Spain

June 12, 2025

Leaving Casablanca bright and early, we touched down in Barcelona around 1 PM. What should’ve been a quick entry turned into an hour-long wait at immigration; it seemed most officers were on lunch break, three officers processing a line of 1,000 passengers (and growing every minute) was getting comical. Thankfully, reinforcements arrived after 45 minutes, and the line finally began to move. We hit bad traffic in our taxi, so we didn’t reach our hotel until after 4 PM.

Things quickly turned around for us. At 5 PM, we met up with Eduard, a family friend and local, who gave us a fantastic walking tour. He brought Barcelona’s history to life, showing us key landmarks and fascinating remnants of its Roman past. Dinner at 9 PM felt almost like lunch given the bright sunlight and the city’s vibrant energy, which still hummed as if it were mid-afternoon.

June 13, 2025

This morning was a slow start for everyone. After sleeping in for a bit, Justin went for a beach run while the rest lingered over a leisurely breakfast. The pool was next, and after lunch, we ventured to the Sagrada Família. Its sheer scale and intricate details were breathtaking, and the vibrant play of colors, both inside and out, was a really cool. It’s truly astounding to consider that such a modern artistic masterpiece was conceived well over a century ago.
From there, we moved to the historic Hospital Sant Pau, Barcelona’s former general hospital. Operating for over a hundred years before closing in 2009, its architecture and grounds were magnificent.

Later, we met back up with Eduard and his family for dinner. His wife and three kids—ages 23, 21, and 19 (two girls, with youngest boy)—joined us, giving us a bit of a glimpse into our potential future. They lovingly teased Eduard throughout the meal, and while Natacha and our kids seemed to embrace the prospect, Justin wasn’t quite convinced!

June 14, 2025

We can’t believe it is the last full day of this amazing trip.

Today we embraced the European lifestyle. Last night’s late dinner led to a late bedtime, and we all slept in until almost 10 AM, then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast.

After breakfast, we hit the pool for a bit. Morgan and Justin then took the plunge in the Mediterranean Sea – a must!

Next, we explored more of Barcelona walking around and shopping. Owen and Justin, tired of the constant clothes shopping, eventually split off to do their own thing.

We all met back up at the hotel to relax and pack up. The kids got room service for dinner, then Justin and Natacha enjoyed a final date night out.

Hard to believe the trip is coming to an end. so many great memories.

June 15, 2025

We’re home! Smooth flight, and we were back in the house within 45 minutes of landing.

The kids were thrilled to be back—Morgan headed straight to the basement for gymnastics, Owen made a beeline for the basketball court, and Peyton went to her room to unwind.

Hard to believe it’s been two months since we were last here. What an incredible journey it’s been—packed with unforgettable memories, new experiences, and a few hiccups along the way.

But all in all, things went as smoothly as we could have hoped. The kids were amazing throughout and proved that we’re more than ready for more adventures in the future.