I wasn't anticipating much travel this summer though it appears the weekends are looking pretty busy! I'm looking forward to a few trips coming up including flying home for July 4th weekend and heading to Pittsburgh to see the White Sox play the Pirates.
Hope all of you are well!
Spring break vacation!
It was fun to be back in Barcelona - the weather was mostly perfect and it was easy to utilize public transportation to get everywhere.
Sunday
As expected our arrival into Barcelona was easy after the 7 hour flight - the person to my right with the window wasn't the greatest on space but I did manage to get some rest. Upon arrival we stopped to pick up our Hola Barcelona cards from the kiosks near the train. The code worked as expected and we had our 5-day passes. Checkin to the Grand Hyatt Barcelona was easy - due to Hyatt Guest of Honor we were unexpectedly upgraded to a Junior Suite! It ended up being one of the best rooms we've had across the many Hyatts visited. We decided to try a local place for tapas and drinks: El Maravillas - excellent tapas and an easy walk from the Hyatt. We chose outdoor seating and it felt very social and had a friendly neighborhood-bar vibe. We also stopped by the Sofia Bar for evening croquettes and Aperol Spritz's.
Monday
For our open day Monday we decided to visit Park Güell after a brief stop for brunch in the lobby - tickets are needed in advance and we were able to confirm a 1pm time the night before. Public transportation is an excellent option to get there. We chose to take the H6 bus just near the Grand Hyatt which was only 14 stops in about 30 minutes. There is a slight walk up the hill and soon we were there to explore.
We also stopped at a few shops after the visit which was fun to see snack and gift ideas.
On returning to the Hyatt, we were told about a Happy Hour Tapas offering that was available to Globalist members and decided to try it. There is only a short window between 5-7pm and the food was excellent!
Tuesday
Today our plan was a visit to the La Sagrada Familia - tickets are again required in advance though we were able to confirm a 1pm time easily. A quick stop at morning brunch was required and then were on our way using the Metro (L3-L5 took about 30 minutes). I'll let the pictures show how impressive it is:
We zipped back to the Hyatt after for a quick refresh before we were out the door for our evening plans including a flamenco show and tapas dinner. This was on La Ramblas so we took the opportunity to walk the street and stop at a chocolate shop and Mercat de la Boqueria, an amazing public market showcasing spices, meat, cheese, fruit, honey, etc.
The show and food was amazing - through a single door on the street we walked up stairs to an upper dining room where everyone had a buffet-style meal before moving to an adjoining room for the show. We were seated in row 2 which was a prime spot for the experience.
After the show we stopped at Sofia Bar for a few drinks before calling it a day!
Wednesday
On tap for Wednesday was a day trip to Montserrat and the Monastery. It is known for having the La Moreneta, or the Black Madonna. This was a tour booked through Tripadvisor which is highly recommended. We once again took the metro (L3-L1) and made it in time to grab a quick breakfast to go before checking in at the tour desk (which took a bit to find). The bus ride took about an hour to get to the Monastery and had amazing views throughout. Our tour guide gave us time to explore and we also picked up some cheese for home:
After meeting the guide and group at our assigned time, we were off to part two of the tour which was a tapas lunch and wine tasting. The tasting portion was not clearly noted in the listing though was fun to visit and hear about how wine is made in this region. Our bus had quite a few college spring breakers and the conversations were hilarious to overhear.
The bus took us back to Barcelona and soon we were back on the metro toward the Hyatt. We once again stopped in at the happy hour before our evening dinner reservation at Maymanta, a Peruvian restaurant located on the top floor of the Hyatt. I chose the Potato Gnocci with Peruvian Grilled Chicken (amazing):
Before ending the evening we stopped for final drinks at Sofia - it was hard to believe the week flew by this quickly!
Entry to the EU with ETIAS
This has been postponed until 2026 with no definite start date, but eventually, travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the U.S., will need to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) to enter the Schengen Area. This is not a visa but an online authorization aimed at improving border security. It’s a quick and simple process that travelers can complete online before their trip. For more details visit the official ETIAS website at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en.
UK Entry with ETA
The UK has introduced a new electronic travel authorization called ETA. This is required for visitors from countries that currently do not need a visa to enter the UK. Just like ETIAS, it’s an easy online application aimed at streamlining entry procedures. You can find more information and submit your application on the UK government's official website at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.
