in barcelona

we all know how much i love the place and this year for davoud's birthday trip we headed to sunny spain. i had alterior motives for stocking up on some much needed warmth and sunshine that was seriously lacking in the uk this summer.

we took an extraordinarily early flight on tuesday morning from liverpool john lennon airport. i usually very much enjoy the airport experience, but waking up at 4 am obviously put me in a bad mood. after being told that i was not going to be provided with a clear plastic sealable bag to put my carry on liquids in that were under 100 ml, and after paying 50p (about $1!) to purchase 2 of these bags from a vending machine, i discovered that i stupidly put our sunscreen in my handbag thinking it would save time when we arrived in barcelona as i wouldn't have to go through my checked luggage looking for it.

and even more shocking, boots (aka shoppers drug mart) actually sells items before you go through the security check that are over the 100 ml limit! it's the stupidest rule, no one has ever been charged in said terrorist plot that hampered my travels the last time i came back from barcelona, and it didn't start my day well. davoud also learned the very important lesson that it's not a smart idea to ask me to calm down ;)

but after making it onto the plane and finding two seats together - that's right, no assigned seating on easy jet - i got my iPod out and was happy enough.

barcelona, as always, was beautiful and sunny. our hotel was immaculate for the price and even had a pool on the roof! check out the b-hotel and if you're planning a trip and can get the rate we did, it's incredible value.

it was the catalan national holiday on 11 september so there were many demonstrations in the area i wanted to walk around with davoud - barri gotic - but we muddled through, went to the picasso museum, and then went back to the holiday to relax by the pool before getting cleaned up for dinner.

one of my favourite things about barcelona will always be the food and the wine. it's incredible and tasty and included lots of things i've been depriving myself of lately like fresh baguettes and cheese. i felt i was allowed to indugle after being so good ;) customer service is not a strong point anywhere in the city and it's incredibly hit or miss on who smiles, who speaks, and who just throws food down on the table and walks away. nevertheless, you becoming extremely forgiving once you actually tast the lovely meal in front of you.

also tasted the wine with the best name ever: wrongo dongo. on the back it even says *dongo to the party without it*

the next day was all out gaudi. a trek up to parc guell, the sagrada familia, a long walk looking at much of the modernist architecture past the arc de triomphe, parc ciutadella and finally the beach. davoud isn't a big fan of the beach, but he humoured me for an hour so i could go swimming in the sea.

on our last night we splurged a little bit and went to this whisky bar that i found there last summer, but was too chicken to go into by myself as it was clearly a bar for locals of the old man variety. i'll let davoud describe this bar in the comments, as i think it was the highlight of his trip. the last day we went to the contemporary art museum and a wee walk up to montjuic and the national art gallery. it was a quick trip, but still incredibly relaxing.