This time we had one week to spend in Barcelona, but staying in the city was too expensive.
Even in the low season the cheapest decent hotel would cost around 100 EUR per night.
Cheaper you can only get in student hostels with 4-8 persons in the room and shared bathroom.
On AirBnB it's also hard to find something - shared rooms start from 50 EUR and entire apartments from 100 EUR per night.
Therefore we've decided to stay in Sitges - a small town west of Barcelona. It's about 40-50 minutes train ride away and train ticket costs around 4 EUR.
We booked aparthotel (a small apartment basically, with full kitchen) in the city center close to the beach for 50 EUR per night.
As it turned out later, the location in the city center was more of a disadvantage rather than an advantage.
Our windows were facing the street and sound-proofing was really weak. And in the evening the street gets crowded with people who like to drink and talk very loud :)
From April 7th till 17th there was a food festival in Sitges called "Tapa a Tapa".
Local bars and restaurants offer their one best tapa dish for 2.50 EUR (one drink, beer or wine, is also included).
Customers go from one venue to another and rate those tapas.
If you try at least 5 different tapas and fill in special form you get a chance to win next year festival entrance - accommodations and food for free :)
This year there were 36 different bars and restaurants attending, we've managed to visit only 5.
Delice de volaille @ La Terrassa de Sitges - something like a foie gras with fig jamRomesco i Julieta @ Sports Bar - mini burger with onion sauceMe Marcho Pa' Madrid @ Platos Rotos - different kinds of meat with vegetables and stewBikini de Maduixes @ Tres Quarts - grill sandwich with ham, cheese, strawberries and yogurtEscabetxat De Perdiu @ Taberna Guria - foie gras with crackers and cheese
We liked the last place - Taberna Guria - most of all and it was on the same street as our apartment.
This tavern has an interesting ordering system, kind of self-catering. You take a plate and as many tapas from the bar as you want and then order your drinks to bartender.
When you've finished and ready to pay you just show the bartender empty plate and he counts how many toothpicks you have there on your plate.
Each tapa has a toothpick in it and costs 1.50 EUR.
It's always crowded and in the evening you have to wait for a free place.
