Knowing I would want to do a post about my little city trip, the big question was of course: what to wear to Barcelona? The temperature for those three days was going to be 25, 28 and 30 degrees Celcius which is very warm for me. Also, high heels (my favourite) were out of the question. Hours of walking is not something you do on high heels. Well… very few of us do. How to look nice on flat shoes with hardly any clothes on?
Light weight, was the answer. And… trusted ballerinas with support soles in them. So I started with the shoes and worked my way up. As we were only to be there for three days, it wasn’t too difficult. The “we” in this story are Lia and me. Lia, being one of my two best friends. We have known eachother since secondary school, from when we were 15/16. She is the best person to go on holiday with. Never, ever a wrong emotion or an argument, or whatever. Just lots and lots of laughter.
Here we go… look for the story in between the photos.
Above: the first photo at the top of the page was made at Casa Battló. More about this marvellous place later. It was taken by a camera on the balcony at the front of the house, being operated from the inside. Cost a fortune, but you got it digitally as well.
Below: starting the first day at Il Caffe di Francesco with delicious coffee and Spanish sweet “cake” (churros).
Below: here is Lia.
Below: OK, mistake… I bought two hats. Judith, the Style Crone inspired me, but hats are no good for me. Just a little bit of wind and I had to grab it (or run after it). And at the end of the day, after sweating like mad underneath that hat, my hair went completely the wrong way. This black and white outfit should be worn with the trousers full length and black high heels, as seen here 
Below: Casa Battló, what can I say? Gaudi, the architect, was a genius in my eyes. Apart from the different way he styled the house, I love him for his clever thinking, like how to air the house, how to let the maids do the laundry at the top floor and dry it in the wind, without rain coming in, how to turn chimneys into art. Especially how he invented new ways to construct things. Really a genius, both technically and artistically.
Below: a light shaft in the middle of the appartment building, created with the same theme: nature and the sea. With darker blue tiles at the top and lighter blue at the bottom. Because the lack of light makes the tiles seem darker at the bottom. With smaller windows at the top (more light, warmer) and larger windows at the bottom (less light). So clever.
Below: grouping the chimneys and putting broken ceramic on them to protect them. That was cheap and clever as you cannot put normal tiles on these round surfaces. 
Below: on the left of the woman in pink and white, you see the top of the light shaft of two photos before.
Below: onto Park Güell, another Gaudi project. Look at the construction above my head
Below: wearing my blue and white striped trousers which you saw last week. This time with a white blouse, red top and red necklace and blue/white ballerinas. The trousers turned out rather moire in this photo. 
Below: part of the park, but you can see better photos if you just google.
Below: the house where Gaudi lived in the Park Güell.
Below: Lia sitting on a bench in a 4D shop, next to a bronze statue of Gaudi. The Sacrada Familia projected in the background.
Below: third outfit: my black and white “jump”suit as you saw two weeks ago at the Amsterdam Maritime Museum. This time with flat ballerinas, red accessories and hat number two.
Below: with the Sacrada Familia in the background
Below: and of course there was tapas… lots and lots of tapas. So nice. Ignore the face…. smiling is not always flattering.
So three outfits and they were all good. Shoes were properly broken in. Most people I saw were wearing shorts. Tourists eh?
Below: as final picture a close-up of me with hat.
Greetje
Thanks for taking us along! I love seeing the travel photos!
Julia
http://www.whenthegirlsrule.com
Thanks for sharing your holiday snaps! Looks like a really interesting trip. I have to say, I would have been wearing shorts in that heat, I would have melted in trousers!! P x
Only the blue/white striped trousers were a bit warmer, the other two are very cool. I have never worn shorts very often when I was young, and I don’t want to start now that I am 60 haha. But each to his own, shorts are just not me, I never feel or felt elegant in them.
Greetje,
Amazing photos of Gaudi park! I love the bit of history too, about his house designs, very practical and an interesting contrast to his very ornamental style!
Love your outfits, and I must confess, I really like the hat on you, especially in that last photo!
XX, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com/
If I can overcome the wind issues (with some sticky tape?) I might actually wear them. Judith (Style Crone) is “selling” me on hats. You should have a look at the one she is wearing this week. Sooooo beautiful.
What a lovely post, you look so stylish today! Keep up the great blog work!
Thank you very much for your comment Greetje 😉
Wishes from Germany,
Alena | meet me stylish
I wasn’t sure whether you wanted a comment from an old woman haha. But then I thought: “a compliment is a compliment, doesn’t matter that I am not her age”.
What a fun post! I had the pleasure of visiting Barcelona in 2005 but had a bad camera and only have a few pics for memories. I just loved the Gothic district.
Yes the Gothic district is nice. I especially loved that street with bead shops, one after another. Must have seen at least 30 bead shops. You would go bananas.
Wow thanks for sharing those magnificent images of Barcelona….happy to see you had a wonderful vacay Greet!!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Sure did Rebecca. And lovely weather too. Apart from the hot days in Barcelona, it was about 21 / 22 degrees Celcius in The Netherlands which is my perfect temperature.
I know it sounds kinda queasy but wearing a hat makes your hair greasy (rhimes:)
any hints! loved the outfits! was it your first time in Barcelona?
i’ve never tried the ballerina with ‘support’ inside either…..
i’m off to Amsterdam tomorrow…Can’t wait!
ttyl and kudos again!
Ah Barbara, you are in my beloved town tomorrow. What fun. Back in the homeland.
I have to say that the hats I have worn this winter and these two off-white ones, did not make my hair greasy. Just when it was hot, made it curl the wrong way.
I buy my ballerinas (preferably a bit wider at the toes) half a size or a whole size larger and put in my support soles to see whether I can still keep them on my feet. Sometimes your feet get too high up for the heel and you slip. If it works, it is great.
Gorgeous pictures and great report. Wonderful to see the closeups of Gaudi’s houses. I have not even visited those inside. I like all three of your outfits and I love you in the black and white outfit with the hat! That first picture was worth paying for; it’s gorgeous.
Hi Sylvia, thanks for the compliments. (Couldn’t resist a peek at my blog but should be in bed by now…).
Spanish light becomes you- Greetje! I love the light in the photos- and wow, Gaudi has such great ideas, what an experience it must have been to see them up close! I love the black and white outfit WITH THE FLAT SHOES. And the hat- so classic and chic. And that houndstooth number- let’s just say I am a big fan. Glad you have a great time in Barcelona, and hello Lia!
What an unexpected pleasure to see your comment Bella. And so appreciative as well. Thank you. Yes Gaudi was quite a clever guy. He just died in a stupid way (got hit by a tram). And “hello Lia” haha…. you won’t see much of her on my blog. We are very much alike but in some ways totally different. And putting your face on the internet is one thing in which we differ. (I asked her permission for the two photos of her in this blog post).
How nice to see Barcelona and Gaudi’s masterpieces again. It’s been sooooo long since I was there! Barcelona is just fab!
You look great too and you totally succeeded to look casual and stylish at the same time, while wearing flats. Well done!
The hats do flatter you, but I understand your problems with wearing hats.
How precious that you and your friend found perfect travel companions in one another; something to cherish!!!
And we do. We are already planning next year. If Ron doesn’t “donate” anymore, we will pay for it ourselves.
Great travel report and a well chose wardrobe. I do so much like Gaudi because it is so coulourful and out of the ordenary. Your hats are great. They look very airy and they flatter you. So for me it was a trip very well spend. I enjoyed your photo’s like always very much. Thanks
You know me… always aim to please hahaha. Thanks for stopping by sweet Marianne.
Greetje, you look fabulous in your hats. The close-up reveals radiance! I love your enthusiasm and the fun that you have with trying something new.
I am especially fascinated by your photos of Barcelona, because I plan to visit in the fall. It will be my first time! Now I can’t wait.
Thank you for sharing with Hat Attack!
You will enjoy Barcelona so much. It never disappoints.
Wow thanks for sharing these pictures of a fabulous Barcelona trip…..HAVE FUN!!!!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
I am already back to work… sigh. But I had a great holiday.
What fab photos! It has been so long since I was last in Barcelona and this really makes me want to go back.
I think you did well with your outfits. I especially like your white and black ensemble at the end which is odd for me since I normally really don’t care for boring none colours. I think it is the great combo of the two.
Also I think you look great in the hat. You’re just not used to seeing yourself wear one. And yes, they can be a pain in the butt with wind or ruining the hair, but it is better than getting sunstroke.
The checked outfit is so chic. Bet you turned heads in that one.
Looks like you had a blast : )
bisous
Suzanne
I did not turn heads haha. And you probably like the last outfit because of the necklace. I got that from Ron when we were in Paris a couple of years ago. I asked the shop manager for a necklace with lots of colour and turned down all his suggestions. Only to finally point at this necklace and say: “I really like that one”. He must have thought: “WOMEN!!”
Greetje, Fabulous job of travel attire! I mean, seriously, you did a fantastic job of choosing classy, comfy and stylish all in one and aslo being able to do this with three different outfits. Impressive, my friend. Believe it or not, I never worry about how fashionably chic I look when I travel, I need to get better at this. I love all three of your outfits and plan to copy them time I travel (probably next week) so thank you for the tips on traveling with style. Love your hat, it looks wonderful and very natural on you. The classic white with black attire = perfection! The blue and white trousers, well, I love this ensemble even better than last weeks. And, you already know how I feel about the checkered outfit (I want that in my closet).
I’ve never been to Barcelona and very much want to, now I know it’s a must. Thank you for sharing a bit of your fun getaway.
There are so many lovely cities in Europe, it is hard to choose. Just do not skip Amsterdam, next time you come over. Please? Pretty please?
Very interesting tour of Barcelona! I have seen the city many years ago, and I have been pleased to see again those places…
I find your outfits lovable, my favourite is the third one which is so nice on you! The hat is beautiful too, ( but me too when come back home from a journey with a new hat wonder what to do with it! ). I like how it suits you and the last photo proves that you are wonderful wearing hats!
Having a dear friend who also likes to visit the same places is a lucky! ( not very common…)
So far so good. Lia and I have been to: Paris, London, Milan, Copenhagen, Rome, Paris (again) and now to Barcelona. I think for next year: Florence, Sienna or Venice?
They are three beautiful cities! And so different each other…
You lucky lady, Gaudi is a genius. Looks like such a fun trip and you look ready for the day in these pictures. You look great in the hats. Sun protection is important. Good pictures too, I love the first one so much. It’s wonderful that you have your friend for traveling adventures like this!
blue hue wonderland
The first one cost me € 12,- haha. Made by a photographer at the Casa Battló. Oh well, they have to make some bucks too.
Stupid thing was I forgot my camera. It was there, on my desk, at home, being checked and prepared…. and forgotten. Fortunately Lia had her camera with her.
I would be laughing myself silly in front of all those tapas too. THAT’s what I call tapas. Gaudi was a genius incorporating those breathtaking swoops and curves into his buildings. I just checked your Maritime Museum post too – I missed it before – because I love this checked suit. Fun, sophisticated. And the hat is very chic. Too bad it was hot but you and Lia look so happy. I’m glad you have such an excellent traveling companion (in addition to Ron of course).
Thanks Melanie. Yes Lia is a great woman. We get along so well. We visit a different city every year. Courtesy of Ron as this is his present (for the past seven years), for my birthday. And I always make a photo album of our trip and have a copy printed for myself and for Lia. As with all this digital photographing you don’t have real life albums anymore. This way we have a nice memory close at hand.
Whom ever told you hats weren’t good for you gave you wrong information. I beg to differ Greetje, you look marvelous in hats!
I envy you and your life. It seems so carefree and relaxed. I hope to have that sponteneity at some point…and the ability to travel often.
The structures are so ornate and unique. The inside of that apartment shaft reminds me of the outside of a cruise ship. How spectacular!
Hats with a large brim are alright with me, but they are the ones that catch the wind…
I was surprised to read that you envy me as you have such a fun life of your own. Yes I am spontaneous (no idea how you got that from my posts), but carefree and relaxed?? Hmmm… I worry a lot too and have a very demanding job with lots of deadlines for 40 hours a week. Like on Facebook, you mostly get to see the fun part of lives on blogs.
GAH! The architecture in Barcelona has got to be some of THE most enchanting in the world, I think. Genius, really! Yes, I really must visit Barcelona! Greetje, I was so interested in the buildings, I had to check back to see your outfits LOL. Stylish, appropriate…very nicely done! You’ve got the long legs to pull off those ballet flats with no style issues! And I love your wide open smile! I’d have that too, enjoying Spanish wine and tapas…especially those yummy potato ones. Forget what they’re called. Lia does look like a fun traveling companion. I see her getting a little flirty with Gaudi there, LOL.
Pattatas I think the potatoe things are called. And yes Barcelona would be a great European city to visit. Check Gaudi out on Google. But they have more: a lot of art and architecture in Barcelona. Loads of fantastic musea.
On the other hand, Rome is great too. And Paris. And Amsterdam. The world is a wonderful place. (Sorry, just had two glasses of champaign.. Haha.)
I love your elegant hat, Greetje! That last photo is brilliant!
My daughter has recently been to Barcelona twice and loves it, unfortunately I have never been there and should put it on my list of places to visit.
Annette | Lady of Style
It is a great town for musea and architecture. You can spend months there. And fashion is there as well of course. Trying to avoid buying anything (other than the hats), I stayed in the middle of the road on shopping streets…. Only to go mad in Amsterdam 3 days later.. Sigh… I never learn.
Looks like you and Lia had a nice get away. The hat looks great on you but I feel the same way about them. I am always sweating underneath and my hair is a hot mess in them all day.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Yes we had a lovely time. As usual. I am not about to give up on hats yet… To be continued.
Oh, I do so love your blog! I feel like I’ve been to Barcelona. Great outfits for travel. But yes, a hat does wreck one’s hair, doesn’t it?
But if the hats stays on your head and you don’t have to take it off as you have a bad hair day anyway, it could work. I got a few tips on how to keep the darn thing stuck to my head (basically: “sticky tape” haha).
I am so glad you enjoy my blog. That is why I do it.
Re hats and bad hair days: Yes, I’m acquiring quite a collection of hats for that very reason. Well, and also because my hair is thinning badly. (I have very recently acquired a hair piece–love, love, love it!–so have that option now as well.) Anyway, I do love my hats and get a gazillion compliments every time I wear one. So happy to see that you’re adopting them, too. Let’s start a Bring Back the Hat movement!
Well… Judith of Style Crone is doing her bit of hat-promotion too. She is the reason I bought them in the first place.
A hair piece can be such a miracle thing. I know, I have seen the results. Rotten luck that your hair is thinning. Sometimes it is a temporary thing. Hope that it is the case with you as well. But you are dealing with it in a great way. My compliments.
Really enjoyed the post! Both of these are similar to looks I wear…and I love your hat. Great pictures.
Now I have to find a way to “make the hat work”. LOL