Father Daughter Barcelona Trip

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Now, what’s a father/daughter trip ANYWHERE without father/daughter beers?!

Something that happens when this daughter and her father get together: we drink beer. We also laugh and do other good stuff, but mainly, we both enjoy drinking beer. We enjoy the crisp refreshing-ness of an ice cold beer. We enjoy the delicious flavour of beer. We enjoy the excitement of tasting new beers. We enjoy breweries. We enjoy beer out of a specifically made beer glass. We enjoy the techniques of pouring beers in different establishments. And we enjoy specifically watching the wash and dip technique pertaining to Belgian Pubs. Lastly, we enjoy drinking beer together because we are doing it together.

Drinking Beer in Barcelona

The range of beer in Barcelona was typical of Europe. A couple of local champions, along with the usual on-tap icon – Heineken. We chose to stick with Spanish beer for our time there, and if it was local and we hadn’t heard of it, then we were DEFINITELY drinking it.

A cool bar

While I was in Barcelona with my dad and not a group of friends, it’s not exactly on the agenda to have a wild night out going to bars and 2 or 3am. Dad and I did stay out relatively late having a few quiet beers (and making friends with everyone in the establishment, cos that’s the kind of guy my dad is), but we also found a little gem in the Gothic quarter called Penny Banger.

It had a low key vibe, which is my thing. It also had a LIVE SINGER! This is also my thing. It then also had unique furniture and artwork, as well as super friendly waitstaff/bartenders. Therefore, I have dubbed this my favourite bar in Barca!

Little baby sandwiches

One thing that I’ve fallen deeply in love with after being in Barcelona are those Pinxtos. They can be anything from an open sandwich (on a cut of baguette) to a little portion of fried chicken. And it is GLORIOUS!

The best part about it is that you only pay for each item you eat, so you are full when you are full and you don’t eat more or pay for more than you can eat.

  
This is the place that had the absolute best Pinxtos in Barcelona, that we experienced: Bilbao Berria.

Getting ripped off on Las Ramblas

So, naturally, as a tourist in Barcelona, one MUST experience Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is a popular promenade in central Barca connecting the delightful (when not totally crowded with touristas) Placa de Catalunya and the Port/Beach region where the Christopher Columbus monument stands.
 Due to the popularity of Las Ramblas, cafes now host a second-cafe on the actual promenade – which is great for people watching!

As you stroll on a hot summers day along Las Ramblas, you might feel thirsty. You might even feel more thirsty when you catch a glimpse of a patron in a cafe drinking a beer/sangria in a glass fit for a king. Then you immediately talk yourself and your travel buddies (my dad) into having one quick drink.

These bad boys will set you back a fair chunk of change, and also what you may not realise is – you get charged extra to sit along the promenade than you do to sit in the actual cafe! Crazy talk!

You’ve been warned…

Doing a double-decker tour

Barcelona is a large city. It is NOT walk-able. Portions of it are, and you can definitely spend time walking around different areas, like meandering around the streets of the Gothic Quarter like my dad and I did. You will not however, walk from the beach region over to Park Guell. That would be silly!

Dad and I decided to nerd it out and jump on the double-decker sightseeing bus. There are 3 coloured route lines, and with your ticket price you can go on all 3. And to see Barcelona properly, you need to go on all 3 – those sneaky devils!

Therfore, dad and I became the sight-seeing bandits. So much to see, so little time!

We found the bus line in Placa de Catalunya, which was so incredibly long we thought we might never get on the bus. Then, I had a brainwave – what if we walked to the previous bus stop, perhaps we would get straight on! And yes.. this is exactly what happened. Championes!

Try to avoid jumping on the bus at Placa de Catalunya as it’s the most popular place for tourists to jump on.

Gaudi

I wasn’t expecting Antoni Gaudi’s work to be plastered all over Barcelona, but that’s exactly how it is. Not only has he designed a lovely park in the North of the city, and designed the most visited building not yet completed – Sagrada Familia, but his work is in many other lesser known buildings all over Barcelona.

Park Guell features many mosaics of animals and nature which you are going to want to take photos of. Then there’s the best bit. This garden landing which acts as a view point of the rest of the city and the tops of Gaudi’s Hansel and Gretal houses which are near the gates to Park Guell. It’s a famous photo and when you are there, you know why, and take your own photo.

The Sagrada Familia is EPIC. The construction is still going, and may not be completed in my lifetime. I don’t even know how to describe it, so just check out my photos of it.

Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum is in the Gothic Quarter (from memory..or very nearby to it!) and it was not very expensive to get into – bonus!

It holds many of Picasso’s famous works, as well as explains his life from when he was a child until his death.

As I have never studied Picasso, what I found the most interesting, was that, before he began painting cubism style – which he is most famous for, he actually was a most brilliant painter! The detail he could put into a face is amazing.

This place was well worth the visit.

All Hail Camp Nou

Camp Nou was the biggest and most exciting thing dad and I were going to do on our 3 day Spanish Soiree! As we are big sporting fans, going to Camp Nou is right up there.

Dad HAD to wear his Melbourne Victory jersey to Camp Nou to represent. I thought it would be a lost cause – who would know what the Melbourne Victory are? Turns out, the gate attendant was very excited to see my dad’s jersey, being a big fan of some of the players we had on our team! Well, after that, if my dad wasn’t already on cloud nine….

What you can do at Camp Nou: Visit the FCB Museum and stare open-mouthed at ALL THE TROPHIES Barca have won; View the playing field that so many greats of the game have played on; Check out the Messi-dedicated area to gaze at all things Lionel Messi, including his Golden Boots awards; Press-room and Dressing rooms; Strut your stuff in the Players’ tunnel; Make ridiculous sporting remarks inside the commentary boxes; and of course – have your photo taken with a green-screen and turn that green-screen into Lional Messi himself!

Being at Camp Nou was something I’ll never forget as it was an awesome experience, made better because I was experiencing it with the man who loves his football more than anyone else.

Those Effing Go Cars

I came close to commiting murder inside one of those Go Cars.

A Go Car is a little yellow car/go kart that you are legally allowed to drive around the streets of Barcelona. It’s meant to be your tour guide and you turn where it tells you to turn and stop where it tells you to stop. So, a unique idea!

The problem for us was that our GPS didn’t work!! We got into quite the dramatic scenario and all I wanted to do was cry and scream and kill.

We were so lost, like SOOOOO lost in Barcelona, that we ended up merging onto the highway! Cars were streaming past us at rapid speeds whilst we were freaking out, as all you’ve got is a little seatbelt, but you are not at all covered by anything in case someone crashes into you!

There were a lot of swear words spoken between myself and dad, mostly coming from my own mouth.

I will never ever ever even think about using Go Cars ‘storytelling car’ ever again. Did I mention EVER AGAIN? Horrid. Who needs that much stress on a vacation?!

Meanwhile, I’d just like to clear up that I did not actually commit murder.

Sangria

So, I’ve never been a huge fan of sangria. It’s alright. I’ll drink it if it’s going. However, in Barcelona, it seemed only fitting to have a few glasses of it throughout the day when we would get thirsty.

And well, it’s ten times better in Spain (der!) than I’ve had anywhere else! I was at a restaurant along the beach and the lady asked me if I wasnted Sangria, so I said, why, yes – yes I will! She replied with “White or Red?”. Yes – it comes in red and white versions, not just red! Being a White Wine Witch, I opted for my very first white sangria and yes, it was magnifico!

Not to mention, they even come in Icy pole form! Jackpot!

In love with Barcelona

After leaving Barcelona, I think it’s one of those places I could absolutely live in. It’s a beautiful city, with great architecture, a great relaxed vibe, and beaches.

However, my only downer about Barcelona was that it did not feel very Spanish. I was expecting Spain to be the way I envisage Spain to be, however, I felt like Barcelona could have been Melbourne. That being said, it could be due to their location in Catalonia and Catalonia’s desperation for independence.

In any case, Barcelona is wonderful.

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About Lesley

Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!