Earlier this year I visited Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. Join me in reliving the trip, recapping the very best parts, and the things I'd do differently if I ever visit again. 

We're now on the third of four posts about Barcelona. First was Barcelona {Overview}, second was Barcelona {The Sights}. Now we're seeing Barcelona {Via Gaudí} and next week we'll finish with Barcelona {The Food}.

I hope this will serve as your own little getaway to Barcelona and a useful guide if you'll soon be visiting there.

This post is all about Antoni Gaudí and his works around Barcelona. Typically they'd be included in {The Sights} but his work is so unique and there are so, so many photos that Gaudí deserved a post all of his own.

Antoni Gaudí is an amazing architect, a creative genius, and an all around interesting man. Before I visited Barcelona I'd only heard of his life's work, the Sagrada Familia, but never his name. Once there I fell in love with him and became determined to see as much of his work around the city as I could. Gaudí is like The Godfather of Barcelona, guiding you all around the city to the most colorful, creative, stunning places that he's created. 

The Gaudí spots we visited were:​

• Sagrada Familia
• Park Güell and Gaudí House Museum
• Basa Batlló

Earlier this year I visited Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. Join me in reliving the trip, recapping the very best parts, and the things I'd do differently if I ever visit again. 

This post, Barcelona {The Sights}, is the second in a series of four. Get started with the Barcelona {Overview} and don't miss  Barcelona {via Gaudi}, and finish your reading with Barcelona {The Food}.

I hope this will serve as a mini getaway for you and a useful guide if you'll soon be visiting Barcelona.

Barcelona had been a mysterious place to me. It was a destination where college kids who could afford to study abroad all gathered and never let anyone forget it! Was I bitter? Yes. Did I fall in love with quirky, historic, lovely Barcelona regardless? Also yes. 

The sights from our visit to Barcelona include:​

• Flor de Barcelona
• Yellow Ribbons
• Pooping Statues
• The Bishop's Bridge
• Roman Columns
• Saint Eulalia's 13 Geese
• Hash and Marijuana Museum ​
• An urban hike to the Bunkers del Carmel
• Bike taxi on Barceloneta beach
• The journey to Montjuïc Castle

Earlier this year I visited Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. Join me in reliving the trip, recapping the very best parts, and how I'd do things differently if I ever visit again. 

This Barcelona {Overview} is the first in a series of four posts. Related posts include Barcelona {The Sights}, Barcelona {via Gaudi}, and Barcelona {The Food}.

I hope these posts will serve as a mini getaway for you and a useful guide if you'll soon be visiting Barcelona.

Barcelona is a huge city in Spain and a very popular tourist destination. While technically located in Spain, Barcelona is loyal to Catalonia. Catalonia was once separate from Spain and Barcelona was its capitol and largest city. While Catalonia and Barcelona are both folded into Spain now, you'll see signs of loyalty to Catalonia all over the city in the form of yellow ribbons. There are separate flags for Catalonia and Spain which often fly next to one another. I'm reminded most of Sicily where residents don't focus on being part of the larger Italian community.

That all being said, I was warned that Catalan is the primary language and that folks in Barcelona prefer to speak it over Spanish. Since I don't speak either, I was relieved that nearly everyone we encountered in Barcelona spoke or understood English to some extent. 

Barcelona is located on the water and has all of the charm of an old European city. It underwent a major makeover in advance of the 1992 Olympics which were held there. We learned that the sand and palm trees at the Barceloneta beach were all brought in from Egypt and other various locations around the world!

I didn't know much about Barcelona before this trip except that it's got a famous and expensive cured ham called jamon iberico and that the masterpiece of the city is "the church of our generation" called Sagrada Familia that's been under construction for decades and is still not finished! 

It was thrilling and satisfying to explore and get to know a place that was never before on my radar. Come along with me to Barcelona!

Figs and Flights’ second event, Irish Hospitality, was a blast! In short it was welcoming, relaxed, and fun.

Let's relive the night together.

The Packed Lunch Project is part of my daily at home life. It's my best habit for eating well, saving money, and preserving my sanity. I pack a lunch, take a photo, and post it on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #packedlunchproject. 

When I don't pack a lunch I'll spend too much money on take out, Uber eats, or on a grocery store visit. Often times I'll get caught up in working and I won't think about what to get for lunch until it's 2:00 pm and I'm too hungry to decide on what to eat, paralyzed by too many choices, and I end up eating JUNK. This project helps me to stay motivated to keep packing and I hope it helps you to gather ideas and inspiration for delicious lunches, as well.  

No matter the reason why you want to pack your lunch more often, I invite you to join me. Last year I did a giveaway for The Packed Lunch Project and it's time to do it again!

​I've just returned from my 5th trip since the beginning of 2019 and I'm ready to get into a good routine of packing lunch every day for the summer spent in Seattle. Let's do this!