Summer Traveling Adventures: Barcelona and Bordeaux, Part 1

I just went on my first overseas vacation in three decades! Granted I've left the country a few times since then, but it was always with my instrument in tow. My friend Rebecca and I spent the last week in Barcelona (with a day excursion to Bordeaux) brushing up our high school Spanish, walking about a gazillion steps a day, sweating profusely through the extreme heat wave that hit Europe and taking in the breathtaking views and sites of cities rich in history and culture. 

Architectural Gems: 

We hit the touristy spots to catch the visual and whimsical wonders of Antoni Gaudí's moderisme buildings: La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell (with a walk by to admire Casa Batlló and La Perdrera from the street).

Soaking in the Culture:

Saw the colorful works of art of Joan Miró at the Joan Miró Museum, took in the sights and sounds of the stunning Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall and enriched our knowledge of wine at the Cité du Vin (wine museum) and with a wine workshop in Bordeaux.

Cathedrals and Basilicas: 

In addition to the ornate and dazzling La Sagrada Familia basilica, we admired the centuries old and awe-inspiring Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar and Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux. 

Other Sites: 

Caught the colorful Magic Fountain of Montjuïc's light show, soaked in the rays and saw the Mediterranean for the first time at the Barceloneta Beach, explored the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter and enjoyed a walking audio tour from Rick Steves to help learn about the rich history of the city.

To be continued...but want to give a special shoutout to my memory foam, children's sized Skechers. I have horribly achy feet so with the 100,000+ steps I took in the last week, my feet felt like they were walking on pillows and were in much better shape than they would have been without them.