This Barcelona layover was such a “finally” moment for me because I’ve been bidding for Spain for so long and I never got it—then suddenly I landed my first Spain as Barcelona. I got ready a bit late (it was already almost 4pm), hopped on the tram (after struggling a bit because everything is in Spanish), and headed straight to the most famous spot: Sagrada Familia. It was way hotter than I expected, so I was sweating in my thick jeans, but the weather was still nice because it wasn’t humid and the wind felt cool. After taking all my photos outside (you really need to book way in advance to go in), I did a slow walk to more architecture spots like Casa Milà and Casa Batlló—everything here is so interesting and pretty. Then I went shopping because brands like Zara, Mango, Pull&Bear, and Bershka are from Spain, so I wanted to see what’s cheaper or has more options. The shops were super crowded and sizing was an issue, but I still managed to get one cute mini summery dress from Bershka. For food, my main mission was seafood paella and chocolate churros. I ended up choosing a restaurant on the main street because I was tired of walking, tried Aperol Spritz for the first time, and had crispy calamari plus a tomato-based seafood paella (so good and so fresh). I even got extra drinks and a discount, then finished the night with freshly made churros and Nutella before heading back safely to my hotel.