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playing in park güell

Despite our choices of vacation destinations, we are no fans of crowds or lines, so we try to plan our best to limit the majority of that mess. Such was the case when we visited Parc Güell. Making reservations online was suggested, and I’m glad we did- we walked right in.  Choosing the 9 am time slot meant an early wakeup to walk and metro out to Carmel Hill, but it allowed us to enjoy the beauty of the park at peace for a little before crowds descended.

     

  I could have gazed over beautiful Barcelona forever, it seemed.

 

Without a doubt, Antoni Gaudi was a magician, especially with mosaic, and the planning team did an amazing job with the overall design of the park. Even the water fountains were beautiful!

   
  

 It was gloriously sunshiny, and the gardens were in bloom. I couldn’t help myself from frolicking- I was giddy!

  

 “I am the one who knocks.” Yeah, not quite as tough as Walter White. 

  

 As the resident staff photographer ?, David’s not often on the receiving side of a camera. Despite the tacky taste it left in my mouth at first, I got a selfie stick in hopes of snagging a few more pictures of us, rather than just me. As is typical, nonsense ensued.

     

Also, a major wtf? to the tourists recording their every step with a fully extended selfie stick! So not the intended usage, people. 

  

We left the park after a few hours of exploration, to walk down the steps and through Gracía, and immediately came across a beautiful stone chapel.

  

  

In Barcelona, beauty is all around- on the grandest and most humble of scales.

   

 

loveRavayna

September 27, 2015
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la boqueria: a foodie’s paradise

 

Our first morning in Barcelona, we grabbed a Spanish SIM card for my iPhone first thing, then walked to Mercat de la Boqueria to begin indulging in authentic Spanish cuisine. It was the perfect way to start our week of food and fun.

I’d heard tale of ‘cones of Spanish ham,’ and pork is hands-down my favorite protein. I was so excited to find them right at the front! Shopping while munching on luscious treats was simply glorious, and there was literally yummy snack after yummy snack.   I especially loved fresitas, tiny super-sweet wild strawberries.

 And once I realized it was perpetually happy hour, I was in heaven! Through the week, I got friendly with the sweets-and-sangria go-cup vendor. Leisurely day drinking is one of my vacation priorities, and Spain agrees with me.

  

I juice regularly at home, so went a little crazy at the 1€ fresh juice stands, trying tons of flavors. The pitahaya + coconut,  pineapple + passion fruit, guayaba, and kiwi strawberry were some of the standouts. I couldn’t help myself- I got at least one juice, usually multiple, every time we were there.

 

I also made a habit of visiting the nicest fishmonger. She had incredible ceviche,  and was happy to pry open ultrafresh oysters and sea urchin for me, so I was happy to oblige her by slurping them merrily down. I practically gorged myself on the most delicious (and inexpensive!) uni I’d ever come across.

Total first world mini-regret, but I wish we’d had more time in Barcelona simply so I could have done some serious cooking. Our apartment kitchen was spacious, and the raw foodstuffs at La Boqueria were so lush and varied, but we had so many amazing restaurants to try and things to do, I never served more than cava and pinxtos at home. But seriously- I dream of being able to do my grocery shopping here, with access to all that gorgeous seafood and artisan products.  

  

Slightly more seriously, I remain upset that US customs and my dear husband conspired against me- I desperately wanted a whole jamón iberico as a souvenir. David staunchly refused, spouting some sensible nonsense about rules and room (in our luggage), so I consoled myself with purchasing some amazing smoked pimentón to take home, and eating as much as I could while in Spain.

Honestly, we wound up at La Boqueria almost every day for a snack, a meal, or to pick up yummies for a picnic or our apartment. Wandering the market, we also had delicious paletas and croquettes, pastries and gelato, and more. All of the fruit was perfectly ripe, which made it so tempting and gratifying. And I had some positive feasts of cheese and charcuterie. We truly endeavored to eat everything in sight, and were pretty pleased with our showing.

  

 I always found new and delish things along with my established stops (ham, sangria, juice) and such great people-watching to boot! I didn’t even mention the amazing sit-down meals available at the tiny restaurants interspersed with the vendors;  I’ll share our meals at La Boqueria soon!

 

loveRavayna 

September 21, 2015
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eurocoes, revisited

We sat at date night, discussing plans for our next “big trip.” We’ve got a to-go list a million adventures long,  so the wanderlust is real. It’s true what they say- I’m in love with places I’ve never been to.  I’ve been fantasizing about a Parisian getaway since I spent 36 hours there as an awkward teenager, and moreso as David and I have grown up and travelled together.  I wanted to absorb culture and cuisine, romance and rosé, to stroll and shop, and spend some time living like a local. Milking my 30th birthday, I guess I had a pretty good sales pitch, because David bought. We started pondering when, settling on a week+ in late summer. I wanted to add another European city if I could, but knew I was pushing my luck as flights are spendy from the west coast.

The next evening, David was at the theater, so I started ‘wanderlusting’- reading and researching cities, itineraries, activities, and more.  I start the planning process of most vacations that way, so I can assess value before I start fleshing out the itinerary according to the budget we’ve set.  I was looking at European flights on Kayak Explore, when I came across a crazy deal on flights to Barcelona. They were far from ideal- in April rather than August, for more than two weeks, and with a simply nonsensical detour through Moscow, but our schedules were surprisingly still open, and they were literally two for the price of one, and an anomaly- other cities/months were significantly pricier. I’ve rarely met a sale I didn’t like, so I justified the longer stay with flight savings, and went down the rabbit hole. I browsed available apartments, and by the time David got home around midnight, I had had planes, trains, and several airbnb’s ready to discuss. Poor guy- I essentially steamrolled him, but when we went to bed sometime much later, we were booked to fly to Barcelona, had apartment booking requests out, and I was beside myself with glee.

And y’all- it was loverly. Filled with so much deliciousness and delight, it was shamelessly romantic, occasionally perfectly imperfect, and such a fabulous trip on the whole. We walked and rode the metro all over Paris and Barcelona, took a million pictures, had so many adventures and experiences and amazing eats (live to eat, I always say!) and I’m so excited to reminisce as I share them with y’all. I’ll be breaking it down into manageable chunks, beginning with Barcelona, where I’m already pining to return as soon as reasonably possible…

 

loveRavayna

September 15, 2015
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a Palm Springs weekend

To celebrate my thirtieth birthday, two of my best friends and their respective husband and boyfriend joined David and I for a weekend in the desert. We’d originally tossed around ideas like a big Vegas to-do or a winery daytrip, but my birthday falls right in the midst of my crazy season at work, so I really just wanted to relax.

While we’d typically stay at the Ace or the Saguaro, we rented a lovely house in Palm Springs on AirBNB for this trip. With lots of indoor and outdoor space, privacy, and amenities, it was the perfect home away from home.

We spent the majority of our time laughing and lounging in and around the pool.  There were lots of Pimm’s Cups,  many bottles of rosé, and soca music in the sunshine.

The cornhole and card games got seriously competitive. The smack talking, even more so.     

Heading to stroll, shop, and have brunch at Cheeky’s (bacon flight and blueberry corn pancakes for the win), Erin and I couldn’t help but laugh at our color-coordination. 

I adore firepits- they take me back to my Girl Scout days. So we ended each night with a fire and some s’mores. 

I always find people’s roasted marshmallow preferences so curious. I like mine totally molten but barely tan- David capitalizes on all the ones that go up in flames.  

We had cocktails at Bar en route to my birthday dinner at Birba. We go every time we’re in Palm Springs- the pizza there is incredible. It’s so popular now, but it was great despite the crowd, and the timing of our late dinner worked out perfectly to have birthday cake at home for dessert.

I prepped three layers of this lemon-blueberry goodness at home in LA, double-wrapped it, and brought it along.  A hand mixer and homemade bourbon vanilla made quick work of some delicious cheesecake whipped cream frosting.

    

It was topped with the most outrageous little firework-candle hybrid.  It bloomed and spun and played happy birthday (for hours) and was so ridiculously over the top. Might need to become a birthday tradition.

We capped the weekend with brunch at Workshop Kitchen + Bar before hitting the road back to the city. That lobster breakfast burrito was just scrumptious, as were the huevos rancheros and blue crab benedict.

And of course, no road trip to the desert is complete without a stop (or two) at Hadley’s for date shakes and wasabi sunflower seeds.

  I’m so very spoiled that my beloveds were willing to spend vacation days and dollars, to fly and drive to shower me with gifts and good wishes. The weekend was the perfect balance of relaxation and revelry, a fabulous way to welcome my 30th year,  and definitely this birthday girl’s wish come true.

loveRavayna

July 27, 2015
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