Pictures and Thoughts from Spain...

Friends!

How have you been? We recently returned from a 2-week trip that took us through New York City, Spain and France! It was an amazing journey we will always remember. 

Traveling a long distance, through different time zones, with three young boys... yes, there were some difficult moments (as you can imagine!). It's funny though, how those hard times dim, and the magical memories become even brighter over time...

All the images I'm sharing today are from Barcelona, Spain. If you haven't been, I hope these photos will give you a good flavor of this beautiful, historic city on the Mediterranean. 

People are friendly and typically eat dinner around 9:00 or 10:00 pm. The architecture is eye candy - shutters and balconies, oh my!

The city is much larger than I expected! Barcelona was previously part of the Principality of Catalonia and retains a strong Catalonian influence, compared with other Spanish cities like Madrid. 

Many people in the city speak Catalan, so interestingly, my high school Spanish level 3 only got me so far. ;) But, many people do also speak Spanish and English, so getting around was not too difficult.

We were grateful to have my mom join us for the first week in Barcelona while my husband was working. Here, we are standing in front of La Sagrada Familia, the symbol of Barcelona.

I have never seen anything like Sagrada Familia. It is breathtaking, reverent and whimsical at the same time. Construction, which began in 1882 is ongoing and scheduled to be completed in 2026. (Now that is a building project!)

Spanish artist, Gaudi, designed this spectacular church (technically, minor basilica).

Sagrada Familia is right in the heart of Barcelona, surrounded by bustling streets, building and parks. 

With mild temperatures, sunshine and flower stands, it felt like spring...

The fountain at La Ciutadella is beautiful and also an icon of the city...

The Gothic Quarter was like being transported to another time! The cathedral below dates back to the 1400s. Seriously.

And behind this cathedral, there was a man making giant bubbles for children (with a hat for tips ;). These pictures of our two youngest sons melt my heart. A great reminder that kids are kids, wherever in the world they may be. 

Forget about the gothic cathedral that has survived centuries... there are BUBBLES! 

And the place we visited most? 

The beach!

 This was our first time on the Mediterranean. We loved collecting sea glass, and the boys enjoyed playing in the water and sand. There's something about ocean air that melts away any travel-related stress! 

Thank you for sharing in these memories with me.

So happy you stopped by today!

Xo

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Savvy Southern Style