Barcelona, Part 2

Our Tuesday tour was full of laughs! We had a great time with Dana Blankenship and Jay Marshall, Sara and Joe Ratliff, Tanya Allen and Matt and Heather Richter. The first stop was Torres Winery and it was a CRAZY winery tour. It was like Six Flags over Torres and included a video in a plush theater about how the Torres family is colonizing the world, then a creepy 4D experience in a tunnel with smells pumped in which was about grape growing, then a tram tour that included a dark and haunted wine valt and then finally a wine tasting. The staff were so nice to us, but we couldn't help but laugh along the way!

 

After Torres Winery it was on to Monserrat. We made it just in time to see the boys choir sing at the Royal Basilica of Montserrat. Afterwards, we climbed up to touch the famous Romanesque carving of the Black Virgin. The view from the mountain was beautiful! We ate lunch at the top and I bought some honey for Mary from a vendor. We didn't get to linger long because it was on to the next stop - Cava Caves.

The Codorniu Cava Caves didn't dissapoint. They have been making champagne (now called Cava) since 1922 and the tour included a tram ride in their caves which seemed to go on forever!

Cava tasting in the caves.

This was a sort of shrine to Cava.

Barcelona, Part 1

On Feb. 3 Grant and I headed to Barcelona Spain! I had just over two days of work meetings and I had been to Barcelona about a year ago and loved the city. I begged Grant to come along and everyone helped pitch in to make it happen. Big John gave us 2 one-way upgrades so Grant was able to purchase an economy ticket but then get upgraded to sit with me in business class, my parents took Cadie to Florida during our time away, and nanny Mary and DD and Big John took care of Jack Ranger. Grant and I had a incredible time and it was a great trip for me personally and professionally. My meetings went really well and I loved getting to see the city with Grant. I have seen lots of places on work trips by myself, and it is so much more fun with someone you love.

Here was our basic itinerary:
- Sunday: Travel
- Monday: Arrived in Barcelona at about 7am. Thankfully our hotel (Mur Muri - I highly recommend) room was ready and we were able to sleep for a few hours. In the afternoon, we wandered a bit, walked around the outside of La Sagrada Familia and then met Sara and Joe Ratliff for a delicious meal at Catalana near our hotel.
- Tuesday: Rented a van and 9 of us headed outside the city to Torres Winery, Monserrat and Cava Caves. Made it back just in time for our work team dinner event at Costa Gallega Moncho's Tapas Bar.
- Wednesday: I worked and Grant hung out with Jay Marshall and I think they went to La Pedrera and the castle overlooking the city. During the evening Grant joined me for a work dinner event which was a crawl that included Sagardi's, La Luna and a dessert place I need to look up.
- Thursday: My second day of meetings and I don't remember what Grant said he did. During the evening, Grant and I went with Dana Blankenship and Jay Marshall to Grease and it was so hilarious. The Europeans sure have a way of inserting smoking and gratuitous nudity into almost everything.
- Friday: Grant and I both worked from the hotel in the morning and then went to La Sagrada Familia to do the full tour. It was amazing!
- Saturday: Slept until noon! Then headed to Park Guell and then Grant humored me with a little shopping.
- Sunday: Early AM flight back to see my babies!

Highlights:
- My daily (sometimes 2x daily) chocolate filled croissant indulgence
- Traveling with my sweet hubby
- Working with the best group of ladies including Dana Blankenship, Sara Ratliff, Heather Richter and Tanya Allen
- My favorite attraction with La Sagrada Familia - that church is amazing and won't even be done until 2030!

On Monday at La Sagrada Familia. It was too late in the day to catch the tour, but we enjoyed walking around the park.

Delicious dinner with Sara and Joe Ratliff at Cataluna.

Back at La Sagrada Familia on Friday. This time we went to the top of the tower and walked down the 400+ steps.

On the way down the tower.

Constuction on La Sagrada Familia began in the 1882 and isn't scheduled to be complete until 2030. It is beautiful and amazing.

At the top of Park Guell.

On the Gaudi designed mosaic benches of Park Guell.

Entrance of Park Guell.