Greetings from sunny Spain!
You’ll notice in our pictures we never got tired of Spain’s incredibly blue sky. If I ever create a color crayon I’m going to call it Spanish Sky.
A new country for a new family reunion!
We headed to Barcelona from Ireland to meet Aaron’s mom and sister. Debby (Aaron’s mom) attemped to visit us in Buenos Aires way back in May and, when her flight was turned around half way to Argentina, we were crestfallen. With this second attempt we were just SO excited we were coming unglued, and this time she made it along with Abby, Aaron’s sister! The first family vacation for Aaron, Abby and Debby in who knows how long! Abby visited for four days, Debby for seven and Aaron and I were in Barcelona for a couple of weeks.
Hey! Hey! The gang’s all here!
More than a year in the making.
We know when most people think of Barcelona they think of the amazing architect (“God’s Architect”) Antoni Gaudi. We spent days and days looking at Gaudi architecture and it was so good we’ll devote an entire blog to it in the next week or so! There’s much more to Barcelona than just Gaudi, though. MUCH more.
Returning to the family reunion… Before we arrived in Spain we all emailed about what we wanted to see and do. The obvious #1 thing (everyone who visits Barcelona’s #1 thing): tour Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and see his other works. Abby wanted a beach day. For my part, I didn’t even realize there was a beach in Barcelona. Yup. Not your best informed traveler here. Debby wanted to go to the Miro Museum. And I was like, “What’s a miro!?” You can see this was quite an enlightening trip for yours truly. Aaron wanted to see street art. At least that’s something I understood. And I wanted to try exotic food and drink. So that there was the framework for our European Family Vacation.
Aaron and Abby.
Abby and Debby arrived and we took the first day easy because the day you fly in is always rough. We started with a free walking street art tour of Barcelona. It seemed like a good jet-lag-fighting thing to do with all the sunshine and fresh air. It’s easier to stay awake that way…in theory. About half-way through, though, Debby wanted a nap and I couldn’t have agreed more! Of course, I hadn’t just finished an overnight flight like she had, so why I was tired I don’t know. We ditched Aaron and Abby and celebrated the time honored tradition of siesta. I think Debby was mostly awake and reading. Being productive. I fell sound asleep until Aaron woke me up. I’ve decided siesta is great and have done a lot more of it! Aaron and Abby loved the street art tour, so I’d say that was a win-win for everyone.
The Arc de Triomf where we met to start the street art tour. And yes, this IS the Barcelona Arc.
Aaron will blog about the street art just as soon as I give him time on the tablet.
SAGRADA FAMILIA
After a night’s rest we headed straight to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia – his masterwork of a church. It’s been in process for almost a century and they predict they might finish it in a decade or so. Our photos and story-telling will be in the upcoming blog, but I recommend watching this clip from 60 Minutes to get inspired. When we saw it back home we looked at each other and immediately ran to our RTW Notebook and put the Sagrada on our “must-see” list. So glad we did!
The Sagrada Familia. We’ll really introduce it in our future post on Gaudi, but trust me when I say it’s beyond words incredible!
Love this! We’ve all done it. Debby and Abby capture the moment at Park Guell, another of Gaudi’s masterworks that will feature in our upcoming blog entry.
MIRO
We saw loads of art during the family vacation, including a trip to the Miro Museum. Joan Miro was a surrealist painter and sculptor. Turns out I’m not so into Miro and Aaron was kind of ambivalent, but Debby and Abby absolutely loved his work, so I think it’s safe to put the museum on the “must see” list if you’re into the art scene. I also made the connection that I probably don’t like Picasso that much either (gasp!) so I skipped his museum. Actually we all did, even though it was literally around the corner from our apartment.
My favorite site at the Miro exhibit. The building against the Spanish sky is …AWESOME!
We did go to the Modernism Museum and that one was much more my style! Unfortunately we seem to have lost the photos (eep!), but it was a pretty good one.
SHOPPING AND MORE ART
Of course Barcelona is filled with little shops showcasing things made in Spain – always fun to walk through..and, well, if you happen to see just the perfect thing, you might need to make a purchase or two. I mean, just maybe. Debby found this wonderful mosquito/giraffe/elephant papier-mache sculpture. All four of us weighed in on it and thankfully Abby guided the decision-making process so we could seal the deal. Debby bought it directly from the artist. We love those sort of interactions.
Look at them…they are both so cute. This shop was full of papier-mache masks and sculptures. All colorful and fantastical.
A close up. Loved this AMAZING shop selling figures, puppets and masks you have to see to believe!
Abby found a spectacular locally designed dress that looked great! For my part, I got a super cool over the shoulder bag that is now waiting for me when I get back to the States. Someday I’ll have a real job again and I plan to grab it as I walk out the door and people are going to wish they had it! Aaron and I even stocked up on new sketch pads and pens, so we spent an afternoon in a cafe sketching and (in my case) doodling. It’s the sort of thing I think you have to do in Europe. It just feels right.
Loved these little light up sculptures, but they were way too delicate to get home.
A little pricier, but still local art for sale. This is a HUGE piece outside an art gallery.
Pretty much anything against the Spanish sky is worthy of a photo so I’m just tossing this one in.
BEACH DAY
After all the amazing art, architecture (more on that in future posts), shopping and sightseeing, we needed a rest. Nothing says relaxation like a day at the beach, right? The weather was perfect and we had a little picnic and everything….right next to the nude beach….which might sound better than what it really was (no offense, shriveled up old, fat guys). Still, it was yet another part of our trip that felt so European.
The Mediterranean Sea.
We all tried climbing this contraption by the sea. It was much harder than it looks and yet I want one in my front yard.
Hang on!
Feet in the sand. Faces to the sun. Aaaaaah, good living.
The four of us walking the promenade.
TIME TO GO
We had a spectacular time together in Barcelona, but as quick as it started it seemed time for Abby to head home and then a few days later Debby left, too.
All good things come to an end…but not without a few parting photos!
The horrible ISIS attack in Paris happened while we were there. Really, really terrible. This was a spontaneous outpouring of support at the big fountain in the old town.
Can’t go wrong with free hugs!!!
Aaron and his mama.
A family photo!! All together now: Cheeeese! This family vacation is officially in the books.
I was hoping for a picture of the shriveled up “old guys ” at the beach. Just saying. Nice blog.
Me too, mom! Then Aaron was all, “Hey, we need to keep this thing classy”.
Thanks for not posting photos from the nude beach!!!
You can thank Aaron for that one, I was all for it!
I love sculpture thing Deb bought. It is so her! I too thank you for showing only clad people at the beach. As an old, flabby person, I don’t need to see more.
I do like Muro, but Gaudi is bit, er, gaudy for me. Sorry. I do like that Spanish sky though.
Well, perhaps our upcoming Gaudi posts will change your mind a bit – some of Gaudi’s work really was sublime! Or not. Who’re we to make those decisions for you? We’ll make sure there’s some sky in there to keep you interested.
Barcelona is one of my favorite cities! Have to say I thought it was funny you didn’t know it had a beach. The first thing I did when I got there was head to the beach. I, too, have a picture of the jungle gym you all were playing on. I had a couple days there on my own before Ray arrived and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The people were warm and friendly and, as a woman on my own, I never felt scared. Somehow I must have blended in because people would come up to me and start talking – in Spanish of course – felt bad when I had to disillusion them with “No hablo”.
I should’ve known about the beach. I guess I’m more an active learner. Now I’ll never forget!
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Christa is heading to Barcelona in a couple of weeks; she may be emailing you for more tips!
After being away from home for over a year, you overestimate your front yard a little bit, I think, so please don’t bring the structure! You will have to integrate your house in it :))))
We were thinking of building it over the entire house. The cats and neighborhood kids would love climbing it, Aaron would have an easier time cleaning the gutters off it…it’s perfect!