Spain Vacation Day 4: Back to Barcelona

Hello!

It’s already Day 5 as I’m writing this, but I’m still keeping up with my goal of daily blogging, so today I’m sharing about Day 4. To be fair, there wasn’t a whole lot of sightseeing or adventure today, but I promised myself I’d document as much of this trip as possible.

As for my travel journaling, I’m a little behind. The only journaling I’ve managed so far was finishing my Day 1 spread last night, and even then it mostly involved gluing all my collected bits and pieces into my Traveler’s Notebook. I’ll catch up eventually. Hopefully. Haha!

Day 4 started with our train ride from Madrid back to Barcelona. The main reason for returning was to meet up with family arriving from Manila, as well as another group of relatives who had arrived in Barcelona earlier and spent some time in Mallorca before joining us.

Once we arrived, we checked into Casp74, a nice serviced apartment that will be our home for the next few days.

Before the family arrived, we had a little over an hour free, which gave us the perfect opportunity to catch up with an old colleague from my Citadines Millennium Ortigas days who now lives here in Barcelona. We met at Saga Coffee Stories and spent a short but very sweet hour chatting over iced coffee and catching up on life. 

After that, the family started arriving and things immediately became busy with unpacking, settling in, and figuring out sleeping arrangements.

At one point, Ton, a cousin, and I managed to sneak away for a quick visit to a local craft store. Sadly, I forgot to take photos, but it was a big and fun store and definitely worth the visit.

I was actually quite proud of my self-control because I didn’t buy a single thing. Well, except small things for my friends.

Then again, I do have a crafting haul that arrived with my cousin from Manila, another haul from my friend Kaye’s recent US trip, an Echo Park bundle she bought for both of us, and approximately 23 kilos of craft supplies waiting for me back in Saudi Arabia.

So maybe resisting wasn’t that difficult after all. Hahaha.

I’m sharing photos of some of the goodies that arrived from Manila today. Receiving crafty treasures while on vacation feels a little like Christmas! Some were pasalubongs from friends, advance birthday and Christmas gifts from family and friends, and some I bought online and shipped to my sister in Quezon City.

Tictacs from Ton's Aunt. When she found out I love different flavored Tictacs, she has been buying all sorts for me.

US pasalubong from Kaye

Budol bought by Kaye for the both of us

Mini camera from Ton's cousin. Three of us girl cousins matchy matched this.

I have more loot I haven't opened! hehehe. I'm scared for our luggage.

Later in the evening, we headed out again for dinner, this time joined by my husband’s mom.

And finally…

Spanish food!

I know. It only took us four days. Hahaha.

We ate at a nearby Spanish restaurant and bar, which turned out to have a Filipino chef. Instant bonus points.

The owner, a local Spanish lady, was absolutely delightful and seemed very proud of the Filipino words she had learned. At one point she enthusiastically shouted “Putang ina!” and “Gago!” while the Filipino chef visibly cringed in the background.

It was hilarious.

Then she proudly announced that she knew an even worse Filipino phrase and started saying it before the chef quickly - and very aggressively - told her to stop.

I only caught the first couple of syllables and didn’t recognize it, so naturally I became curious. I told her I didn’t think I knew that one, then leaned closer and asked her to whisper it to me, and she did while everyone laughed and the Filipino chef looking mortified.

After dinner, we stopped by Carrefour to pick up some groceries. We bought bottles of Cacaolat, one of Spain’s famous chocolate drinks, along with a few breakfast items since I volunteered to make breakfast for the immediate family the next morning.

I also picked up two treats for Lucky, making them our very first pasalubong purchase of the trip.

Priorities.

Afterward, we returned to the apartment. We had plans to meet up again with the cousins later that evening, but they replied to my message about an hour after I sent it. Unfortunately, by the time she replied, I was already asleep.

And that was pretty much our Day 4.

Not the busiest day of the trip, but one filled with reunions, family, crafty goodies, unexpected Filipino comedy in a Spanish restaurant, and the excitement of finally being together with everyone.

Now I’m sharing the most important update of all:

Photos of Lucky from our pet sitter. 

Vacation is great, but I still miss my little guy.

Also, here are my junks collected! hehe

And of course, sharing here links of my previous vacay posts:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3