Barcelona Encore

Posted April 1, 2015

February 28, 2014

After visiting the Dali Museum in Figueres, we drove to Barcelona and checked into our hotel (the same one we stayed in the previous weekend, Hotel Hispanos 7 Suiza—suites, so great for families). We headed for La Rambla, since we hadn't had the chance to walk all the way down to the Christopher Colombus statue the previous week. 

We headed over the bridge and visited Maremagnum, a huge shopping mall with restaurants on the other side of the marina.

I can't remember the details of the rest of our wanderings and where we ate, but as usual, we stopped in whenever we passed by a church that was open. 

I think the huge dolls are a thing in Cataluyna.

March 1, 2014

If day two in Barcelona had it's own title, it would have to be "It's All About the Journey."

We got a fairly early start with the intention of going to Montjuïc. And eventually we got there, but some of us (🙋😳) were a little vocal about the circuitous route we took). We searched long and hard for the cable car entrance. 

Luckily there is an Enrique Tomás store in every neighborhood, so the boys could enjoy a jamon baguette while we walked. 

After multiple google map direction failures, and a little (😉) whining about the journey, we finally made it up to our destination, the castle on top of Montjuïc. 

The views were spectacular and worth the long 106 floors ascent (the Eiffel Tower is 57, by comparison). That number does not include the funicular, it's what we actually walked.

Destination Girl, lucky to be married to Journey Man:

Getting back down the hill was much easier and much more fun.

One last trip to the market for some delicious fresh mango...

There was some Catalan holiday or something, which meant we saw multiple people dressed up, including these ladies parading down La Rambla.

We walked around a bit more, admiring the unique architecture.

We planned on taking a tour of Casa Batlló, which is one of Gaudí's masterpieces, until we saw the prices (about 20€ each, even for the kids). If the kids had really wanted to see it, I think we would have splurged, but after a long day of walking, they just wanted to go back to the hotel.

So we took them back and then Rob and I headed back over there for a rare (I think only twice in seven months!) date night. I was paranoid about leaving the kids alone in case anything happened to us, but Rob doesn't suffer from worst-case-scenario-syndrome, so we went for it. And I was so glad, it was amazing! The audio tour really explained the modernisma movement and Gaudí's genius. Again, it was worth the journey (and the admission price :). 

When all was said and done, my fitbit tracked 25, 627 steps (over 11 miles) for the day. I may have complained about some of those steps at the time, but am now grateful for every one of them, especially for the crew walking them with me. Another great day in Barcelona.