Last month, we celebrated our first wedding anniversary.
Instead of paper, we gave each other Barcelona.
7 days of staying in a top floor apartment in El Born.
With a winding, narrow staircase that went on forever
Windows that opened to rooftops, huge church spires
And the happy, relaxed bustle of life below.
7 days of proper sunshine.
Of brilliant bright blue skies.
Of bare legs and wearing sandals.
Suncream. Missed bits. Burnt bits.
Ice lollies for an afternoon snack.
Ordering Pimientos de Padron.
Cava with every meal but breakfast.
7 days of wandering in the Gothic Quarter.
Narrow little streets that twisted and turned.
Shutters that hid last night’s bars.
Shops that opened when they liked.
Everywhere the sound of chatter,
and surprises round every corner.
7 days of statues that changed their looks every day
And streets littered with colourful confetti.
7 of days gazing and then glazing
at early “Blue Period” Picasso works.
Of Park Guell, with its pretty tiled dragon,
stunning views, shady trees and talented buskers.
Of lying on picnic benches in the shade
and snoozing like strays or happy hobos.
7 days of blue tiles, watery windows, dragon-like roofs,
In a house that was more like an upright submarine.
For the first time really feeling like we ‘got’ Gaudi.
7 days of heading to la Sagrada Familia on a very hot day,
taking the lift to the top and standing, with shaking legs,
looking out at the city and trying not to look straight down.
7 days of heading to the beach. Picnic packed.
Cheese, bread, salsa, beer, crisps… all too warm
All too liquid by the time we reach the sand.
7 days of taking Polaroids – all of us, smiley and slightly tanned.
Of comparing our £2 cameras to the Impossible Project shop ones.
7 nights of staying out late, snapping street art,
(being stared at by curious locals as we posed),
of feeling like we didn’t have a care in the world,
and wondering what it would be like to live here.
Barcelona, I rather love you.
You were a rather perfect
first anniversary destination xx
Happy anniversary! Barcelona looks beautiful and fun in your pictures, its on my list of places to visit!
RT @Convo_Pieces: {On the blog} Sun, street art and celebrating (our first anniversary) in Barcelona http://t.co/E9uFu9Q5 (So much blue sky… sigh!)
Oh man I am there! Where do I sign??
It sounds beautiful, it looks beautiful, you look beautiful, and that graffiti is kinda beautiful too!!
Aww thanks Abbi! Yeah the street art is rather ace, makes me wish our shops/bars had shutters too.
A year already?! Wow, time flies!
And it looks like you had a very happy anniversary! Yay.
I love Barcelona, it’s one of my FAVOURITE places!!! It’s on my list of places to revisit ASAP.
xx
Yeah threesmallapples it’s gone really fast! (That’s a good thing though I think… would be a bad sign if your first married year felt very long!) I’d been to Barcelona on a work trip before and had liked it, but very different being there on proper holiday… think I need to go back asap too! 😉
I think your blog post has just sold Barcelona to me! x
Happy Anniversary! How has that been a year already? I love Barcelona – city, sea and mountains altogether. Joy!
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Thanks my dear 🙂 I honestly have no idea! (The year goes… we got married, went to NYC, Halloween, Xmas, New Year then Japan… or at least that’s how we remember it!) x
Awww lovley. Now you’ve made me want to go very badly. I love seeing the pictures when you travel. x
Lauren recently posted..John & Gill’s Edinburgh Wedding at The Hopetoun House
Congratulations! We love you liked our city, we are in love with Barcelona too. Next time you can not miss pà amb tomàquet and sausages and a tour to the Tibidabo 😉
Neula recently posted..Un poquito del Tibidabo.
Ahhh. I love it! I grew up in BCN and hold such happy memories for the city. I’ve not been back in years, but this has really made me want to hop on over the the easyjet site! Glad you had such fun 🙂 x
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Love this! Living in Cornwall, I rarely get to see my mum in Cumbria and so next year, probably April/May time, we’re going to go away…mother and daughter first trip together just the two of us (for my sins…not sure?!). Barcelona came up top of our list. This post makes me want to be there now!
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Wow! You make me want to drop everything and go there! I love that statue that changes and so cool that you got to go to the impossible shop!
beautiful photos, cava and living in barcelona for a week sounds like a dream holiday and anniversary gift…sure the plane tickets were paper!
thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to visit barcelona again, I only went when I was about 11!
xox
Loving the idea that our plane tickets were the ‘paper’ gift! Totally going to say that from now on 🙂
Beautiful! Barcelona is way up there on my list of places to visit – it might have just been bumped up a spot or two…
Sarah Rooftops recently posted..Who Writes the Story of My Life?
Oh, and happy anniversary!
Sarah Rooftops recently posted..Who Writes the Story of My Life?
wow I can’t believe it’s been a year since you got married! Looks like a perfect holiday – I love Barcelona. Your pink skirt is really cute x
Polly recently posted..La Cerise Sur Le Gateau
I love Barcelona. It is several years since I have been now but was definitely a place I could imagine living. Thanks for taking me back 😉
Michelle recently posted..french soda
Hey Zoe, Happy Anniversary- you two look fab- looks an amazing break, Jo xx
Jo @ binds you to me recently posted..Book towns, art towns and beach walks
i love Barcelona-love it. Love how you can be there a handful of days and feel like a local. love the gothic quarter. glad you liked it
robyn recently posted..Creativity fosters Creativity
Happy anniversary! I love Barcelona x
Lakota [Faith hope and Charity Shopping]c recently posted..Ta-dah! Tuesday – How to remove glitter polish – without losing your mind
Happy Anniversary! I think you’ve just sold me Barcelona…
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Sun, street art and celebrating in Barcelona | Conversation Pieces #streetart http://t.co/aNJHpxtR
Awwwwww….*sigh*. So sweet! And happy (belated) anniversary to you both! x
Christine recently posted..A week of feasting
Ever since the film Vicky Christina Barcelona, I’ve wanted to go and visit. Had no idea there was an Impossible store though…now I’ll HAVE to go. A big polaroid fan….love your blog. x
Happy anniversary! And a great place to visit to celebrate – we got engaged in Barcelona, in a rooftop pool, so it will always have my heart.
My friend lives there and she tells me it’s a brilliant place to live – her photos on Facebook also back this up!
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Congrats! And that looks like a great trip:D Love that owl too<3
blueeyednightowl.blogspot.com/
and don’t you look lovely too. v chic in barcelona! happy anniversoir! x
francesca recently posted..The swing in the woods
Happy anniversary! I absolutely love Barcelona and it looks like you had a fab time. x
col @ hello olive recently posted..Rainy days and fluffy clouds
all i can say is that barcelona is way better than paper!
looks amazing!
Lottie recently posted..a walk.
This is a beautiful post that makes me want to go back to Barcelona and see all the things we missed – so glad you had fun!
Siobhan recently posted..Weddings on Wednesday
What an amazing trip! You have some gorgeous shots! I so want to go there myself now!
Emily recently posted..Jewellers en Residence….. launch party for the new Liberty Jewellery Emporium
Happy Anniversary! Lovely photographs and love the wee instax Mini one. I have so many polaroids from my recent holiday – they need their own little albums.
Oh, isn’t Barcelona brilliant? I went once, years ago, for a few days with my sisters. Would love to go back!
ooooh my goodness that garage door with the fish is fantastic!!! so colorful.
.amanda. recently posted..Retro Cocktail Napkins
Nice pics!! I’ve never been there but seeing your photo’s I think I should definitely go.. (and you look so cute too!)
Iris Vank recently posted..Lomo+
happy anniversary! I am now craving some sunshine & barcelona.
Helen recently posted..Birthday times!
H A P P Y : A N N I V E R S A R Y ! ! – i adore Barcelona so much. I have visited 3 times in the last 4 years and i love it more and more each time. It’s definately top on my ‘Places to live’ list. Not only is it a great, diverse & extremely artistic city, but I can’t believe you’ve got the glorious beaches at arms reach too!
Love these pics! always love seeing everyones adventures on holiday! You have a great blog!
White Bazaar recently posted..New Perfume & Jewellery Storage
Oo, I love that big owl in that rooftop! Looks like you had such a great time, this post made me smile anyway! Congrats on your anniversary! X
Marlous recently posted..Misty eyes
Your photos are wonderful! Make me want to high-tail it out of the country and get to Spain. Did you see much evidence of financial problems?
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