We loved our week in Barcelona. We found an AirBnb about 30 minutes outside the city for an amazing price and booked it with the knowledge that we would enjoy a train ride into the city center for the days we went in. Our town, Montmelo, is where the Formula One track is located. We were optimistic that a race or training day would occur, but it did not.
We took the train into the city center almost every day and explored from top to bottom. we were joined in Barcelona by the Casarez family. They are good friends we meet RVing and were excited to explore a little outside the US with us. They also cruised over to Europe, but their cruise ended in Barcelona, so they were able to check into the house and get everything ready for our arrival.
On day 1 we meet with a local tour guide to learn more about the Spanish Civil War and its effects on Barcelona. Afterwards the kids enjoyed noticing bullet holes in a lot of the buildings.
Day 2 (our day of Gaudi) saw us heading straight to Parc Güell and enjoying a planned community that Gaudi helped his good friend design. Though the community was a failure, there are still plenty of design elements to enjoy in what is now a public park.
Following the park, we headed towards the heart of the city and toured Gaudi’s yet unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. We were unprepared for the majestic interior after spending a long time trying to digest the busy exterior. They are hoping to finish the church by 2026 to memorialize the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. The poor guy was hit by a city tram while walking to confession.
By day 3 our legs were sore, but we powered through and enjoyed a three hour food tasting and market tour. We loved every second, except for the over full bellies afterwards!
After a lovely siesta in a local park (yes, all the adults napped!) we split up and half the group headed towards home while Chris, Aleah and I headed to the Picasso museum to grab a tour before it closed for the evening.
On day 4 we decided to find something 100% fun for the kids and at their request we found an English speaking escape room. We dropped them off to try to escape the room (with the architecture plans for Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia – yes, I’m always trying to find a way to reinforce our recent knowledge, they just go with it by now) and we headed to a famous bakery to enjoy fun coffee and pistachio croissants.
The kids successfully escaped and we strolled down the famous La Ramblas people watching and looking for our evening entertainment, a Flamenco show.
Onwards to Rome! Road beers for the guys while waiting for the train. Adiós Barcelona!
So much fun! I’m wishing the couch cushions held enough to fly over and visit.