Europe Trip 2025- Day 1-3:Barcelona: Wandering Through Color, Food, and History

Every two years Harlley and I love to get out and explore the world… just us. This time around happened to be super special because it coincided with us celebrating 15 years married(our anniversary is in October, so we are celebrating a little early)! We decided to do a little country hopping and enjoyed a week in Spain and France. We started our trip in Barcelona, continued on to Bordeaux and ended this lovely tour in The City of Love, Paris.

Barcelona has a way of pulling you in quickly. It’s not just the architecture or the food — it’s the rhythm of the city, the way mornings spill into afternoons over coffee, and how every street seems to hold a secret waiting to be found. We stayed in the Gothic Quarter at the Wittmore Hotel, a cozy little hideaway tucked behind stone walls and ivy, and from there, the city unfolded like a storybook.

Where To Stay in Barcelona: The Wittmore Hotel, an Adults Only Hotel

The Wittmore Hotel is discreetly hidden down a narrow alley; it definitely felt like a secret. Quiet and moody, with rich velvet sofas, warm wood, and a courtyard that made you forget the busy streets outside.

I loved the handsome, yet sultry details of our room. We booked the medium room that came with a king sized bed and 2 sets of French doors that looked down into the garden courtyard. A cute detail about this hotel is that your room key is an actual skeleton key which you leave at the front desk when you’re headed out.

It set the tone for our trip — romantic, exclusive , and full of small details that made everything feel special. I couldn’t help but notice how intentional the atmosphere felt, and it reminded me of how much comfort can come from creating little retreats in our own homes.

Strolling the Gothic Quarter

Staying in the Gothic Quarter meant we were in the middle of everything. The cobblestone streets twisted and turned until I lost all sense of direction — but getting lost there is half the magic. We stumbled on hidden courtyards where locals and tourists enjoyed a coffee or bites to eat, and ducked into small shops.

One of my favorites was a pretty large ceramics store,Art Escudellers , you could easily miss if you weren’t paying attention because it was tucked in-between all the other small shops. Shelves were stacked with colorful, and imperfect pieces. I loved that the pieces were grouped based on where they hailed from within the regions Spain. Downstairs was another treasure trove of antiques. I would love to visit again with a shipping container waiting!

A Day with Gaudí

We love a home tour and try to find one wherever we go! However, Casa Batlló was unlike anything We’ve ever seen. Walking inside felt a little like stepping underwater — curved walls, rippling glass, and colors that changed as the light moved through the building. It was imaginative and whimsical, but still somehow livable.

With every detail in the wood working or stone floors, I couldn’t help but think how it was done by hand by craftsmen who spent their lives perfecting their craft!

This home is a reminder to embrace playfulness, whether it’s in the way we design our spaces or simply how we live our lives.

The Picasso Museum

One Afternoon, we wandered over to the Picasso Museum. I’ve always loved seeing how artists evolve, and here you walk through Picasso’s life — from his earliest, more traditional paintings to the abstract pieces he’s known for. What struck me most was the freedom in his work. He didn’t stay in one box; he let his style shift as he grew. Harlley and I picked our favorite collection.

It made me think about how our own tastes change over time — in travel, in food, in design, in life. And that’s a good thing.

As equally impressive as Picasso’s works was the structure that housed them. The museum occupies 5 large palaces dating back to the 13th and 14th century. I loved that a good bit of the interior and exterior architecture was preserved.

The Boqueria Market

In doing my research for the trip, I was advised not to visit La Boqueria Market because it was touristy with large crowds and that there are other markets in the city to visit, but boy I’m glad I didn’t listen! It’s chaotic in the best way — stalls bursting with fruit in every color, fresh seafood still moving on ice, hanging jamón, spices spilling over in piles of red and gold. It was impossible not to be inspired by the energy of it all. I loved wandering the aisles, and I just soaked it in!

My first buy was a cup of fresh juice, which you can buy from a number of stalls. Next, I sampled some mixed candied nuts and WOW, they were out of this world so I definitely got a bag to snack on for later while relaxing in the hotel room. Harlley chowed down on blood sausage, which if you know, is like a whole meal in a casing.

If you’re ever in Barcelona, don’t rush this stop — let yourself move slowly and take it all in.

The Rhythm of Barcelona

What I loved most about Barcelona wasn’t just the landmarks we checked off the list, but the rhythm of daily life. Meals lingered, mornings started slowly, and afternoons stretched into evenings that often ended well past midnight. The city comes alive after dark — streets buzzing with people eating, drinking, and socializing late into the night. There’s an energy here that’s both fast-paced and unhurried at the same time, and it’s impossible not to be swept up in it.

That said, Barcelona does have its challenges, and one worth noting is pickpocketing. On our last night, Harlley had an unsettling encounter when a man bumped into him in an almost empty street. There was no reason for him to be standing so close, and we realized quickly the intention was likely to pick his pocket. Thankfully, nothing was taken — but it was a good reminder to stay alert, especially in a city where these incidents are common.

Even with that hiccup, Barcelona left me with lasting memories and little lessons: look closely, embrace the unexpected, and find beauty in both the fast pace and the slow moments. It’s a city that teaches you to live fully in every sense of the word.