A lovely moment captured outside The Barcelona Cathedral. ( Courtesy of Flytographer.)

To say I was excited about visiting Barcelona is a complete understatement. Since I started studying Spanish in middle school, I had dreamed of traveling to Spain. The landscape, the music, the food and architecture looked out of this world and in person, it really was. Let me tell you a little bit about our 48 hours in Barcelona….

To preface this story, let me just tell you, we were jet lagged like never before. It hit us hard around 2 pm (Spain time) On our first full day. We did all the things we wanted to, drank some espresso and Estrealla beer, then pushed through the day. It was the best decision ever to stay awake. We are thankful for our comfortable flying accommodations with Delta airlines!

- Flying:

Traveling from Tampa, we made a connection in Miami and flew directly from Miami to Barcelona. Having flown to Europe many times in Economy class and a few times in first class, we knew that we wanted to try an upgraded seat for more comfort. Delta premium economy was absolutely fantastic and a fraction of the price from a first class ticket! We were served 2 hot meals, 2 snacks and unlimited beer and wine! They even provided us with a little care package with an eye mask, hand wipes, and ear plugs! How useful!

Delta premium economy will be how we fly to Europe from now on. Comfortable , spacious seats, wine and hot food made for a happy flight!

- Hotel: We just happened to have a hotel gift card towards Best Western properties that we accumulated with Amex points. I researched if they had any properties in Barcelona, and voila! It was the Best Western Premier Hotel Dante and it was very centrally located and easy to access from walking around to all the city’s top sights. The breakfast was included. I know, I know. It’s a little faux pas to be excited about an all-inclusive breakfast In Europe. Usually, breakfast is a quick cappuccino, ( or 2) or an Espresso and half of a pastry. In this particular instance, I was glad that we had a smorgasbord to wake up to after flying over night!

Sights:

- La Sagrada Familia: A large, unfinished church , which is one of the most iconic sights in Barcelona. It is a great example of Antoni Gaudi’s unique style. The ongoing work on the church’s structure is directly financed by donations made by visitors and the public. It truly seems to be forever under construction. It is very worth seeing and taking pictures of. We had our “pick me -up” lunch just outside of the church with a fantastic view!

Estrella beer with a view!

- Park Guell: Located in Carmel Hill in Barcelona, Catalonia , Spain. Park Guell holds the work of Antoni Gaudi. The name, Guell, is after Eusebi Guell, who adored Antoni Gaudi’s work. The ever - changing shapes, colors and patterns of the intricate tile work around the park will have you mesmerized while you stroll the precisely manicured grounds. Park Guell has one of the best views in all of Barcelona. It was well worth the trip. We hoped on the metro and it took us about 20-25 minutes total to get to our stop. Having visited during off season, in late January, the entrance closest to us was closed. We ended up walking about half a mile to the open entrance. There, we paid a small fee, 10 Euro for general admission and 22 Euro for a guided tour.

Gazing over the cityscape of Barcelona

- Mercado De La Boqueria : A large, public market in the Ciutat Vella district. We entered the market off of La Rambla, which is a long, pedestrian friendly, tree-lined street with an abundance of cafes and shopping. When you enter, you are greeted with plenty of sights and smells to cater to your every culinary want and need. From fresh juices, Iberian ham and cheese cups, freshly baked breads, olives, sardines, spices, this place had it all! You could distinctly differentiate the tourists, like us, from the locals who frequently shopped for their groceries there.

In front of the Mercado De La Boqueria, grazing on the endless delicacies throughout the market and sampling the fresh juices.

- Bar Restaurante Pinotxo: Located Inside the Mercado De la Boqueria. Here you will find bar counter seating only, (it’s best to avoid the busy lunch hour .) You will most likely be greeted by the local legend, Joan, “Juanito Bayen” who has been behind the counter for decades. Catalan’s deem him as a culinary legend. Forget your diet here- most of the dishes are rich and hearty. No need to worry, you can still order a salad if you’re not into sardines, Iberian ham, potatoes or octopus, but they’re all wonderful here. We were lucky enough to get two spots at the counter bar where you can see most of the food lined up at the counter in coolers. We met and spoke with Juanito himself, who was a sweet, kind-hearted man. He truly seemed like he loved being there. We even asked for a picture with him! This spot is well worth a stop while roaming around the never ending Mercado.

Cheers with a cappuccino and beer! We even got to meet Juanito Bayen!

- La Rambla: A tree lined, pedestrian friendly walking street, ( Mercado De la Boqueria is located just off of this street.) The street is approximately 1.2KM. Here you can find many street venders, cafes and shops. Not to mention, some of the best people- watching!

Strolling along La Rambla with the Columbus monument in the back ground.

- Casa Mila: Popularly known as La Pedrera or “stone quarry.” This building was the last private residence that was designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi. Construction started in 1906 and ended in 1912. It Is said that there are currently 3 tenants who live inside the building.

- Casa Batllo: Another work of Gaudi, most would consider to be one of his masterpieces. The structure began construction in 1904 and was completed in 1912. Batllo, meaning “a legendary roof.” Entrance is 35Euro/adult. The immaculate use of light and color are used to create a fantasy, dream world of marine inspiration. It’s easy to stare at this building for awhile and soak in its intricate attention to detail and beauty.

- Harbor: Walk outside the city enter along Carrer De I’Lctineo. Bring a cappuccino to take away and stroll along the harbor, admiring the many mega-yachts parked along the dock. We happened to find fashion designer, Diane Von Furstenberg’s sailing yacht that day!

- Quimet Y Quimet: This tapas bar was featured on Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations,” which was the main reason for our stop there. In fact, we’ve visited numerous restaurants in Europe and the U.S that Tony has featured on his shows.

Having been in operation for over 100 years, this small tapas bar has been dubbed an iconic spot for tapas in Barcelona. It is located in El Poble Sec. A fair warning, it is standing room only, first come, first serve for bar tables. With over 500 different wines to select from and nearly 80 different types of tapas to satisfy your every taste bud, there is no shortage of colorful taste combinations here. Their specialties are canned, jarred foods known as “conservas.” I opted for their vegetarian options, (I am not a huge fan of pickled or canned fish) but my husband ordered all things fish! He thoroughly enjoyed the taste and you can see your tapas being prepared behind the counter, most of which were served on thick, crisp crackers. We ate and drank here 3 times in our short 48 hour stay in Barcelona. Needless to say, It was a 10/10! Thank you, Tony for the inspiration, as always!

A glimpse of the bar area at Quimet Y Quimet and their colorful tasting tapas items.

- Hotel Colon Rooftop Bar: Just in front of The Cathedral of Barcelona in the gothic quarter, is the Hotel Colon. A 4- star hotel with an impeccable location. It’s even better when you get to the roof! No need to book a room to enjoy the drinks and the view, just take the hotel elevator to the top floor. This makes for a great photo-op, facing the cathedral.

A grand view of the Barcelona Cathedral on the Hotel Colon’s rooftop.

The alluring Hotel Colon.

- Flytographer: Last but surely not least, we scheduled a professional photo shoot through the company Flytographer, which is a company that allows travelers to book a professional photo shoot in many destinations around the world. We had our first experience with Flytographer in Santorini, Greece, and couldn’t wait to book again! Natalia was our photographer in Barcelona. She was very kind, professional and helpful along the way. We chose to photograph in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona to get the old city feeling. We were so thrilled with the moments she captured. I highly, highly recommend Flytographer to anyone traveling to a special destination whether it be for a couples vacation, family trip, proposal or just to capture the beauty of you, enjoying your trip.

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