Scott and I have been travel buddies since we said "I do" back in 2000. We've also been colleagues for most of our careers. We've travelled together on four school trips, including one to Barcelona. This destination remains his favourite so far (although Rome is a close second!). The coffee and cuisine won him over as well as the relaxed, casual culture. His favourite thing to do is find a café, sit on a terrace and sip a strong cortado over some great conversation with friends. He's also an avid football fan which means this itinerary checks off a lot of his boxes.
This is Scott's trip!
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a region with its own distinct culture made famous, in part, by the unique architectural style of Antoni Gaudí. Its full of life with intriguing narrow lanes, wide boulevards, bustling markets and inviting eateries along the spectacular beach promenade.
Art lovers may want to begin with Museu Picasso where you can view its collection of over 4000 pieces. If modern art is where your interests lie, you can check out The MACBA which holds works primarily from the second half of the 20th century. Art history fans will also enjoy The National Art Museum of Catalonia which holds art from the 12th to the 20th century. If you want to peruse some interesting street art, be sure to include the Gothic Quarter, El Born, El Raval and the Three Chimney Urban Park on your stroll around the city. Finally, two of the main sites to visit are La Sagrada Familia to see the amalgamation of multiple architectural styles expressed in one building as well as Park Güell to see the handiwork of Antoni Gaudi.
Not to be outdone by the artsy crowd, sports fans will be heading over to the famous Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe with space for nearly 100,000 fans and home to the FC Barcelona. There are several tour options to choose from and maybe you can even catch a game! Montjuïc is the site of the 1992 Olympics so you can stroll around and explore the grounds before heading to the Olympic Museum nearby. You can also get in on the action by playing some volleyball on the beach, renting a kayak or paddle board or biking around the city with a local tour guide. And finally, to cap it all off, check out the NBA Café to watch a game or just have a drink.
The City of Light has been immersing visitors in culture for centuries. Paris is a world capital of art, literature, food, and fashion – all the fine things of life of planet Earth. Throw some sports in there and you have a city experience for everyone! With its grand boulevards, sumptuous crêpes, trendy boutiques and world-class museums and galleries, you’ll never want to leave.
Art aficionados will need the best part of a day to explore the Louvre because there is much more to see than just the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo! If you’re still in the mood to see more, you can take the 12 minute walk to the Orsay Museum which holds the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world. Venture to the Latin Quarter to see the Panthéon and then take the 12 min stroll to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame to marvel at its splendor. Other notable architectural and artistic sites include a day trip to Versailles as well as a visit to Napoleon’s Tomb and Sacré-Cœur.
Paris is much more spread out than Barcelona, so you’ll definitely get your steps in! Sports fans will want to check out another huge stadium – Stade de France, made famous with the 1998 World Cup win. Golfers will be in paradise with the more than 70 golf courses in the greater Paris area including, Golf de Fountainebleau, one of France’s most beautiful courses.
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