Barcelona: Mom I'm Fine Off-site

Post date: Apr 02, 2018 8:22:55 AM

Last summer, Jordan mentioned how interesting he finds listening to conversations I have with my friends. He’s never heard successful ladies talking about their lives. Not being caddy, or pulling each other down. But talking about our struggles and building each other up. Talking about failures and successes, conferring over our relationships and what's next professionally, and personally. Jordan had never heard women talk like that, and it struck me, this might be a good thing for other people to hear too.

So the idea for a podcast was born. I asked Penny and Jessica to join me (because they are two of my favorite people to talk to), and after much discussion and a little bit of setting up, we started Mom I’m Fine: a podcast for anyone who has ever thought “adulting is hard”. You can find us here (momimfine.vodka) or on iTunes.

And one weekend in March 2018, you could find us in Barcelona. We joked that it was a Mom I’m Fine “off-site” but really, we just all wanted to get out of town.

Jessica and Penny both had thoughts of glorious beaches and sunny sangria. However, the weather did not cooperate. Saturday it was basically raining sideways. We were troopers! We wanted to see the city, so the city we attempted to see! But it was… rough.

What do you do when it’s raining in Barcelona and you’re traveling with two of your best friends? Drink an eat tapas of course! When Penny and I travel, we usually yelp to find good places to eat. From now on, when we travel with Jessica, we’re doing no research at all and letting her choose everything. She hit it out of the park, with every single meal.

For example, the above wine bar. When we walked in they were cleaning up the bottles from last night’s party, and they were genuinely confused why we asked if they were open. Apparently, bottles and boxes amongst the wine is totally normal. Noted.

Penny told us to “act natural”, but I’ve never been good at acting. Also, I look exactly like my mother in this photo. As we are all in our early 30s, we’re all facing the “oh my god, I’m turning into my mother”-itis. In this photo in particular, I look exactly like my mom.

For the record, I could do a lot worse than to turn into her, she’s kind of a rockstar. But it is still jarring to realize that not only is the transition going to happen, but it has already occurred. We’re at that stage of our life, it’s already here.

This dog was also tired of the rain, but also, a total trooper.

We did hit up a few Barcelona landmarks, like La Sagrada Familia. It wasn’t as pretty without the light pouring through the stained glass, but it is still breathtaking.

I found this panel in the museum under the cathedral. It is all the colors of stained glass used in the massive and stunning windows upstairs. I love these colors, and can’t stop looking at this photo.

Sunday morning, the rain had abated. The skies were not a lovely shade of blue, but resolutely grey. And Jessica had to leave shortly after noon. So we set off to see another Gaudi masterpiece: Park Guell. We didn’t have time to go into the paid part of the park, so we wandered around the open area. And despite the weather, it was still lovely.

Jessica told me before we left to go to Barcelona that we should aim for 3-5 new potential tinder photos. I think the one above qualifies. Unrelated note: I am not very good at tinder.

My favorite part of Park Guell is the view over the cities. And so we climbed up to the top of the park to get the best view! Which made more opportunities for more potential tinder picks. Penny holds the distinction of the best photographer of the three of us. In fact, almost all of the photos in this blog post are Penny’s.

After Jessica left, Penny and I found the above food emporium. We sat down, and proceeded to drink wine/beer and eat tapas. This went on for hours.

By the time we arrived at the airport I was no longer what the kids call “sober”, and while we were waiting I thought the ground looked like the most comfortable place to be. I think this picture really sums up our weekend in Barcelona. What do you do when you’re traveling and faced with terrible weather? Drink and eat your way across the city having wonderful times with wonderful friends. I’m pretty sure that’s how the saying goes.