A Taste of Barcelona, with Mom

My mom arrived in Spain on a Saturday morning to spend a week with us. We took public transportation to the airport when she flew in: the metro to a train to a shuttle to the correct airport terminal. We are only ten miles from the airport, but it took us an hour and a half to finally get to the arrivals area where she was waiting. My poor mom waited over thirty minutes after she went through customs with no way to call us or check to see if we were on our way! However, she knew that I would come, and I knew that she would wait for me. When we finally got to her, Logan and I were both soooo happy to give her a huge hug! She immediately began showering Logan with gifts!

Logan napped when we got home and I got to show my mom the grocery store nearby. We did a big shopping and came home to make stew for dinner. I’ve always associated my mom with homemade comfort food. It was nice to have her here to cook for us; I got a little taste of home.

The next day I spent the morning wrapping up my Juice Plus conference while Taylor and Corey went out to explore the city. My mom got some much-needed alone time with Logan until I came back in the early afternoon. 

Later that evening we all ventured to Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic). This is the center of the old city of Barcelona, and many of the buildings date from Medieval times, some as far back as the Roman settlement. Our apartment is in a building set in a more modern part of the city. When we look out from our balcony it is like any other big city. However, venturing to one of the older parts of Barcelona allowed my mom to feel some of the history here.

Getting the hang of the metro.

Enjoying the Gothic Quarter.

We exited the metro and found ourselves only a block from the Cathedral of Barcelona. This site has been Barcelona’s holiest spot for 2,000 years. We walked through the church (free to the public in the afternoons), lit a few candles for loved ones we have lost, and made our way out. There was a church service going on while we walked through, and the singing was beautiful. 

We then perused some of the souvenir shops and went to eat dinner at Sensi Bistro, a restaurant I found on Yelp. We ordered sangria (which was great), cava for my mom (Spanish sparkling wine), and a variety of tapas to share: Catalan cheese platter, ahi tuna tartar (delicious), flank steak in a mushroom sauce (melted in my mouth), eggplant with buffalo mozzarella (also amazing), filet with red wine reduction and mashed potatoes, duck au gratin, fish sticks with hoisin dipping sauce, mussels with a cream sauce (great), and seafood paella. Logan and "Grandma" were happy to be together!

Catalan cheese platter

My mom loved the Spanish tapas. She said it was nothing like she had expected. It was fun to introduce her to the food of this region at such a great restaurant.

The next morning we all toured the magnificent Sagrada Familia church. Architect Antoni Gaudi’s most famous and awe-inspiring work is this unfinished, super-sized icon of Barcelona. The church is done in Barcelona’s trademark Modernista style. 

The people of Barcelona have spent over 130 years working to bring Gaudi’s final plan to life, long after his death in 1926. Still unfinished, it has only four of the eventual 18 spires. 

During our tour, the construction was going on full-swing with cranes high in the air and the sound of electric machinery filling the church with noise. Despite being unfinished, the church is both glorious and otherworldly. It is almost like being in a spaceship, surrounded by a rainbow of gorgeous stained glass windows. 

Tentative plans are to have the church finished in 2026, for the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. This is a church that I would someday love to come back to see finished!

Later in the day while Logan napped, my mom and I ventured out on our own and enjoyed a late lunch back in the Gothic Quarter. We shared a fixed price meal that included: baked mozzarella, tuna tartar, lamb ribs, cannelloni, chocolate mousse, gelato, bread and beverages. 

Baked mozzarella.

We shopped the souvenir stores afterwards, and stopped in numerous bakeries. Sometimes we just looked, but often we purchased a few of this and a few of that, tasting and trying the endless options of baked delicacies!

On my mom’s third day in town, Corey and Taylor headed to Granada for three days. While there, they toured Calat Alhambra. Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex, the last and greatest Moorish palace, highlighting the splendor of that civilization in the 13th and 14th centuries. 

Taylor visiting Alhambra in Granada.

While the men were away we wanted to do things where we could enjoy quality time for my mom, Logan and me. Our first day out we headed to the Barcelona Aquarium. We spent the day showing Logan a variety of marine animals. We were all fascinated with the beautiful sea horses, as well as the shark tank where we walked through a huge tunnel beneath the vast shark enclosure.

That night we went out and I showed my mom the nearby Avinguda de Gaudi (Avenue of Gaudi) which is a pedestrian street near our flat lined with cafes, shops, live music, and great people-watching. It leads directly to the Sagrada Familia church. We again found ourselves at another bakery, then home to make a great dinner. 

The next day we wanted to go to the nearby La Concepcio Market. It is close enough to our flat that we decided to take a stroll through the city, seeing some sites along the way. Throughout the week we would stop at the playground in front of the Sagrada Familia to let Logan play.

Then we headed to the market, walked through to see all the edible goods, and made our way out. 

We passed along the Block of Discord which has three buildings showing the creative Modernista style of three different architects.

On the right is a Gaudi-designed building.

After our meandering, we were hungry, and we stopped to eat at another tapas place for lunch and cava. Sticking to our theme - we were eating and eating and eating…having a taste of Barcelona!

The next day we took Logan to the Barcelona Zoo. It is a great zoo with tons of animals! Logan loved the tree-dwelling monkeys and “riding” a fake tiger for photos. 

Logan loved having a pony ride on Mushroom (the pony), and impressed us with his skills climbing three different rope bridges in the zoo's playground.

Corey and Taylor returned home from Granada, and the next day my mom and Corey wanted to do the famous Las Ramblas walk through the city. 

For more than a century, this walk down Barcelona’s main boulevard has drawn locals and tourists alike. It is a pedestrian-only stroll through souvenir shops, cafes, bakeries, flower stands, fountains, street mimes, pickpockets, a colorful market, and people-watching galore! 

We began our stroll by taking the metro to the Placa de Catalunya. Decorated with fountains, statues and pigeons, this plaza is at the heart of Barcelona. 

There were some men making huge bubbles for the kids to run through, and this entertained Logan for quite awhile. We then headed towards the beach downhill along Las Ramblas. 

Being a tourist with my ever-handy Rick Steve's book!

We stopped at the black-and-gold Canaletes Fountain, here for more than a century. Legend says that a drink from the fountain ensures that you’ll come back to Barcelona one day.

We later stopped at the absolutely fabulous La Boqueria Market. It is literally an explosion of color: chicken legs, bags of live snails, delicious fruit, odd odors, candies, seafood and more! 

I could have spent all day here sampling and looking around. It was extremely crowded, difficult to maneuver with a stroller, and overwhelming. But it was definitely a highlight for all of us! We bought some fresh-made empanadas to snack on for lunch (pockets of dough filled with spinach, cheese, potatoes, meat, mushrooms or any mix of other ingredients). 

After the market we continued down Las Ramblas and happened upon a bakery that has been there since 1902, Escriba bakery. We ordered a waffle which was poured and cooked for us upon ordering (heavenly), along with some macarons, homemade chocolate, and a coffee that was too strong to drink.  

While Logan napped we took a quick taxi to Guell Parc, (pronounced "gway") another Gaudi creation. We learned that it was now charging entry for the best parts, and you had to reserve a time in advance. So unfortunately my mom had to miss the colorful parts of the park (which we later went to see), but we did get a few shots out front and enjoyed the areas open to the public.

Later that evening, my mom’s last night in town, we took her to La Paradeta for some great, fresh seafood. We enjoyed lobster, razor clams, shrimp, fish, soup and more. 

The next morning my mom had to take a taxi to the airport. As she got into her taxi downstairs, Logan and I waved goodbye from our balcony three stories up. It was so sad to say goodbye after such a wonderful week together. We cherished every moment that she was here! I am happy to say that she loved Barcelona and the food!