It won’t be the last time I do this
It won’t be the last time I do this
Picture this: you’re sitting on the beach, sipping what might be the best sangria in all of Spain, soaking up the glorious April sunshine without a care in the world. Now, what if I told you all of this could be yours for less than a night out in Liverpool and you could be back home later that same day?
On Monday, I packed nothing more than my passport, purse, and lip gloss into a tiny handbag and boarded the 500 Arriva bus from Aigburth Road shortly before 5 AM to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Less than four hours later, I landed in Barcelona, where I would spend the next ten hours exploring the city that captured my heart.
Extreme day trips have become increasingly popular. After chatting with many travellers who managed to enjoy a day filled with culture for less than a typical night out, I couldn’t help but feel envious. I had already booked a bigger trip for the summer, so my bank account was getting low, but I was desperate for a flight and some sunshine.
A day trip seemed like the perfect solution. I searched Skyscanner for cheap flights and found some to Barcelona for around £60 return on the same day. My plan was coming together; at that price, it would be impossible to say no.
With the flights booked less than a week before my departure, I needed to compile a list of must-dos for my trip, as I wouldn’t have much time to explore a city I had never visited before. A quick look on Instagram quickly provided me with a list of places I was eager to see.
The flight from LJA left at 6.40am and after a two-hour and 20-minute power nap I landed in the Spanish city. A quick 20-minute bus to the city centre from the airport after breezing through passport control and no luggage to collect, I was there.
With a brief idea of what I wanted to get up to in my day, I started walking – towards the beach. My first stop was the Mercat de la Boqueria for some much-needed food. I got possibly the most delicious empanada I’d ever eaten for less than five euros and walked through the gorgeous Gothic quarter while stuffing my face and taking in the architecture.
I eventually made my way to the beach – with a pit stop by the stunning marina – and genuinely nearly cried when I saw how beautiful it was. I was more than happy to finally set my eyes on sand and crystal blue waters, after months of bleak rain and wintry weather.
I was even happy to sit down and enjoy a long sought-after sangria by the beach – made even better when a man serenaded me with his version of Luis Fonsi’s Despacito.
After enjoying the much-needed sunshine on the beach I decided it was time to see some of the tourist hotspots. In my 37,000-step quest on Monday, I managed to see the cathedral – which came alive with people singing and dancing to local buskers – Casa Battlo, La Sagrada Familia and Parc de la Ciutadella, where I spent a good hour admiring the gorgeous fountain and meeting some lovely people.
Those steps really wore me out, and by that time, I was in desperate need of some seafood paella. So, I headed back towards the marina to visit one of the restaurants where I enjoyed a delicious meal and, unsurprisingly, even more sangria.
Unfortunately, it was getting close to 7pm, and since I needed to be back at the airport two hours before my flight—leaving Barcelona at 10.40pm —I had to start heading back to the city centre to catch the bus. Naturally, I made a stop at the shops first.
Once I finished shopping, I arrived at the airport on time. The only thing left was to board my flight, and then my day would be complete. I landed back in Liverpool just after midnight, marking the end of my whirlwind day trip.
I can’t express how much I loved that Monday; it was exactly the “Meg day” I needed—drinking, shopping, and wandering around by myself in the sun. Perfection. I’ve completely fallen in love with Barcelona; it has EVERYTHING you could ever want, and I will definitely be back.
For me, these day trips are the perfect way to explore Europe. They are affordable and incredibly easy. While you can’t travel to the other side of the world and back in a day, there are countless destinations within a two-hour flight that you can reach instead of spending the day stuck in an office. I plan on doing many more of these trips.
