Barcelona Take Two

After a day of sizzling on the beach we spend the next few days taking in the sights...

Barcelona is a beautiful city with some amazing architecture - mostly down to Gaudi - and you can't deny that he added some magnificent scenes to the place. Two of the major ones are Park Guell and the awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia. Both are very special places and give the city a unique twist.

Park Guell sits at the top of a hill, it's a little bit of a trek to get to - and all up hill! But don't distress too much as there's escalators most of the way up to make the climb a little less painful. When you get to the top the effort definitely seems worth it, there's views of the whole city and you can gaze all the way down to the sea.

You just wouldn't think that it was constructed between 1900-1914 as the artistic flairs from Gaudi almost seem contemporary and modern. There's mosaics dotted about the place, the best being the ones on the seated terrace on the edge, as well as intriguing little designs and quirky details all over the park. The gorgeous flowers and terrace walls coupled with the colonnaded foot-path to offer some shade all add to the calming, pretty and peaceful ambience that give the impression the park is secluded in a little magical bubble.

Stripes are lovely in the summer - although if I'm honest give me stripes any time of the year! But popped on with some white shorts to show off a tan summer holiday wardrobes could not be better.

(Top - Primark, Shorts - Primark, Bag - Osprey, Sunglasses - Tommy Hilfiger)

Next up was my favourite, the Sagrada Familia. This amazing building was started way back in 1882 and still has a long way to go, with an expected completion date of 2026! But I think this just adds to the unique charm of the place. I visited Barcelona a few years ago and you can see all the little details and advancements that they've made, unlike other sights it's a new place everytime you go back and I fall in love with it a little more each time, it really is Gaudi's masterpiece.


I could stand and take it all in for ages, it's enchanting with intricate and elaborate details decorating the huge building, one highlight for me is the mosaic 'fruit-bowls' at the top of the spires - I guess I'm a sucker for a mosaic! Inside it's calming and peaceful, as you'd expect from a religious building, but it's extra special with stained glass windows and curved, angled pillars reaching towards the elaborate ceiling. Downstairs is a little museum area and it's really fascinating looking at the building growing throughout the years.

A little white dress, barely-there sandals and a bright blue scarf - summer perfection!

(Dress - Topshop, Scarf - H&M, Sandals - Primark, Bag - Osprey)

The last night came around far, far too soon - but of course we made the most of it and filled our bellies with Spanish food and sangria. We had dinner at Las Arenas de Barcelona, an old bull ring that's no longer in use. The glass lift swooped you up to the circular promenade at the top where you had views over the city, which was just lovely as the sun went down. We ate up there and enjoyed the view and the start of a little show...

The restaurant we chose overlooked the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, the huge fountain does a special light and music show - yes I know it sounds like ultra-cheese-on-toast, and maybe it is, but hey cheesy can be just what you need every once in a while. Anyway, the setting is stunning as behind the fountain-lined walk up to the multi-coloured spurts of water is the Palau Nacional, an impressive museum that sights on top of the Montjuic hill. The hill climbs up to the huge building with grand staircases and overflowing fountains - it's beaut.

I wanted to dress up a bit for my last night in the sun so I had packed in my favourite maxi-dress. I actually got this one for my Grad Ball, but it's really versatile depending on how you style it and with casual hair and brown wedges, it's casual enough while looking pretty for a summer evening. And I couldn't resist popping on my new go-to-summer-necklace.

(Dress - Oh My Love, Necklace - a lovely little birthday present!)

Where can I jet off to next?