Beautiful Barcelona!

June 28, 2018

Beautiful Barcelona!

Barcelona has an energy that is entirely palpable. The city is full of people 24/7 - we were amazed to see the plazas full of people just meandering about at 3 am. We stayed just a block off La Rambla so we got to stroll it many times. We saw some of the key sites - Park Guell, Barri Gotic, Catedral de Barcelona, Temple d'August, Mercat Boqueria, Arc de Triomf, Camp Nou, Parc de la Ciutadella, Casa Batllo - but missed so many more. Three days was not nearly enough with the two kids in tow. The first week of July we're staying for a week at a beach outside Barcelona so maybe we'll go back for a day trip.

There was a playground in the plaza literally across the street from our hotel - the kids we're in heaven!

Augusto got himself right into a street football match on day one. If only we had remembered to bring his Coutinho jersey!

The Mercat Boqueria was just two blocks our hotel. Here they sell all sorts of fresh food - fruits, seafood, breads. The kids loved the strawberry juice.

Mercat Boqueria

We met up Gabi, Noelia's friend studying BMI in Barcelona and delivered this flag from her friends in Uruguay so she could properly cheer on La Celeste.

Game (and beer) time! Rooting for Croatia against Argentina. sshhhh!!!

On the Rambla.

Caballito. Daddy gets a break.

? but beatiful

This 7 EUR breakfast was right outside our hotel.

yuuummmmmm!!!

The kids have been surprisingly willing to pose for photos.

Catedral Barcelona

These columns are from a roman temple built around the year 0 (not a typo, yes year 0) to honor the emperor Augustus. The were found in ruin in the 19th century during the construction of other developments in Barcelona. They were re-erected in the Barri Gotic close to where they would have originally stood.

Temple D'August

One (of many!) selfies Noelia took with the small streets of the Barri Gotic as the backdrop.

Another gorgeous church in Barri Gotic

The daily ice cream break!

And park break!

Picasso muesum #NextTimeNoKids

Colors and books had to go everywhere with us.

We watched a game at this amazing tapas restaurant

Posing

Arc de Triomf

On the way in to Parc de la Ciutadella

Castle of three dragons at the corner of Parc de la Ciutadella

Park break!

Astonishing fountain inside Parc de la Ciutadella

Too cute!

Killing time waiting for the bus:

Yet another bus ride.

Bubbles in my eyes!

Casa Batllo at night

Sangria and tapas for dinner

That's funny

Park Guell

Probably not local musicians, but the music was beautiful.

Park Guell bubble chase!

The very top of Park Guell, amazing views of the city

Our last night in Barcelona was the Festival of Sant Joan - a celebration of the summer solstice. We headed to the beach on the east side of town. We tried to take a bus but after 3 didn't stop because they were too full, we had to get an Uber - it was clear we we're the only ones headed out for the night.

Bar-ce-lona!!!

So many musicians anywhere you went in Barcelona. It creates a wonderful ambiance in the city.

Fireworks were everywhere and throngs of people were on the beach. It was like a July 4 barbecue party - but at night. There were tents, picnic tables, fire pits, bbq pits - it was nuts.