We had the best 3 part tour in Europe this past summer. The highlight we would all agree were the people.
We first flew into Barcelona and met up with our Spanish family (Jose, Marta, Inés, and Arnau) who brought us to their beautiful home in Vallirana. We spent the afternoon catching up and then went up the incredible mountain of Montserrat....which is well know for it's beautiful church, museum, and hotel...all built between two mountains.
We first flew into Barcelona and met up with our Spanish family (Jose, Marta, Inés, and Arnau) who brought us to their beautiful home in Vallirana. We spent the afternoon catching up and then went up the incredible mountain of Montserrat....which is well know for it's beautiful church, museum, and hotel...all built between two mountains.
Spanish BBQ
Montserret
These churches!
The next 2 days were spent touring Barcelona! The first day we met up with Judith (Indira was in Canada). We were reminiscing that 6 years prior was our conversation at the skating rink about boarders and the possibility of hosting her friends' daughter who wanted to come to Canada to learn English. Fast forward 5-6 years....here we are. Marta says 'that was a good day!' 😉
I think we almost saw every inch of Barcelona as Jose's phone said 21km of walking. The buildings are so full of history and just beautiful. Loved the balconies and the little walking streets to get through. An incredible building designed by a famous Catalan architect Gaudi, known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism. His mosaics are everywhere.
Abby and Inés
Finished off the day with icecream.
Our second day in Barcelona we went to two famous Gaudi attractions. He's very famous in Spain! We actually booked these weeks ahead of time to get in. The first was Park Güell and the second Sagrada Família. His vision was to build a beautiful park for a small housing community. But due to a lack of buyers in 1914, it failed. It then became a large private garden with amazing mosaics and architect that people from around the world come to see. We had 2 sets of tickets because we bought the wrong time, and no refunds. The most lovely Italian family came from a cruise ship so upset they couldn’t get tickets as they were sold out! Ta da! Win win for both. So good.
The Sagrada Família - 172.5 metres tall - just shy of the closest mountain of Montjuic, because Guadi said ‘the work of man should never surpass that of God’. It started in 1882. He worked on it for 43 years and was hit by a tram and killed. It wasn’t even 1/4 of the way finished. He is buried there. The building and detail are out of this world. They are hoping it is complete in 2026 - 100 years after it started.
Sagrada Família - pictures do not do this place justice!
The main door with the Lord’s Prayer inscribed. This will be the main opening when complete.
Menorca is incredible! Jose and Marta's good friends David and Montse have a house on this Island. Their children were also in Canada when Inés and Arnau were here. We rented an Airbnb minutes from their house with Rob and Diane. We headed to a beautiful beach called Platja de Grau. The water was super warm, and as clear as clear as can be. The kids (10) and men played a long game of keep up volleyball and the woman paddled around the corner to see more wonder. Lots of chats. Lots of sun. Lots of great scenery. After lunch/dinner we went to the other side of the Island to Binibeca-Menorca’s whitewash village-once a fishing lodge. Very Greek. The last picture includes all of the adults in our group. Sara’s parents and grandma, Inés parents, Diane and Rob, Ryan and I.
So beautiful!
People actually live here! Amazing!
That afternoon and the next day we had many storms. On our way to another beautiful beach, we ended up going shopping and having dinner together because all of the roads were closed.
Hanging out in Indira's room.
Loved our time in Spain! Thank you!
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