piadina.
How did I survive before this?
Funky interior and awesome local craft beer selection (yasssssssss)
‘Istambul’ piadina (hummus, olives, tomatoes, eggplant, olive oil).
Amazing.
My sweet tooth is nonexistent. But…. vegan churros at Churrería Granja????
The owner, a little Spanish abuela (she was the sweetest thing) was proud to exclaim that her churros are vegan, and she fries them in olive oil.
And how adorable is this shop?
After a little siesta at our Airbnb, we came back to tour Sagrada Família.
Truthfully, I’ve never really been a huge architecture buff. Until this trip.
Gaudí joked that God is in no hurry to see this basílica complete; it’s projected to be finished in 2026, nearly 150 years after construction began, coinciding with the centennial of the architect’s death.
IN-SANE!
It was not by any means a ‘peaceful’ experience touring with thousands of other tourists (like the tranquil Toledo Cathedral), but this massive creation made my jaw drop like nothing else.
Quick tour of the FCB shop/museum across the street.
One last stroll around Las Ramblas, and popped into a cute restaurant off one of the side streets for dinner.
I ordered my favourite Spanish tapas:
- Papatas Bravas (Potatoes in spicy tomato sauce)
- Pimientos de Padrón (Peppers roasted with oil, salt + pepper)
- Tostada con Tomate (Grilled break with tomato purée + olive oil)
- Champiñones al Ajillo (Garlic-fried mushrooms)
A note: You’ll hear all about Barcelona’s huge pickpocket problem. I always felt safe -however we were approached once by a guy that was clearly upto no good. I didn’t carry my camera in Barcelona, other than to Sagrada Família. Stand your ground, listen to your gut, don’t be careless, keep a hand on your purse, and you’ll be good to go.
Next stop: Lisbon, Portugal.
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