We’re going to have a quieter day today. Again, it’s going to start out with a walk for some good coffee, at another spot recommended by my friend Andres.
It’s hard not to walk around on these beautiful tree lined streets in Eixample.
It’s been so long ago that I forgot what we did this day. I had to rack my brain and figure out why I was walking past another typical Gaudi building, Casa Mila, 3 hours after I went for coffee down in the same area.
We spent a lot of time chilling at the rooftop pool today with some cool drinks. Ellie’s mocktails were a nice 13€ compared to my 7€ wine. Thankfully she liked it.
Ellie requested pizza for our very late lunch so we walked over to the Gothic Quarter to this spot.
Approved!
We walk through Placa Catalunya again, past this equestrian sculpture by Frederic Mares, one of 4 sculptures in the square representing the 4 Catalan provinces. This one is Barcelona.
Back at the hotel after a successful shopping trip to Sephora…. I had to take a pic of the elevator which was such a hit on every ride !
Not too much later we head out to try yet another ice cream shop. And we found one with a nice outdoor seating area in a quiet square.
Our next outing for the day is up to another scenic viewpoint for sunset. Ellie is feeling very silly on the bus.
Another excursion where she claimed she didn’t want to go yet took all sorts of photos and videos when we arrived… I guess it was approved 😉
I mean, the view WAS pretty outstanding, so I can’t blame her.
We’re at the top of Carmel Hill, which is a lesser known but still searchable enough that there were plenty of people up here, including tourists, enjoying the view. It’s a very real wild area, with hardly anywhere to sit except in the dust or on rocks.
Me and my girl for what will end up being our last sunset in Spain.
As the sun goes down, we’re hungry so we don’t linger too long, and walk back down the hill to the bus stop.
And disembark at Casa Batllo which is gorgeously illuminated at night.
Back to Ellie’s favorite spaghetti stop in front of the hotel.
Last full day in Barcelona. I tried to go back to the same coffee shop “The Coffee” to try something else but it was unexpectedly closed. So after walking through this pretty square…
I discovered this place. Which was very, very good!
I forgot to take a pic the other day of this thoughtful addition to the in room toiletries – a sunscreen spray pen, perfect for exploring the city !
It’s hard to make out in the photo, but one of our destinations for today will be the prominent hill in the center of the photo.
But first we have to stop at McDonald’s. It was packed. This is the line just to use the many ordering kiosks.
After McDonald’s lunch we unsuccessfully wait for a bus that never came, likely due to traffic disruptions from a big bike race, Vuelta a Espana, which has many streets blocked off this afternoon. So I sought out another route which took us on the metro to a different bus away from the city center. And we popped out here, in this completely quiet residential area which was unlike anything we’d been to yet. It was very peaceful.
The bus came quickly and brought us to Park Güell, thankfully, as our admission window was running out. It is a very popular place to visit with limited visitor numbers so once you purchase your half hour window for entry to the monumental area, you have to be there at that time! It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site populated by Gaudi’s creations amongst the greenery. Like these impressive viaduct walkways…
There’s Ellie down there who just took a picture of me !
She grudgingly posed for a photo in one of the benches on this particular elevated section.
The view looking towards the Gaudi Museum.
More viaduct.
We started at the top of the hill, whereas the main entrance is at the bottom. We did this so that we didn’t have to walk up the hill and sweat more like most people do, so this means the real highlights are at the end, as we come into the Nature Square.
It’s too bad that it’s cloudy as I’m sure the views are brilliant here on a sunny day.
At the edge we see the classics of the park – the Olot Pavilions.
Ellie enjoying one of the smoother benches in Nature Square.
And down towards the Hipostyle room.
This is right underneath the Nature Square!
The ceiling is so cool.
Selfie courtesy of Ellie.
We go into one that was a porter’s lodge (the one on the right when looking from uphill) which is now a gift shop. This is the Dragon Stairway that we came down.
And then wait in line for about 5 minutes to get in the other, larger one, which is part of a museum and has many more opportunities for viewing.
One of the historical exhibits inside one of the sweltering rooms.
We get out after this and have a real tough time getting a taxi. For such a popular place, there aren’t many coming by and none of the apps are generating any rides. So we unfortunately walk to a bus stop to take a circuitous route to our final destination. But, the second bus we take gives us a real treat – a private bus !!
I noticed that this bus had USB charging stations on board – too bad I didn’t bring my cable as I could have really used it. My phone was at 3% when we got back to the hotel!
We’re almost there – trudging up the hill at the end of Avenue Tibidabo past these stately villas on the hill.
And then on to the Tibidabo Funicular.
It has a great view ! Huge windows !
Once at the top, we enter the Tibidabo amusment park. Tons of greenery and it feels cooler up here, which it should given we’re now 500 metres above sea level.
It’s hard to make out but there was a roller coaster going through the trees, it looked like fun! Ellie was worried though, so we didn’t go.
Instead we went on the carousel in the panoramic area, which had some great views.
There was another carousel down lower, in an area where it was all or nothing for the rides – you had to purchase a pass at 35 EUR without even really seeing what was there, so we didn’t do that. Especially since there was weather rolling in.
We still enjoyed the views though.
Here’s the panoramic area, with a few of the rides (there’s an airplane thing off to the right out of view). Behind me is Barcelona 500 metres below.
We head over to check out the very interesting church at the apex of the hill – Sagrat Cor.
Looking southwest is the Torre de Collserola – a communications tower which also has an observation deck. Behind it we can see the clouds getting darker.
Inside the church.
And then looking back down to the panoramic area.
We go back over to the funicular for our ride down.
Which brings us back to the lower station. It would have been much better to be up there on a clear day, but we can’t win em all!
Trying something different to get back to the hotel, we hop on the Barcelona suburban railway system which is underground here. It had much more seating than the metro.
And then, for our last pizza, at the same place as yesterday, as requested by…..
It was very timely that we left when we did, as it was just pouring when we came out of the restaurant with a ton of lightning. I would not want to be up on Tibidabo for this. No sunset tonight.
Ellie really loved these swinging chairs in the hotel lobby.
A short night later, we’re in a taxi on a very, very quiet Rambla de la Catalunya at 0445.
It’s quick to get to the airport at this time though. Ellie would rather be in bed.
We timed it pretty well as we didn’t even need to bother with the lounge, just sat on one of these benches for about 10 minutes before we were called to board a lovely COBUS.
COBUS sucks, but still love going up the air stairs…
There’s a small cold meal on the 1h45 flight to Amsterdam Schiphol and pretty good coffee, of which I have several. I love the KLM Delftware.
I requested a blanket for Little Miss Dozy and the purser graciously and kindly tucked her in while she slept.
Sun’s out – for now – over Belgium.
A little gloomier as we enter the Netherlands… which it is known for !
But there’s a very nice rainbow below !
We pass directly over Schiphol Airport, and can see the Polderbaan runway off to the left, which we’ll be landing on once we circle the city of Amsterdam and come back into the downwind.
I always love flying over these cities in the Dutch lowlands – this is Zaandam, to the north of Amsterdam. Particularly because they seem to be a brilliant green all year!
De Poel and De Marken lakes as we turn back towards the Polderbaan.
Now that I’m facing east, the sunrise is brilliant !
During our transfer, we had to zip out of security to get some paperwork done for a few minutes. There was literally no one in the security line when coming back airside, which is a huge contrast to what it was like last year. This is more like COVID times !
We visit the KLM Crown Lounge for our layover. The entrance escalator is lined with dozens, maybe hundreds, of KLM Delft Houses.
This lounge was completely redone about 4 years ago and is a huge, beautiful space. The old lounge was dark, dingy and cramped in comparison.
The upstairs has a sit down restaurant (extra €€) and a nice bar that offers complimentary plus premium drinks (also extra €). It is very open, airy, and bright, and has a terrace (closed today) with a very nice view.
One of the complimentary drinks is a barista made cappuccino.
After our stay that was just long enough, we head over to this bird that’s going to bring us home to Calgary today.
Into a comfortable seat.
And a nice familliar spot as the background image on the IFE screen !
Looking down Kaagbaan – Rwy 24.
Up we go. Goodbye, until next time, Europe!
Ellie passes out quickly. I didn’t realize until we got on, but this was the very same seat that she had the first time that she had her own seat on a plane – July 2017!
While Ellie snoozes, Veria and I enjoy some cheese and champagne.
I found the Thai themed meal offering very curious so tried it out.
It was surprisingly good !
After lunch, I stay awake in hopes of catching some of my favorite views from any airliner – Greenland.
But sadly, none today, as this is what’s out the window. It was cloudy the rest of the way to NWT, Canada, right through all of the Arctic islands.
I’ll drown my sorrows in some cheese and port…
After a little snooze for me too, the last light meal is an empanada. It was also surprisingly good!
We break out of the clouds over the Northwest Territories into a slightly smoky sky below.
Ellie just wants to be home now. Me too!
As we fly over Fort McMurray, it’s all smoke.
One of the treats of a KLM World Business Class flight – the Delft house souvenir at the end.
Well, here we are turning the final corner into Calgary airport above Fish Creek after being in so many places and doing so much for the last 4 weeks.
And Ellie’s last request for the trip – yup – McDonald’s! She was thinking about this Squishmallow McFlurry for weeks!
That’s all for us… for now! Thanks for reading along if you made it this far!
Ellie's Adventures 