Barcelona!
Arrival
Oh, jet lag!
Our trans-Atlantic flight arrived at 7am! (JFK-BCN). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to sleep on the overnight flight, making the first few days tough to overcome jet lag.
This actually worked in our favor as we had late starts to our day in a city where locals often get a late start. An early dinner is 7pm & most eat as late as 9:30.
If I could do one thing different, I’d get on a better sleep schedule immediately upon arrival. Waking early for sight seeing, take advantage of a mid-afternoon siesta & enjoy a late-night dinner like the locals do.
Lesson learned.
¡Habla!
Habla un poco español.
Between my straight C-average in high school Spanish, combined with my husband’s years of working as a beat cop in predominantly Hispanic areas we were surprisingly able to communicate effectively.
We used Google Translate to fill in the gaps.
Although Barcelona is a diverse multicultural city, we did run into occasions where very little English is spoken. This is especially true for those who are like us and prefer to explore non-touristy areas.
The effort at attempting to speak Spanish was always appreciated by locals & overall we really had no issues.
The food!
This is why many of us travel here, right?
Overall, the food did not disappoint! That being said, it’s best to take a YOLO approach & just try what’s being offered. There were times where I wasn’t completely sure what I had just eaten…but I usually enjoyed it!
There is every type of food & cuisine offered throughout the city.
One thing to note, the best meals we had were in small locally owned establishments…where the locals eat. The meals were usually simple; a thinly sliced pork loin, served with a salad & potatoes, for example.
We did venture out to many tapas bars and again preferred the ones that were away from the tourist zones.
See a theme here? Your best meals will be where the locals eat!
Where to stay?
Here’s a nice little place off the beaten path.
We chose to stay a bit away from the hustle & bustle tourist areas for our first trip to Barcelona.
Although it was a nice choice we did spend quite a bit of time commuting to attractions.
The Via Sants hotel was exceptional with very comfortable rooms, phenomenal service & easy access to all forms of transportation.
Highly recommend!
Cocktails anyone?
Paradiso!
In 2022 Paradiso was ranked the #1 cocktail bar in the world.
On our recent visit it certainly lived up to the hype!
We splurged on the Macallan experience, where you’re guided through a secret door through the bathroom and into a private dining area.
Upon entering you’re seated in a small-group setting (4-6 people total) and are taken on a sensory journey from taste, touch, smell, sight & sound.
I won’t spoil it for anyone, but it’s a fun way to savor and experience different cocktails and small bites curated for the event.
A must-do for aspiring mixologists or those who enjoy exotic concoctions!
Sagrada Familia
A must-see for your Barcelona visit.
At first we weren’t sure if visiting the Sagrada Familia would be worth the crowds and effort but we’re happy we visited!
Tip: Purchase your tickets directly from the website and not third-party sites. You’ll save money and they’re the exact same tours are available.
The Beach
Barceloneta
We spent our last evening walking along Barceloneta Beach enjoying the views both offshore and along the shore.
One note~This is a VERY touristy area and we were bombarded with people trying to sell us stuff, trying to usher us into bars/restaurants and everything else that comes with a busy city beach. So, just be aware of your surroundings and a firm but polite, “No, gracias.” works just fine.
Although there are tons of restaurants in this area, unfortunately we didn’t make reservations ahead of time. We ended up eating at an Italian chain that wasn’t great. So, I recommend reservations to get a great spot for a fantastic meal.
Overall, the people watching is fantastic!
The home for unique & authentic travel
