Like Vegas But Better

Sometimes the best things you find on a trip are those you overhear from those around you. While at the beach in Barcelona (more on that later), this girl from Australia recommended the fountain show at Plaza de Espanya. When we took a bus through Plaza de Espanya on our way into the city from the airport, we didn't notice any big fountains, so we were a little dubious. However, when we followed the crowd off the train and into the plaza, the scene just kept getting better and better.

The fountains at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas are renowned, but they pale in comparison to these. With the Museu National d' Art Catalunya rising up in the background on Montjuic, the scene was gorgeous. The fountains were choreographed to music, with the water continually changing color throughout. The light show in and of itself was impeccable. The water changed to colors I didn't even know were possible.

We climbed up to the Museu, sat on the steps and looked out at the whole city below. It was beautiful - an unforgettable part of an amazing Barcelona trip.

We Visit The Dow Jones Bar

A trip wouldn't be complete without visiting a few bars along the way. Our favorite (and certainly the best concept by far) was the Dow Jones Bar in Barcelona.

After wandering around for what felt like an hour hunting for the bar, we finally stumbled upon the Dow Jones Bar. Located on a quiet residential street, it was not exactly on the main drag. Despite that fact, the crowd was still largely tourists -- or at least foreigners.

The concept of The Dow Jones Bar is pretty simple -- prices of drinks are constantly updating, determined by supply and demand like the stock market. While we didn't notice the price of our drinks affected by what we ordered (which shall remain nameless), we did notice the prices fluctuating throughout the night. A ticker in the back and computer screens throughout the bar keep you up to date on the offerings and prices of the evening.

Given the concept, a trip to the bar is essentially spent "playing the market." I talked to a girl who was thrilled because she managed to buy a Heineken at 2 Euros - its lowest price of the night - before it rebounded up to 3 Euros or so by the time we talked. With friendly bartenders (and me learning to take shots with no hands), the Dow Jones Bar is highly recommended for a good time.

You're Never Far From Home

Every trip is also filled with small world moments. And while our trip may not have had any crazy coincidences, my favorite one was when Derek encountered a fellow Ohio State graduate and supporter in front of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The man and his wife were part of a tour group, and, though they live in Dallas now, they used to live in Columbus.

With matching outfits several thousand miles away from home, Buckeye pride was certainly strong - especially when Derek and the man recited the cheer: "O-H-I-O."

The Most Beautiful Fountain In The World

Every trip is filled with hidden wonders, and our trip was no exception. Hot and tired while wandering through a park in Barcelona in search of the Spanish version of the Arc de Triumph (which pales in comparison to the one in Paris), we stumbled upon the most beautiful fountain in the world. Grecian and majestic, it was like being transported to another world.

We would be remiss if we didn't share its beauty with you all.

Words of Wisdom on Budget Airlines in Europe

One thing quickly discovered on a trip to Europe is the beauty (or lack thereof) of budget airlines. Vueling, EasyJet, Ryanair... these companies help make seeing so many countries in one trip possible without spending a ton of money. At the same time though, their no frills approach may come as a shock to those unprepared.

Our flight from Amsterdam to Barcelona was no exception. While incredibly affordable (around $100 for a 2 hour flight), the flight was also less than comfortable. Want to sit with the person you're traveling with? Pay extra. Used to being served a drink on the flight? Even water costs more. Leg room? At 5"1, even I felt cramped.

Adding to the enjoyment of the flight, the people around us did not stop talking the entire time, making the nap I desperately needed much less possible. And, as the line formed for the bathroom in the front of the plane, I marveled at how different this was than traveling in the US. (Shoes remained on, body scanners were almost nonexistent, and the toughest customs I faced were when I came back to the US).

But on the other hand, despite the no-frills approach, the flight was only $100. You do the math.

An Amsterdam Bar

We only had one night out in Amsterdam, and, after wandering around, wound up at a bar that was everything I imagined it would be. Populated primarily by locals with cracked peanuts on the floor, the bar had a beautiful large painting on the wall. Our beers were solid, but we wished we'd sprung for cocktails. The hard alcohol looked even better than the beer.

Also, a word about the food in Amsterdam: it was amazing! Perhaps this is just due to the fact that I love smoked salmon, but every menu we looked at there was extremely enticing -- well, when we could find a restaurant, that is. There appear to be far more bars than restaurants in the city!

Suggestions on where to go next time we're in Amsterdam are extremely welcome - it's a hard city to find your way around!

Next stop: Barcelona

Visiting De Bierkoning (The Beer King)

For those of you who do not know my boyfriend Derek, he is one of the biggest beer snobs I have ever met. His "beerventory" contains over 100 beers. So perhaps it's no surprise he didn't trust me when I tried to convince him to go into a beer store in Amsterdam, De Bierkoning. Advertising hundreds of different beers, I figured we couldn't fail. And despite his apprehension, of course, I was right:

We were greeted by two floors featuring beers from all over the world. Our favorite find (a.k.a. the moment when Derek believed me) was when we found three beers from Short's Brewing Company, a brewery in the middle of nowhere in Michigan, that were only released AT the brewery three years ago -- a one time event. Yet this store thousands of miles away had many of each!

For fellow beer lovers, the Short's beers were: Aorta Ale, Abnormal Genius, & Ginger in the Rye.

The incredible beer selection at this store did not stop there. The #1 beer in the world right now, as rated by Beer Advocate, is the Trappist Westvleteren 12. Beers from that monastery are extremely hard to come by - the monks only brew the beer to make enough money to run the abbey, do not ship the beer, and let visitors only buy one gift pack (of 6 beers) each. Yet De Bierkoning had a crate of Trappist Westvleteren 8! (And it sounds like they often have 12s)

It is therefore unsurprising that, despite it being the first day of a three week trip to six different countries, Derek still bought several beers to bring back to the US.