There's No Place like Rome for the Holidays! Day Two; Mediterranean Cruise Part 4

Destination: Rome, Italy

Date: December 2012

Trent and I posing in front of the Roman Colosseum
Rome Italy, December 2012

A second day in Rome is absolutely necessary for any traveler.  I’m not sure if even two days give Rome the justice it deserves, but that’s all we had, so we made due.  As I stated in the previous post we chose to stay in Rome for the night since our cruise ship was docked at Porto Di Civitavecchia, about an hour and fifteen minute drive from Rome.  This proved to be an inspired decision because it gave us an early start to our second day in the city.  Our guide, Fabio, yes we were lucky to get him a second day, met us in our hotel lobby at 8:30am and we were off.

Bailey posing with some graffiti during one of our many walks through the city
Rome, Italy, December 2012

We took a taxi that fit nine (big mistake it ended up costing us twice what two taxis would have been) over to the Roman Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater.  When we arrived, there were very few other tourists and we had a nice leisurely tour around the ruins.  Since we did not book our tour through the Pierreci, tour company, we were unable to go down to the underground passageways, but with our group of hooligans we were okay with that.  We knew our group could only handle so much information and since a stray cat roaming the grounds was more interesting to them than what our guide was saying we knew we had made the right choice.  

Bailey, 14, Bella, 5, Lexi 8, Colton, 16, Leah, 8. and Clay, 10 pose in front of the interior of the Coliseum
Rome, Italy, December 2012

The interior of the Colosseum
Rome, Italy, December 2012

The Colosseum is just as amazing as I’d always anticipated.  I was not let down, unlike the Leaning Tower of Pisa which I anticipated being a little taller.  It is a huge tight circle used for a very disturbing form of entertainment.  However it lived up to what I’d imagined from Hollywood movies, and I loved hearing the stories Fabio told us, and getting to see it in person.  Again our tour guide Fabio was excellent with his knowledge of the area and we got him through www.imagineartistours.com, just incase you haven’t read the previous blog post about Rome.

The inscription on the side of the Colosseum with its real name the Amphitheater of Flavivm
Rome, Italy, December 2012

  

Enjoying Christmas in Rome!
 Italy,December 2012

From the Colosseum it is a nice walk down to many ruins close by.  We saw the Arch of Constantine, St. Peter-in-Chains church, The Arch of Titus, Palatine Hill, The Roman Forum, and even where Julius Ceasar was cremated. (People still come an bring flowers to put at this site in memory of Julius.)  It was all so close that we either walked by it, or had a great view from one of the other sites to see it all.  The kids enjoyed the stories of Brutus and Cassius, Julius Ceasar, Ceasar Augustus and everything to do with the killings at the Colosseum (should I be worried?).  However this is when we started to noticed the crowds that began to gather in the area.

The Arch of Constantine
Rome, Italy, December 2012

There were lines forming everywhere and we were grateful we had gotten there early!  We were half way through our tour when we noticed how crowded it had become.  A tip for visiting the The Roman Forum is that there are two lines to buy tickets.  We had a combo ticket so we didn’t need to buy any but we walked by the long line to get tickets and noticed that further in there is another ticket booth that was virtually empty and the ticket salesperson was not going out to usher people to her booth.  Also as we walked into the Forum there was no one there to take our ticket, our guide just held it above his head and walked right in.  

Leah grabbing a drink at one of the many public fountains that pumps fresh water
Rome, Italy, December 2012

Inside the Forum was where Julius Ceasar was cremated, old ruins of businesses, and political buildings are left in the area.  My kids got the biggest kick out of the fresh spring drinking water that comes up out of a pipe in the ground.  After asking Fabio if it was okay to sample it, they all had to have a sip and claimed it to be the best water they have ever partaken.  I of course knew it was due to the fact that we had been walking for about two hours with no breaks for a drink so this was a nice break.  I truly think they will remember Roman water being the best in the world.  

Out front of Capitol Hill
Rome, Italy, December 2012

Taking every opportunity to get a family pic
Rome, Italy, December 2012

From the Forum we kept walking uphill toward the Capitol Hill.  We saw the Victor Emmanuel Monument, and took more pictures.  This statue is said to be able to fit thirty people inside, it is that grand.   It was amazing to see so many of the statues up close in this area and get a grasp of how large they really are.  I made Bailey get close so I could better display their magnitude in size.  It was amazing.  Here our tour ended in the Piazza Venezia, where there is a big white columned building that has Italy’s Tomb of the Unknown Solider, and the Risorgiemento  Museum which is free.  Just the front stairs of this building it is great to catch a glimpse down the road toward the home of Mussolini.

This statue was huge!
Rome, Italy, December 2012

Clay was very disappointed that his fish and chips came with eyes!
Rome, Italy, December 2012

Lexi pretending to fall into the Trevi Fountain with Leah
Rome, Italy, December 2012

It had been a long morning for the kids and they were ready for a real break that included food, so we once again said goodbye to Fabio and headed off to eat.  After lunch, and a short rest at the hotel to unload unneeded coats we set off to say our goodbyes to the Trevi Fountain.  I think the kids liked this spot so much because of all the gelato and crepe shops in the area.  We had our gelato, made more wishes in the fountain, and began our hike back to the hotel to meet our transport back to the ship.  We did a little shopping along the way and somewhere Bella touched something that caused her to break out in a rash and that made me grateful that I packed new medicines for anything that could ail the kids while we were abroad.  A little Benadryl seemed to help and with the help of that, and all the walking she was fast asleep that night.

Trent and I loved making our wishes in Trevi Fountain
Rome, Italy, December 2012

On our drive out of Rome we were able to see the Baths of Diocletian which were built in 300 A.D. and meant to hold up to 3,000 bathers, and the Church of San Giovanni in Laterano.  This church was built by Constantine, the first Christian emperor and it houses the Holy Stairs.  Though I didn’t get to see the stairs it is said that Christ walked these stairs and today many Catholic pilgrims ascend these stairs on their knees.

Lexi making her wish into the Trevi
Rome, Italy, December 2012

Grabbing another gelato right next to the Trevi Fountain
We Love Gelato!! Also the same Gelato shop in the Lizzy McGuire Movie (in case you're a fan;)
Rome, Italy, December 2012

We loved sitting down together as a family for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and gelato time!
Rome, Itlay, December 2012

It was a very quick trip to Rome which wasn’t enough for me to get a real feel for the culture.  I would have liked to spend more time shopping and eating in the city and talking to more of the taxi drivers.  However so many of the drivers don’t speak English and that made it very difficult to do more than point to a location on a map of where we wanted to go.  Also though our hotel was amazing and the people were all very friendly in every establishment we ate, I don’t think the country is focused on service like Spain was during our stay.  I also know that being with so many children we are quite an attraction and that caused many locals to look at us with a blank stare of silence so I was never sure if they were in awe or disgusted with our little tribe.  

Colton poses next to a statue at Capitol Hill demonstrating the size of this statue
Rome, Italy, December 2012

I do hope that my next visit I can see the catacombs, and crypts, make it over to the Jewish Ghetto, and see some of the less popular sites with hopefully smaller crowds.  It was a very busy two days in Rome.  If I was to do it again for the first time I’d plan for four days and take along Rick Steve’s book Italy, www.ricksteves.com, or Rome and do a little more touring on my own without a guide.  Guides are great for groups, and quick trips but they are a little costly, and scheduled.  However, I am grateful we had Fabio for our two quick days in Rome!

Safe and Happy Travels!!

Roaming Among Romans in Roma; Mediterranean Cruise Part 3

Destination: Rome, Italy

Date: December 2012

All eight of us posing by the Trevi Fountain in Rome
Rome, December 2012

Rome is chaos at its best.  Crowded, busy with so much to see it is easy to feel overwhelmed.  With our crew we broke it down into a two day visit, and one sweet guide to help us see as much as we could, or at least as much as the kids could withstand.  Our first stop was checking into our hotel, The Westin Excelsior  www.starwoodhotels.com.  Yes after my NYC post I promised never to stay in a Westin again but this one was A-MAZ-ING!  My husband booked it so I was just along for the ride, and I was pleasantly surprised.  I would mark this as the third best hotel in the world that I’ve stayed at!

Loving our stay off of the cruise ship in Rome at the Westin Excelsior
Rome, December 2012

The kids loved having their own beds for once during our two week trip!
Loving the Westin!
Rome December 2012

The staff was so accommodating and gave us a suite that fit all eight of us in the lap of luxury.  We loved it.  Three kids to a room, a living room, and one more room for Trent and I.  We couldn’t have been happier.  From here our guide met us, we grabbed taxis and were off to Vatican City.  

Our awesome guide Fabio posing with Clay
Vatican City, December 2012

Though it is called a city the Vatican is actually the smallest country in the world.  My kids were sorely disappointed that getting another stamp on their passports was not necessary in Vatican City, so though its a country leave your passports in a safe at the hotel.

In Vatican City ready for an informational tour & maybe a chance to see the Pope?
 Unfortunately that was not meant to be...
Vatican City, December 2012

Our guide, Fabio with Imago Artis Tours www.imagoartistour.com, was excellent and gave us just enough information to let us know what we were looking at but not too much to leave the kids bored out of their minds.  Children under 8-years-old are free to enter the Museum of the Vatican but everyone else must pay 15E to enter, www.rome-museum.com.    Of course to the kids this was just another museum with a lot of statues.  Most of these have been broken and put back together as well as could be expected.  Of course we were excited to get into the Raphael rooms and Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel, where we learned was the actual spot where the smoke is released declaring to the world when a new Pope has been determined. 

Raphael was a master of modern art such as depth and perspective and the use of light and shadow.  This ceiling is all painted with shadows which give a three-dimensional look
Vatican City, December 2012

The Fontana della Pigna aka the Pigna ("The Pine cone") is a former Roman fountain
which now sits in a Vatican courtyard
Vatican City, December 2012

The Sistine Chapel created by Michelangelo
Vatican City, December 2012

Of course the Sistine Chapel is something I had to see to believe, and it is quite a work of art!  Our guide was excellent in describing the detail and purpose of many of the paintings and the kids were intrigued by his knowledge.

In St.Peters Basilica
Vatican City, December 2012

The Pietà 1499 is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo, located in St. Peter's Basilica
 Vatican City, Italy, December 2012

At the end of the Sistine Chapel tour we made our way over to Peter’s Basilica, saintpetersbasilica.org.  It is the grandest scale cathedral I have ever been in.  It made me wish that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was as magnificent as St Peters.  Of course this is the site where Peter was crucified upside down when it was only Vatican Hill.  There are many beautiful mosaics to see on the walls and floors, pope crypts, and  huge statues, most notably Michelangelo’s Pieta.   This statue is protected by bullet-proof glass after an Australian tourist ran at it with a hammer back in the 70’s and damaged the hand and nose of Mary.  Just a little interesting fact.  

Leah is a little horrified by the preserved body of Pope John XXIII.
Vatican City, Rome December 2012

The kids were a little freaked out by the Pope that has been preserved and dipped in a wax laying in a glass coffin.  I know that much of this went over the kids heads but I’m sure this image will stay with them for a lifetime.

Bailey posing out front of the Vatican with the Papal Swiss Guard in the background
Vatican City, December 2012

After leaving St. Peter’s Basilica we said goodbye to our tour guide and took taxis over to a nearby restaurant called Gusto’s http://www.gusto.it.  We barely made it in by 3:30pm before it closed for the afternoon at 4:00pm.  Of course we filled our tummies, rested, used some much needed bathrooms and took off again for our Heart of Rome Walk that is recommended in Rick Steve’s book “Italy” 2012.  If you haven’t purchased a Rick Steve’s book for your European travel I highly recommend it, www.ricksteves.com.  I love his detail and honesty in describing so many sights around Europe.  

On the Spanish Steps
Rome, December 2012

Trent and Colton posing on the street by the Barcaccia Fountain
across from the Spanish Steps demonstrating how packed it was at Christmas
Rome, December 2012

We used this book to start our walk straight from our restaurant and over to the Spanish Steps www.rome-tour.co.uk/spanish_steps.htm, named for the Spanish embassy to the Vatican for over three hundred years. We were amazed at how many Italians come to just hang out at these sights.  The streets were packed and we were a little overwhelmed keeping our kids at our sides.  From there we walked over to the Trevi Fountain and made our wish!  We hope that it also brings us all back to Rome someday though Lexi may not be invited after pretending to fall into the water.  

I had to take a picture of this gelato with all the toys.  I couldn't eat this gelato but still had to take a quick pic
Rome, Italy December 2012

Leah and Clay were thrilled to find this gelato across from the Trevi Fountain
Rome, December 2012

The kids outside of the Pantheon
Rome, December 2012

Of course we also had to stop again for crepes and gelato to refuel our engines and continue the walk.  It actually is a very simple walk and enjoyable too since so many people are out enjoying the good weather during December. Onward our “Heart of Rome” walking tour recommended by Rick Steve’s took us over to Piazza Colonna, onto Piazza Capranica right into the heart of the Pantheon.  The Pantheon, www.rome.info/pantheon/, is the home of the domed ceiling created by the Romans and an inspiration to so many architects.  It is a huge building and free to the public which also entombs two Roman Kings and that of  the artist Raphael.  When I told my kids that this was where Raphael was buried, Colton replied, “You mean the teenage mutant ninja turtle?”.  I could tell by this comment he had seen enough Rome for one day.  

Kids were exhausted and passed out in the Pantheon while Trent and I
read to them the significance of this beautiful building
Rome, December 2012

We still had one more stop on our walking tour so we ventured on and came across The Four Rivers Fountain and Piazza Navona.  Our tour guide Fabio had highly recommended taking the kids to Piazza Navona so we knew we had to make it our last stop of the day.  The Piazza does have a carousel, some street performers, and lots and lots of shopping.  Imagine Chinatown exploding but at Italian pricing.  Though the kids begged for many of the items we dangled the idea of going back to the hotel for a swim and that soon won them over.  One quick taxi ride back to the Westin and we were safe from being loaded down with many toys and novelty items we did not want.  

Leah enjoying the outdoor shops at Piazza Navona
Rome, December 2012

Sorry but this shot is irresistible to me!
All six walking the streets of Rome
December 2012

After a good nights sleep in our excellent accommodations we were ready for another fun filled day of sight-seeing.  Check out next weeks post on Roaming in Rome Part Deux for more places to see with your kiddos abroad in Rome!

Safe and Happy Travels!!

We Love Barcelona!: Embarkation point for Mediterranean Cruise 2012

Destination: Barcelona, Spain
Date: December 2012 & January 2013

Leah at the airport loved this sign
Barcelona January 2013

Written when we arrived in Barcelona December 24, 2012
Mediterranean cruise for Christmas... that was our plan!  Our first stop and port of embarkation was Barcelona Spain.   In San Antonio, we had a hotel taxi bus pick us up and we headed to the airport.  I use Airport Express Bus Taxi for groups our size.  Ready for a long day of travel we boarded our flight to Chicago with a connection in Frankfurt and on to Barcelona.  After twenty-two hours of travel we landed in Barcelona.  It was a long flight and we took naps as often as possible but we all arrived exhausted nontheless.  My way to fight jet lag is to start right away to adjust to the local time.  It was three-thirty local time by the time we arrived at our hotel, Hotel Arts in Barcelona www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Barcelona.  Much to our kids chagrin we made them get ready to go out to see a few of the local sights.

Clay 7, Colton 13, and Bailey 11 on our first trip to Barcelona in July 2009

At Hotel Arts posing in front of the Peix fish statue that sits in Port Olympic
Barcelona December 2013

The city from our hotel room, the large dark building in the top of the photo is Sagrada Familia
Barcelona December 2012

I should mention that the staff that welcomed us to our hotel was so friendly, probably the friendliest I have ever encountered at any hotel.  Around every corner there was someone to welcome us and when we asked when we needed to checkout, they let us know it was whenever we wanted.  Thats my kind of hotel.  Another reason we selected this hotel was because we needed rooms to fit our crew and this place had the best accommodations for a large family.  Our room was a small apartment with three bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room, and a bonus TV room upstairs.  It was awesome, though we knew we were going from our two thousand square foot hotel room to three hundred square feet on the boat!

Placa de Jaume was a great place to start our site seeing
Barcelona December 2012

Exhausted after a 22 hour day of travel
 Barcelona December 2012

Love all the lights on the street at night in Barcelona
Barcelona December 2012

We didn't have too much time sight seeing in Barcelona on our first night.  We started by taking a taxi to Placa de Jaume, www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com.  We started off our walk at this plaza and enjoyed the Christmas decor of the city.  From there we began browsing shops, going to a Tapas restaurant, and onto a geleteria and crepe place called Giovanni's.  There are some great reviews on Giovannis on trip advisor.  Luckily we visited the Barcelona Cathedral and saw some of the melted houses designed by Guadi.  It was a quick three hours but we were ready to get back to the hotel and get some rest.  After another two taxis back to the hotel we headed back up to our room.

The twins placing their order at Giovanni's Geleteria and Crepes
Barcelona December 2012

The kids with a street performer on Las Rambla
 Barcelona December 2012

With everyone bathed and in bed we all got some rest.  We went straight to bed and promptly woke up at three am.  It was hard to get a full nights sleep.  Finally back to sleep at six am we thought we would sleep for another two hours and get up for breakfast but that was not the case.  Even the little kids didn't wake up and our little apartment was silent until eleven am!!

Christmas Eve, the day of embarkation. At Bites for lunch
Barcelona December 2012

Having missed breakfast we finally were ready by twelve and headed down for a very nice meal in one the hotel's seven restaurants called Bites.  We knew we'd have to hold off on the rest of our travel sites to see until we returned to Barcelona at the end of the cruise.  

Count Ramon Berenguer III statue outside of a Cathedral
December 2012

Written on our return to Barcelona at the conclusion of our cruise January 5, 2013

Barcelona feels like an old friend I haven’t seen in awhile but one I can start up where I left off.  It may sound crazy but it kinda feels like NYC meets San Antonio.  It has the hustle and bustle of a big city with fashion, food, and entertainment but the culture and history of San Antonio.  I know NYC has a culture too but I like the old world culture as opposed to the new.  In short I could easily make Barcelona a home away from home.  I love it there!

Outside the Cathedral on the day of our arrival in Spain
Barcelona December 2012

We only had two days in Barcelona during our stay and that was a crime.  I could spend weeks here walking the streets, appreciating the architecture, discovering the little bakeries and tapas restaurants that are tucked into every corner.  Being here during the Christmas Holidays was even more gratifying because the Espanolas know how to decorate for the holidays.  The streets were adorned with lights making everything sparkle and bright for blocks.  

The lit up streets of Barcelona
December 2012

Huge chandelier lights that line the streets
Barcelona December 2012

Sadly we spent a lot of our first day sleeping since we were adjusting to the time change at the beginning of our trip.  Our last day of our two week cruise was spent in Barcelona as we readied ourselves for our long flight home.  We again checked into Barcelona’s Arts Hotel, www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Barcelona which I should mention is a magical experience.  Then we were off to see some sights and create our own adventure. 

Leah and Lexi outside the entrance of Sagrada Familia
Barcelona January 2013

Bailey had me posing outside the exit of the beautiful cathedral
Barcelona January 2013

From Hotel Arts we took taxis to Sagrada Familia, www.sagradafamilia.cat.  It was about a 7E taxi ride in which I fumbled through a very long conversation in Spanish with my taxi driver.  It had started as an innocent conversation about where we were from, how many kids we each had, and migrated into politics, the economy, and how I felt about President Obama.  My Spanish ability amazingly kept up with the understanding part but my vocabulary was stunted to only agreement or verdads.  It was a funny experience for sure.

Inside Segrada Familia enjoying the beautiful stain glass
Barcelona January 2013

When we arrived at Sagrada Familia my taxi driver whistled at the size of the line circling the church and then let me know in Spanish again, we would probably not be able to enter the inside, and just to take some pictures around outside.  The line really did circle three quarters of the massive structure.  I stood in line and began our wait as Trent and the kids walked to the very front to see if we were in fact in the right line.  When a guard watching an exit saw Trent with all six kids he assumed Trent was with a school of children, and beckoned Trent over.  Soon I received a phone call while I waited in line and Trent told me to come around the the exit and a nice guard would let us all in. School groups are free at Segrada Familia!  Finally having six kids turned out to save us the 13.50E each we would have spent buying our tickets, and at least a two hour wait in line.  We still aren't sure how Trent pulled this Jedi mind trick but we were ready for a break.

Inside the Segrada Familia, the columns are made to look like trees in a forest
 Barcelona January 2013

It was a great blessing and I recommend buying your tickets on line at www.ticketmaster.es to avoid the long lines, or getting there early.  Sagrada Familia is a very old cathedral designed and began construction under Gaudi back in 1882.  For the last one hundred and fifty years it has been under construction.  When Trent and I brought our three oldest to Barcelona back in 2009 the interior of the cathedral was under heavy construction, and it was hard to imagine it’s grandeur at that time.  

Our first time to Segrada Familia with Bailey then 11, Clay 7, and Colton 13
Barcelona Spain July 2009

This trip most of the construction was going on on the exterior and the beautiful inside of this cathedral was on display.  Of course, it was just another cathedral to the kids but by now they were accustomed to all of the photos I take at every location and they smiled for the camera.  They kept joking between photos, “quick position one, everyone”,  or “okay this time... everyone get into position two”.  They were well rehearsed.  

How could I deny this face?  Lexi begging for a meal at McDonalds
Barcelona, January 2013

From Segrada Familia there is a McDonalds across the street which is hard for any child to resist after being out of the US for two weeks.  Lexi begged but we couldn’t imagine one of our last meals being at Micky D’s so we kept on looking for a good lunch site.  

Clay and Leah at the park having some fun
Barcelona January 2013

Lexi having fun after another long tour of the Segrada Familia
Barcelona January 2013

There is also a park across the street from Sagrada and so we let the kids play awhile and run around while Trent and Colton did some shopping for some soccer jerseys at a nearby store.  The kids made friends fast with some locals and it was fun to watch them interact with lots of sign language with no cultural barriers holding them back.

Our next move was a little bit of a mistake.  We yelped a good restaurant and knew we wanted to get back to Las Rambla for some shopping.  Of course the restaurant that we yelped with the great reviews didn’t exist when our taxis dropped us off, so we were left without any reference of where to eat.  Luckily there are restaurants around every corner but the kids were tired, needed a bathroom and our choice had to be quick.  We found Portic Boqueria, http://porticboqueria.com, for lunch.  

Colton's hamburgesa served to him Portic Boquera on Las Rambla
Barcelona, January 2013

Trent's authentic Barcelona meal and the kids excited to have an after dinner snack at McDonalds
Barcelona January 2013

This was a funny experience because the menu was full of a very authentic Barcelona fare.  Colton ordered a hamburgesa and soon the other children followed his lead.   The hamburgesa was the only item on the menu they recognized.  Clay and Lexi started their own protest and refused to order any food at all.  I had a delicious tuna and sweet potato sauce but too much for me to finish.  Trent of course ordered some kind of fried fish that came out with eyes and all.  That was enough to ruin all of our appetites.  

Had to include this pic of Leah and Lexi posing in front
 the the huge pipes of the organ at Segrada Familia
Barcelona January 2013

While waiting for our food we began a round of twenty questions and laughed and laughed as Bella couldn’t hold her person a secret.  She wanted us to guess who she was thinking of so badly she often gave very obvious hints so we could guess who she was thinking of right away.  Finally our food arrived and the hamburgesa’s were more like big meatloaf patties with no bun.  Colton played it off pretty smoothly and ate his food without a complaint which set a good example for the rest of the kids.  Still Lexi and Clay held out not willing to eat a bite.

The McDonalds menu with only a limited selection of our US favorites
Barcelona January 2013

Trent was ready to let them starve but since we were on Las Rambla, www.aviewoncities.com, where everything you could want to eat is located, I quickly spotted a Mc Donald’s and took them there after our meal.  It was a five-story McDonalds and bigger than any the kids have eaten at in the states.  Even with four floors of seating there were no seats and we had to take the kids food to the outdoor patio located in the middle divider of Las Rambla to eat.  

Bailey being silly as we waited for our mani/pedis to dry
Barcelona January 2013

By this time we were tired and ready to enjoy the hot tub at the hotel.  Bailey and I had scheduled mani/pedis at the hotel spa and so we headed back to Hotel Arts.  Our mani/pedi procedures were unlike any I’ve had in the US.  This is one reason I love to receive these treatments abroad because it never seems to be the same as it is at home.  When we arrived at the Six Senses Spa we were led back to the changing room to change into robes.  I’ve never had to change into a robe for a mani/pedi so I was curious.  Bailey was mortified to say the least, this was not her kind of relaxing experience.

When we were led back to our rooms for our manis we were taken to separate rooms and told to lay down onto massage beds, luckily for Bailey we got to keep our robes on, and then we were made comfortable with lavender packets on our eyes and relaxing music in the background.  I have to say it was the most relaxing mani/pedi I’ve ever received!  I fell asleep quickly after chasing kids, and finding restrooms all day, and woke up to beautiful nails on my hands and feet.  

The most relaxing mani/pedi I've ever had
Barcelona Six Senses Spa January 2013

Soon we were led into a relaxing room that overlooked the ocean where we were given waters and asked to stay while our polished dried.  Bailey enjoyed the experience but still didn’t see why on earth we needed to be out of our street clothes.  It was probably the most stressful mani/pedi she has ever had due to not being clothed.  It was funny and memorable to say the least.

Our beautiful hotel lobby as we arrived on December 23  Looking exhausted after a 23 hour travel itinerary
Barcelona December 2012

Later that evening Trent and I went out one more time.  We needed to buy a few gifts and wanted to take my sister “L” and her husband “J” home a Lladro statue made in Spain.  Since they had to take care of things back home including a huge water leak at our house I wanted to thank them for their trouble.  When I asked our hotel concierge where we could buy a Lladro, lladro.com. I was surprised that she had never heard of Lladro before.  It was funny that when I think of Spain I think of these statues, but for a Spanish national she had no idea what I was talking about.  Soon she found a store online and we were off to Placa de Gracia to make our purchase.

The Columbus Statue at the end of Las Rambla
it was constructed in 1888 in honor of his voyage to America
Barcelona January 2013

Placa de Gracia had every store I would have loved to shop, but unfortunately we were too late and most stores were closing.  The street was lined with Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Furla, Burberry, and lots of high end stores that I would have loved to roam around in had I not been on a family vacation.  Instead I made a secret pact with Barcelona that I would be back and we would yet again pick up where we left off!

Safe & Happy Travels!!