Our flight left at 6pm EST March 30 2019 having us travel overnight arriving in Barcelona the following morning. The kids did well on the flight having slept 4 or 5 hours, Unfortunately Radhika was sitting by the restroom and wasn’t able to sleep at all with all the special flushing sounds throughout the night — being exhausted she had a moment of admiration as we left the plane and walked by first class thinking about what it would have been like to be in a flush free zone.
Day 1
Our driver showed up proudly displaying a Costco sign and took us to the hotel. We knew that we booked a nice hotel but Having booked through Costco was surprised by how nice our lodging was at the Fairmont Re Juan Carlos. Felt more like they scoured our browser history and gave us options right out of the Amex fine resorts and hotel program.
The kids had a second wind so took them down to the lobby so radhika could get some rest and then we all siesta(ed) together for a few hours before we went out for the afternoon. At 2:30 e took a taxi to downtown Barcelona to meet our guide for the food tour.
The kids had a second wind so took them down to the lobby so radhika could get some rest and then we all siesta(ed) together for a few hours before we went out for the afternoon. At 2:30 e took a taxi to downtown Barcelona to meet our guide for the food tour.
Her name was Lucy, a German born Armanian body builder who spoke 5 languages and had lived in Barcelona for past 15 years. She was very warm and friendly, felt much less than a tour (never did see the scavenger hunt for kids advertised) but more like running into a stranger you met on the street knew the area well and knew where the good eats were and was up for sharing stories. The first stop was at Petritxol Xocoa for chorros and warm chocolate.
Then a walk around (not on) shops and stores nearby La Rambla, including beautifully architected buildings with narrow streets and a creative art and books store with live-in cats running around to add that bit of Spanish authenticity - one of maya favorite parts.
Then for tapas and drinks at a hole in the wall establishment a bit off the beaten path (we would have never thought to stop their on our own) called Medizabal — beers, vermouth (wine and herbs), potatoes drizzled in a white sauce, bread topped with homemade tomato sauce topped and Iberian ham — yummy.
More sights including an odd mix of a retired hospital that Gaudi died in surrounded by orange trees and homeless people and right next door a fancy garden bar with a vegetable garden in the center. A huge metal statue of a cat that I didn’t follow the symbolism of other than rubbing its private parts giving good luck- which off course we all did.
Then a walk around (not on) shops and stores nearby La Rambla, including beautifully architected buildings with narrow streets and a creative art and books store with live-in cats running around to add that bit of Spanish authenticity - one of maya favorite parts.
Then for tapas and drinks at a hole in the wall establishment a bit off the beaten path (we would have never thought to stop their on our own) called Medizabal — beers, vermouth (wine and herbs), potatoes drizzled in a white sauce, bread topped with homemade tomato sauce topped and Iberian ham — yummy.
More sights including an odd mix of a retired hospital that Gaudi died in surrounded by orange trees and homeless people and right next door a fancy garden bar with a vegetable garden in the center. A huge metal statue of a cat that I didn’t follow the symbolism of other than rubbing its private parts giving good luck- which off course we all did.
And then a trip to the top of Barcelo Raval hotel — a super modern pink themed punk type establishment with 360 views of Barcelona from the rooftop.
One last food stop on career de Blai at Blai 9 for Pinxos (tapas with toothpicks). We then said good bye to our tour guide and acquaintance Lucie for the nigh - not at all what we expected from a food tour but all in all felt like the experience was worth the money being with someone warm and friendly who helped orient us to the area and who you felt gave you a strong experience at the right food and drink spots.
We ventured on the local train which was surprising easy to navigate despite everything being in Spanish and then a short walk back to the hotel for the night.
A great first day and proud of the kids for taking strong run at the day despite the jet lag and overstimulated minds so far from home.
A fairly good night sleep expect for A quick middle of night throw up and clean up given Maya’s excitement and new mix of chocolate and coke intake from the evening before.
Day 2
The day started off with an unexpectedly good breakfast buffet at the hotel. The food seems so fresh and presented so eloquently, wasn’t sure whether it was the bouginess of where were staying or part of euro swagger. We walked from our hotel 20 minutes to do a tour of the stadium where Barcelona soccer team plays. We got an audio tour, saw lots of statistics and got a few awesome views of the field (even a VR experience). All sorts of team statistics and endless reams of video of Barcelona doing great things which I won’t remember - what I will remember is how deeply influential this sport team has shaped the culture and politics here and how revered a small team of 11 players in defining what’s possible to the gigantic self sustaining economy that has spun up around being the best.
After the tour we decided to go back on the train to the La Rambla area to catch the market for lunch. The market was booming with unbelievably vivid colors everywhere — the rainbow of fresh fruits and juices all over the place, fresh meats of all sorts being cut directly off the animals with leg hoofs and body parts on display. Maya wasn’t feeling so well but seemed to enjoy the experience and Ishan left with his belly full. Oranges, strawberries, empanadas, chorizo on a stick and a seafood melody jewels from the sea was a sampling of our menu. Octopus, oysters being shucked from the shell in front of us.
We ventured back on the train - mom and maya siesta(ed) while Ishan read his new book and dad enjoyed a workout at the fancy gym. Later that night we went to a Mediterranean restaurant recommended by the hotel called La Gavina sitting right on the waterfront as dusk turned on the night skyline. I munched on some seafood paella while mom had fresh San sabastian style guilt head sea bass accompanied with red wine. This along with jokes and lots of laughing made for a fantastic end to the evening.
We ventured back on the train - mom and maya siesta(ed) while Ishan read his new book and dad enjoyed a workout at the fancy gym. Later that night we went to a Mediterranean restaurant recommended by the hotel called La Gavina sitting right on the waterfront as dusk turned on the night skyline. I munched on some seafood paella while mom had fresh San sabastian style guilt head sea bass accompanied with red wine. This along with jokes and lots of laughing made for a fantastic end to the evening.
Day 3
Radhika started the day early with a run at the fancy gym while kids and I stayed fast asleep. Another enjoyable and filling breakfast at the hotel and then off by taxi for a tour at the sagrada FamÃlia. The face of the Sagrada (facets they called them) looked straight of the scene of a fairy tale. It was larger than life and had a surreal fairy tale look at first like something out of a scene of a Disney movie. Fortunately we got a guided tour and got to skip the line and learned a lot about the primary architect Gaudi and the unthinkable level of detail and symbolism embedded all throughout. In particular his interest in translating the design in nature into the architecture of the cathedral. After spending an hour inside the cathedral (and probably influenced by all the rhetoric about the inner zen Gaudi embedded beneath our feet) I did feel more peaceful and if nothing else appreciated that with the right vision, an endless money line, and a timeless legacy that a larger than life imagination can in fact get translated into reality.
We then roamed around park guell — another Gaudi creation. Beautifully located with views from above of Barcelona sky line, lots of great picturesque photo opts in curvey rock formations and cavern like shapes. The experiences of the day tasted great with ice cream and then later in the evening a taste of home with pizza at a university walking distance from our hotel.
Day 4
We said goodbye to Barcelona and found our way to the hi speed train off to Madrid. This go around we stayed right in the heart of the city at gran Melia de fenix. After checking in we walked our way around the city - lots of activity all around. Local People were dressed very well. Found a huge park of green amidst a busy city park Artio. A cool playground reminded the kids a bit of home (they are both quite home sick at this point especially maya).
We found a small lake that we rented actual row boats from that took some muscle and coordination to navigate. Kids gave it a go and at the end Ishan got the mechanics of it pretty well. Then we made our way to the shopping outlet at Zara and the kids rocked with choosing the clothes they liked.
We found a small lake that we rented actual row boats from that took some muscle and coordination to navigate. Kids gave it a go and at the end Ishan got the mechanics of it pretty well. Then we made our way to the shopping outlet at Zara and the kids rocked with choosing the clothes they liked.
We woke up very early to get to the high speed train to Toledo. The train was supposed to depart at 12:00 but since the Train was full we had to take the 1:00 train. The train took 30 minutes arrive at Toledo. The weather was a bit chilly there. First we took the bus tour around Toledo. We got to see the Alcazar and where the first people that found Toledo settled. When we finished the bus tour we explored the city for the last several hours. Some examples were the awesome sword shops,several churches and some from the 12th century,and other famous monuments. We even saw tools that humans used in Toledo from the 9th century. On the way back to the train station we stopped to get a few souvenirs. Then we took the train back to Madrid. When we arrived at the hotel we were all super tired.
Day 6
We woke up on a rainy day and Ishan wore the hotel slippers for the first time. First thing we did after breakfast we went to the Prado Museum. The line was cray cray. Most people stood in the pouring rain. Me and Rads were so annoyed so they bought the tickets online. We got to cut the line sort of but when we went to check in the person said that you still need to get the tickets for the kids but the kids tickets didn’t cost any euros. Radhika went in the line but then they stopped the line for like 45 minutes. Then once we started to pass the person said that they needed to see the children in person. Then Rads screamed to get me and the kids attention to come down which wasted our time. Just to check in it took 1 whole hour. The Prado Museum was an art museum. Some of the paintings were gruesome because these were medieval. Some famous paintings were painted by Goya,Rembrandt, and other painters.
We then ate nearby Prado at a restaurant called Terramundi where Mr. Ishan continued his advertous streak by eating octopus.
After that we went to the royal palace. It was a fun place to tour with over 1000 rooms each decorated with a specific purpose and theme in mind. It reminded us of a real life beauty and the beast or frozen movie - we thought it fun to look at but living their everyday could be quite lonely.
Afterwards we meandered around the city found a local park/playground to play in and found a taxi to return to airport just before a random hail storm started. We went back to the hotel with a mix of feelings; exhaustion from the day and excitement and sadness knowing that our trip was over and that the following day we would return home.
Overall Spain was a fantastic first international trip with the kids. Turns out the advice about picking a few locations to explore in more detail (vise trying to cram too many destinations) with young kids was spot on - they were flexible, adventurous and resilient. I hope that you have enjoyed this first family blog and hope that this is a start of a new Sampat tradition for us.
We then ate nearby Prado at a restaurant called Terramundi where Mr. Ishan continued his advertous streak by eating octopus.
After that we went to the royal palace. It was a fun place to tour with over 1000 rooms each decorated with a specific purpose and theme in mind. It reminded us of a real life beauty and the beast or frozen movie - we thought it fun to look at but living their everyday could be quite lonely.
Afterwards we meandered around the city found a local park/playground to play in and found a taxi to return to airport just before a random hail storm started. We went back to the hotel with a mix of feelings; exhaustion from the day and excitement and sadness knowing that our trip was over and that the following day we would return home.
Overall Spain was a fantastic first international trip with the kids. Turns out the advice about picking a few locations to explore in more detail (vise trying to cram too many destinations) with young kids was spot on - they were flexible, adventurous and resilient. I hope that you have enjoyed this first family blog and hope that this is a start of a new Sampat tradition for us.
