Spain and Switzerland Adventure

If you are seeking a perfect blend of vibrant city life and breathtaking natural landscapes, few places can rival the contrast between Barcelona, Spain, and the serene beauty of Switzerland. In this blog, I will take you on a journey through these two incredible destinations—each with its own unique charm, culture, and experiences.

From the sun-soaked streets of Barcelona, where Gaudí's architectural masterpieces and bustling markets collide, to the towering Swiss Alps, with their snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and charming mountain villages, this adventure promises to be unforgettable...and I definitely will NOT forget the cheese and the sangria!

October Break is here, so that means I am about to embark on another adventure. I took an Uber to the airport with plenty of time since I figured there would be traffic...and my driver asked if he could stop for gas. Ok. I thought this would be something he would do before the pick up. Still made it to the airport in about an hour. Through security with easy breezy finesse with my Nexus access.

One of my travelling pet peeves is when people STOP right in the middle of a walkway/corridor...you're lucky I was not pushing a luggage cart or you might not have any skin left on your ankles. Lol.

Once through security, into the lounge, cocktail in hand...I can officially say I am on Holidays!

Boarding onto my KLM flight to Barcelona via a connection in Amsterdam (about 6 hours 15 minutes). The Premium Comfort Class seating was sooooo comfy. I may have to splurge from now on. Big seats, lots of leg room and great service. I was actually able to sleep during the flight because I started a few movies and never saw the endings. The 2nd leg of my flights, I had the entire row of 3 seats to myself so I was able to sleep the entire way to Barcelona (just under 2 hours flying time).

Easy ground transportation from the airport into the city centre (to Plaza Catalunya) via the Aerobus at a cost of 7.50 Euros and then a quick 4 minute walk to my hotel: H10 Cubik. My room was not ready (it was only 11 a.m.) so I dropped the bags after a quick change into cooler clothes and went on a walkabout seeing some of the nearby sights: Arc de Triomf, La Rambla, Cathedral, waterfront, and strolling through the Gothic Quarter. My first "meal"...gelato! I later stopped for lunch on La Rambla and enjoyed a big ass pail of sangria!

Once my hotel room was ready it was time to hit the roof top deck and pool area to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and great views of the city. I met some travellers from the U.S. who just finished a 11 day cruise and now enjoying Barcelona for a couple of days. I need to get a good sleep as this adventure is quite busy...stay tuned!

On this morning's walk I went past some iconic Gaudi buildings, that I simply could not resist taking some more pictures of them. I am sure I have the exact same shots from my last visit here.

Since I have been to Barcelona a few times in the past, I thought I would ventured out of the city to the surrounding area. Today's destination: SITGES. Just 35 kilometers southwest of Barcelona lies the picturesque town of Sitges, a perfect blend of coastal beauty, rich history, and laid-back Mediterranean vibes. Sitges boasts 17 beautiful beaches along its coastline, each with its unique vibe. From wide, sandy stretches ideal for families to secluded coves perfect for a more tranquil experiences. I was not looking for a secluded spot, but this definitely would be a place if you wanted to escape the hustle n' bustle of the big city of Barcelona.

Getting to Sitges from Barcelona was really easy. I woke up at a leisure time (with no alarm) and headed to the train station (Passage de Gracia) to board the Renfe regional train to Sitges in just 30 minutes. The cost was just under 5 Euros - round trip. Once there, I wasn't really sure where to go, but I just followed the crowd and headed toward the water. Success! The town was easily walkable, but my favourite was walking along the beachfront promenade listening to the crashing waves and seeing a few brave folk venture into the ocean for a swim.

There was an International Film Festival here that just wrapped up yesterday. There were many crews taking stuff down and hauling it away. Even the beach clubs seems to be preparing for the end of the summer season and stacking away the sun loungers. Lots of hotels and restaurants are directly beachfront - so that would be a great place to stay.

The train back to the city was a little busier than earlier this morning, but it was still a quick commute. Once back to the hotel I headed up to the rooftop deck and pool area with some snacks, a cocktail...chill time.

I absolutely need to go shopping for a portable charger today (forgot mine at home). I just can't be without the "pocket juice", especially with how much we rely on our phones for everything—from navigating, staying connected, and taking photos. It’s a must-have to keep me powered up and worry-free throughout the day! I had my charging cable with me but you can never be sure if you are going to have access to a plug! So crisis adverted...successful shopping nearby. I may have purchased something else too...maybe not so much of a necessity...more of a "want". Really liked the design and the price was good too. Any guesses? No! Not a hoodie!!! haha.

I enjoyed my last night in Barcelona chill'n on the hotel rooftop deck...it does look pretty cool at night!

Off to the airport this morning after checking out of my hotel. I used the Aerobus to get there and the bus originates at Plaza de Catalunya, which was a quick 4 minute walk from the hotel - Cost 7:50 Euros. It is a good idea to board at the first stop because you can ensure you will get a spot for your luggage and a seat. Speaking of luggage...I am not talking to my suitcase right now. It didn't like the cobbles and decided to stop and flip over causing me to trip over it. Luckily I did not fall - must be the cat-like reflexes early in the morning and I was able to recover - sort of gracefully...haha!

No traffic early in the day which made for a quick trip to the airport. Thru bag drop and security in good time - no need to pass thru immigration and customs whilst travelling in the E.U. The flight was delayed in departing Barcelona and we were even further delayed with people were not abiding by the carry on luggage rules. Warning: incoming rant! First, if you can't lift it over your head, it is NOT carry on! So...with many people bringing on a lot of crap, shockingly, there leaves very little room in the overhead bins for people who may get on the aircraft later in the boarding process. I got a little snippy with the flight attendant when she told me my bag will have to go at my feet. I informed her (in my polite Canadian way, of course) that I had a smaller bag (my purse) that will be going under the seat. My frustration is obviously not with the flight crew (and I told her that), it is with the airline - ALL airlines! They need to crack down with the number of carry on items. I saw many people boarding with 3 bags - rolly suitcase, backpack and another tote bag - that is NOT ok. Even saw a couple people with 4 bags - are you f'n kidding me???!!! At the gate only a couple of people were told they had to check their bag before boarding - this is the problem. The overhead bins on today's aircraft (A321) only had room for 2 hard-shell cases above 2 rows of seats - that is 6 people. Hardly enough space. Sure, not everyone puts their bags in the overhead, but many do. The airlines either need to crack down at the gate or include the cost of luggage in the price of the flight. I really do not know the right answer - but my rant is now over!

Barcelona was really just my landing point for my true destination...Switzerland. YAY! I am now in Switzerland.

Once I gathered my luggage from the carousel, it was off to the train station which is connected at the airport. During my research for this trip, many people mentioned going to the SBB office (Swiss Train Company) to get Rail Pass and for any and all questions related to your trip. You can even change currency here - now using the Swiss Franc.

My first destination: Interlaken. Decided to travel First Class as this was a longer journey (just under 2 hours) and with luggage - could be challenging. I made the right choice. From my research 2nd class can be very crowded, especially from the airport and it is tough to find space for bags...and it's very crowded...and there are a lot of people. Again, I made the right choice.

I disembarked the train at Interlaken West which was a 7 minute walk to my next hotel: Hotel Bellevue. Beauty location right next to the river...and I have a balcony! I freshened up a bit and headed out to explore this quaint Swiss town. Better keep the credit card ready to go - things are expensive here - which I was prepared for with doing trip research. Stopped at Hoheweg Park to watch the paragliders come in for a landing - very cool! The buildings are so charming and Swiss culture seems to ooze everywhere - even the McDonald's was fancy. I can't wait to see more.

Step count : 15 427...not bad a travel day.

Well I woke up to foggy skies - that can't be good in the mountains. Nature never closes but it is pretty hard to see nature for the fog. By the end of breakfast, a lot of the fog had burned off - but I still scrubbed my original morning plans because it would have been a waste. Staying closer to the ground was my best bet. I headed to the train station and purchased a ticket to Brienz. You use to be able to take the train all the way from Interlaken, but there was a bad storm this summer that led to massive flooding and severe damage. So this part of route would be done via bus right to the cute little town situated right on Lake Brienz. The lake was a lot bigger than I had expected, so that was rather impressive.

After touring around the town, I decided to take the boat back - something different and a lot less crowded. I can only imagine how busy it would be during the summer season. I received a discount with my Half Fare Card which is good on trains, buses and boats. Swiss timing is no joke - when they say we are leaving at 11:40...they mean it!

The boat cruise was better than expected. It traversed back and forth across the lake making stops along the way allowing me to get up close to the many villages on the Lake. The cruise back to Interlaken was 1 hour and 10 minutes, and by the end, it seemed as if the skies were clearing a bit.

So my original morning destination just became my afternoon adventure...and the timing was perfect. Harder Kulm was the destination. Harder Kulm is a popular viewpoint located at 1 323 meters above sea level, overlooking Interlaken. It is known as the "Top of Interlaken," as it offers stunning panoramic views of Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, and the surrounding Alpine peaks, including the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. I reached the summit by taking the funicular. At the top there was a viewing platform with a glass floor, and a restaurant with the expected expensive Swiss price tag. I had brought my own snacks...woohoo look at me saving money!

The views at the top were absolutely stunning and the skies kept getting better and better with each passing moment. Could this be the day for a little extra added excitement...?

On the way back to my hotel I passed the park where all the paragliders land...and I decided to check to see if they had any availability for today. Since the weather looked ideal for "flying", it was just my luck that they had an opening at 4 p.m. Perfect! I was able to head back to the hotel and drop off any excess stuff I did not need.

Back to the meeting spot. We loaded into the van and drove 20 minutes to the take off area. Safety brief - check; helmet on - check; rigging attached - check (Thank God!) All buckled in and we were off...just a few running steps down the hill and we were airborne. OMG! What an epic experience. The views of the Jungfrau Region were incredible...both lakes (Brienz & Thun). We flew past the lookout point of Harder Kulm, which I had just been a few hours earlier. I could even see my hotel. So f'n fun!!! Landing was a breeze. My pilot just told me to stand up and take a couple of steps...and just like that we were safely back on the ground! AMAZING!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat. You never know...the trip is still young! LOL!