So many pictures, and I cannot post them all. Here are a few other important sites in the capital of Catalonia. Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain. Catalan is the official language in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (also called Valenciano), along with Spanish.
Taste testing at Codorniu Winery and exploring their drop dead gorgeous winery, including the underground cellars labyrinth. Codorniu is the oldest family company in Spain and one of the oldest in the world—more than 450 years of history!
Hasta la próxima, Barcelona!
This post is dedicated to two another amazing works by Gaudí, which are also UNESCO World Heritage sites.
I am overdue writing this post as we have been back for a couple of weeks. But the memories of my 3rd time in Barcelona will last forever—as cliche as it sounds, Barcelona is unforgettable.
Let me begin by saying that I haven’t been to Barcelona in 37 years. While a lot has changed (including progress on La Sagrada Familia), there’s so many things that are exactly the same (Gothic Quarter).
Let’s start with La Sagrada Familia, the absolutely breathtaking basilica by the famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. I pulled out the old photo album from my studies in Spain. My first trip to Barcelona was before the Olympics in the early fall 1987. In fact, they were selling Olympic gear at that time and I still have a T-shirt that has the 1992 Summer Olympic emblem—that I bought in 1987! There was a lot of work preparing for those Olympics and that result is still present today.
Here is a picture that I took in the fall ‘87. I wrote next to this picture that it wouldn’t be ready for at least another 70 years. It’s been 37 and they’re now saying no longer than 5. I remember going inside and viewing the model of how it would look when completed. More redesign has been done based on the picture I took. I also remember taking the stairs and going up on another floor inside the church, which we were not allowed to do now. Sadly, I have no pictures inside except the below where I took a picture of the model inside the Basilica.
Let’s move to the inside…
Pictures don’t begin to capture the genius of the Catalán architect and designer, Gaudí, who was part of the Modernista movement. Gaudí’s style is stamped all over Barcelona and his use of architecture, nature, and religion are abundant are trademarks of his work. Last I checked, his masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, is the most visited monument in España. 🇪🇸
Then I walked up to the altar, knelt down, pointed my camera up, and took the best picture of my life…
I cannot top that so will leave it right there.
My advice: When you love a place with your whole heart, don’t wait 37 years to return! Oh, how I have missed you, Valencia.❤️💛❤️
On one hand, it’s so different—bigger, even more vibrant, more modern (duh…that’s what I get for waiting so long). On the other hand, it’s still the same—seeped in rich history, unforgettable architecture, and amazing paella.
I barely had two days here but what a memorable two days they were. We walked everywhere and saw everything we could (in Español): Plaza de la Reina, Plaza de la Virgin, La Catedral de Valencia, Plaza del Mercado, La Lonja de la Seda, La Plaza de Ayuntamiento, Mercado Colon, El Barrio del Carmen, Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados…
Plus we went to El Mueso Fallero de Valencia to see the best “ninots” that have been spared by the fire of Las Fallas over the years.
We strolled the Jardín Del Turia, which is a 5.6 mile-long lush green park that used to be the Turia River before it was diverted due to flooding in 1957. (To name a few things) The river bed is the largest urban park in Spain and holds the Palau de la Música, bike paths, refreshment stands, and the otherworldly looking Cuidad de Las Artes y Las Ciencias.
We walked by the former finca (apartment) where I lived with my Spanish family at 17 Reina Don Hermana. I so wish I could find my Spanish family. I believe my madre Española is/was in France.
We drank and ate our share of Valencian favorites—Horchata de chufas, which are tiger nuts grown in nearby Alboraya, con Fartons; Paella Valenciana con pollo y conejo* (Valencia is the birth place of paella); chocolate con churros, patatas bravas, ensalada Valenciana, local wine. I had Fanta Naranja (very different from the Orange Fanta we have in the USA) and forgot to have an orange—which means I need to come back soon because the oranges are to die for. We also had drinks with a friend from my time here. Neither one of us has aged a bit!
*Paella Vaenciana also has snails, which were left out by my request due to an allergy. Here are other ingredients in Paella Valenciana: chicken, rabbit, green beans, rice, saffron, and butter beans. I know there are a few other spices and olive oil.
Hasta luego, Valencia. Ya echo de menos a ti.
Update—got my orange and a mandarin this morning before leaving for Barcelona. Do NOT miss Mercat Central de Valencia (Central Market of Valencia). The most amazing indoor market…hams, fruit, vegetables, spices, paellas, seafood…you name it! I was blown away. I saw a red pepper that dwarfs all other red peppers! The Valencian tomatoes, the white strawberries, the regular strawberries 🍓, the cheeses, oh my…I would be a very happy person starting off my day here each morning.
Pictures below…
It’s been 37 years since I have set foot in extraordinary España 🇪🇸. I have had plenty of opportunities but nothing “felt right”. Deep down I know why—it’s because any trip there will never be the same as it was my sophomore year when I attended the Universitat de Valencia for two semesters. That school year shaped the person I am today. It made me crave cultures—that there were fascinating things to learn about, interesting people to know, and adventures to experience. That year served as the cornerstone of everything I love about travel.
I was stupid…I should have gone by now, more than once. I was “saving” the next time to walk the Camino De Santiago. But now I have the opportunity to return and I couldn’t be more excited!
We land in Barcelona in 8 hours, 45 minutes. Then we drive 3 1/2 hours to Valencia where we will spend 2 days exploring my old stomping grounds. Then back to Barcelona for the next 5 days.
Buckle up…Voy a volver!
I kept a journal when I was in España —this is the inside cover of that diario when I was 19 and 20 years old!
Christina’s Journey Journal 