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Barcelona > Seville > Paris

One of the best trips of my life. Would not change a single thing about it.

Some highlights:

• Climbing Montserrat in a dress, without GPS or data connection – basically following paint marks and, eventually, the monastery sewage pipes until I found my way to the peak.

• Having the best hummus in my life at A Tu Bolas. And the dizzying displays of sweets and pastries at the Mercat.

• Being stalked for half an hour in Barcelona until I shook him off by being tremendously lost

• Staying near the Gothic Quarters. I love the architecture there so much. Taking a walk early morning before everyone rises is amazing.

• The street artists with their own brand of extraordinary art styles

• Hotel Amadeus, classical themed hotel in Sevilla, which I cannot stop singing praises over. Afternoons spent with a drink and a book at the rooftop pool, with that beautiful Spanish sun.

• Catedral of Sevilla and La Giralda, my favorite cathedrals – or possibly buildings – in the entire trip

• Placa d’Espanya, my second favorite place

• So many, many museums! Surprisingly enjoyed the tiny, off-street Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (entry fee 1,5 euros) more than many others (maybe even the Louvre)

• Call me crazy but I love long flights. Qatar was a superb choice. I could have stayed on the plane for 6 more hours and been perfectly happy.

• Pilgrimage to Shakespeares & Company in Paris, which despite being cramped with tourists, has excellent and homely customer service :)

• Pilgrimage to Café des Deux Moulins, a tribute to my all-time favorite movie. Where I had the best pain au chocolat in France

• Musee d’Orsay, where I saw the works of one of my fav- (i’ve been using the word favorite a lot in this post) artist: William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and was mildly disappointed

• Musee Rodin, my fav- (fine.) sculptor! And was entirely captured by this piece called ‘Je suis belle’. It turned out to be a combination of Falling Man and Crouching Woman, together taking on a new meaning

• Musee Parfum, which I was looking forward to as the fragrance fiend I am. It still exceeded expectations, despite being a small and free tour. Enjoyed myself plenty.

• Parthenon, where I spent maybe 15 minutes at Foucault’s pendulum, and then an hour next to Rousseau’s tomb. And nothing else. Worth it. To be that near to my hero’s remains: surreal.

• Ate an ungodly amount of gelato, with zero regrets: