March Madness ~ Bunkers with Nicola and Sarah

Bunkers del Carmel is probably one of my favourite places in Barcelona. It's an old army bunker that was once used to defend the city during the Spanish Civil War. Aswell as that, have I mentioned before how I love mountains and rooftop bars? Well this place is basically the offspring if those two had a very attractive baby. Whilst Nicola and Sarah (the last of my March visitors) were here, I took them up to ooo and aaa over the views, take a few photos and write some postcards. 

I hadn't heard about this place until I moved to Barcelona when one of my housemates was raving about it. If you're ever visiting BCN it's a must do in my opinion. If you search it on Google maps it comes up pretty easily and you can make your own way or try mine! Take the V17 bus towards El Carmel (you can use your T10 metro card or pay €2.15 each way) and hop off at the very last stop. Walk up the road directly in front of the bus stop. Continue on until you reach a little neighborhood of houses and turn right. Walk up the insanely steep hill (use that gluteus maximus!) and be hit in the face with the best 360 view of Barcelona. It's equally as beautiful at night when the whole city is lit up! 

I'm leaving Barcelona for the motherland at the end of this month. I plan on writing about my experience here including finding an apartment, a job and other things including my favourite spots to eat, drink and be merry! 

Until then,

Ciara 

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March Madness ~ A Weekend With Rose & Esther

Friday

It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday! And by gettin' down I mean renting green bikes and having a picnic. Rose and Esther arrived yesterday. Last night we got Pizza Circus (XXL oh so delicious pizza from Gracia) and some beer. Today we're feeling fresh and I'm so happy that one of my bestest friends from Erasmus is in Barcelona (Rose) along with her super fly cousin (Esther). First stop is El Nacional for some lunchtime coffees and mini beers. I accidentally stumbled across this place one day and fell in love with it - the restaurant itself is insanely gorgeous, the staff are as friendly as you can get and I want their bathrooms in my future Spanish villa. Next, we head to Green Bikes via Placa Reial where you can hire a bike for €10 for 24 hours. We name our bikes and ride happily on over to Parc de la Ciutadella, picking up a picnic on the way. Rose pops some cava and we witness some fancy acrobatics. The day ends with us riding our bicycles tipsily up Passeig de Gracia and much later having a boogie in a gay bar. 

Saturday

We've decided to take it relatively easy today as quite a dance was had last night. I've brought the gals to Palo Alto per Rose's request. I add a ring to my ever growing collection. We end the night all cuddled up watching Death Becomes Her. Meryl Streep will forever be a babe. 

Sunday

What better way to spend a Sunday than on a rooftop bar! We're on top of the Novotel hotel and red wine is the beverage of choice. There's some great views of the city and a little photo shoot is had. Like the classy ladies we are we decide on McDonald's for burgers and beers (yes, they serve beer in McDonald's in Spain). From there we take a taxi to Guzzo and a few hours later we end up at an after-party in a leather workshop. More on that some other time. 

Hip hip hooray for Rose and Esther, two great gals. Can't wait to take a trip to England to see them both again! Perks of having international friends, eh?

Ciara

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P O D C A S T S

I do love listening to music. But often, I tend to find five songs I really like and have them on repeat for three months solid. Then this makes me frustrated. So! Nowadays when I'm cleaning, working, cooking etc. I tend to pop on a podcast; they're all different, entertaining, educational and funny. I decided to make a list of my favourites to get you introduced to the medium if you're interested. Enjoy!

5. Women Of The Hour with Lena Dunham

about - A miniseries hosted by Lena Dunham in which she and other guests talk friendship, bodies, love and sex, work and ''The Big Picture''. I'm a fan of Girls so, like I did with her book, I thought I would give Lena's podcast a go. I wasn't the biggest fan but it's worth a mention for Emma Stone and June Squibb's advice bits. Emma Stone's voice is the bomb.com. 

standout episode - Love & Sex Bonus Episode: First Love Lost. It's heartbreaking and lovely all at the same time. 

4. Modern Love

about - I can't remember how I came across this one just before Valentine's Day but I really enjoyed it! I do love a bit of love. This is a weekly podcast featuring stories from The New York Times column Modern Love. It features, like Emma Stone's, great voices reading some great stories. 

standout episode - standout episodes in this case; 'One Last Swirl' | Modern Love 2 and 'An Interlude of Clarity' | Modern Love 4. Again, lovely voices and some really well written, reader submitted columns. 

3. Serial

about - I listened to the whole of season one whilst watching Making a Murderer at the same time and half wanted to become a lawyer. Adnan Syed was convicted for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 1999. He's still in prison but has voiced his innocence since the murder. Sarah Koenig is host and the definition of detective. You'll be hooked! 

standout episode - The whole of season one. All of it. Yet to start season two. 

2. Garance Doré's Pardon My French 

about - Garance Doré is French blogger extraordinaire. I first stumbled across Garance on YouTube and have been following her since. Garance includes a French word of the day related to the theme of the episode. Who doesn't want to parle a lil francais?

standout episode - Finding Balance: Zosia Mamet. Garance speaks to Zosia Mamet (Shoshanna from Girls) about success and how realistic and enjoyable it is to really have it all. This episode takes place in a café so the background noise is weirdly comforting, totally immersive and Zosia is a dote. 

1. #girlboss radio 

about - Sophia Amoruso is the founder and owner of Nasty Gal and author of #GIRLBOSS. In this podcast she speaks to different women about how they went about finding their own success. My favourite part is when she reads out #girlbossmoments sent in by listeners and readers of her books.  

standout episode - all of it. Gals, soak it up. It's good for ya. 

Started The Minimalists yesterday and I already think it's worth a very mini mention. 

Ciara

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March Madness ~ La Sagrada Familia

How is it the 1st of March already? I don't even know. Declan's February visit was the kickoff of what I'm calling March Madness; I have four weeks of visitors in a row. First there was Declan, Eavan and Katie just left, Rose and her cousin Esther are coming this weekend and two of my bestest friends, Nicola and Sarah are here next weekend before I fly home for 10 days for my Easter holidays. I've had to buy a blow up bed. Feelin' 23.

For Declan's penultimate visit we hit up La Sagrada Familia. I would highly recommend it! The outside is so obviously gorgeous but the light from the stained glass windows on the inside was my favourite part of our visit. I also enjoyed my typical trip to the gift shop to pick up a postcard and play with the kaleidoscopes. After the church we went to The Beerket, a craft beer place just opposite my apartment. There we drank some delicious beer, saw a funny license plate and enjoyed some great lightning.

Happy March,

Ciara

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