Museums shouldn't be so high!

Our first stop on the first full day in Barcelona was Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar, and we were pleasantly surprised to find a daily Mass starting in one of the side chapels shortly after we arrived.  It was a perfect way to begin our day together as a family.  The church was beautiful and the little boys loved the courtyard with a protected duck pond in it.  I bought a unique silver scapular (which I know is not like the real deal but I liked it) and Drew found a smaller brown scapular that he wanted to buy.  Unfortunately, it broke within the hour and now is awaiting Mommy's sewing skills to sew it back together and reinforce it.  

Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar

Duck Pond in Courtyard

After leaving the church, we passed a taco place that sounded delicious, so we stopped to eat there.  It was similar in style to a Chipotle, but very different flavors.  Then we hit the metro and rode over to the Museu Nacional d'Art Catalunya.  It was beautiful looking up at it when we came out of the metro, but it was a lot of stairs to get up there.  We were almost at the top when we came to a spot with a cafe.  We were all so hot and thirsty by then that we sat and had water, and Brian and I had a Sangria.

Exhausted at the top!

Brian commented that there is just something about museums that makes you tired, but I think this one takes the cake since we entered exhausted, hot, and sweaty.  We looked at the Medieval art section first, followed by a trip to the rooftop (as if we hadn't gone high enough,) skipped the modern art, and skimmed the altarpieces section. 

Hannah liked this painting of the Nativity.

On the Roof

By the time we came back down they had turned on the waterfall and the fountains.

See how amazing the view of it is from the bottom!

That night we got the kids doner kebabs and Brian and I were back out for tapas and a real dinner to follow.  Too. Much. Food.  Brian got Paella and I got traditional local dish that was similar to the Italian manicotti.