Spain 🇪🇸 Barcelona

Barcelona was our final stop on this three month adventure before making our way back to America. This was our second time visiting here so we had no sighting seeing plans. I was on a mission to get olive oil and a few other items that we needed.  

What did we do? 

We ventured out to Mercat de la Boqueria.

We celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary at Speakeasy. Our little escapade started with us entering through a "secret door" and you needed to provide a password before you were allowed to enter. We were then snuck through the kitchen into a cozy restaurant with walls full of alcohol.

When we arrived we had the place to ourselves. 

We were excited to begin our culinary adventure. 

Pisco Sour

Smoked Salmon with whipped
cream cheese

Fresh Fish Ceviche
Sea bass, coconut cream, red onion,
mango 🥭, avocado 🥑, & cilantro

Mushrooms & Prawn Ravioli
with a parmesan cream sauce

Salmon Tartare with mango 🥭,
guacamole & herring caviar

Grilled croaker with piquillo 
pepper broth & mushroom ragout

For dessert we chose martinis.

Espresso 

Vodka

We also received this little tray.
Local cookie with honey
Almonds covered with a
Cardamom & lime cream  

A very cool spot and unique experience.

Where did we eat?

We had Lounge access which included breakfast, cold hors d'oeuvres, beverages including alcohol 🍸. In the evenings from 5-7 hot hors d'oeuvres are served.

Our friends Kelvin & Mary

Where did we stay? 

This was our second time staying at the InterContinental Barcelona by IHG. This visit we had the exact same room setup but our checkin was not as royal as our first visit (there was a conference being held).

Rooftop View

How did we get there? 

We drove to the Montpellier Sud de France train station where we returned our rental car. 

When we arrived the station was really empty and looked extremely new. We had an hour wait until our train arrived and then 3 1/2 hour ride to Barcelona-Sants.

A little scenery

When did we visit?

Barcelona 4  - 8 November, 2025

Every European City

"Dans le voyage, il n’y a pas de certitude, seulement de l’aventure.” 

“When you are traveling, there is no certainty, only the adventure.”

France 🇫🇷 - Millau & Montpellier

Millau is a town in southern France where dramatic limestone plateaus meet a lively historic center. Known for its world‑famous Millau Viaduct rising above the valley. 

Montpellier is a vibrant, historic city in southern France, near the Mediterranean Sea.

What did we do?

Millau

Viaduc de Millau is the world’s tallest cable-stayed bridge, designed by Norman Foster.  

It spans 2.4 km across the Tarn Valley. It’s a breathtaking sight and a modern icon of France. We drove under it because it didn't seem worth the expense to drive across it.

Eglise Saint-Julien

We took a day trip to Roquefort Société cheese cave. We arrived just when a tour had started and we were able to join the group. There was one small problem... the tour was in French. Our tour guide must have seen the blank look on our faces when she was talking and pulled us aside and asked (in English) if we understand what she was saying. Of couse we did not but she offered to answer any questions that we might have during the tour.

We started our tour with a video of how the whole process works.

Three short clips of the video: Spoiler alert, they are in French with English subtitles.

One of the best parts of the tour were the caves.

The other best part was the tastings.

Laundry day was interesting. The 'laundromat' was located right near the entrance within a mall and was fairly new and very open to passers-by. People would come over, look around and then starting talking to me in French. I gave them my 'confused look' since I had no clue what they were saying. So would speak English. Others would simply smile and walk away. It was a very nice facility.

There was a nice path that went along the Tarn River. We also followed the whiteheads around the little neighborhood. (See below to what the 'whiteheads' looked like.)

The whole reason we chose Montpellier was to catch a train to our next destination. We took a lovely walk along the Lez riverfront.

Where did we eat?

Millau:

Château de Creissels - The Castle

There was a restaurant in the basement of the castle we stayed in. You had the option to get a starter, main and a dessert. Rob chose to go with all three and we split the starter and the dessert. Dinner was also served with a mousse and a sorbet. It was a perfect portion for us. 

Really nice ambiance!

We paired our dinner with a red wine from Abbaye Sylva PlanaLa Closeraie Faugéres 2023.

Roquefort mousse with grain sticks.
Every dinner started with a different 
mousse.

Goat cheese mousse with hazelnuts

Stuffed cabbage with vegetables & soy

Pollock Filet with parsnip puree

Pumpkin sorbet with hazelnut crust

Lemon meringue tart.
Wow! This was fantastic!

Our next dinner we paired with a Mas Gourdou red wine from Pic-Saint-Loup, France.

Flambéed shrimp with fish foam

Chicken

Lemon meringue tart (again!)

The Maitre D' offered to have a special steak dinner prepared for us our last evening. We politely declined since we had not really enjoyed the beef in Europe. I think he was a little insulted and Rob told him we didn't eat red meat. He seemed to buy that excuse. Our dinner was paired with the Mas Gourdou red wine from Pic-Saint-Loup, France, again. 

Stuffed cabbage with vegetables & soy

Pollock Filet with parsnip puree

Lemon meringue tart

The menu selection was limited and we did not mind getting the same entree more than once. In fact, this was their slow season and the hotel and restaurant were getting ready to close for the winter season. Glad we timed that right!  

Montpelier

Kitchen & Bar at Courtyard

Where did we stay?

Millau: Château de Creissels - this was an old castle and really a cool place to stay.

Our balcony 

The Château was closing for the winter the week after we left and does not open back up until March.

Montpellier: Courtyard by Marriott

How did we get there?

The best part of Millau was the drive 🚗 to get there. It was a beautiful day for a ride with great views and a winding road.  

We made a very quick stop at the base of Puy Mary. It was chilly and very windy before heading to our final destination.

We had a short 2 hoir drive to Montpellier.

When did we visit?

Millau 31 October - 3 November, 2025

Montpellier 3 - 4 November, 2025

According to little Ms. Google, in October, we only traveled 785 miles by driving, walking, trains, & taxi's. However, we did spend the entire month in one country, France.

We absolutely loved France and cannot wait to return to see the rest of the country. There were places we would have enjoyed staying longer and there were places that only needed 1 or 2 days. Everyone we met was friendly and tried their best to communicate with us in English. The wine, bread and croissants were amazing. 

“ Voyager c’est découvrir que tout le monde se trompe sur les autres pays.” 

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.”