Paris and Barcelona in the Spring Time

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Paris & Barcelona 2022

Travel restrictions have eased, and people are eager to travel and explore the world again. While the airlines are anxious for your business, travelers need to have more than the usual amount of patience.

We almost missed our Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) connection to Paris due to multiple issues. No airport or flight was 100 percent smooth, and each leg had some glitch, so be prepared.

I visited Paris and Barcelona over ten years ago, and I so enjoyed returning. Paris is hosting the Summer Olympics in 2024, and the city is in the middle of a major facelift. I don't remember Paris being so clean or the residents being so lovely. It was a wonderful experience.

We did the obligatory sights to see – the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Palace of Versailles. Notre Dame was near our hotel and is in the process of being rebuilt after the fire in April 2019. It was sad to see, and residents and tourists alike are looking forward to seeing it return to its former glory.

I tried some new activities during this visit, such as taking a croissant-making class. While it was fun and educational, I realized I could either spend three days making croissants or save time and buy one for $3.00. By the way, they were delicious! I'll leave croissant-making to the experts.

Traveling to different European cities is relatively easy. You can either fly or try the scenic route by train. We opted for the train from Paris to Barcelona. Although it was a direct route, it stopped a few times in the south of France, so it took around six hours.

I upgraded us to first-class tickets, which meant we had nice big comfy seats in a quad arrangement around a table. The train had Wi-Fi, food, and drinks. Besides being easier than flying, we got to see the gorgeous French countryside. So, I would highly recommend traveling by train through the European Union since you don't have to hassle with customs or immigration when going to the different countries.

Barcelona didn't fare too well post-Covid. While many stores were closed, the cities were determined to remain alive and well. People strolling about, enjoying the wonderful spring weather, food, and drink with friends, filled the streets, giving hope for a normal future.

We discovered Barcelona years ago on a Mediterranean cruise. While we had zero expectations, we fell in love with the charming town. Barcelona is the perfect recipe for a city – not too big or too small. With the Mediterranean Sea on one side and mountains on the other, the town offered wonderful food and wine. What more could you want?

One of Barcelona's unique charms is the architecture, especially Casa Batllò. Casa Batlló is one of the significant buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi. From the outside, the façade of Casa Batlló looks like it has been fashioned from skulls and bones. The "Skulls" are, in fact, balconies, and the "bones" are supporting pillars.

Exploring Gaudi's buildings is always a highlight of visiting Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllò are my two favorites. The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia has become the symbol of Barcelona and a not-to-be-missed visit.

Buying tickets ahead of time to any popular attraction in Europe is a must. Showing up at your specified time and walking in will help you maximize your time. If you don't have tickets in advance, you will spend hours in multiple lines – one to get tickets and another to get into the attraction. 

The Boqueria Market, a large public market off of La Rambla, is one of Barcelona's prominent tourist landmarks and is another favorite place to explore. A local chef gave us an inside tour of the market, where we got to taste the Iberico ham, learn about Spanish spices and try all the sweet treats the market had to offer. We did a Boqueria Tour and took a Tapas cooking class – another stand-out activity.

After the tour, the chef who taught the Tapas Cooking class prepared for us different regional foods found throughout Spain.

She taught us how to make Catalina Cream (Crème Brulee), Spanish tortilla (omelet with potatoes and onions), and a seafood paella.

Ironically our hotels in both Paris and Barcelona were next to cathedrals. From all three balconies in our Barcelona hotel, we had an incredible view of the Barcelona Cathedral. I even got used to hearing the church bells ringing throughout the day.

 When I look for a hotel in Europe, finding one near a metro station is imperative. Exploring European cities can easily mean 10-15,000 steps a day, and being near the metro station can be a lifesaver.

Managing your budget and type of room is essential. European hotel rooms can be small, and quarters can be a little tight for a family of four. I splurged on the hotel room in Barcelona and got a suite (basically two rooms put together). After a day of sightseeing, we were glad we had our own space each night to relax.

Now is the time to get out the explore the world and start crossing places off your bucket list again!

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