It's Monday night and I have just returned from the most amazing weekend. I met up with an old friend of mine from high school in Barcelona, Spain. I departed for the trip on Friday afternoon and after a quick 2 hour flight I touched down to my 26th country. A quick bus ride to the hotel from the airport and brief reunion with Tricia, I dropped my bags and we headed out for a night on the town. Barcelona is a lively city and people are out and about at all hours of the day and night. Our first stop was a local bar, and before we could even get to the counter to order we were offered drinks by a group of guys from the UK who were on a stag party. I know, I leave the UK only to bump into Englishmen in Spain. We knew the evening would be a good one from that point on. We stayed out dancing until 4:30am and it was a very memorable evening. Saturday morning we woke up and had an amazing breakfast at our hotel, Catalonia Cathedral. I would recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Barcelona. The rooms are super nice, the breakfast is included in the cost of the hotel, and you are located in the heart of the downtown gothic quarter of the city right off La Rambla. 
After breakfast Tricia and I grabbed our sunglasses and hit the city. We wandered around the streets checking out the beautiful architecture, local markets, and the amazing beaches.
We had a mini photo shoot on the beach due to our excitement that it was February and we were able to put our feet in the sand and ocean. It was absolutely amazing!
After our photo shoot we checked out some local sand art sculptures and then grabbed a seat at an outdoor cafe that overlooked the Mediterranean ocean. We then ordered a pitcher of sangria and some Tapas. It was so nice to sit, people watch, and enjoy the sun.
After our day of exploring Barcelona we got to take part in an amazing tradition in Spain, a siesta. The entire town shuts down from about 3pm-5pm and people take naps. Gotta love it! After our siesta we got all jazzed up for a lovely dinner with you guessed it, more tapas. From there we checked out a local salsa dance club thanks to a recommendation from a local for a night of authentic spanish salsa dancing. It was fantastic!
Sunday almost all of the shops were closed so I navigated for Tricia and I to visit one of Spain's most famous tourist attractions, Sagrada Familia. The church was more than words can describe! The pictures do not do it justice and if you go to Barcelona, it is a must see!
After checking out the church, we decided to end our trip with a stroll by the docks.
We ended up at another little cafe for you guessed it...more sangria and tapas. It was delicious!
I have to say, having been to 26 countries Spain is definitely in the top 10. The people are lovely, the food is fresh and flavorful, and their vivid culture is present everywhere you look. I can't wait to visit Spain again in April when my mom comes to visit for my birthday. Until next time, I will see you on the internet.
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