Gaudi, Tapas, and Much
More
To escape the biting cold of Switzerland, where we are currently
based, my husband and I made a spontaneous plan to fly to Barcelona for a few
days and soak in the sun. I had been to the beautiful Catalan city during my
college days 10 years ago so I decided to be the TripAdvisor for the family.
Things however, are not the same when you travel with kids. The metro becomes a
no-no due to the non accessibility for strollers. Meal times become desperate
pamper changing escapades and sight seeing goals are left adhura when 2 crying kids make faaluda
out of your brain. Yet, we made the most of it. When the kids seemed to be
possessed with monsters, the weather compensated. The days were sunny, the
paellas yummy and Gaudi – well – everything he made was just incredible.
Apart from the great sight seeing opportunities Barcelona
has to offer, it boasts of a mouth watering local cuisine, wonderful views of
the Mediteranean sea, hustle and bustle (which you may not appreciate coming
from Lahore or Karachi but it was a feature to enjoy on it’s own for us gaaoon walas coming from Central Europe)
AND amazing shopping. Since Mango, Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti
and Stradivarius are all originally Spanish, you will not find your favourite
clothing items at better prices anywhere else in the world. And if you go in
January, the end of season sales will blow your mind. A ZARA leather jacket for
19.99 Euros? Yup. I got one for that much. I shall leave the rest of the tareef of my trip to the photos!
Quick tip: Find yourself a place to stay on La Rambla. It’s
the main touristy street of the city where you will find shopping, amazing
churros, souvenirs and raunak till 2
am. It is also close to most of the major attractions, with a very easy access
to the Metro.
Bonus: Taxis are affordable in case your legs refuse to
cooperate by the end of the day and you need some extra help going back to the
hotel.
Samaaj seva
announcement: Try avoiding La Rambla if you really want to eat local at local
prices. Bring Google to your aid and look for restaurants a little into the
non-touristy areas. The taste will be more authentic, and the prices will not
burn holes in your pocket.
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| Baby shows disproval of the choice of destination right after we landed in Barcelona |
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Wondering why the weather cannot be as nice in Schaffhausen
as it is in Barcelona. Cathedral de Barcelona in the background
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| Enjoying the lovely view of the Mediterranean Sea from the undulating benches of the terraces at Park Guell |
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| If you love graffiti, Barcelona is the place to be! |
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| More graffiti discovered in one of the local neighborhoods. It is the non-touristy alleys and walkways where you learn most about a city! |
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| Family photo at Casa Batllo after thoroughly enjoying learning about the genius they call Gaudi. |
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Finding my way through Pablo Espanyol and learning lots
about Spanish architecture in this open air museum.
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One of the many street performers that pose to be statues
along the bustling La Rambla playing with Minha’s hair.
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Me gazing in the direction of North America as asked by
Christopher Columbus in the background.
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Loved walking around the Latin Quarter with Rick Steeves
(audio guide downloaded on our phones).
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Girls who pose together stay together.
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Posing with the beautiful mosaic work, which is the champion
of Gaudi’s Park Guell.
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The rare occasion when none of us are crying or fighting –
Location happens to be Pablo Espanyol.
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Us trying out our new selfie stick around the Latin Quarter.
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Itnay achay mausam mein,
kinnu ke darakht ke neechay, nap pose to banta hai.
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The baby being made to gaze at the Sagrada Familia.
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The famous dragon covered with mosaic work – one of the top
attractions of Park Guell.
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