Family and friends in Sant Mateu and Barcelona

I stayed with my brother and his family in Sant Mateu for about ten days. For me, it was a good time to take a break from traveling, although it was a bit chaotic with three kids (and five adults). I enjoyed doing something 'hands-on' again, like cleaning windows or cooking. (To Raquel's delight, my brother and I cooked something truly German: red cabbage with mashed potatoes and sausages).

I visited the beautiful Peñiscola for a day with my parents and two nephews. We went for a walk on the beach, ate paella, and had coffee or hot chocolate. But you can also go hiking in the Sant Mateu area, so we went on some hikes. I really enjoyed the time with my family. We had many nice and intense conversations, and I was able to share some travel stories with them.

But then it was time to say goodbye again. I had a weekend in Barcelona with two friends from Mannheim before continuing my journey to Central America. Of course, after six months, we had a lot to talk about, which we did over coffee, wine, tapas, and vermouth.

We also had some cultural activities on our agenda. We visited the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi's House. On my last visit to the city, I only saw the cathedral from the outside and was a bit skeptical if it was really worth visiting. I was proven wrong!

We had pre-booked tickets, including an audio guide, and it was worth it! The information was just enough to not overwhelm you. I was especially impressed by the interior of the cathedral, which is very simple. But the light that shines through the colorful windows gives the space a mystical atmosphere. The columns inside are meant to resemble a forest - and you could definitely see that! In the architect/artist's house of the cathedral, which we visited afterwards, we learned some facts about his life and work.

I used the remaining time in Barcelona to stock up on my equipment or reorganize my backpack, and I also got another haircut - who knew when and where I would have the opportunity again...