How To Tackle Barcelona, Spain in 3 Days

Barcelona is one of the most amazing cities in Europe, and certainly falls near the top of the list of places to go in Spain. With a mixture of thriving culture, jaw-dropping architecture, and natural beauty, Barcelona deserves a lifetime to truly get to know. However, many of us only get to experience a taste of this beautiful city. A weekend is just enough time to fall in love with the city and keep you longing to return. Here are some of the can’t miss spots of the city:

La Sagrada Familia

Antonio Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece has been in the works for over 100 years. If you look beyond the scaffolding and souvenir shops around the corner, it is easily one of the most astounding churches on Earth. It’s definitely worth it to pay the extra $$ to go inside – and order ahead to avoid the lines! When the sun shines in through either side, it gives life a magical array of colors that light up the entire church.

Pro-Tip: If you go after 6pm, you can get free entrance into the basement of the church, which has its own exhibit honoring the work of Gaudi.

The Old Bull Stadium

Just because you can’t actually see bulls fighting anymore, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the magnificent views from the top of the stadium-turned-mega-mall. Take the escalators all the way up to the top (stopping by a few stores along the way if the temptation is too much to bear), and grab lunch at one of the many restaurants. Sweeping views of the entire city are included with your meal, free of charge.

Park Güell

Being in Barcelona, you have to appreciate the impact the famous Gaudi had on the city. They love him there, and for good reason. Another one of his crowning gems is Park Güell, an architecturally stunning park perched at the top of the city. Don’t be distraught by the barren center or massive amount of tourists, but embrace the park for what it is. Be sure to get some snaps by the mosaic walls!

Las Ramblas

To truly experience a city, sometimes the best thing to do is to walk around and see where you end up. The best place to do this kind of exploring is Las Ramblas. This is a long stretch that travels from Port Vell on the shoreline (perfect spot for a nice beach walk or lunch on the ocean) up to Plaza Catalunia (ideal for shopping and bar hopping). Las Ramblas is full of culture, beauty, and a perfect mixture of touristy and more low-key attractions.

Opium Club

If you want to party like the Barcelona locals, head down to the beach on Passeo Maritimo. By the shoreline, there are several clubs lined up to offer partiers views, drinks, and dancing all in one place. One of the best spots on the lineup is Opium – a massive nightclub with a mixture of a D.J. and live music.  Think house music with live saxophone (you might have to experience that one to realize how great it is). The club also has a tremendous outdoor component with a more relaxed vibe, and even allows guests to step out on to the beach and reenter at their whim.

Montserrat

This one takes up a little more time.  But if you have a day to do it, climbing Montserrat Mountain is unquestionably worth it. You can take the train from Plaza España (which is a little bit out of the city) to get there, and then ride a trolley car to the top. To say the views are breathtaking would be a tremendous understatement. At the top, there is also a beautiful monastery fit for exploring.

A Note on Culture – Right now is a very interesting time to visit Barcelona. This part of the country, Catalonia, is in the middle of a movement towards independence, which is quickly gaining traction. In the city, a Spanish flag is virtually unseen, replaced by Catalonian flag. The language is heavily dependent on their Spanish dialect. As a tourist in the city, the situation will not have a large effect on your visit, but it is an important thing to keep in mind throughout your travels.  Happy traveling!

- Abby Rasweiler

The Reykjavik Bar Crawl with Wake Up Reykjavik

Iceland is known for many things: sweeping landscapes, breathtaking waterfalls, hot springs, and, perhaps, ice.  But what may be a surprise for some is the booming nightlife scene in the capital city of Reykjavik. 

While researching things to do ahead of my visit, I came across Wake Up Reykjavik, an event-planning company that organizes bar crawls and tours through the most happening scenes in the city.  After a seamless email chain with the owners, Dan and Egill, my friends and I embarked on an unforgettable night during our Icelandic vacation.

Stop #1

The night started at a spot called Loftid, a low-key, dimly lit cocktail lounge with rustic décor. It was here where we met up with Dan and Egill, along with two other participants, and had our first set of drinks for the night. 

First up was 'My Sweet Fire,' also known as the 'Spicy Black Death' cocktail.  Black Death is another name for Iceland’s signature spirit, Brennivin.  With a menacing name like that (and a dash of Tabasco sauce to boot), I was expecting instant inebriation.  However, a combination of lemon and orange juice in the cocktail helped to take the edge off.  I tasted more sweetness than spiciness, which made this concoction superb to my senses. 

Next was a Risky Sour, a distinctly sweeter cocktail made with blended vodka, sugar syrup, lemon juice, and Maraschino liqueur.  If you are into cloyingly sweet drinks like whiskey and Midori sours, you will definitely enjoy this mix.

Stop #2

The next stop was Islenski Barinn, a Viking bar that gave us a chance to blend in with locals.  The space was smaller and tighter, as patrons sat at one of their long wooden tables and listened to live music.  We started off with Icelandic brews and enjoyed the atmosphere. 

Then came a challenge. A server came by with pure, unadulterated shots of Brennivin (Black Death, remember?) and cubed bites of fermented shark inside of a Mason jar.  I said a small prayer before consuming either.  The shot was gross, but surprisingly smooth going down.  The shark only added to the pungent party going on in my mouth with its harsh after taste.  I risked the snapping of my braces brackets for the most necessary gum chew of my life.

Stop #3

After braving wind, rain, and snow all in a five minute walk to our next spot (gotta love Iceland’s volatile weather), we ended up at the quirky and fun Lebowski Bar.  As indicated in the name, the bar’s theme was inspired by the movie, The Big Lebowski. 

The DJ played pop and R&B hits from the 80’s and 90’s, including BBD’s “Poison”, which excited all of us.  The featured drink at this stop was the White Russian topped with Cocoa Puffs cereal.  This was my first time in life eating Cocoa Puffs (#teamFruitLoops4life) and I loved it! 

Stop #4

From here, we walked to a legendary hot dog stand to try an authentic Icelandic frank.

Fun fact: The hot stand has been in the same spot for 78 years, but was recently moved 3 meters due to hotel construction.  

I personally prefer hot dogs straight off the grill, but this one was not half bad.  The toppings, including onions, ketchup, a sweet brown mustard, and remoulade, made for a very tasty treat.  

Stop #5

The last stop was Auster, one of the biggest nightclubs in Reykjavik. The DJ spun some current top 40 hits and house music.  Due to the long day behind and the next one ahead of me, I opted to sit in a VIP section that one of the bouncers was nice enough to let us have.  My friends, however, went out to the dance floor and enjoyed about 10 minutes of dancing (and pushing lol). It’s safe to say, Icelanders know how to party!

If you are planning to visit Iceland in the future and want to experience a night on the town, Dan and Egill of Wake Up Reykjavik will do an outstanding job of showing you around!  This was not only entertaining, but, at times, educational.  I felt I learned more about the Icelandic culture by way of bar-hopping.  Visit their website or Instagram for more information (and tell them I sent you!).

- Andrea Williams