Barcelona was the first stop on my Spring Break 2020 adventure. All I had was my protruding backpack, my amazing friends, and my cheerful attitude to carry me through this journey. It made the most sense for us to begin our trip in Barcelona because of where we were headed next. But more on that on a later note.
Unlike my friends that were on the trip with me, I had a personal tour guide to show me all the neat things to see and do in Barcelona. She happened to also be a close friend from college, who was studying abroad in Barcelona. Furthermore, she graciously opened her room and schedule up for me during the short three days I was there.
Let's dive into a few staple places to see:
Catalunya Square is the main hub for shopping centers and restaurants. It is here that you will find brands and food chains that transport you back to America; Dunkin Donuts, Urban Outfitters, and Apple were just a few places that caught my attention.
La Boqueria is a must see and is located right off of Catalunya Square. This market has some of the most amazing fresh fruit selections I have ever seen in my entire life. Not to mention that they also have some of the greatest prices for fresh fruit as well. Intertwined with the market is also the meat curators and seafood vendors. I personally do not eat meat, so unfortunately I am unable to provide you with a rating. However, I do eat seafood and the oysters that I shared with a friend were mm-mm-good! Not only are there vendors, there are also small restaurants that offer high top seating and grab-and-go meals. I definitely recommend going to this market if you're craving some local snacks on a budget.
Unfortunately, I did not go into Park Güell due to the extensive construction happening. Nevertheless, if you have the chance to enter the park, you definitely should cough up the 10 euros to see the intricate mosaic art up close and personal.
Barcelona's most visited attraction, despite it not being completed, is the Sagrada Família. Construction for this gargantuan building began in 1882, which will be perpetuated into 2026. It was originally designed and envisioned by Francisco de Paula del Villar, but eventually Antoni Gaudí assumed the role of project designer for his "church of the future". You are able to tour the inside of the massive structure, but it costs 20€ for adults and 18€ if you are a student. I chose not to go inside because I wanted to admire the outside beauty in all its glory whilst in the sun. If you crave a view that is a bit higher than ground level, check out Skybar Ayre or Ayre Hoteles for a picturesque scene. In order to go up and take in the scenery though, you must purchase a drink downstairs.
I highly recommend going to The Bunkers to see the gorgeous sunset over the entire city of Barcelona. Here you will find many study abroad students, as well as local people, gathering for a drink and some laughter. It is not very easy to get there due to the near vertical climb up some hills, but there are a few shuttles you can track down to get you through a majority of it. That being said, I would also recommend that you start your trek a bit earlier than you would anticipate sundown being because spaces fill up quickly. My friend and I were able to bunker down in a little area and watch as the city and sky shifted from cool to warm hues.
Barcelona is well-known for two meals: tapas and paella. Tapas are essentially just small portioned dishes that can be eaten as an appetizer, meal, or snack. These dishes were invented so that an individual or group is able to sample an assortment of local dishes, without breaking the bank. I was able to taste a few of their tapas, but my favorites were patates braves and tàrtar de salmó i alvocat amb maionesa de wasabi (pictured below).
One of the most well known tapas restaurants is Tapa Tapa because of their various locations, as well as their wide variety of options.
Paella is to die for. Paella is typically served in a large dish that can feed 2-4 people, depending on the portion at the restaurant. In most restaurants, paella is a rice mixture served with the choice of either meats or seafood. I was able to try an authentic seafood paella dish at a local restaurant with a friend and we could barely finish one dish!
All in all, I would call this first pit stop in my 3-country journey a success! I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Barcelona with my friend. It was very interesting to compare how she has been living in Barcelona for the past two months with how I have been living in Antibes. There were a lot of similarities in the sense that we were both making new friends, traveling a lot, and establishing a new home. But one drastic difference that I have to take note of is the price of transportation. It is practically free to get around Antibes and it only costs a few euros to travel to neighboring cities. However Barcelona is more like New York City or Boston, in which you have to buy a ticket every time you wish to go somewhere. My friend had an four month pass that was a one time fee because she had to use the metro for everyday use. I, on the other hand, chose to buy the 10 swipe pass because it was cheaper than buying a single ticket every time we wanted to go somewhere. There are benefits to living in a small town like Antibes or a large city like Barcelona, but there are drawbacks to both. This is definitely something to consider when choosing a location to study abroad in because the city life may not be for you. With all that being said, it's time to move onto my next location for Spring Break: Morocco. Thanks for having me Spain!
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