Barcelona, Spain - Week 1 Thoughts

---

It really hasn’t hit me that I’m in Barcelona for an entire 5 weeks. I’m doing more than just visiting as a tourist, I’m living as a local. But not only that, I’m living as a local in one of the most famous cities in the world. Everything and I mean e v e r y t h i n g about Barcelona is beautiful and to be given the opportunity to live here on my own has been nothing short of a dream come true.

Most people I’ve met in this program are all here for the same reasons — to have fun, drink, and party ‘till the sun comes up (Literally. You won’t find ONE club that closes before 6am) and while all this is nice, what I found most rewarding from being here thus far is simply living here. Don’t get me wrong. The nightlife is LIVE. Barcelona is known for having some of the best clubs in the world, most of which are located right on the beach overseeing the Mediterranean Sea. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of it? I’m even guilty of it, going out bar hopping and clubbing almost every day since I’ve been here but you can only party so much until it gets old and repetitive, especially when it’s the same places every day of every week. It’s been less than two weeks and I’m already tired of it. Imagine a month of partying like this? The Barcelona nightlife is extraordinary and something everyone should experience but Barcelona is more than just its crazy party scene.

There’s just so much to take in when you first arrive.

The culture in itself leaves me in awe — Before coming here I had no idea what Catalonia was, let alone Barcelona being the capital of the Catalan community in Spain. A community that doesn’t even want to associate itself with the Spanish country at all. A community that has even been oppressed by the rest of the Spanish country until just a half a century ago. This Spanish/French infused culture has an amazingly rich history of nationalism, represented in its unique catalan dialect, food, and artwork. There’s not one part of the city where a Catalan flag isn’t hanging on a balcony and not one Barcelona local that doesn’t pride themselves on their Catalan identity.

And the size of the city — Barcelona is such a large city divided into 10 separate districts with their own architectural style, residents, and attractions that make each of them so unique from the other and they’re all a walk or metro ride away. There’s always something to do, in any part of the city you find yourself getting lost in. You have the tourist “hot spots” — Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Barcelonita, and Castle Montjuic, and my personal favorite: Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (the view is stunning) that make you appreciate the unique architecture and natural scenery that make up the city but then you have streets like Catalunya, the Gothic Quarter, and Las Ramblas known for their lively streets filled with — Tapa restaurants on every street corner, always offering savory dishes like croquetas and patatas with Sangria for less than 5€ a glass. Cafes offering freshly brewed coffee and a place where I can get lost in my writing. Bakeries such as Xocoa that are known for their Spain’s famous churros con chocolate. Farmer markets where I can find the best smoothies for only 1€, worth the metro trip despite all the pickpockets. Hidden alleys that give you a glimpse into their culture, without all the tourists crowding the areas. And did I mention? This metropolitan city is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, all you need is to take the metro all the way down the end of the city. There are so many aspects of Barcelona that make it such a gem to live in.

Look at me.

Only 8 days into my study abroad program and I’m already dreading the day I have to leave.