Beautiful Barcelona

Categories Barcelona

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So, why pick up and move to Barcelona? If you’ve ever been to this city you might understand, theres some indescribable magical element about this city. Me and a friend have joked it’s something about being surrounded by beautiful mountains on one side and the Mediterranean sea on the other. (see the picture above for reference) The first time I experienced Barcelona, I knew this was a place that I was going to come back to. I had this unexplainable pull to the city, I still don’t even know what it was about this place that just felt like home to me..instantly.

Barcelona is so wonderful, filled with history, culture and so much energy. I feel so lucky to have been able to live in a city like Barcelona.

As I mentioned there is something magical about a city that has the sea on one side and mountains on the other…You can go take a walk up a mountain or you can go take a walk along the beach, whatever you wake up feeling like doing, it’s there. Or you can sit on the beach and stare at the mountains… Not to mention that both the mountains and the beaches are so breathtakingly beautiful.The sunsets are incredible, so bright, colorful and they seemingly get better each day.

Then there’s the old part of the city, you turn a corner and can walk past an incredibly old yet beautiful building, filled with so much history and so many stories. There are so many new places to explore, and even the places that I have already explored I always found myself returning to. It’s no surprise that I’m a city person, I need the energy and life of a city. I get bored easily, I need all the endless options the city has to offer, the constant stimulation. And Barcelona certain does not lack in that at all. Any type of cafe, restaurant, bar, club, store, anything, you have countless options here in Barcelona. I love this city and it certainly felt like home to me…but it also makes me happy to know that I can make such a foreign city feel like home so quickly.

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from parc guell – overlooking the whole city

What led me here… 

My first trip to Barcelona was in January 2014, during my senior year of college for a study abroad program. It was one stop on the 6 week trip, traveling through Spain, only 6 days spent in this city..but wow those 6 days made such an impact on me. Before coming on the trip I had toyed with the idea of one day living in Spain… it was just something that never felt like it would be a reality. Kind of like a thing when you’re 5 years old and say you’re gonna be a pop star like Britney Spears when you grow up. Something that seems like it would be great, but would never realistically happen. Soo the idea of living in Spain was somewhere in the back of my mind during my trip, but never fully as a realistic thought. I came to Barcelona, and it was just game over. I knew that there was something about this city that was soooooo so right for me. Well, maybe it didn’t help that I was also very sick and delirious and had no clue what even was going on.. but I think that might have added to it, being so sick and having that negative experience yet feeling so good about this place.

On my return home I was discussing with Maggie how awesome this place was. Well ironically enough, she had been researching teaching abroad, specifically in Spain. She mentioned a program that she saw in Barcelona. I thought to myself this is it, not only do I get to go back to Barcelona… but I could go and live there for a year. That sounded magical, ideal and just utterly perfect to me. So we both applied to the program, got accepted and bought our one way tickets to Barcelona. Yes a one way ticket. When I was clicking purchase the amount of emotions that I experienced were all over the map.

I had the ticket, I had the plan, and yet it still didn’t feel like it was really happening. I packed all the  things I thought I could possibly need into 2 big suitcases, and even as I was packing a years worth of clothes it didn’t feel real. As I said goodbye to all of my friends, it still didn’t feel real. As I said goodbye to my mom in the airport, it STILL did not feel real. Even on the plane, still had not hit me yet. Not until I stepped off the plane and into my magical city did it really hit me and feel real.

Attached are some of my favorite photos of Barcelona.. Sometime soon I will write more about specific parts of Barcelona.. stay tuned..

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Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalyuna – Plaza Espanya
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Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau – it’s not a hospital anymore… just a beautiful cultural center .

48 thoughts on “Beautiful Barcelona

  1. I’m currently planning to travel around Europe for next year, and i was planning to spend a day in Barcelona BUT NOW i think i need to add more days for Barcelona 🙂

  2. Hello there. I certainly agree, Barcelona is a marvelous city. My wife and I made the trip several years ago and can’t wait to get back. We also visited Madrid after Barcelona. We found the people of Spain to be marvelous. Very accommodating. Love your web site and I certainly will be a follower. Take care. Bob

    1. Thanks for checking my page out Bob! Spain is one of my absolute favorite places to travel. From the people, to the food, to the culture and everything in between. Be sure to check back because I will DEFINITELY be writing more about Spain 🙂 Thanks again for checking out my blog!

  3. Beautiful city! Glad you just went for it. As many times as I’ve been to Spain, and I used to live there for 3 months, I have yet to make it to Barcelona! Hoping to see what you see in the near future.

  4. I totally get you – felt the exact same way when I first touched down in Lisbon. I just knew this was my city!
    On another hand, I didn’t really enjoy Barcelona when I visited it some years ago. It was my first (and only) solo trip and I was feeling unsafe constantly, so I just couldn’t wait to leave and go back home. Funny enough, every time I mention it, I hear a voice inside my head, telling me that I should probably give it another shot… And this blog post just convinced me that I surely do!
    Thank you!

  5. I still can’t believe I’ve never been! My roommate is heading over to Barcelona next month and I’m so jealous. Gotta get over to Spain soon! Loved all your beautiful photos!

  6. Sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun in Barcelona! I’ll be honest and admit that I have thought about moving to Spain too! Of course, it was after my school trip there. Live in a coastal city, own a cutesy little shop. Life would be perfect! 🙂

  7. So beautiful! There’s something so cool and (at the risk of sounding totally cliche) freeing about booking a one way ticket to a foreign place. It definitely takes courage but it always seems to pay off!

  8. I’ve never been but it has always been on my list! Spain looks so beautiful and would love to visit one day. Looking forward to your next detailed post on Barcelona! 🙂

  9. I always had this thing about the spanish culture. I feel so close to it that’s fascinating and scaring at the same time. Also, I know the feeling of a home that is not your own country anymore. It happened to me when I visited Germany. Hopefully, I get to visit Barcelona, and when I do that, I’d love to hear your recommendations!

  10. It’s amazing that you got to realise your dream of living in Barcelona. Well done! I adore the city too but I think I would want to live in Valencia one day. Did you visit?

  11. I’ve been to Barcelona twice and still looking forward to come again soon! I was toying at the idea of working there since last year… just finding the right moment now…

  12. I’ve been to Barcelona before. And I really love the works of Gaudi. And how they preserved it. It’s really amazing. Especially the La Sagrada Familia. Great pictures!

  13. Beautiful! My girlfriend and I are looking for an interesting place to travel this summer and this might actually make the list. Sending to her now to see what she thinks 🙂

  14. Yes Barcelona is great, it seems everyone loves to visit that city. Some say that it is becoming way too overcrowded with tourists especially during the season, but I would go back there again anyway when doing a tour of Spain and France by the sea.

  15. You have completely sold me on Barcelona. Well, maybe not only you but I have seen some amazing pictures of that beautiful city and you definitely just reminded me of why it is on my list of must see places in the world.

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