We spent last weekend in Barcelona.

My in-laws came to visit us in Valencia for a couple of weeks, and their return flight departed from Barcelona, so I took them (and my girls) there for the weekend.

We stayed at the very convenient and centrally located Hotel Condes de Barcelona. Besides the awesome view to Gaudi’s Casa Batlló and Casa Milá from our terrace, my favorite feature was the restarant: Loidi, by Spanish Vasque chef Martín Berasategui, who holds eight Michelin stars in total, more than any other Spanish chef. Even my picky-eater daughter approved!

We did not have much time, but we did enjoy a visit to Gaudi’s cathedral and masterpiece the Sagrada Familia including the towers, Park Güell, and the Tibidabo Amusement Park. Curious anecdote: since it’s impossible to park your car at the amusement park, and the bus takes a while to get there, my wife decided to kill two birds with one stone, so we inspected the Gran Hotel La Florida and parked there. Genius.

A very pleasant visit, and a reminder that Barcelona owes almost all its appeal to the genius of Antoni Gaudí.