Sunday 8 April 2012

In Love with Barcelona

 What a wonderful trip it has been!
  
a great soap shop I stumbled across


After growing up in a city, I became more and more attracted to smaller towns when I backpacked around Europe for a year in 1990, before university.
 

But this past week, I have fallen head over heals in love with Barcelona. What a city.

eclectic, colourful, lively, architectural contrast, melding of old and new, liberal, fairy-talesque, amazing food, helpful people, accepting, artistic, innovative…

Some of my favourite balconies & doors




I went crazy with my new camera.

The architectural and artistic wonders of Gaudi






colourful characters 



 
a mask maker at work in her studio


Vibrant shops and storefronts



another soap shop and candles





street art














Mum, Aurora and I



No doubt I will return to this marvelous city that captured my heart…
 
We went on from there to Salou¸ a coastal town with on of Spain’s largest theme parks – Portaventura.  I ended up on a lot more roller coasters than I imagined I would go on and we had a wonderful day with tons of laughter.  Cheers to Mum’s patience, my daughter’s impatience and spontaneity and an unforgettable adventure together.
Now back to soaping and setting up the studio!!!
Xoxo
Jen

19 comments:

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Jen, I have only been overseas to Ireland but now I must see Barcelona ! Your pics were fantastic. So much art . Thanks for taking the time to post all of them.

Natalia said...

Wow, Jen, lovely pics... I have never been to Barcelona but from your photo's I am also in love with this town.
Thanks for the beautiful photo of you 3, adorable and so so sweet... You have a lovely daughter and a lovely mum!

Natalia

Julia said...

Barcelona es una ciudad maravillosa, una combinación de modernidad y clasicismo, personalmente me encanta. Has hecho un reportaje maravilloso de muchos rincones de la ciudad -por cierto, sois tres chicas muy guapas-, se nota que habéis disfrutado.
Un abrazo

Connie said...

Jen, I am so glad that you went crazy with your new camera. WOW!!! What incredible photos. You're a great tour guide. I feel like I really got a huge overall of Barcelona. Thank you for following my blog, I'm looking forward to seeing your new opened shop and all the wonderful photos of Spain, that I know will be posted from time to time. Have a marvelous life, looking forward to sharing adventures (mine will not be as thrilling as yours, I'm sure). Your new blogging friend, Connie :)

Two Blooms Design Studio said...

Jen,

Oh I love the photos you took especially the soap stores. The colours of Barcelona are beautiful and I'd love to go one day. Sounds like you had a blast.

You took some amazing photos and your daughter is so pretty.

Michelle

Jennifer Young said...

Donna, So glad you enjoyed the photos! I have never been to Ireland but ALWAYS wanted to go! One day.... xo Jen

Natalia, Thanks for your comment and glad you enjoyed my photos. If you ever get the chance to visit, I think you would really enjoy Barcelona! xo Jen

Julia, Estoy de acuerdo con todo lo que dices de Barcelona. ¡Que ciudad! Gracias y felices pascuas! xo Jen

Connie, Thanks for your comment so FULL of energy. I can just feel your positive energy!! I'll bet your adventures are just as exciting as mine and look forward to following your journey. Wonderful art!! xo Jen

Michelle, Thank you for your comment. Yes, a very colourful city... if you ever get the chance to go... TAKE IT!! Hope you and your sister had a wonderfull Easter. xoxo Jen

Coco said...

What wonderful pics! Barcelona is wonderful, isn´t it? I need to go back for another visit. Glad you all had fun.

Hellcat said...

Hi Jen,

I totally share your fascination because I was in Barcelona just two weeks ago!

Beautiful city and also marvelous pictures!

Regards,

Dana

Alegria Mediterranea said...

I am so glad you was in Barcelona!
Personally I identify Barcelona with her original architecture: ´´laced´´ balconies,colorful mosaics,diversity,identity and originality.
Barcelona always surprises me and I have many years since I go there...(I go there almost every month).
I LOVE BARCELONA!Visca Barcelona!
I recommend you all Catalunya along the coast (Cadaques,Port Lligat,Sitges,generally Costa Brava).
You are so beautiful,all three...and your daughter is gorgeous(camera loves her).
Once again I am happy for you and i wish you success in all and a week full of inspiration!
happy,happy for you.
love&bless,
Claudia.

Tara said...

Jenn, I am falling in love with Barcelona just by looking at your photos, never mind actually experiencing the city. Beautiful photos.

Pam said...

Oh the balconies, the metal work surrounding the doors, the colors. What a wonderful holiday for you girls. The boxes in the first soap shop by the melon soap are so interesting. I love their colors too!

Anne-Marie said...

What incredible pictures! Those soaps look fantastic and I would love to visit those shops sometime! :)

The Soap Sister said...

Love the pics -amazing balconies and the soap shops looked sooo inviting! So glad you had a wonderful trip -Aurora looks so much like you! Now I can't wait to see new pics of YOUR shop's progress! :) What a wonderful, exciting time for you my friend. :D xxoo ~Becky

Jennifer Young said...

Coco, Maybe we can meet up there one day? Hope you are well! xo Jen

Dana, So we just missed each other in Barcelona? I have to assume that you loved it as much as I did! Thanks for your comment. xo Jen

Claudia, Thank you for your comment! I love how you call Barcelona "her". In English it would be "it" but your way is much nicer. Barcelona is a "her" or a "she". You are right!! So many people have recommended the Costa Brava that on my next visit, I will have to go! Thank you for your comment about the photo of Aurora, Mum and I. Always nice to hear from you. xo Jen

Tara, Nice to hear from you. Thanks for your comment. Glad you liked my photos of one of my favourite cities! xo Jen

Pam, Yes a very very colourful city. That soap shop was interesting... One of their soaps actually had the ingredients stamped right into it! And those boxes contain soap petals... 1 petal is enough for 1 hand wash. Neat eh? xo Jen

Anne-Marie, Thank you for your comment. There were even more soap shops that I missed but I will get back there!! xo Jen

Soap Sister, So glad you enjoyed the photos! Thanks for the comment about Aurora looking like me because I think she is quite beautiful and each time someone says she looks like me, I take it as a personal compliment!! My soap studio is really coming along!! I have to get more photos and post them!!! xo Jen

Amy Warden said...

What a wonderful trip!! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos with us - I feel like I've been there now too. :) And I agree, Aurora looks a LOT like you!

Hope you are having fun setting up shop!

Lyn said...

You make my heart yearn for a trip to Barcelona :0) Thanks for sharing such beautiful pics. Three stunning woman :0)

Polly McNamara said...

Your pictures are beautiful - I have never been to Spain, but your pictures are very inspiring. It is now on my list of places I would love to visit.

You are a beautiful family too, the picture of you, your mum and your daughter is lovely, and so nice to see such happy faces.

Thank you for sharing xxx

Jennifer Young said...

Amy, Thank you so much!! I have been so busy with things that I haven't posted studio updates! It is coming along great and we are almost ready with it!! My husband has been such a trooper, painting and inventing things like shelves with left over materials from the renovations... it has also been a lesson in patience! xo Jen

Lyn, Thank you so much for your sweet comment! xo Jen

Polly, I hope you get to visit Spain, I have been enamoured with this country from the first moment I set foot here. Thanks for the comment about the photo with mum and Aurora... I love that one too. A wonderful moment captured. xoxo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

pcambra, All of these photos I took myself with my own camera. If someone else has used one of my photos or has taken a similar image, that is okay with me. I am sure a LOT of people have taken similar images in Park Guel. Thank you, Jennifer