Casablanca and Meknes

Africa, Morocco

Casablanca and Meknes

While finalizing our itinerary, we knew this was going to a long day. The plan for the day was to go from Marrakech to Casablanca and see the Hasan II Mosque, then head east toward Meknes, where we planned to stop for a few hours, before hitting the road again and making it to Fes – our final destination for the day.

 Hassan II Mosque

We started early and were picked up by Soufiane in his trusted black van. After a quick goodbye to Marrakech, we hit the road and headed to Casablanca. Casablanca is the largest and busiest city in Morocco, and upon entering it, I felt as if we were transported back to India. The roads, traffic, shops, hoardings, all felt very familiar. We only had time to visit the Hassan II Mosque, which happens to be one of the largest in the world. Its minaret at 210 meters is the worlds tallest and has a laser mounted on top which directs its light towards Mecca. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable. A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque’s outside ground. (Source: Wikipedia)

 Inside the Mosque
 Bab Mansour Gate
 Meknes Bou Inania Madarasa
 Lakdim Square

TIP: Ensure you check the guided tours timings on the official Hasan II mosque website and plan to be there around that time. From what we could tell, this is the only way to see the interiors.

We made it just in time to join the 11:00 am tour, which lasted for about an hour. The mosque is as beautiful outside as it is inside, so we spent another hour admiring and capturing it from every possible angle. It was a beautiful day (we were told that it is not uncommon to find cloudy skies in Casablanca on most days), so we considered ourselves lucky and enjoyed seeing the enormous and grand structure against the clear blue skies. We stopped for a quick lunch at McDonalds (it’s always fun to experience the subtle differences in the Mc Donald burgers when you step outside the US), enroute to Meknes and by the time we arrived it was late afternoon.

The first sight to greet us was the Bab Mansour gate. This is one of the most beautiful gates in the continent (and perhaps in the world) and was constructed in 1732 and named after El Mansour, the architect who was a Christian rebel that converted to Islam. Bab Mansour is extremely well preserved and provides some great photo opportunities. Out timing seemed to be perfect as well, as the evening sun had lit up this amazing piece of architecture, and it looked nothing short of stunning.

TIP: Right in front of the gate is a rooftop cafe that not only offers great view of the Bab Mansour gate, but also of Place El-Hedim – the large square in front of the gate.

We enjoyed some coffee at the nearby roof top café, and chatted with the owner who spoke pretty good English. He also provided directions to the Bou Inania Madrasa, which was our next stop. This Koranic school was established by the Merinids in the 14th century, and as soon as we entered it we were captivated by the splendid architecture and beauty that surrounded us. This was the first madrasa that I had visited and it more than made up for missing the Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakesh, which was unfortunately closed for renovation while we were there.

TIP: Go up to the rooftop of the Bou Inania Madrasa, which will allow you to get some good views of the nearby mosque and its minaret.

From the madrasa we made our way back to Place El-Hedim, while crossing the Grand Mosque just across the street. As with many of the nation’s holy places, non-Muslim visitors were not allowed inside the building. Across from the square is the Dar Jamai – This former 19th-century palace now houses the Museum of Moroccan Art. The museum was closed by the time we got there, however we did enjoy the exteriors and the hustle bustle surrounding it, before making it back to our van. We had also planned to do the Heri el Souani and Moulay Ismail Mausoleum. However, we ran out of time (and energy) to do the former and the latter was closed for renovations.

It was a whirlwind tour of Meknes, but completely worth the time. We were back on the road in no time, and another 45 minutes later, we were finally at our Riad in Fes. We started the day in Marrakesh and ended it in another great city in this beautiful country.

Morocco

Africa, itinerary, Morocco

Morocco

Morocco had been sitting on our travel wish list for several years (6 to be precise!) The flights from Los Angeles were always either too expensive or too inconvenient, and hence this trip never seemed to materialize. That finally changed in August 2018. While trying to make up our minds for our 2019 spring break trip (April second week), we chanced upon very reasonably priced tickets to Casablanca on Air Canada, with a very convenient connection in Montreal. We were planning to spend spring break with some good friends (Kapil & Vipula @theshadesofwords), so after successfully making the pitch to them, we immediately booked the tickets. We paid absolutely no attention (and had no reason to as well in August 2018) to the aircraft type – which happened to be a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Oblivious to the Boeing fiasco that lay ahead in about 6 months, we began to enthusiastically plan the details of this trip. We had done enough research on Morocco over the last few years, to know that it would not be possible to see and do everything the country offers in only 8 days. So, we decided to experience the beauty and charm of the old cities along with its souks and squares, and leave out the Sahara Desert and the high Atlas mountains for another trip. Our main reason for doing this was, on our first trip to Morocco we really wanted to experience all the major cities by seeing the spectacular architecture in the monuments, madrasas, mosques and palaces. In order to include the desert and mountains into your trip, you will need an additional 4-5 days. The desert is accessible from both Fes and Marrakesh, so based on your convenience, you can incorporate that into your itinerary.

Our high-level itinerary was as follows:

  • Day 1: Fly from Los Angeles to Casablanca (with a 2-hour layover in Montreal)
  • Day 2: Reach Casablanca early morning and head to Marrakesh – 2.5 hours by road
  • Day 2-4: Spend in Marrakesh
  • Day 5: Spend most of the day to travel from Marrakesh to Fes by road (with a quick stop over at Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca and a couple of hours in Meknes)
  • Day 6-7: Spend in Fes
  • Day 8: Travel from Fes to Chefchaouhen – 4 hours by road (with a quick stop over in Volubilis)
  • Day 9: Spend morning in Chefchaouhen and travel to Casablanca airport (with a quick stop over in Rabat)

Upon finalizing the itinerary, the two most important things for consideration were where to stay and how to commute from one city to another.

There are two primary options to stay in most Moroccan cities. The first is to stay in a hotel – which based on the star rating, will look and feel pretty much the same as a comparable hotel in any other city in the world. The other option is to stay in a more traditional Moroccan house – more commonly known as a Riad. These are older Moroccan residences with a courtyard in its center and have beautiful tile and mosaic work all through the structure. The courtyards are also often decorated with water fountains, flowers and plants producing an ambiance of great beauty and splendor.  The choice was obvious – it was going to be a Riad. There are literally hundreds of Riads that will show up on most major travel sites, and based on your budget and location preference you can find something that works. We opted to stay in Riads within the old cities in both Marrakesh and Fes.

To get from one city to another, we initially considered renting a car. Thought there are several rental car companies at Casablanca airport, based on our research, we were very discouraged reading several other traveler’s frustrating experiences with rental cars. A few months before the actual trip, a friend suggested that we look into the option of a chauffeur driven car. It was sound advice, as it not only worked out slightly cheaper (considering we had to rent a big van for the 6 of us), but also very, very convenient. We had an amazing driver who was always prompt, spoke impeccable English, guided us all through our stay and made the whole trip even more memorable. I would strongly recommend doing the same to all of you considering a trip to Morocco.

With almost everything planned well in advance, we waited patiently. About 3 weeks prior to the trip, we learnt that Air Canada was grounding all its Max 8 jets, which meant our flight was being cancelled. After a week of ordeal, which included numerous frustratingly long calls and follow ups with the airline representatives and the booking agents, we were finally able to get things sorted out. However, our 2-hour long layover in Montreal changed to 12 hours. Honestly, we did not mind that and decided to make the most of it by visiting the spectacular Notre Dame cathedral and trying out some Poutine!

Marrakech
Day 1-4
Casablanca & Meknes
Day 5
Fes
Day 6-8
ChefChaouen & Volubilis
Day 8-9

Marrakech

Africa, Morocco

Marrakech

We landed in Casablanca on a sunny and crisp morning, and the plan was to meet our driver and be driven to Marrakesh, which is about 3 hours south on a nicely paved highway. After reading glowing reviews on the web, I had exchanged several emails with a transport company explaining our itinerary and settling on the price. A couple of weeks prior to the trip, I reached out to ensure everything was in order and received a response back asking – ‘Who Are You?’. After a quick clarification and reminder, I was assured that everything was in order. Now, under ordinary circumstances, I would have left it at that. However, the ‘Who Are You’ question had made me kind of jittery, so 2 days before the trip, I reached out again to confirm, and what do you know – I had to provide details of my identity again.

It is fair to say that the ‘jitteriness’ accompanied us on our flight Casablanca.

However, as soon as we stepped out of the airport, our mind was put to ease after seeing our driver Soufiane patiently waiting for us. We were led to a very clean and comfortable Mercedes van. To add to it, Soufiane spoke impeccable English and was not only a great driver and guide all through the trip, but also became a good friend. (And thankfully Instagram has made it easy to stay connected!)

There is not much in terms of scenery on the drive from Casablanca to Marrakesh, which worked out just fine for us as the kids (and adults), we able to catch a few winks. Soufiane dropped us at the Jemaa-El-Fnaa, from where we were picked up by the owner of the Riad, who then guided us to his beautiful Riad, which was about a 10-minute walk away. We were exhausted and jet lagged by the time we got to our rooms, but we were finally here! Marrakesh is the melting pot of Morocco and has several impressive monuments like the Koutoubiya Mosque, the Bahiâ Palace, the Ben Youssef Madrasa (unfortunately closed for renovation while we were there), the Saadian Tombs and the Dar Si Said. Mix all of these with the bustling Jamaâ El Fna and the souks, and you have the recipe for a great trip.

Here’s how we spent the next 2.5 days soaking in all of these in.

 Marrakech Souk
 Dyers Souk
 Marrakech Souk
 Koutoubia Mosque
 Jemaa-El-Fnaa

Day 1 (afternoon/evening)

 Our Riad was located in the heart of the Marrakesh medina. A medina is referred to the old historic part of a town surrounded by high stone walls. Scattered all through the medina amongst other things are mosques, hammams (bathhouse), madrasas (educational institutions) and communal bread ovens. While I was familiar with the first three, this was the first time I heard or saw a communal oven, and found the idea to be very fascinating. The only thing that topped the smell of the freshly baked bread, was the actual bread itself, which we bought from a vendor, who was selling them on his cart just outside the doors.

The souks (name for an Arab market) in Marrakesh is a sight to behold. In the olden days, these generally open-air markets sat on the trading routes, and merchants from all over passed through them and traded the wares and goods. As time passed by, the souks grew in size and today it is a complex labyrinth of a few thousand shops that sell everything you can possibly imagine. Navigating the souks without getting lost is almost impossible for the first-time visitor, as the plethora of narrow alleyways that snake off to more thin passageways start to look very similar after a while. Wandering the souks with a local guide is the best way to explore, especially if time is short. We did just that by contacting our Riad in advance and booking a licensed guide.

The guide promptly showed up at or Riad, after we had a chance to freshen up get a little bit of rest. We spent the next couple of hours navigating the souks with his help, during which he explained several of the products on display and introduced us to a few of the local artisans. It was hard to resist the temptation to buy, as we had saved a few hours to do just that on our last day in Marrakesh. (more on the shopping later on in this post – Day 3)

TIP: You can book the guide for either half or full day and can tell him in advance what you would like to have him show you. If you are visiting the souks, the guide will usually take you inside some of the larger shops where they explain how the products are made, eventually hoping that you will buy something. If you do not want to spend too much time inside or want to avoid the obligation to buy, just tell the guide that you will visit these places later at your convenience.

From the souks, we headed to the Koutoubia Mosque, which is just across the Djemaa El Fnaa. Though non-muslims are not allowed to enter, the exteriors – especially the minaret is an architectural marvel. The minaret is 77 meters tall and has inspired other building such as the Giralda of Seville and the Hassan tower in Rabat. We were there just as the sun was going down, and the glow of the setting sun produced some amazing shots.  

By definition the Jemaa-El-Fnaa is a large open market place inside the medina of Marrakesh. In reality, it is the heart of Marrakesh. After the sun goes down, this large square transforms into a street theatre, and almost everywhere you look there is some live action in progress. From snake charmers, to musical performers to tattoo artists, you will find them all. One end of the square transforms into a food court, where restaurants fires up their grill and beckon every passerby to come in and try their food. This was probably not the most favorite food we had, but it sure was one of the most memorable experiences we had all through the trip.

Considering that just about 24 hours ago we were several time zones away in Los Angeles, we were all really proud of all we had accomplished on our very first day. 

Day 2

A hearty and satisfying Moroccan breakfast is a great way to start the day. Even though breakfast in Morocco is quite a basic affair, all the different types of bread, pastries and fruits the Riad served, provided us with much needed energy for all the sightseeing and adventures that lay ahead.

We headed for the Saadian tombs, which was a 15 minute walk from our Riad. These tombs date back to the Saadian dynasty and are located on the south side of the Kasbah Mosque. Abandoned for centuries, the tombs were rediscovered in 1917 by aerial photography and are a major attraction due to the splendid intricate architectural beauty. There is a nominal entry fee to see the tombs and it is totally worth it.

From the tombs, we walked through the cobbled streets to get to the Bahia Palace. This is another architectural masterpiece, and was built in the late 19th century, intended to be the greatest palace of its time. Though only a portion of the palace is open to the public, the floor to ceiling decorations in almost every rooms is enough to impress any visitor. Some of the most picturesque shots can be obtained here and we probably had a couple of hundred pics at the end of the 2.5 hours we were there.

TIP: There some great Moroccan restaurants around this area, and having a meal here provides a good break from the food at the more touristy restaurants closer to the Jemaa-El-Fnaa.

After an awesome lunch, we walked through the famed spice markets and made our way to Dar Si Said which is the home to the Museum of Moroccan Arts. On display is a collection of granary doors, leather bags, ceramics, intricately embroidered carpets, weaponry, and Berber jewelry. We spent about an hour so here. It was already evening and we were quite saturated with everything we had seen so far, so we called it a day and decided to head back to our Riad. It was a longish 20-minute walk, but it allowed us to see more of the souks and experience some treats at a sweet shop on the way back.

There are several restaurants and cafes surrounding the Jemaa-El-Fnaa, and most of them have rooftop terraces and balconies that offer panoramic views of the square. Also, all of them fill to the brim right before sunset. Seeing the sun go down across Jemaa-El-Fnaa with a cool drink in your hand is a great way to wrap up your day. Most visitors stick around well after sunset to witness the scenery as the square lights up; and the aroma of the sizzling kebabs, and the instruments of the performing musicians makes its way through the swarms of people and delights their senses.  

Also, several of these cafes serve pizza! The kids had a satisfying dinner (there is only so many tagines you can have in a day! ?), while the adults gazed at the spectacle below and realized how special Marrakesh was.

 

 Bahia Palace Courtyard
 Saadian Tombs
 Kasbah Mosque
 Dar Si Said
 Koutoubia from a roof terrace

Day 3 

And just like that, it was our last day in Marrakesh. It was also Vaishakhi’s birthday!

We started the day by visiting the Le Jardin Secret, also known commonly as The Secret Garden.  This is one of the largest private Riads and was recently opened to the public after several years of restoration. There is an entry fee, which allows you to experience the lush gardens, tranquil settings and a beautiful pavilion which sits right in the middle of the interior section. We spent about an hour, which was sufficient to enjoy the setting and take some beautiful pictures.

To celebrate the special day, we had lunch reservations in the Italian restaurant at the La Mamounia Hotel. This hotel has stunning architecture and has several accolades to its name including being the #1 hotel in the world in 2018 and the only hotel in Morocco being on the 2019 Gold list. The food was no match for the décor (we have had better Italian food elsewhere). However, it was time well spent as it allowed us to indulge in the amazing ambience, have a leisurely meal and capture some of the beautiful architecture through our lenses.

Tip: There are some sections of the hotel that are accessible only to the residents. However, to access all the other parts of this property, you do not need to have a lunch/dinner reservation. You can always come in and enjoy a drink at the bar or one of the cafes.

The only other activity for the day included shopping to our hearts content in the famed Marrakesh souks, and fill up the empty bags we were carrying! We took a horse drawn carriage to get back to the Jemaa-El-Fnaa and back to our Riad. After a quick break we were ready to head out again. Having done the guided tour of the souks a couple of days prior, really helped ensure we had a good idea of our location. However, getting lost is inevitable, and generally part of the fun in exploring the energetic souks.

Ceramic and pottery stalls can be found all around – Tagine pots come in all sizes! Bowls, vases and serving plates are also very common. Argan oil, along with aromatic spices seem to be vibrantly lit up with the glitter of the Moroccan lamps and lanterns. Traditional woven Moroccan carpets and handmade Berber rugs are proudly displayed at numerous stalls. Leather goods, especially shoes, slippers, bags, and wallets come in all shapes, sizes and colors. its hard to keep track of time when you are surrounded by all of these and are trying to make up your mind on what needs to carried back home, and in that process haggling like you have just been robbed of your last penny! 

Well, we finally ended our last evening in Marrakesh, where it all started – the souks. Except this time we left with several bags full of memorabilia and souvenirs to help keep the sights and sounds of Marrakesh fresh in our memory for a long time.

Gallery
 Le Jardin Secret
 La Mamounia
 La Mamounia
 Shopping in Souks

Barcelona

Europe, Spain

Barcelona

When we first went to Spain in April 2017, we were only able to visit Madrid and Andalusia region, due to time constraints. Someone very near and dear to us had exclaimed – how can you go to Spain and not visit Barcelona! Considering that person is an architect, I can understand why he would be shocked that we would be in Gaudi’s country and not visit his city. However, one of the advantages of planning trips way in advance is that, we knew we would be back in western Europe in the summer of 2018 and would be able to include Barcelona into our itinerary. Patience does pay off, we had to wait for over a year for this trip, however Barcelona was well worth the wait! Here’s how we spent 2.5 days in this beautiful city.

 Barri Gotic
 Roman Wall
 Placa de Catalunya
 La Rambla – La Boqueria
 La Rambla
 Mirador de Colom
 Waterfront

Day 1 (afternoon/evening)

 Barcelona was the final stop of our 18 day long western Europe trip. It can get pretty exhausting towards the end of a long trip (more so in Europe, and even more so with kids), so we ensured that we balanced out all the sightseeing with enough time to relax (which included going to the beach, enjoying all the wonderful tapas and paellas, and watching the soccer world cup final, which happened to be on the last day of our trip!)

We arrived in Barcelona around mid-day after having taken a short flight from Nice, France. Another quick train ride, and we were right in the heart of Barcelona. Our hotel around the midway point on La Rambla was also about 500 meters from the waterfront, so we could not have had a better location as a base. After freshening up, the first order of the day was to head to a tapa joint. Though, we love trying the local cuisines, and stick to them for the better part of most trips, food is usually not of the highest priority for us – don’t get me wrong, we love to eat, however ‘where’ we eat is usually decided based upon what’s available at the location we happen to be in.

Barcelona though, was going to be an exception. We have been in love with Spain, ever since our first trip there a couple of years back – the country is beautiful, the people are warm and friendly and the food is amazing. We had decided in advance on a few restaurants we wanted to visit during this trip, and for the most part our choices did not let us down. (there is so much variety to the cuisine and the restaurants – not only in Barcelona, but also in Madrid and Andalusia, that I will probably have to write a separate blog about eating in Spain).

Anyways, it was already early evening, by the time we were ready to start exploring. We headed to the Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gòtic neighborhood which was only a 10-minute walk from out hotel. The area encompasses some the oldest parts of the city and includes the remains of the city’s Roman wall and several notable medieval landmarks (most notably the Barcelona Cathedral), which are connected by narrow medieval streets filled with trendy bars, clubs and Catalan restaurants.

TIP: The facade of the Barcelona Cathedral faces north-west and lights up really well in the evening, just prior to sunset. Try and be here around that time for some great shots!

Our plan was to spend a few hours in the Barri Gòtic neighborhood the next morning, so we got a glimpse of the highlights, familiarized ourselves with some of the main streets and headed for Placa De Catalunya, which is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city center and the place where the old city and the 19th century-built Eixample meet. To get here we went a little out of our way and walked for a little bit on the Passeig de Gràcia – the ´shopping mile´ of Barcelona – filled with international chains and brands from around the world. As it’s also lined with stunning modernist buildings, it’s a great area to wander around for shopaholics and architecture fans alike.

While the kids had fun chasing the pigeons in the square, we sat on the benches and enjoyed watching the people pass by. The famous La Rambla originates from here, and after we had enough of people watching, we walked the entire stretch (about 0.8 miles) to get all the way up to Mirador de Colom. The tree-lined pedestrian only promenade of La Rambla is the artery of Barcelona and along its length are kiosks and vendors selling all kinds of paraphernalia and souvenirs. There are several street traders, performers, and pavement cafes and bars that line up the entire stretch along with historic buildings such as the Palace of the Virreina, the Liceu Theatre and the La Boqueria market.

A gelato stop somewhere mid-way along the La Rambla, provided enough motivation for the kids to arrive at the Mirador de Colom in very good spirits. This Colom more commonly known to the English-speaking population as the Columbus Monument is a 60 m (197 ft) tall monument constructed in honor of Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas. After, spending some time capturing the monument from every possible angle, we headed down to the waterfront which is just across the street. Dusk has always been one of my favorite times of the day to take pictures. We captured some precious shots and gave our tired legs some rest, while listening to the sound of the waves and see the sky turn dark.

It was the perfect way to end our first day!

Day 2

We started the day by doing a walk in Barri Gotic neighborhood. We spent about 2 hours starting from Placa del Rei and ending at Placa Del Catalunya, thus allowing us to get a closer glimpse of the earliest parts of Roman Barcelona and exploring the sights from the city’s medieval era. This walk also covered the Church of Santa Anaa, Fountain, Placa Nova, Cathedral of Barcelona, Jewish quarter, Roman Temple and Placa del Rei. The highlight without a doubt was the Cathedral of Barcelona. This majestic gothic cathedral was constructed from the 13th to 15th centuries. In the late 19th century, the neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that was common to Catalan churches. The roof is notable for its gargoyles, featuring a wide range of animals, both domestic and mythical.

TIP: If shopping is on your list of things to do in Barcelona, you will find almost all the branded stores in the Eixample neighborhood.

We went a little out of our way to enjoy a very special lunch at an amazing Spanish restaurant (more on that later!). After lunch, we visited the Eixample neighborhood – Eixample, which translates as “extension” in recognition of its status as the newer part of the city, is a large area north of Plaça de Catalunya spreading left and right of Passeig de Gràcia. This area is famous for being home to most of Barcelona’s art nouveau masterpieces, and a high-class residential and shopping area. Also, along this road are La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, two of Gaudí’s characteristically dreamlike buildings. Its hard to miss them, as there will be a throng of people right in front of it admiring it and capturing it through their lenses. You can also go inside after purchasing tickets, though we opted not to after seeing the long queues in front.

From Eixample, we took the metro train to get to Park Guell. This is a public park comprising of gardens and several Gaudi works. While it is free to enter the park, you would need a ticket to see Gaudi’s work and I strongly recommend booking tickets well in advance. The park was built from 1900 to 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site under ‘Works of Antoni Gaudí’.The park sits on top of Carmen Hill, and it is decent climb to get there. However, you are rewarded with great views of the city after you make your way up. It was the perfect place for the kids to run around and for us to take a break and enjoy the views.

TIP: You must book tickets in advance to see Gaudi’s work at Park Guell. Book directly from the official website. The audio guides are great and provide a lot of details.

For the last stop of the day – our original plan was to visit the Montjuic Castle, which also allows you to enjoy beautiful views over Barcelona and is a great spot to watch the sunset. However, having already enjoyed some great views at Park Guell, we opted to visit Plaza Espana and see and Ciaxa Forum and see Magic fountains instead. The Magic fountain is a spectacular display of color, light, music and water acrobatics – mixed together in the right combinations, it was indeed pure magic! Performances take place at 30-minute intervals every weekend, with extended times during the summer season. The fountain sprays 700 gallons of water a second through 3620 with the highest water spout being 170 feet! 

TIP: Get to the Magic Fountains at least 45 minutes early and grab a good vantage point (the steps right in front of the main fountains is probably the best seat in the house).

The kids had a blast here and we headed out a few minutes before the show ended, in order to beat the crowds and make our way back to enjoy some tapas and call it a day.

 Cathedral of Barcelona
 Roman Temple
 Palau de Musica
 Casa Batllo
 Park Guell
 Plaza Espana

Day 3 

We had promised the kids, that we would not return from Barcelona without making a trip to the beach. While the dads and kids did just that, the moms enjoyed some ‘me’ time. It was a Sunday, and though he beach was as crowded as it could get, the water was perfect in every way. The Mediterranean beaches have a special appeal, and we soon realized why. We could probably have spent the whole day there, however we had timed entry tickets to the Sagrada Familia for early afternoon, so we reluctantly made our way back to our hotel to freshen up and get ready for a visit to Gaudi’s masterpiece.

TIP: You must book timed entry tickets in advance to visit Sagrada Familia. Book directly from the official website. If for some reason, you do not book on time, and they are sold out, then try through some travel website or their onsite office right after you land in Barcelona.

The Sagrada is an architectural masterpiece, whose construction began in 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. It was the inspiration of a bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella who after a visit to the Vatican, was so inspired that he wished something similar be built in Barcelona. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms and dedicated the remainder of his life to the project. At the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, when he was run down by a tram, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Over the last century the project has progressed and is gearing up for completion by 2026 (100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death).

We had purchased tickets several weeks in advance and were already impressed by the massive exteriors while we were approaching it. Upon entering the basilica, we were in complete awe of the magnificent interiors. Words cannot do justice, so here’s what we witnessed.

Our last evening in Europe, also happened to be the day when France was playing Croatia in the 2018 soccer world cup final. After having witnessed and celebrated the Les Blues semifinals win in Paris, I was already a little partial towards them. The game did not live up to the expectations of a world cup final, however watching it with the locals while sipping on some excellent ale, was an evening well spent. I can only imagine what the atmosphere would have been in Paris after France sealed the game!

This was one of those perfect days, when all of us were able to do something that we really enjoyed, and looking back, I don’t think we could have ended the trip on a better note.

Early next morning we took a cab to the airport to board a flight that would get us back home to LA!

Gallery
 Sagrada Famila
 Sagrada Famila
 Sagrada Famila
 Sagrada Famila
 Sagrada Famila

Colorado

Destinations, Drive, North America, United States

Colorado

2,600 miles is a long road trip! However, when most of the drive is through picturesque settings that include snow capped mountains and deep canyons, it does not seem as long anymore. It also helps to have awesome travel companions and a good ride.

Driving from Los Angeles, California to Estes Park, Colorado during the Thanksgiving break in November 2018 was not part of our original plans.  We had intended to spend the 10 days in warm and sunny Nicaragua and Guatemala. However, unfortunately the political unrest in Nicaragua through most of 2018, forced us to cancel that trip, pretty much at the last minute. Rather than sit at home, we decided to check off the last three National Parks we were yet to cover in the central west. Great Sand Dunes National Park lies in south central Colorado, roughly 300 miles north of it lies the famous Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park lies another 300 miles west, very close to the border of Colorado and Utah. Going to a National Park is always awesome, but when you get to visit 3 of them in the same trip, it is well worth the drive!

Our high-level itinerary was as follows:

Day 1: Drive from Los Angeles to Flagstaff, Arizona on Interstate 40 W (distance of 480 miles)
Day 2: Drive from Flagstaff to Alamosa, Colorado mostly on 160 W (distance of 450 miles)
Day 3: Spend the day at the Great Sand Dunes National Park (which lies just a few miles east of Alamosa)
Day 4: Drive from Alamosa to Estes Park through the very scenic Colorado state highways (distance of 300 miles)
Day 5 & 6: Spend at the Rocky Mountain National Park which lies at the doorstep of Estes Park
Day 7: Drive from Estes Park to Black Canyon of Gunnison NP mostly on Interstate 70 W (distance of 315 miles)
Day 8: Spend the day at Black Canyon of Gunnison NP
Day 9: Spend morning in Colorado National Monument and drive to St. George, Utah on Interstate 70 W and Interstate 15 South (total distance of 460 miles)
Day 10: Drive from St. George to Los Angeles on Interstate 15 S (distance of 380 miles)

Having 10 days at our disposal really helped, as we could pace out the trip with some days of long drives and other relaxed days with minimal to no driving. I would not recommend doing this as a road trip from LA in anything under 8-9 days. An alternate would be to fly into Denver and do the loop to cover all 3 parks in the order of Denver –> Rocky Mountain NP –> Black Canyon of Gunnison NP –> Great Sand Dunes NP –> Denver

Flagstaff to Alamosa
Day 2
Great Sand Dunes NP
Day 3
Alamosa to Estes Park
Day 4
Rocky Mountain NP
Day 5-6
Black Canyon of Gunnison NP
Day 8