• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Wonder Quests
  • Travel Hacking: How I Travel For Free & Cheap
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
    • Point Rewards Credit Cards
    • Hotel Rewards Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • 0% APR Credit Cards
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

Things To Love About Barcelona

Travel | April 3, 2018

Things To Love About Barcelona

After our last trip to Europe, we’ve come to believe there is never a bad time to visit Barcelona!  Among people who travel, there are plenty of folks who don’t seem to think traveling in winter is a good idea.  While it’s true, there is nothing better than hitting the beach in a coastal town like Barcelona in the summer, it also means that everyone else has made the same plans.  As a person who does not like to wait in lines, or deal with large crowds- I even more dislike paying high prices for airfare and hotels in peak season.

Besides the fact that winter means cheaper prices and short lines for attractions, a place like Barcelona and many European cities like it, still bodes for a beautiful and memorable trip, even if the weather is better for long sleeves than bathing suits, it’s still the perfect weather for adventure.

Anytime of year you decide to visit Barcelona, you can get there pretty easily by air or train if you start off in another city.  We decided to take a train from Paris and got to spot some flamingos along the way.  We absolutely loved the laid back vibe of Barcelona, the moderate climate (even in winter) and the cheekiness of the culture.  If you’re hungry- go to Barcelona, there’s no shortage of good food and good times any time of year!

So, here’s precisely how we spent our winter week in Barcelona!

 

Where We Stayed:

Casa Bonay Barcelona

We used  Travel Rewards Points to book an entire week at Casa Bonay.  It’s a gorgeous hotel with a hipster vibe, but without your typical hipster standoffishness.  We ate several of our breakfast meals at The Satan which was right below our room and found the breakfast sandwiches to be yummy and the free water to be a great perk.
Oh yes, one thing I should mention is the weirdness that nobody in Barcelona serves free water.  I kid you not- we had to order bottled water at every restaurant. Insider tip- buy your own water if you’re out for the day.  There are plenty of Super Mercats (little grocery shops) nearby.

Overall, it was a very comfortable stay- it was really close to the train line and also had a beautiful rooftop terrace. The TV also had YouTube, so we could binge watch on John Olliver or a plethora of top 10 lists if we needed downtime. We loved Casa Bonay!

 

Where We Explored:

Backpacker Pub Crawl Barcelona

Barcelona Pub Crawl

Walking through the Gothic Quarter at night with a bunch of other stragglers, (I mean, travelers!) with the Backpackers Pub Crawl was a great way to get a lay of the land.  It can be hard to navigate the nightlife scene, so doing a bar crawl makes it easy.  If you’re shy or worried about finding your way around, a pub crawl is a great way to mingle.   Also, the beer helps.

I will say- Barcelona has a weird bathroom scene (meaning, good luck finding some at these tiny bars) but we had a great time. We even met some very, very drunk friendly Germans.  We also befriended a super nice guy from Poland and hung out at a bar called Obama until last call.  I cannot tell you the last time I was out until last call!

If you use Travel  Rewards Points, (meaning it’s free!) you can book this activity on points like we did- otherwise it runs about $16 USD and includes 4 shots and a commemorative bracelet, beers in between though, are on you. Not bad!

La Rambla & The Erotic Museum (Museu de l’Erotica)

Museu de l'Erotica Barcelona Erotic Museum

La Rambla is in center of the city, it’s a very touristy locale which is very pedestrian friendly but also very crowded. While this isn’t the best place to grab a bite, but it is the best place to check out Museu de l’Erotica, located right off the main drag.

“Museum” is sort of a stretch of the word- there aren’t many authentic (if any) artifacts here, but it is a really fun tour that will takes about an hour or so.  We booked on points (of course) and got a glass of sparkling wine upon arrival- you know, so we could giggle at the giant penises throughout our visit.

During our visit, we got to learn about sex through the ages, and even see some old pornography from the dawn of well, pornography.  You can even hang out in the dick garden (it’s literally a patio full of dicks) and watch some random German pornographic cartoon fairy tales. I mean, it’s a good way to spend an afternoon.

Museu de l’Erotica Barcelona Spain

This was just a snippet of the dicks.  Just the tip you might say.

You guys, I’m a terrible travel writer.  I can’t imagine this blog post is helpful to anyone, but I highly recommend you take a sit in the dick garden.  You’re welcome.  I would recommend you take your $10 and buy tickets, if only to say you went to Europe to sit in a dick garden.

 

Basilica de La Sagrada Familia

La sagrada familia travel colorfully

Do you like rainbows?  I DO.  LIKE, A LOT.  La Sagrada Family is a cathedral dedicated to the Sacred Family- Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  Despite the fact that construction began in 1882, it is still under construction today. Construction wasn’t too obtrusive, I thought it made the location really unique.  The cranes dotting the sky and floor that “might be done this year, if not, then next year” encapsulate the attitude of the region.  Being a part of the construction makes you feel like a part of a living history, but it also adds to the location’s quirkiness. It’ll get done, someday. Ha!

I’ve been to an array of European churches- Westminster Abbey in London, Norte Dame in Paris and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin but La Sagrada Familia is different. This basilica is both colorful in history and in the beautiful stained glass that leaves everything awash in color.   The whole city seemingly was built around the legacy of Gaudi, the secondary architect of the Basilica.

 

Leave The City & Go Take An Excursion To Wine Country

Barcelona Wine Country

Again, since I was totally near broke (thanks property tax hike of 2018) when we went on this trip, I had a desire to keep costs low.  Did you know that Airbnb offers experiences now?

I luckily had an Airbnb credit to use up- so I booked a Vineyards, Wine & Picnic tour with a local via Airbnb.  I was a bit skeptical at first. After a 45 minute train ride out of the city we hopped in some sort of European Jeep on got on our way.  In said Jeep-thing, we galavanted around cava country, akin to the French region of Champagne.

If you can, I recommend you head out of the city for an afternoon and go taste some cava!  We ended up being served nearly an entire bottle by what I must say is the cutest grandpa winemaker who didn’t speak a lick of English but his hospitality spoke volumes.  I bought four bottles to bring back and it was probably about 40 Euro total.  Affordable and delicious!

 

 

What Did We Love Most About Barcelona?

We had a blast in Barcelona and can imagine that it’s even more vibrant and fun in the summer!  I loved the laid back atmosphere of Barcelona, the affordable prices and the kind people.  The climate was fabulous for February and we enjoyed many a nights out on the town eating tapas and paella.

I loved the cheekiness of the city, and of course, how easy it was to get around by train or foot.  The city is home to many nooks and crannies, such as the Gothic Quarter or the shoreline (which we didn’t get to explore as much as we’d have liked) but it’s beautiful to explore any time of year.  We loved the food, and are sure you will too!

 

 

Our hotel, excursions and travel to Barcelona were paid for with Travel Rewards. If you’d like to make your bucket list trips possible, read how I travel for cheap or free using travel rewards.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

« What I Love About Sharing My Home As An Airbnb Host
How To Use Credit Card Points To Travel Free »

Welcome!

Because you were born for more than putting your dreams on hold between 17 & 65. Reclaim your sense of adventure, become financially free & live your dream life before you retire. Learn more >>

We're on this adventure together to reclaim your life despite a 9-5! Get inspirational guidance on your own amazing journey with my weekly email.

Women traveling solo: don't let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

Women Traveling Solo: Why I Recommend It

Women traveling solo: don’t let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

After a routine blood test that showed some abnormal thyroid levels, I'm recommitting myself to my health. How? I'm doing Whole30.

Wonder Quest #1: I’m Doing Whole30

You know, it’s going to be a long time until I retire. I think about my future, and right now if I keep going on at the rate I’m saving, I will hopefully be able to retire in 18.5 years, at the age of 50.  I’m 31 as of this writing, so you can imagine, […]

When traveling to a foreign country, planning is your friend. Check out these 5 important things we recommend handling as soon as possible.

5 Things To Do Before Traveling To a Foreign Country

When traveling to a foreign country, planning is your friend. Check out these 5 important things we recommend handling as soon as possible.

Follow the adventure on Instagram

Life’s moments are made better with our pets. ❤️

Joey had been with us for nearly 4 years, made possible by the kind folks of South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue. I picked him up, intending on fostering him for a few weeks and ended up falling in love with his sweet spirit, exuberance for anything food related and his lovable derpiness.

Previously, he was kept in a small cage with two other terriers, all day every day and used as a stud. When he was no longer profitable, he, like plenty of others, was surrendered to rescue.  He was blind in one eye, needed teeth extracted and had skin lesions from life in a cage. 

Life hadn’t been easy for him, but I’m glad a rescue was there to give him a second chance, and they trusted me to give in his second chapter.  He was a well travelled dog and he was the Best Pup on our wedding day in Marfa.  Last night we said goodbye. Hubs and I will miss him dearly, but savor the moments and adventures with our little tank. 

Adopt, don’t shop.  Support your local rescues and give your fur kids an extra squeeze for Joey tonight.
“Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked “Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked me this before. To which, I answer- life is full, wonderful, and I am grateful. 

I believe he asks because before kids, I had a very different lifestyle. I traveled to Europe by myself, started businesses, donated a kidney, ran half marathons, got my master’s degree.  I lived a full life, then too. I was fiercely independent because I had to be.

I’m still that person, but fortunately I have more people to share it with. I also have to be more vulnerable than ever.

I had years to find myself and don’t plan on losing that woman I forged. Being a mom has also helped me heal some of the hard parts of the experience I had with my own mom. (I didn’t see that last part coming.)

Being a mom can make you lose yourself.  For me, it’s helped me discover myself once more. Grateful for this day and so many days - I’m just happy to be here. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone. I hope you discover yourself, heal what you need and feel the love today and everyday.
Just took my Strengthfinder test and got Empathy | Just took my Strengthfinder test and got Empathy | Responsibility | Harmony | Relator | Positivity. Which is not the same at all as when I took it 10 years ago. 🙃 

I think a few things have changed, but I’m a heck of a lot happier now. Anyone else geek out for personality tests and have you taken this one? Also- drop your enneagram!
I would like to say that the day we tied the knot I would like to say that the day we tied the knot was the happiest day of my life, but I’m lucky to say that every day since has been the happiest day.

Even in the blurry busy days after the youngest arrived, the nights we had challenging conversations, the terse moments and the moments of vulnerability- these were happy, deep, beautiful days together. 

I look back on this moment, and the many that followed and and am grateful still we chose to do this dance together.

Thank you, husband, for giving me a year of the happiest days and the promise of all our tomorrows. Love your face. ❤️
I spent a lot of my 20’s chasing, sorting and fi I spent a lot of my 20’s chasing, sorting and figuring out. I hustled, usually working two jobs and a passion project on the side.  By my 30’s I was burned out. I had spent plenty of holidays alone, weekends with no idea how to slow down and low grade anxiety about ever being enough.

I’m in a new chapter in my life and am so grateful for the weekends I have with the people I have.  Being a small slice of my stepson’s life, watching him grow and challenge himself has been so healing for me.  Slowing down to take time to watch a game, watch cartoons and do kid stuff, now with fresh eyes, has been so healing for me.  Have you played with a Nerf gun lately without looking at the clock or opened a fresh can of Play-Doh to make a make-believe pizza? It’s magic. 

As adults we spend a lot of time with Netflix, wine and chores in our downtime. Becoming a mom gave me an excuse to slow down and play- essentially what I would have considered “wasting time” before.  Grab a coloring book or head to the park, it may just save your sanity. 

Weekends look so different now, but I have three of the best guys in my life to grow with.

Copyright © 2022 · The Wonder Luster · designed by Archer Creative

Copyright © 2022 · The Wonder Luster Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact