Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona was AMAZING!! I would have to say out of all the places we have visited since moving to Europe this has been my favorite so far.

Getting There

This was the second part of our vacation so we flew from Paris to Barcelona on RyanAir. Of course our flight was late and we did not arrive in Barcelona until after 11pm. Despite the delay it was an easy taxi ride from BCN airport to the apartment we rented in the El Born area of Barcelona.

I dont think Barcelona is a city that sleeps either because at midnight we were in a restaurant downstairs from our apartment ordering a full meal and drinks. It wasn't just late night bars and clubs open everything was still open and everyone was still out like it was 12 in the afternoon. Which was great for us because we were starving when we got off that flight.

Beach/Pier

Our first full day in Barcelona was spent at the beach.  It was crowded and hot and wonderful--reminded me of home. We were out their all day we had lunch, snacks, cocktails, took naps and of course Lil Rory did not want to get out of the water.  So relaxing; which is exactly what we all needed.

*Special Note: you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas from the beach bar for 6 euro each.

*Special Note: I didn't take that many pictures while on the beach because this was a European beach (my first experience) and the ladies of all ages do go topless. Trying to keep it PG :-).

All of the beautiful docked boats at the pier

Long boardwalk past the pier and to the beach

La Rambla

A very popular pediastrian street in the heart of Barcelona. It is filled with restaurants, souvenir shops, hotels, fast food chains, street performers--just people everywhere; extremely crowded. 

chasing birds in the square

street performer

La Boqueria

 This is the largest open air market in Barcelona right off La Rambla street.  Its just like a huge flea market that you would see back home in the states except with every type of food and spices you can think of. 

Port

The Port of Barcelona was so relaxing being next to the beautiful water and feeling the cool breeze.  They have tons of trees and benches everywhere so we found us a nice quiet spot and layed out on a bench and took in the scenary.

Lodging

For this trip was also rented an apartment through airbnb. It was located in the heart of the El Born area of Barcelona.  Amazing location on a pedistrian street--when we walked out of our door there was a playground about 10 different restaurants and a couple of mini marts; so it was a highly active/full of energy area.

El Born

Wonderful neighborhood restaurant

yummy-paella & sangria

As I'm writing this blog and reflecting on my trip I think Barcelona was my favorite simply because it felt like a real vacation. We actually took our time and relaxed. We slept in didn't hurry to get out of the apartment we took naps by the ocean and were able to just peacefully soak in our surroundings.

 Did we get to see everything...No not even close to it.  However; we got a chance to relax which is something we don't normally do on these trips throughout Europe. I'm always so eager to try and see this and that--we wake up early and stay out all day trying to get in as much as we can because their is a good chance we won't be back to these places again.  So our trips are always Go Go Go.

This trip was different it was a REAL RELAXING vacation and we all truly enjoyed ourselves.

Paris, France

I started planning and purchasing tickets for this trip to Paris back in April so when July 4th came I was so excited because this trip had been on my brain for months and it felt like it would never get here.  Now I have been and I'm back home and I hope I get another opportunity to visit Paris again.

Getting There

We took the train from our neighborhood train station to Paris.  We had a couple of changes: Beratzhausen to Nuremberg (RE); Nuremberg to Frankfurt (ICE); Frankfurt to Paris (TGV). I chose the train because I was able to get a really good deal on tickets; I booked them 3mths ahead of time and paid 39euro per adult one way.  So our trip to Paris only cost us 78euro (Lil Rory was free) which is an amazing deal for July!!

*Special Note: I booked the tickets off the German main train website: www.bahn.de and you get the best deals when you book as soon as the tickets open up for sale--91 days ahead of travel date. 

The train ride was nice and we packed our picnic basket with tons of food and drinks so we wouldn't have to purchase any of the overpriced food they sell on the train.

Eiffel Tower

The apartment that I rented was in an amazing location one block over from the eiffel tower so that was the first main attraction we saw when we got to Paris and anytime we went anywhere in town we had to pass the eiffel tower; so of course we have tons of eiffel tower pictures.

First night in Paris

Rory loved running around and playing on beautiful manicured
lawns in front of the eiffel tower

City Tour

The temperature was in the high 70s while we where in Paris so we decided the best way for us to explore the city was the hop on/off boat tour.  The hop on/off buses were packed and the subway gets extremely crowded and hot and you miss the city views b/c your underground. The batobus (http://www.batobus.com/english/) rides up and down the Seine River and has about 9 different stops at all of the main attractions.  The boat was completely glass and had some amazing views from the river and the breeze from the water was so relaxing. 

*Special Note: the tickets were 15euro per adult for a 1 day pass. The boats run from 10am-9:30pm every 10-15mins.

Notre Dame

Lines Lines and more Lines--that sums up all of the famous tourist attractions. To see the inside of anything, especially during the time we went, you have to be willing to stand in a line for a few hours. I had no desire to waste my vacation away in a line so we were admirers from the outside got some quick shots, met a few people and headed on to the next stop.

view from the river and the top of our batobus

Louvre/Pyramids

The Rorys making friends outside the Louvre

Arc De Triomphe

Champs-Elysees

Of course I couldn't go to Paris and not visit the most famous shopping street that I hear people talking about all the time. I guess everyone else visiting Paris felt the same way because the streets were PACKED!! There were a mixture of high end stores, souvenir shops, regular stores, and restaurants.  They had Gucci, Aston Martin, MAC, Sephora, Zara, Disney, L.Vuitton, and on and on. Some of the stores were way over the top--when we first got to the top of the street I saw a huge gate with gold designs and a long pathway with manicured trees behind the gate (that was guarded by 2 department store catalog looking guys) so I was like "ohhh what is that a castle or some type of museum"; no it was Abercrombie and Fitch!

Even with all the flair and the fame the area was not for me.  The prices were ridiculous and it was too crowded to really shop.  My suggestion is if you want to shop and get some good deals skip this tourist trap and go more in to the city with the locals. We went walking around Arr. 15 and that district had MAC, Sephora, Zara, Gap, tons of Parisian clothing and shoe stores for reasonable prices.

At least I can say been there done that.


Lodging

This time we took the non traditional route and rented an apartment through airbnb. It was in an AMAZING location; so glad I made this choice. It was one block over from the eiffel tower and at the end of our street was an amazing very busy pedastrian street full of shops, restaurants, fish markets, grocery stores, crepe stands, ice cream shops, etc.

It was a small Parisian one bedroom one bathroom flat on the 4th floor (yes 4 flights of stars--but so worth it). I got to hang out the window and watch the neighbors and breath in the delightful smells from the local restaurants and shops.  I felt like I was having a true parisian experience. Loved It!!!!

Our apt was in the building behind the car on the left

busy pedastrian street next to our apt

Most delicious ice cream flled macaroons from the neighborhood
ice cream shop--Best Thing I've eaten since moving to Europe

Paris was a wonderful experience that I will never forget and I hope to get another opportunity to visit again. Maybe next time with my parents and sister.  The BEST part about the trip is we DID NOT get pickpocketed!!!