To Die in Barcelona
A few facts about Spain ... Spain is the ideal travel destination – it's the perfect combination of everything: great weather all year round, stunning architecture, delicious food that's distinctly different from the rest of Europe, and a lively social culture that prides itself on bustling nightlife and late dinners. Spain is the 2nd largest country in Europe, next to France. Some of the oldest archeological sites in Europe are located in Spain. By the 16th century, Spain was the most powerful country in Europe because of wealth obtained from its exploration of North and South America.
Leaving home at 3am and having a 5-hour layover in Toronto doesn't make for the best travel day. Not being on top of our game meant that as we were boarding our second flight when Air Canada offered us $4000 (Canadian), a hotel, plus meals to stay "at least" another 24 hours, we were too tired to accept the bargain. We just knew we couldn't handle that level of unexpected change nor did we want the unknown travel time to steal away our precious time and only day in Barcelona.
Barcelona is our starting point because of its affordable airfare. I'm not sure how much time you need to spend in Barcelona but clearly our one day here isn't enough. However a day is definitely long enough to sample what a great city it is!
Spain has 17 different autonomous regions. Barcelona is the capital of the region of Catalunya, which has its own language, history, and culture. There is an on-going heated debate because some factions of the population would like to separate Catalonia from Spain, in order to establish the region as a separate, independent country. Just to be safe, Jeremy is not wearing his ESP shirt in Barcelona.
The first thing we did after setting down our bags in our apartment near Sagrada Familia was go pick up our pocket WiFi rental. Watching me take all of our passports out of the most accessible spot in my backpack, the horrified sales lady explained how prevalent and professional pickpockets are here. I've read it repeatedly but never experienced anything like it before. She put us on an appreciated but uncomfortable heightened alert - and I promptly returned all of our passports back to the safety of our apartment.
For the 1992 olympics, with sand imported from Egypt, Barcelona converted its shoreline into a beautiful beach - and that was our destiination for lunch.
Next we explored Barri Gotic, which is like time traveling to Medieval Spain. It's fun to get lost in its narrow streets and glance up at its awe inspiring gothic cathedral. For Chris it was like déjà vu. "Are you sure we haven't been here before?" he kiddingly asked.
Walking under the Pont del Bisbe, we spotted the skull underneath, and fell prey to the superstition that sighting it without touching a turtle afterwards means you will die in Barcelona. To go along with the legend, they added a turtle nearby ... but we couldn't find it. Uh-oh!
"I need another drink, are we going to a topless bar?" I heard Jeremy ask. Huh? I was a little dumbfounded by his seriousness- until I realized he was saying "tapas" - not topless! Tired Kate was confused about why we needed to go to a tapas bar, and Jeremy explained it is what you do when you're in Spain - "like going to a coffee shop in Amsterdam". I laughed at his chosen reference.
Actually, to be exact, we were on our way to have pintxos - a delightful Basque version of tapas.
We needed a crash course on proper pintxos etiquette ... you take what you want from the variety on the bar. When you're done they calculate your total by counting the leftover toothpicks. At the recommended bar we chose, La Tasqueta de Blai, the red toothpicks were €1.80 and the plain toothpicks were only €1 each! Careful which drink you order; when Jeremy asked for the "free" beer the waitress informed him it meant alcohol-free!
Going into this trip with an unusual amount of stress from juggling too many of life's great milestones at once, I was truly afraid I wouldn't be able to mentally shift into vacation mode or even write a blog. The thought of an adventure and anything unknown was not particularly appealing at the moment. So traveling together as a family having a great day in Barcelona was a true relief and a great start. If you've never been here I truly recommend you add it to your list. Today we discovered if we have to die somewhere, then Barcelona wouldn't be a bad place to do it!
Leaving home at 3am and having a 5-hour layover in Toronto doesn't make for the best travel day. Not being on top of our game meant that as we were boarding our second flight when Air Canada offered us $4000 (Canadian), a hotel, plus meals to stay "at least" another 24 hours, we were too tired to accept the bargain. We just knew we couldn't handle that level of unexpected change nor did we want the unknown travel time to steal away our precious time and only day in Barcelona.
Barcelona is our starting point because of its affordable airfare. I'm not sure how much time you need to spend in Barcelona but clearly our one day here isn't enough. However a day is definitely long enough to sample what a great city it is!
Spain has 17 different autonomous regions. Barcelona is the capital of the region of Catalunya, which has its own language, history, and culture. There is an on-going heated debate because some factions of the population would like to separate Catalonia from Spain, in order to establish the region as a separate, independent country. Just to be safe, Jeremy is not wearing his ESP shirt in Barcelona.
The first thing we did after setting down our bags in our apartment near Sagrada Familia was go pick up our pocket WiFi rental. Watching me take all of our passports out of the most accessible spot in my backpack, the horrified sales lady explained how prevalent and professional pickpockets are here. I've read it repeatedly but never experienced anything like it before. She put us on an appreciated but uncomfortable heightened alert - and I promptly returned all of our passports back to the safety of our apartment.
For the 1992 olympics, with sand imported from Egypt, Barcelona converted its shoreline into a beautiful beach - and that was our destiination for lunch.
Barceloneta is a popular beach destination
Starting the right way - with a pitcher of Sangria
Next we explored Barri Gotic, which is like time traveling to Medieval Spain. It's fun to get lost in its narrow streets and glance up at its awe inspiring gothic cathedral. For Chris it was like déjà vu. "Are you sure we haven't been here before?" he kiddingly asked.
The narrow streets of the gothic quarter were cool and refreshing
Walking under the Pont del Bisbe, we spotted the skull underneath, and fell prey to the superstition that sighting it without touching a turtle afterwards means you will die in Barcelona. To go along with the legend, they added a turtle nearby ... but we couldn't find it. Uh-oh!
Looking like it's from the middle ages, the Pont del Bisbe was built in 1920
Construction on the Barcelona Cathedral began in 1298
Taking a break in Placa Nova next to the cathedral. I think Greg is praying.
Near the cathedral is a neat mosaic: The World Begins with Every Kiss.
Each individual tile of the mosaic is printed with a photo of a person, a place, a moment or something which in some way represents an expression of freedom (to commemorate the War of Spanish Succession)
Actually, to be exact, we were on our way to have pintxos - a delightful Basque version of tapas.
We needed a crash course on proper pintxos etiquette ... you take what you want from the variety on the bar. When you're done they calculate your total by counting the leftover toothpicks. At the recommended bar we chose, La Tasqueta de Blai, the red toothpicks were €1.80 and the plain toothpicks were only €1 each! Careful which drink you order; when Jeremy asked for the "free" beer the waitress informed him it meant alcohol-free!
Some of the pintxos offered on the bar. Just grab one!
Pintxos are small slices of crusty bread topped with cheese, meat, and fish
We could get used to this. (For the record, Kate is holding my wine.)
Going into this trip with an unusual amount of stress from juggling too many of life's great milestones at once, I was truly afraid I wouldn't be able to mentally shift into vacation mode or even write a blog. The thought of an adventure and anything unknown was not particularly appealing at the moment. So traveling together as a family having a great day in Barcelona was a true relief and a great start. If you've never been here I truly recommend you add it to your list. Today we discovered if we have to die somewhere, then Barcelona wouldn't be a bad place to do it!
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