When choosing a vacation spot there were so many things for me to consider: did I want to go to the beach or the mountains? Did I want to sight-see all day or party all night? Did I want a spot with a rich history? Will it have unique architecture? For a place where culture and partying meet, head to Barcelona. The architecture is a marvel. The buildings by Antonio Gaudi, like La Sagrada Familia, mix Gothic and Nouveau styles to create structures so interesting that I could spend hours gazing at them.
Las Ramblas is a street that cuts through the center of the city and includes many shopping and dining options. Performance artists costumed as vampires and angels act as living statues that come to life for a small donation. Seeing them remain so still is awe inspiring, but watching a gargoyle on break chatting and smoking is even better.
Don’t forget to take a siesta, because the city comes to life at night. Dinner usually isn’t served until 9 p.m. or later and many of the bars stay open until the sun rises.
Tarragona is a great place to relax after all of those late nights. I was so mesmerized by an amphitheater that stood in front of the Mediterranean Sea that I lost my footing and fell down a flight of stairs. Watching an elderly Spanish woman laugh at my expense reminded me of one of my favorite parts of traveling: that some things are universal.
The beaches look like postcards with their mountainous backgrounds and clear water. Most of the restaurants that line the shore have a menu of the day that makes a three course meal easily affordable. Roman remains are prominent in this region.
Catalonia, Spain has a mixture of art, nature and nightlife that makes for an exceptional vacation. When I visited I couldn’t believe so many experiences could come from one location.