Search Results for “label/Barcelona Spain” – Mommy Travels

Destinations

Meagan — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 07:26:15 +0000

So far we’ve been to at least 29 countries. It’s been a while since I’ve tried to figure out how many. This list is not up to date. To see a full list of places I have written about using the category drop-down tool or you can use the search box.

Australia

Bahamas

Belize

Canada

Quebec

Costa Rica

Alabama

Gulf Shores

Arizona

California

Colorado

Denver
Vail

Florida

Georgia

Atlanta

Hawaii

Kauai

Princeville

Oahu

Idaho

Illinois

Chicago

Kentucky

Bowling Green

Louisiana

New Orleans

Massachusetts

Boston
Martha’s Vineyard

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

Las Vegas

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Cincinnati

Oklahoma

Tulsa

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Puerto Rico

South Carolina

South Dakota

Rapid City

Rhode Island

Newport

Tennesee

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington, D.C.

Washington

Wisconsin

Lake Geneva

Wyoming

Yellowstone

Belize

Cambodia

Caribbean

Denmark

Copenhagen

Dominican Republic

Punta Cana

England

London

Fiji

Menton
Paris

Guyana

Honduras

India

Dublin

Jamaica

Japan

Tokyo

Kuwait

Malaysia

Langkawi Island

Nevis

New Zealand

Panama

Prague

Scotland

Singapore

South Africa

Cape Town

Sri Lanka

Thailand

Turks and Caicos

Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

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It wasn’t supposed to be a nude beach! – Barcelona, Spain

Meagan — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Did you know that just because it isn’t a nude beach in Europe it doesn’t really matter? We learned the hard way in Barcelona.

When we were in Barcelona, Spain we decided to spend basically an entire day at the beach. It was nice to have a day of rest after all the walking and sightseeing we had been doing. I love the Sagrada Familia, but I also love the beach! And, I loved a good free activity in Barcelona after spending so much money galavanting around Europe.

Barceloneta Beach

We knew we didn’t want to go to a nude beach, so we headed out for the non-nude beach close to the city’s main attractions, Barceloneta Beach. What we didn’t realize that all the beaches in Europe are apparently top optional like Haulover beach in Miami. At least in Spain, they are.

We got to the beach and caught on quickly. I did not go topless, because that just isn’t my thing…at all. I tried to focus on the beauty of our surroundings and not on the ta-ta’s all around. I must say it really creeped me out for moms and their adolescent daughters to both go topless. I just don’t get it. My friend from England thinks it’s no big deal, so I guess it just comes down to what you are used to.

Here are a few photos of us….hopefully there are no boobs in the picture. If there is, I am so sorry it wasn’t intentional. Nor has this become an “adult” kind of blog.

The beach is free and once you are at the beach, they had chair rentals for 5 Euros. You could also get a massage for $5 or 5 Euros.

There’s lots of restaurants with seafood and activities like kite-boarding, surfing, and windsurfing

Beware!

I should also mention that within minutes of getting to the beach we saw someone’s bag get snatched! A few elderly looking people were walking around waiting for an opportunity to steal. Luckily the young women had no problem chasing down the old lady. So, beware of your stuff in a crowded open beach.

Nude Beaches in Barcelona

Based on some questions I’ve received I have compiled a list of nude beaches for those of you looking for one. Oddly enough, I could only find one. Turns out many beaches in Barcelona have now outlawed being naked at the beach.

Mar Bella – Mar Bella has a dedicated area for nudists.

6 Best Nude Beaches in Europe

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Read Next:

25 Beautiful Places in Barcelona

Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain

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Montjuic Barcelona – Palau Nacional

Meagan — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:04:00 +0000

Does anyone recognize where we are? We are in Barcelona, Spain at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya aka Montjuïc.

Palau Nacional

The whole place was so stunningly beautiful that we had to get off the tour bus immediately to check it out. When we got off the bus we were not even sure what the place was. We just knew it had to be something great by the looks of things. I now know the place is full of great art, but the building itself is what captured our attention. Once we got to the top we were privileged to see spectacular views of the city. Yes, we climbed all those stairs, but I’ll admit those escalators were a huge help! Unfortunately for us the fountains were not on. I have seen pictures of this place with the fountains on and it looks even better!

According to Wikipedia:

The Palau Nacional (Catalan for ‘National Palace’) was the main site of the 1929 International Exhibition on the hill of Montjuïc in Barcelona. It was designed by Eugenio Cendoya and Enric Catà under the supervision of Pere Domènech i Roura. Since 1934 it has been home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

The Spanish Renaissance-inspired building has a rectangular floor plan flanked by two side and one rear square sections, with an elliptical dome in the center. The fountains by the staircases leading to the palace are the work of Carles Buïgas.

Between 1996 and 2004, the palace was extended to accommodate the National Art Museum’s entire collection of over 5,000 artworks.

What a view!

Book your own hop on hop off tour bus of Barcelona!

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Riding around Barcelona on a bus

Meagan — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:25:00 +0000

Barcelona is probably one of the most exciting cities to visit in Europe right now. It has a rich history, culture, great food, good nightlife and the beach. You could almost say that it has almost everything that people want to enjoy when they go on vacation. However, many people who visit the city never really explore all the options that it offers. For instance, in the summer, many people just go to the beach all day without ever visiting a museum or some historical buildings, and others don’t trust the local cuisine and eat at fast food chains like McDonald’s or Subway.

The best thing to do when going to Barcelona is to try and sample a little bit of everything. If you want to spend time at the beach, that’s fine, but maybe try walking to the beach in the morning, but stop for some sight-seeing on your way there, or if you don’t have a lot of time to eat, instead of eating fast food, try and go to a tapas bar where you can also get a quick bite to eat but the quality of the food is much better.

You also have to keep in mind that Barcelona is much more than just the city center, meaning the Ramblas and its surroundings. Try and discover other great districts of the city like Gracia or the Eixample, not only will you get more of a feel of what the real Barcelona is like, but you will also discover many great bars, restaurants, and sights that are not as crowded because there aren’t so many tourists. One of the best ways to see Barcelona is by a sightseeing bus.

By the time we got to Barcelona we were worn out from walking around Italy. We decided to get on a tour bus and ride around seeing the sights. After comparing the two tour bus companies we saw in the main plaza, we decided to use Barcelona Bus. The two companies we looked at were practically the same, but the Barcelona Bus covered more areas. Barcelona Bus had two different routes. One route towards Mt. Tibidabo and one towards the Olympics and everything in between.

Barcelona has some of the greatest architecture in the world! Here are a few pictures of what we saw.

Plaza Catalunya – This plaza seemed like a great starting point.

National Art Museum of CatalunyaThe next two are pictures I took while we were in the Olympic Village area. The first one is this outdoor artwork called Pergolas on Icaria Avenue. Created by the architects Carme Pinós and Enric Miralles. I wondered what this was when we passed by. It was large and lengthy. It took a awhile for me to find out. Apparently this sculpture/artwork was suppose to be much bigger. They were not allowed to plant trees for sewage reasons in this area, so they built what were meant to be big metal trees shading the street. Although that wasn’t acheived (maybe that is what drove them to divorce) I must say it was a very memorable thing to see. So much so I came home and researched it!

Museu de Zoologia

La Seu Cathedral in Barcelona’s Gothic area. These pictures do not do justice to the size of this cathedral. We wanted to go in but the line was an hour long and we had seen at least two dozen churches in Europe.

Here are a few recommendations of things to do in Barcelona.

1. Make sure to walk around El Gotico and the Born, which are the oldest parts of the city. Almost all of the buildings are beautiful and you can see historical landmarks from the ruins of the Roman wall and temple, to the old Royal palace of the kingdom of Aragón. There is also a wide variety of trendy bars and restaurants to enjoy for an afternoon drink or for going out at night. The Born especially has many small boutiques and stores where you can find clothing from many of the local designers, as well as some of the best food and wine stores in the city.

2. Visit Gaudi’s creations. This famous Catalan architect has become synonymous with the city of Barcelona, and his buildings are truly a wonder to look at. From his famous church the Sagrada Familia, which is still under construction to the Casa Batllo you will never have seen another building like them and it is easy to appreciate why Gaudi is considered by many to be a genius. A tip for when you visit the Sagrada Familia is to also visit the Sant Pau hospital, which is one of the most beautiful places in the city and is just a five minute walk from the church.

3. Walk around Gracia. This district is a well kept secret among the locals. It starts at the very top of Passeig de Gracia the city’s main shopping street and it is the best area of the city to take a relaxing walk and experience some of the local culture. Gracia is almost void of tourists and it is one of the most beautiful districts in the city, as well as the favorite place for the young locals to go out at night. It has some of the best bars in the city and the drinks are cheaper there than in the center. Gracia maybe does not have many spectacular buildings, but it is overall a very nice and probably the best looked after district in Barcelona.

4. Try the local food. The food in Barcelona is amazing, and it is more than just tapas and paella. There is a wind range of local, traditional food that is really tasting. The most traditional of all being pa amb tomaquet (bread with tomato smeared on the surface). This is most commonly served with a serving of cheese or serrano ham and it is a simple combination that works beautifully. You should also try croquetas, patatas bravas, jamon iberico, morcilla, or calamars a la romana. These are a series of simple tapas that don’t cost much and are really worth trying.

These are just a few recommendations for a city that has so much to offer, but they are well worth trying.

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Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower

Meagan — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Hesperia Tower Hotel is a 5-star hotel near the airport in Barcelona, Spain. For a peaceful place to stay while visiting this bustling city, stay here!

Hotel Hesperia

Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower Review

The Barcelona hotel we stayed at was Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower formally known as Hotel Hesperia Tower. It was unbelievably nice, designed by Richard Rogers a famous British architect. It has 29 floors and is 105 meters high. It was by far the nicest hotel we stayed in on our trip.

After flying into the wrong airport and then taking over an hour-long bus ride into Barcelona we found ourselves in downtown Barcelona at 2:00 AM wondering where our hotel was. We looked at the map and quickly decided it was too late to be trying to figure this out, so we had to find a cab. After walking around for about five minutes a cab rolled by and picked us up. We got lucky because our hotel was nowhere near where we were and we were not sure the cab driver understood which hotel we were saying! After the stress and exhaustion of the day, I was so relieved to see such a beautiful hotel and room.

Room Service

They even had room service at that hour. Again, we were lucky, because we had not had dinner. We ordered the “lunchbox” which was swiftly brought to us. It was a huge sandwich and salad, assorted dessert, and some other stuff. It was so good I wish I had taken a picture.

This was also the cheapest hotel we stayed in! Only $68 a night with breakfast. The breakfast buffet had a huge selection and everything was delicious. At that price, it might just be the best hotel in Barcelona!

Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower Rooms

Rooms feature smart televisions that come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include slippers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. There is complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Additionally, rooms include a minibar, irons/ironing boards, and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Here are a few photos of our room.

Amenities

Fitness activities include a 24-hour gym, swimming pools, spa treatments, and paddle tennis courts. Other things they have at the hotel are a cinema and restaurants.

In conclusion, the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower is an impressive and luxurious hotel with wonderful amenities that can make anyone’s trip to Barcelona comfortable and enjoyable. Whether you stay for business or pleasure, it has something for everyone, from delicious cuisine served in the restaurant to dog-friendly rooms to a heated rooftop pool with amazing views. Plus, the exceptional location puts you close to the city center and all of its attractions.

The experience of staying at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower is second-to-none. Given everything it offers at such an accessible price point, it’s no wonder it’s become one of the most popular places to stay in Barcelona! So now we turn to you: where is your favorite place to stay in Barcelona? We look forward to hearing what you have to say – leave us a comment below!

Read Next:

Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Spain

7 Best Seaside Day Trips from Barcelona

6 Best Day Trips from Barcelona for Nature Lovers

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Vacation to Italy and Spain

Meagan — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Our travels were amazing and we took about 1500 pictures. So, I have lots of blogging to do. Each city was neat and each was completely different from the others. My favorite was Venice, Italy, and friend’s favorite was Rome, Italy. We can’t wait to take the kids to Italy someday, but probably not Spain.

4 Days in Rome

Rome, Italy was our first stop and we saw as many things as we could in four days. There is just so much to see and do. We both loved the Sistine chapel. We loved all the history and the amazing churches. We enjoyed hanging around the pantheon and Novena plaza. It was so relaxing and the food was great as were the beer and wine.

3 Days in Venice

Venice, Italy was stunning. We did not do much here but walked around, eat, drink, and hang out. We went on a gondola ride just a little before sunset and hardly anyone else was in the canal at this time so it was peaceful and private and the bottle of wine we took on was the best wine we had during the whole trip. After we got done with the gondola we went and found a quiet little area and sat on the steps looking at the water and drinking the rest of our wine.

3 Days in Barcelona

By the time we traveled to Barcelona, we were worn out. We flew to the wrong airport (Thanks, Ryan Air). We had one very long bus ride, some confused walking around, and a taxi ride that we weren’t sure the guy understood us! We arrived at our hotel at two in the morning. Much to our delight, it was a five-star hotel and we ordered lots of room service so we weren’t starving when we went to bed. The next two days we did a bus tour, strolled Las Ramblas, and through the Gothic quarter. We squeezed in the Picasso Museum, Sagrada Familia, and other sights and spent our last day laying at the beach.

3 Days in Madrid

Madrid was very different than all the other places we visited.

Amazing Artwork in Madrid, Spain

We had the chance to go to three art museums while vacationing in Madrid, Spain. The Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum home to Caravaggio’s “Saint Catherine”. So far, the best artwork I have ever seen in person was in Spain.

Free Admission to Art Museums in Madrid

The Prado Museum is free every day from 6 pm until 8 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 5 pm until 8 pm every Sunday. Here you can see Velazquez’s “Las Meninas”.

The Reina Sofia museum is free on Sunday mornings from 10 am – 2:30 pm and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7 pm to 9 pm. Here you can see Picasso’s “Guernica”.

I believe all of the art in the post is in the Reina Sofia. The Museo Reina Sofía Collection comprises more than 21,000 works. I don’t think I was able to take any photos in the other museums.

Salvador Dali

Visage du Grand Masturbateur (Face of the Great Masturbator), 1929.

These first two paintings are Salvador Dali’s. Dali is best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. I have to say the name of that first painting almost ruined it for me.

Ángeles Santos Torroella – A world by Salvador Dali

Picasso

This one is obviously a Pablo Picasso. This one is Picasso’s Guernica.

Picasso’s Guernica

Vallarta

This one are both done by Vallerta (I think)

I do not remember who painted this. Can you see the people inside through the window and the person outside of the window to the side? I think my camera had a hard time figuring out where to focus, you can see why.

Have you been to Spain? Did you see any good art while you were there? I would love to know what was your favorite artwork in Madrid is?

Tacos in Madrid

By now we had gotten used to the tapas thing, but found three really great Mexican food places so we ate nothing but tacos and tapas for days.

Since then I can not stop thinking about the yummy tacos we had while we were there. If you are traveling there you should really go to all of these restaurants.

La Taqueria

A nice sit-down place where the downstairs is nonsmoking!! I had the tacos al Pastor and they were awesome. My friend had some sort of chicken dish which was good even though it was not what he thought it was going to be. We also ordered some guacamole and it was very good and a large portion. The wine was cheap and they had good salsa. This was my favorite place I ate while in Europe. The address is Don Pedro, 11 – 28005 Madrid tel. 913651077 This is me in the downstairs part of La Taqueria

Taqueria Mi Ciudad

A little hole in the wall with super cheap tacos. They make several types and tacos and they were all good. I am pretty sure we tried all of them. We ate like pigs and our whole bill was 12 euros. I can’t remember exactly where it is, but I think it is on the same street and on the same side as La Mordida!

La Mordida

A nice sit-down place where it is non-smoking!! I had the tacos al Pastor and they were awesome. My friend had nachos which were good. The wine was cheap and they had good salsa. The address is Bebe y Calla, SL. Las Fuentes, 3 28013 Madrid. tele – 915591136

While we were in Madrid August 15 is some sort of holiday there and it was just one big raging party in the streets. It was so much fun. We went back to that area the next night ready to dance and have more fun but I guess they don’t party like that every night.

Take a day trip from Madrid to Segovia.

Well, I could just keep going and going so I will stop for today but will post more soon!

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