My Vacation: Blogger Gets Inspired in Barcelona

Deborah Boland lives in Toronto and is the former executive producer and star of HGTV Canada's gardening and outdoor living series, Backyard Pleasures. These days, she's a fashion blogger at Fabulous After 40, a site dedicated to helping women find their style at midlife.

Last summer, Boland and her family took a trip to Barcelona, Spain, where she fell in love with the magical garden city known as Park Guell. She shares this report.

Best memory (above): Park Guell is truly an inspiring spot that's unlike anything I've ever seen. It dates back to 1900 when Eusebi Guell bought the hillside property to build a garden city for the wealthy and commissioned artist Antoni Gaudi to create the artwork. With its super imaginative buildings and stunning mosaics, it is definitely one of Barcelona's top three places to see. Don't miss it.

Best moment (above): My kids loved the two Hansel-and-Gretel-style gatehouses. They had a Dr. Seuss feel.

Don't miss (above): I especially loved the whimsical gold stone caves and the statue of the lady with the fruit basket. She was beautiful. I wanted to take her home and put her in my garden.

Best tip: Take water wherever you go. Barcelona in the summer is like an oven.

Best meal: An incredible potato frittata. Potatoes never tasted so good. Yum!

My Vacation is an occasional series featuring photo essays by SecondAct readers. Do you have a great travel photo you'd like to share? Submit it to travel[at]secondact.com.

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