We arrived in London, dropped off our bags at our flat, crashed, and headed to Gatwick Airport the next morning. We decided to fly to Barcelona, Spain to see a fellow study abroad friend from our university back home. After an expensive flight, checking our bags - not realizing they would have fit fine as carry on - and taking us bus, we arrived to the plaza to meet our friend, Sean. The sun was setting and the streets were filled with people. Some were blowing giant bubbles and other playing music. There was also a stage set up in the plaza.

Sean took us sight seeing the next day where we saw some of Gaudis famous work. Amazing.

Even beautiful street art!

Coolest vending machine, right?

Aside from the Sprinkles Cupcakes one, obviously.

La Mercè

Oh, so we just happened to come for the most popular weekend of the year, La Merce.

//history alert//

This has been an official city holiday since 1871, when the local government first organized a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, La Mare de Déu de la Mercè.

Millions of locals, tourists, spanish indie bands and musicians fill the streets of Barcelona.

There are firework shows, parades, and castells - human towers - all to celebrate.

Although it was extremely hot and I was in a huge crowd of people with no chance of getting any water, I could help but inching closer and closer to see these human towers.

A local gave us some history on these and how special they are. It takes teams of up to 100 people to get as high as they do. They need a huge base of people to hold everyone together tightly. Some of the teams performed tricks that have only ever been done once or twice before and it has been years since they were achieved! The towers got up to 9 people high - with little children at the top! They were wearing helmets, so that makes it okay...

They treat the children like celebrities so that they are excited instead of scared, so that they continue competing and do not get scared.