My son Garrett moved to Austria in 2022, settling in Hallwang, a charming suburb of Salzburg. He shares a cozy home with his wonderful wife of six years. In January, they welcomed their first child into the world. Meeting my grandson for the first time was nothing short of magical. Leaving him behind after only a few short weeks left me feeling a bit empty — yearning to reconnect. Without hesitation (and without a great deal of thought or planning) I booked my next trip. I’m now two weeks away from returning and can’t wait to get there!
My life has always been a bit chaotic. My plans often change multiple times before they come together. A perfect example of this is a bit of miscommunication between my son and I that left me with four days of free time. But as luck would have it, I’ll be meeting a dear friend of over 25 years in Barcelona for those four days. Vanessa is more than a friend, she became part of my family as our AuPair in the late 1990s. She was there for lots of life’s ups and downs. We stayed in each other’s lives over these years and she has returned to the USA to visit on several occasions. She lives in Sagunto, Spain, not far from Valencia. She is now married with a son of her own.
With much of Valencia on holiday in early July, Vanessa and her family had the opportunity to visit Barcelona for the week. How convenient!! No need for me to do nothing for four days when I can jet off to Barcelona! I’m so thrilled to reunite with Vanessa and her husband, Pablo, who I first met 11 years ago on my first visit to Spain. To top it all off, I’ll finally get to meet their 8-year-old son! It’s truly amazing how life brings things full circle!
Reconnecting with loved ones and creating new memories across Europe makes me happy. Life is an incredible adventure!
The pancakes from Creps Barcelona were not to be missed. They on Instagram @crepsbarcelona
Travel Tips from My Personal Experiences
Getting around while in town.
As an avid traveler, I meticulously document my trip planning notes. This habit has been a game-changer, allowing me to reflect on what has worked and what hasn’t. Getting around a large city can be scary. Navigating unfamiliar street signs or parking can be a challenge. Keep notes. Compare. Contrast. Review.
Hop on Hop off Tour Buses
One of our favorite strategies is using the Hop On Hop Off sightseeing buses. This gives you a great feel for the flavor of the city. During my 2013 trip with my guy, we used the Barcelona City Tour Hop on Hop off bus to see the entire city. We never waited longer than 10 minutes at a stop. We were able to see all of Barcelona’s architectural wonders atop the open roof of a double decker bus. We “hopped off” when an area appealed to us and stayed on when it didn’t. It was convenient, fun and CHEAP! There are two routes and over 32 different stops. Stops include Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, the Gothic Quarter, Plaça de Catalunya, Futbol Club Barcelona, Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies, and more. Check out the Blue Route and Red Route maps to learn more.
The bus is air conditioned and has solid WIFI. Busses run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ticketing is simple. I’ve purchased mine through various suppliers depending on the city. Do compare prices for the same excursions between suppliers to see who has the best deal that day. I purchased four tickets for the Hop on Hop Off bus from Viator for my upcoming trip. They were $6.00 per ticket cheaper than two other suppliers. Sign up for “rewards” programs with all the major travel sites. The reward program benefits between these companies also weigh into my cost savings decision. I save money with reward programs everywhere, but my favorite go-to websites for research are Viator, GetYourGuide, Booking.com and Travelocity. Trivago also great tool.
Keep in mind that some of the city sites are so popular that while admission may be free, you cannot always gain entry due to the crowds. It’s a good idea to plan in advance and purchase tickets. A good example is a visit to Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi’s fantastical cathedral known for its’ distinctive spires and surreal works of stained glass. What an amazing piece of architecture that is a must see!
My advice is to purchase a “skip the line” ticket, which allows a separate entrance from general admission. You can check out prices and experiences at both GetYourGuide and Viator.