#3054 Barcelona: level 60 achieved

I am 60 years old!

Last year when I was thinking about retiring from work and about turning 60, I had a brilliant idea that I would like to spend my birthday in my favorite city, Barcelona, and have lunch at my favorite restaurant, Can Culleretes, with my favorite people: MT, T, Mama, and Lizzie.  All of my working life I my birthday has usually been spent in the office closing the monthly books. In 2026, I wanted to celebrate so many things: my retirement, MT's 65th birthday, my 60th birthday, T's first trip to Europe, and being with my people  It seemed like all I could think about because I wanted it so much. There were a few times I didn't think it would work out, but I'm so thankful that it did. I had a really great day! Let me tell you about it.

We started out having breakfast with a view of the Cathedral. There was a busker singing in the plaza with a great voice. The sun was shining through the scattered clouds. The temperature was very pleasant. I had a cafe con leche and a croissant and I felt great.

MT perusing the breakfast menu

Mama and Lizzie arrived shortly after we ordered - they had breakfast at their hotel. The reason we gathered so early was that Lizzie had scheduled a professional photo shoot for us! Did you know you can do that through Viator? 

We met our photographer, Borja, in front of the Cathedral, and for the next 30 - 40 minutes, he took photos of all of us in nearly every combination EXCEPT with Mama and Lizzie together. How did we miss that combo? Ugh, so disappointed in missing that opportunity. The photo at the top of this post is one that Borja took. I think it turned out okay, although it felt incredibly awkward. I was even mouthing those words as he was snapping the photos. Here are some of the pics we chose:

I love this one even though (or maybe because) I'm tucked away

Lizzie and I are supposed to be kissing Mama, I was cracking up!

father and son posing for their boy-band album cover

Lizzie and I strolling through the Gothic Quarter

another family shot

After photos, we went for lunch at Can Culleretes. Did you know it is the oldest restaurant in Barcelona? They've been in business since 1786. Isn't that incredible?

dreams come true! (photo by Lizzie)

I don't know if I can fully express how delighted I was to be celebrating my birthday at this restaurant with these people. Truly, it was very precious and special for me. I get a little misty-eyed thinking about it now.  The food was great, the service was good, and it was all just really, really wonderful.

I am a lucky, blessed woman

We were all full of delicious Catalan food and a little worn out from smiling for Borja, so after lunch we went to our rooms to rest for a little while. Lizzie texted me after an hour or so and we decided to have art time in their extra hotel room. (It's a weird story, and I'm sure Lizzie will write about it in her blog at some point. For now, just know that Mama and Lizzie had an extra hotel room, so we used it to have art time.) The extra room had a wee balcony that overlooked Via Jaume, so we took this photo, which I love.

could I be any more pleased?

In the evening, the five of us went to Plaza Real to have aperitivo, then MT, T, and I walked to Casa Battlo for a tour. I've never been in the house, and MT was curious to see the inside. If you don't know, Casa Battlo is a house that Gaudi designed for the Battlo family.

exterior of Casa Battlo

MT and I in the first floor room

I'll be honest: I did not love this tour. It was an audio tour, and that part was fine, but there were so many people in the house and I just felt like sheep being herded from room to room. The only rooms we saw were "public" rooms, not anywhere the family lived. The family quarters were on higher floors and you had to pay extra on the spot to have access to those rooms and to the roof where the dragon is. However, none of that was made clear when I was buying the tickets, so I was kind of bummed about it. The architecture is stunning, of course, but I got a lot more enjoyment from seeing Palau Guell the last time I was in Barcelona, and I also really like Gaudi's house in Parque Guell. Take photos of the outside of Casa Battlo, but go to the other places for smaller crowds and equally beautiful architecture. At the house in Parque Guell, you can also see furniture that Gaudi made. 

On the way back to the hotel, I detoured us just a little to see The Kissing Wall. The mural's title is really "El mon neix en cada besada" (The World Begins with Every Kiss.) The mural is created by 4,000 little tiles of individual photos that people sent the artist. Here's a sample:

 It was installed in 2014 by a photographer, Joan Fontcuberta, and a ceramicist, Toni Cumella.

El mon neix en cada besada

I think it is so cool. Can you even imagine putting that together? Fantastic. If you are in Barcelona and want to see it, go to the Cathedral, then turn your back on the Cathedral and make your way down the little street that has the Picasso piece wrapping around the side of the building. You'll pass a little ice cream shop and a cafe and there's the mural. It's just a two minute walk from the Cathedral. 

We got ice cream from that shop we passed - I probably had a scoop of coffee and a scoop of caramel or chocolate. Yum! As we were eating our ice cream, there was singing coming from the area to the right of the Cathedral. There were around a hundred of people singing "Imagine" by John Lennon and other peaceful songs. What a fantastic way to end the day! I will always remember this birthday.

~~~

On Thursday I'll be writing about visiting another house Gaudi designed, Casa Vicens, and about going up to Tibidabo for the views.

xo