Tag: Barcelona

Bon Voyage Barcelona!

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August 30, 2025

Saturday morning we woke up and got ready for the day and finished packing up our luggage before walking over to Sagrada Familia. This is Barcelona’s most iconic landmark and we wanted to see it one more time before heading to the cruise ship.

Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and was dreamed up by Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí was Barcelona’s resident genius of all things whimsical. It’s still not finished, so every time you go, you are getting a front-row seat to the world’s longest home renovation project.

They say the main structure will finally be finished by 2026… just in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death, but knowing this place, you might still be able to catch scaffolding selfies well into the 2030s. That might be part of the allure, maybe it’ll never be truly be finished. Time will tell!

From our hotel, it was a nice 30 minute walk over to Sagrada Familia. As we walked over we saw Casa Batlló from last year and got a better exterior picture of that as well.

Another of Gaudí’s projects

Comparing pictures of Sagrada Familia from last year, it looks like the center tower is a bit taller. But honestly, it’s just incredible to look at – it’s so worth the walk to stare at.

You really need to walk around the whole thing- each side is SO unique

Afer we walked around to get a view of all the angles, we caught a cab over to the Gothic Quarter, which was another stop similar to last year. But there was a famous bridge we didn’t know about last year, called the Ponte del Bisbe.

It’s a cool looking bridge tucked away in the neighborhood, it looks like it’s original – but was actually built in 1928. Either way, it was a super cool stop. The Gothic Quarter has such a nice mix of old medieval feel with winding streets – and modern retailers. The centerpiece is definitely the Barcelona Cathedral, which after we walked past that we made our way back to our hotel.

We checked out and got into a taxi and our way to the ship. This was the newest ship in Celebrity’s fleet – the Ascent. (Their next enters the fleet in November). The line was flowing pretty smoothly as we boarded and we didn’t have any issues getting on board or to our room. After dropping our carry ons, we headed to the cafe and got lunch.

Our tradition is a celebratory cheers on the sundeck!

Once we wrapped up lunch we decided to do a quick tour of the ship to get more familiar with the space and amenities. One of our favorite parts of cruising is the ability to unpack and get settled in while being able to see a bunch of new cities/countries. Once our suitcases arrived we got settled in to the room and then had dinner.

First sunset from our room!
Fully taking advantage of our infinite veranda, enjoying the moon’s reflection

We’re quite pleased so far with our room and the cruise! Our first day is a sea day, so I think we’ll skip writing about that – so you’ll hear from us next when we recap our first port: Malta!

Up Next:
Malta

A taste of Barcelona

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August 29, 2025

If there is one place in Barcelona that feels like the city’s heartbeat, it is La Boqueria Market. Tucked right off La Rambla, this colorful maze of stalls is where locals and travelers collide over fresh fruit juices, sizzling tapas, and seafood that looks like it came straight off the boat that morning. But what makes La Boqueria so special is not just the food, it is the history. This market has been feeding Barcelona for over 800 years, and stepping inside feels like joining a tradition that has been alive since the Middle Ages. (It opened in 1217, the indoor structure you see today was opened in 1840, and then later in the 20th century the metal roof was added).

Last year when we visited Barcelona, we did not get the chance to go. As much as I wanted to, there just was not enough time to squeeze everything in. This year though, I made sure to set aside plenty of time to wander the aisles, sample the stalls, and soak in the energy of the market. And I am so glad we did, because La Boqueria ended up being a fun stop in the city!

We took our time getting ready in the morning and walked over to the market. I had read about a restaurant that was “in the market” but as looked at Google maps it was actually taking us just outside of it. We didn’t mind, it took us through a very cute area of Barcelona.

The restaurant was called Bar Pintxo – and because I’m a picky eater… I should have known better than walk in without reviewing the menu. But I really wanted to try some Spanish food. You can’t blame a girl for trying. I was so excited that they had chicken paella on the menu, but Andy swerved and ordered two tapas instead of an entree (which threw me off, because he isn’t a tapas kind of guy). So I swerved and ordered two tapas myself.

This is where I went wrong. The shrimp had heads and legs. And my rule, well, it isn’t actually a rule, but if it looks like it was alive at one point, my head can’t seem to get past it… But I have a hard time eating it.

I struggled to choke any of it down. I was dry heaving at the table. I knew I should have stuck with the chicken paella. The restaurant was adorable, the service was incredible, the sangria was exceptional. You should go to this restaurant if you are in Barcelona. Don’t let me deter you. I just ordered poorly for my taste!

Our server brought over little shots to close things out – Andy had Vermouth and I had the Cuarenta Y Tres (very similar to limoncello, the Italian, more sweet drink) so it was a wonderful experience.

Cuarenta Y Tres

We made our way back to the market and it was actually less busy than when we first got there. I don’t want you to worry, I didn’t go hungry. I was able to secure plenty of food at the market. Lots of watermelon and ice cream to get me through until dinner.

This market was so bright and colorful. There were so many different booths selling food, wine, and souvenirs. You could even take cooking classes there. (Probably other topics as well). We spent a few hours in this area wandering up and down the stalls taking it all in and looking for the best prices.

Strawberry and Pistachio
We would never!

We made our way back to the hotel so Andy could log on to work for the day. We had miscalculated his PTO for the year and this was his remote week for the quarter, whoops. Grateful that his company allows him the flexibility to be able to work from anywhere though.

I had just started a new job at the end of June and had a few things I needed to wrap up before I felt like I could properly log off for vacation, so I worked for a few hours before shutting my laptop for the rest of the trip. After that, I started sorting my carryon and suitcase to get things ready for the cruise ship.

We ate dinner late at a restaurant near the hotel, El Racó. My dinner order was a much safer option compared to lunch. We felt like my croquettes looked like our corgis at home, what do you think?

Croquettes or Corgis

We checked out our hotel rooftop before Andy logged back on to finish up his work day, we got to see Sagrada Familia from a distance. What a beauty!

Roof top view of Sagrada Familia
View from our patio

Once work was done we enjoyed watching the nightlife from our terrace, which included comparing the Barcelona police vs. the police in the US. It was fun to watch – we do feel bad for the poor guy who likely ended up getting a ticket for what we can only assume was drunk-biking. (And walked home by a police officer).

Up Next:
Stop by Sagrada Familia
Gothic Quarter
Board cruise ship

Montserrat & you guessed it – more wine tasting!

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September 7, 2024

Our final full day in Spain began in Montserrat, which was only about an hour drive from our hotel. We had another beautiful sunrise from Sitges, as we started to climb the mountain – we realized rather quickly we were really socked in with the cloud cover.

Montserrat Monastery is located in the Montserrat mountain range near Barcelona, Spain. It is a significant pilgrimage site with a rich history dating back to the 10th century. Originally established as a small chapel, it evolved into a Benedictine monastery and became renowned for housing the Black Madonna, or La Moreneta, a statue believed to date from the 12th century.

The monastery’s construction features Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. They used local limestone that blends beautifully with the dramatic mountain landscape. Over the centuries, it has undergone several renovations and expansions, which has only made it that much more impressive.

I had received an email a day or two before from Montserrat explaining that there was a special church service that day. Candidly, it wasn’t really clear (likely lost in translation!) what we were supposed to do instead. Andy and Yvonne dropped myself and Jon off while they went to find parking – and I went to ask what the email meant.

Unfortunately, we either had to get in and view the basilica before 9:30 AM or wait until after 12 PM when it reopened. We decided it would be better to try to see as much as possible inside so we didn’t delay our other plans that day.

Once inside the basilica, it was incredible to see how ornate everything was. When I had booked the tickets, we weren’t able to secure a time for the Black Madonna, which is why a lot of people make their way to Montserrat. It was fun to pop around into the different chapels and other areas outside of the basilica.

The cloud cover really made the whole place feel really moody – and I wish we could have seen it with clear skies. However, it was a really cool view with the clouds. Sort of spooky!

We were deciding if we wanted to go into the museum that opened at 10, or if we wanted to do the aerial tram or funicular to explore further. We ran into some accessibility issues, and I was also concerned how much more we could see because of the cloud cover. We ended up making our way down the mountain to begin our wine tasting.

One of the other wineries had recommended a winery to Jon, but unfortunately, Google maps took us to a more residential looking place. A bit disappointed, we made our way over to a winery that Jon and Yvonne had visited on their last trip to Spain, Frexienet.

The visit started with a short video on the history, and then we were able to dive into the tasting. The tasting came with four different cavas, and they were each paired with a different food. Our server was pretty young, and he was going to be heading to Washington soon for school. He was super knowledgable and really gave us a great experience.

The bottle shaped car!

From there, we made our way to Codorníu, another cava house. We had a tour booked at this one – which we were pretty excited about.

Codorníu is one of Spain’s oldest and most prestigious wineries, it was founded in 1551 by the Codorníu family. In the late 19th century, Joseph Codorníu recognized the potential for sparkling wine and adopted the traditional méthode champenoise, establishing Codorníu as a leader in this genre.

The winery is renowned for its stunning modernist building, designed by architect Puig i Cadafalch in 1895, which showcases Catalan modernist architecture. This historical site features beautiful arches and an impressive setting, reflecting the winery’s rich heritage. Over the centuries, Codorníu has continued to stay relevant, which means it is still competitive in the market today!

Codorníu primarily utilizes indigenous grape varieties like Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada, alongside varieties you might recognize, such as Chardonnay.

No surprises here, we ended up shipping a case home from our Cava tours to enjoy in the future!

After our last tasting, we ended up eating something light at the hotel since we had an early morning flight back home!

Up Next:
– Highlights of Spain/Portugal
– Closing thoughts and next adventures

Seas the day! Spain/Portugal/Morocco Cruise ‘24

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Tuesday, August 27th & Wednesday, August 28th

Working for a global company offers the ability to connect with colleagues around the world – a year ago I met Chester in the Philippines and he recently moved to Spain.

We were able to connect and meet up for breakfast. It was so nice to see a friendly face in Barcelona before we got on the cruise ship. He picked a place close to his apartment and our hotel, which was really nice!

Thanks for meeting up with me, Chester!

After coffee, I made my way back to the hotel to finish packing. We were now leaving our hotel and boarding the cruise ship. We asked the hotel to help us hail a larger cab for us (+ Jon/Yvonne) and all of our luggage.

Once on board we opted to have a casual lunch at the Oceanview Cafe. We knew it would be a few hours before our luggage would be delivered, so we sat around with Jon and Yvonne for a while and just relaxed.

Eventually, we went to check, and our luggage had been delivered (well, at least mine – and let’s be honest… I’m the over packer!) so I started to unpack. Once it got closer to leaving the harbor, we went up to the rooftop to watch us sail away, which is always magical.

After that we finished unpacking and then went to dinner. It was fun to be back on the ship, and this time with Jon and Yvonne. We opted for Anytime Dining, which always a lot more flexibility based off of your plans for the day.

One of our first sunsets

After dinner, we went to the Pub Quiz. It was a good day to be back on a cruise!

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Wednesday, August 28th

At sea days are a nice way to break up the trip – and because we had flown in early and already done so much in Barcelona. It was a great day for us to relax.

Andy and I started the morning off by using the fitness center for a quick workout. After freshening up for the day, and having a more leisurely morning we joined Bingo in the afternoon.

It’s sort of funny, because they’ve never had Bingo on a cruise that we’ve been on before. You had to pay for your cards, and each of us (Jon and Yvonne included) decided to split the cards up. (Each card did have a unique identifier). Well, as soon as we got into the theater for Bingo the activity manager let us know that we weren’t supposed to do that… and that we “should have been told we couldn’t do that.”

The infamous bingo card that got us into trouble

Unfortunately for us, no one did. He was really condescending in his approach about it, which was really unfortunate… because we haven’t had bad service while cruising with Celebrity.

Suffice to say, neither couple won. But it did seem like they were giving out good prizes if you did!

We had an early dinner, and then made our way to one of the production shows. It was pretty cheesy, but they are a fun way to enjoy different facets of the cruise.

We ended the night with one of our favorite activities – the Silent Disco! This time there was only one DJ, and the other stations were Latino music and more 70s/80s music. We all had a blast rotating between the different stations, since the DJ refused to play the Britney Spears music that I requested until the very end.

Silent Disco

We’re having a great time!

Up Next:
– Flamenco Show
– Walking tour of Cadiz

Sagrada Familia – Barcelona

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Monday, August 26, 2024

Just before leaving on our trip, my friend Melisa sent me a video of a Corgi cafe in Barcelona. As two avid, Corgi-parents we knew we had to visit it – we were surprised to find out it was only a 4 minute walk from our hotel!

Our Boys if you haven’t meet them (Jasper on the left, and Linus on the right)

Sunday night, as we were walking home from dinner we saw a man walking ahead of us with three Corgis (two of which were puppies!) We followed him to a dog park, where we got to meet Juice, Mocha, and Willow. Not only was he a fellow Corgi owner – but he was THE owner. Yes, of the Corgi Cafe. What are the odds of that?!

So on Monday we made our way to the cafe, I mean we had to right? It also, just so happened that it was also known for having good food. We really enjoyed it – and it was so incredible to get to see Juice again and meet Benedict (the other token Corgi).

Juice
Benedict offended he was stuck inside
Juice found some crumbs under Andy

From the cafe, we started walking to Barri Gòtic – about a 45 minute walk from our hotel. I was most excited to see the Barcelona Cathedral, but the Arc de Triomf was an easy pit stop along the way. It was built in 1888 for the Universal Exhibition and used as a gateway to the fair at that time. From there, we made our way down the winding streets to find ourselves in front of the Cathedral.

It really was everything I had read about – old (finished in 1448) and Gothic. This was just a quick stop, since we had Sagrada Familia in the afternoon. We needed to get a quick tapa since we would be there for a few hours. We didn’t want to be late for our tour, so we found the closest restaurant to Sagrada Familia.

Another uneventful restaurant, however, Jon did steal a beer glass from them. Our waitress even threatened to call the policia on him. (She was kidding – she just couldn’t sell it to him since the brewery gives them the glasses).

One of the most magical moments came when we stepped into the basilica in the mid-afternoon light. The stained glass windows—each panel a blend of vibrant blues, greens, reds, and golds—were absolutely mesmerizing. As the sunlight streamed through the glass, the entire space seemed to come alive with color, dancing across the walls and floors in a way that felt almost otherworldly. It was as if we were witnessing Gaudí’s own version of the “colors of the wind,” bringing an extra layer of beauty to an already stunning experience.

After the guided portion, we had some free time to explore on our own before our tower visit. We had originally hoped to go up the Passion Tower, but by the time we bought our tickets, the time slots had already sold out. Instead, we opted for the Nativity Tower, which, while still offering impressive views and a close-up look at Gaudí’s detailed work, wasn’t quite as thrilling as we’d imagined.

Despite this, the panoramic views of Barcelona from the top and the unique perspective on the basilica’s exterior were well worth the visit. Overall, our time at the Sagrada Família was a highlight of our trip, combining stunning architecture, rich history, and breathtaking vistas.

Our visit to the Sagrada Família was nothing short of unforgettable, thanks to a guided tour that brought Gaudí’s masterpiece to life. For about 45 minutes, our lovely guide led us through the basilica’s awe-inspiring interiors, sharing fascinating insights into the history, design, and ongoing construction. She pointed out the intricate details in the stained glass windows, the columns that resemble trees, (and the birds that live in them!) and the symbolism woven into every part of the structure. Her passion and knowledge made the experience incredibly enriching – and we left feeling even more grateful that we got to visit. (Some people try to go last minute and are turned away because they sell out).

We ended the day at La Pepita – a restaurant that two work colleagues had recommended was our choice for dinner. Jon had thankfully made a reservation as soon as they opened their calendar for this month. We could see a line as we walked up, and we watched many give up hope and head to the sister restaurant or leave entirely.

On the way home, we had two desserts. (Well, I helped Jon with his chocolate covered – chocolate filled churro). We all stopped to pick up gelato – and we called it a night!

Before bed, we went to the rooftop of our hotel for a night view.

Up Next:
-Board the Equinox

Thank Gaudí, we’re in Barcelona!

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We had a jam-packed day planned for our first full day in Spain. Antoni Gaudí is known for his unique display of architecture – weaving Modernism throughout the city of Barcelona.

Our first stop, was Park Güell. Chances are, if you’ve ever looked up Barcelona, you’ve likely seen pictures of this park. Park Güell was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. We love exploring the world and finding these gems throughout our adventures.

Our ticket time was for 10 am, and we couldn’t believe that it was already hot and sticky. Our journey took us through viaducts, up to different houses, and over to nature square that looked over two buildings that ended up being a museum and a bookstore. The view was from above, but later in our tour we were able to get closer to them.

The Benches lining park were beautiful mosaic tiles.

As we continued through the tour, we stopped underneath the nature square in a place called the Hypostyle Room, which had beautiful mosaics lining the ceiling lined with pillars. This was the way down to the museum and the bookstore, but we made a quick pit stop to look at one of the famous mosaic iguanas that Gaudí had created. The lines were long for both the museum and bookstore, so we opted to skip both of those.

We had our next tour booked at Casa Batlló – we had originally thought we might be able to walk since it was all downhill. But it was still about a 45 minute walk. Time was of the essence – so we opted to get a cab over there. (Just a note if you’re trying to sneak in a few visits in Barcelona as well!)

Casa Batlló is another modernist masterpiece by Gaudí. Often referred to as the “House of Bones” due to its organic, skeletal design, this UNESCO World Heritage site dazzles with its beautiful exterior, vibrant mosaics, and whimsical, nature-inspired details on the interior. The building’s colorful, scaled roof resembles a dragon’s back, while the interior is equally stunning, with flowing lines, intricate woodwork, and stained glass that floods the space with light. It felt like we were stepping into another world. We absolutely LOVED this stop!

From Casa Batlló, we found a place nearby before making our way to Palau Güell. Palau Güell is a hidden gem in Barcelona and one of Gaudí’s early masterpieces. Built in the late 1800s for the wealthy Güell family, it’s a blend of luxury and creativity. It’s obvious very quickly that Gaudí was involved in the design!

The palace has cool features like intricate ironwork, unique arches, and a rooftop covered in colorful chimneys that look like something out of a fairy tale. (Think Dr. Seuss!) The main hall is especially impressive, with a dome and stained glass windows that fill the space with gorgeous light, and there’s even an elegant pipe organ that adds to the grandeur. (It plays different songs every 30 minutes or so, so you get to see it in action).

The Güell family was a big deal in Barcelona, with Eusebi Güell being a major figure in the city’s cultural and economic scene. He was a close friend of Gaudí and wanted Palau Güell to be more than just a home—it was a statement piece that showed off his love for art and design. We really enjoyed being able to see more unique features

We rounded out the day by walking down La Rambla and visiting the Columbus statue near the Mediterranean. (We had a fun realization that America’s Cup is being held in Barcelona, so we saw lots of billboards and signs, but sadly won’t be able to do anything on this trip with it).

Our dogs were barking with almost 20,000 steps by the end of the day. We had a delicious meal at Indian Herbs and called it a day.

Up Next:
– Corgi Cafe
– Tour of Sagrada Familia

¡Hola España!

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August 23/24, 2024

We are on our way back to Europe (after a work trip took us to Poland in May) this weekend for a cruise in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. We had booked this cruise a while back, and have been looking forward to it ever since! It will be our first time in the Mediterranean proper. (We’ve been to Italy, but not really on the coast).

We find the most comfort in arriving a few days before so we can relax knowing that both you and your luggage have made it. This is a trip with many firsts for us – four new countries (we will visit Andorra after the cruise) – and the first time cruising with Jon and Yvonne!

Our flight with Lufthansa was rather uneventful, and we made it safely along with our luggage. We connected in Munich, which is a really easy airport to navigate through. We had enough time to get a coffee before boarding our flight to Barcelona. It would only be a 2 hour flight and then we would be in Spain!

Had to get a pretzel when passing through Germany

Once we landed – we gathered our luggage and made our way to our hotel. I’m sure there’s many different areas that are great to stay in Barcelona, but I had wanted to prioritize staying near Sagrada Familia.

I found the Radisson Blu 1882 Sagrada Familia Hotel, which was a short (5 minutes) walk to the church. Protestors have taken the streets of Barcelona in recent months to denounce tourism. It sounds like a lot of it has to do with Airbnbs taking up a considerable portion of the housing market, which has increased the price of rent by over 18%! Not to mention, Spain was the second most visited country in the world last year. The hotel was about 35 minute drive from the airport – we got checked in and freshened up.

A nice treat was awaiting us at the hotel!
Our first look at Sagrada Familia

I get the hype. It’s an incredible building that has been in progress over the last 142 years. When the building is complete, it will be the tallest church in the world! It stands out in the Barcelona skyline – and will take your breath away. This is only one of the buildings that Antoni Gaudi had his hand in! You’ll see more on that tomorrow!

We found a tapas bar nearby, and had quick bite to eat. We then met up with Jon and Yvonne who had made it to the hotel and gotten settled in.

It was already around 7:00 pm, so we made our way over to get a peek at Sagrada Familia.

Up Next:
– Park Güell
– Casa Batlló
– Palau Güell