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Please note that the posts about Barcelona, European Cruise and Paris relate to a single trip. The trip started in Barcelona where we stayed for two days prior to boarding a 7 day cruise. Following the cruise, we flew to Paris for two more days.

Tootsie’s Bottom Line:

• Hotel: Renaissance Barcelona Hotel, Pau Claris
• Tour Provider: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
• Travel Type: Large group
• Transportation: Bus
• Cost: approx. $30-$40/per person USD
• Kid Friendly: 15+

Tips:

• Exchange some money for euros before traveling to Europe
• Reserve tickets to Sagrada LaFamilia in advance of your trip (these can be purchased through the bus tour as well)
• Take a morning stroll on “La Rambla”
• Visit La Boqueria Food Market on La Rambla

Around Barcelona

This was the start of our big trip and both my mom and I were super excited for the trip.  We were both exhausted starting the trip, so we had big plans to sleep the whole way to Barcelona.  Well, as life happens, we didn’t sleep at all on the flight, so we were a mix of fatigue and excitement when we arrived in Barcelona.  We grabbed a taxi at the airport and headed to our hotel.  Our room wasn’t ready, but they allowed us to leave our bags. We used hotel points to keep costs down since hotels in Europe are expensive and not nearly as luxurious as the ones in the U.S.  That said, our hotel was beautiful, the staff impeccable and the location was perfect!  

My mom said she learned the hard way that you need to push through your fatigue that first day in order to adjust to the time difference in Europe.  We powered through the day completely bleary eyed but still managed to fall in love with this beautiful city.  Time didn’t permit us to do much research before arriving, so we decided to orient ourselves with a Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of the city; we paid the extra $10 for the red and blue routes.  This provided us with a good overview of the history and layout of the city.  We have to be honest, there was some dozing during the tour!

One of the stops on the tour was the Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s most famous tourist destinations.  We hadn’t pre-purchased tickets and none were available during our stay so we were only able to enjoy this beautiful cathedral from outside.  Construction has largely been ongoing since 1882; Antonio Gaudi took over as chief architect in 1883. He spent the balance of his life working on it and was buried in the crypt. Scaffolding and all, it was awe inspiring! 

The Gothic District became one of our favorite areas to explore.  We spent a relaxing afternoon walking the area, enjoying street performers, eating a late lunch in an outdoor café, and more strolling through the narrow streets.  Simply breathtaking!

We were walking distance to La Rambla (Las Ramblas to locals) one of the best-known areas in Barcelona.  It is a street filled with shops, eateries, street performers, hotels, etc.  It stretches from Port Vell on the southern end to Plaça de Catalunya on the northern end.  We were here both during the day and evening and never felt unsafe, but, like any large city, you must be aware of your surroundings at all times.  La Boqueria Food Market became one of the highlights of our trip. A fresh food marketplace that had everything you could imagine,  it was stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats of all kinds to either eat as you walk the city or take something home.  It is a must-see. Check out my time-lapse video!

We would be remiss to not mention the influence of Antoni Gaudi.  His influence as an architect creates a huge presence in Barcelona.  We were unable to enter any of his buildings, but we did pass some on our bus tour and walks and they are certainly worth a visit.  Our favorite was Gaudi’s Casa Mila or La Pedrera building.  When we return to Barcelona, we will plan accordingly and enjoy a closer view of his fine work.