Back a few years ago when I was living in Salamanca, my parents came to visit me over the holidays. While they were here I made my one and only trip (so far) to Barcelona. I don’t know what it was about Barcelona (the long lines, losing expensive tickets, getting pickpocketed or taking forever to get around) but my memory of it is not that great. Also nowadays in Spain, Barcelona almost has an air of not being “in Spain” around it, being so different from other cities around the Peninsula. I know I need to give it another chance, which I will do in September when I go the TBEX conference in Girona.
My fondest memory of being in Barcelona was when we took a day trip outside of the city to Montserrat, a Benedictine Monastery nestled on the cliffs and crags of a jagged mountain. We didn’t have the best weather, but as the rickety cable car climbed up through the clouds, we suddenly emerged in another world. The layer of solid white and gray below us blocked out the rainy countryside below, leaving us with the feeling we could walk on the puffy, cottonball clouds. Slowly the mists crept higher to merge with the clouds above, trapping us in a thick layer of gray, but not before I snapped this photo of the clouds and mountains.
Have you ever been to Barcelona or Montserrat, Spain? What was your impression of it?
About the author
I worked as a nanny in Olesa for 3 months during the summer after my freshman year of high school. It was such a short time, and so long ago, but I will never forget what it is like waking up to that view!
I’m sort of in the opposite boat as you, having live in Bcn now moving to “real spain.” Any tips?
Oh, I am so sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience in Barcelona! Don’t think I need to say I LOVE the city! But now I have not been pick-pocketed or lost expensive tickets either 😉 True that it takes time getting from a to b and there are loads of people in the centre, but all the good bits weigh up for me. I have been to Montserrat too, and it’s magically beautiful! Girona is nice too! And if you can, go to Costa Brava, so so beautiful! (I’d be happy to give tips if you don’t already know the costa!)
I am totally in love with Cataluña 😀
I went to Barcelona for the first time this past May and really enjoyed it, even traveling solo. I took two free “Take Me Out” walking tours (Gothic and Gaudí) where I learned so many interesting details about the buildings and history of the city that I never would have known otherwise. I also really enjoyed walking around Park Montjüic and Park Güell.
Hope you enjoy it the second time around, and beware of pickpockets!
I definitely have to give Barcelona a second chance soon!
I´ve not made it to either – yet. One day. There´s so much I want to do and see just in Spain what about the rest of the world!
I know how you feel!