It all started one winter evening, when my sister and I decided to leave the crowded university cities and go to our family home in Silesia for the weekend. My mother, extremely happy with our arrival, confessed that for a long time she had been longing to spend a few days with our small family group of women. She approached us with a proposal to go together to some place where we could break away from our daily duties. While she was thinking about regions closer to us, such as the Polish mountains or the sea, my sister and I dreamed much further… And that’s how I bought tickets to Barcelona for all three of us! As you can easily see – if I really care about something, organization is just a matter of a few clicks. When it comes to traveling, I don’t need any additional encouragement 🙂
This is how our dream trip to the capital of Catalonia became a reality! If you are curious about the places we visited and what our experiences were like, please read on <3
Plane travel and first moments in the city
We are incredibly lucky that Poland is so well connected to Barcelona, so buying plane tickets was not a major problem for us. Our departure from Krakow was scheduled for early morning – at sunrise we were checked in and ready for the flight (with the obligatory coffee in hand, which helped us forget about the lack of sleep, at least for a moment).
The entire journey went smoothly and we managed to arrive in the center of Barcelona before noon. From the first moments spent in this city, I felt great joy. Culture and language that I learned so much about during my studies, in a real and tangible form! Few things gave me as much satisfaction as the fact that a part of the world that I had previously only explored during theoretical classes welcomed me so warmly and sunny, showing me further fascinating aspects.
Barcelona is not… Spain?
The fact that I called this post “first meeting with Catalonia” may be misleading for some. Without the knowledge I gained in the academic year preceding my departure to the Iberian Peninsula, I would have felt a bit lost in the realities of Barcelona.
Spain, to a much greater extent than Poland, is divided into parts – the so-called Comunidades Autónomas. Even though they all make up Spain, they have their own traditions, stereotypes and even a separate language! One of these parts is Catalonia – a region in the north of Spain, where, in addition to Spanish, the Catalan language is used, which has a slightly different sound. While walking the streets of the city, you can notice that many announcements, election posters and information are in Catalan! To my surprise, this language and specific Catalan customs (such as the famous castells, i.e. building towers several meters high with people) are not only a “part” of the local reality, but its main, inseparable bond. Catalans, feeling their separateness from the rest of the country, are still considering becoming independent from Spain, but in practice it is not so easy…
Places we have visited
BBarcelona is known as a city full of monuments and charming nooks and crannies. As our stay lasted only 4 days, we didn’t manage to see everything, but at least some of the most interesting points 🙂 Below are some of the places we managed to visit. I hope this list will inspire you to plan your own trip!
- La Rambla
The main pedestrian street of Barcelona, located in the Barri Gòtic district. Visited by hundreds of tourists every day, it is full of life with stalls, cafes and restaurants. We were lucky to visit Barcelona in the first half of May, when the traffic is not so heavy yet. If you are not a fan of big crowds, I recommend going there in the morning, when there are not so many tourists.
La Rambla is certainly a good place to buy souvenirs, but they may not be at the lowest prices. In the evening, the promenade becomes even more lively – you can see performances by artists, loud music and the well-known Spanish “fiesta” 😊
2. Mercat de la Boqueria
A characteristic place on the map of Barcelona, located near the above-mentioned “La Rambla” promenade. It is a huge covered market with lots of different types of stalls. Every day it attracts tourists who want to try local specialties. In this unique place you can buy seafood, meat, sweets, vegetables and fruit – everyone will certainly find something for themselves! Even if the topic of food doesn’t sound tempting to you, I think it’s still worth going there. The exoticism and unusualness of the products available there made me fall in love with this place <3
3. Park Güell
Certainly one of the most recognizable places in Spain. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this fairy-tale park is a must-see on any trip to Barcelona! Designed by Antonio Gaudí (1852-1926), it delights with its extensive range of colors, shapes and uniqueness.
However, it must be emphasized that walking through the streets and discovering its nooks and crannies takes several hours. If you have the opportunity to set aside a whole day to explore it, take advantage of it! We (due to a busy schedule of many other interesting activities) spent about 4 hours there, but if I could, I would have stayed longer <3
4. Sagrada Familia
A phenomenal place that cannot be described in words! The basilica rising above the city is another of Antonio Gaudí’s works. We got there at the last moment, buying 3 of the tickets that were running out for that day. Before coming to Barcelona, I had heard a lot of good opinions about this place, but the moment of standing inside in person and the wave of experiences that flooded me then was something that was beyond my wildest expectations! The facade full of details and history and the interior where the light refracts gave me the feeling that this building was a piece of Heaven, something absolutely out of this world. No description compares to personal experience, so I wholeheartedly encourage you to visit the basilica!
5. Montjuïc Hill
A less known attraction, but still very interesting and worth seeing! A small hill in the southwestern part of the city can be climbed traditionally on foot or reached by taking a cable car. We decided on the second option 🙂 From the top you can admire a beautiful view of Barcelona and the port at the foot of the hill. Also worth seeing is the Castell de Montjuïccastle, built in the 17th century. For those interested, it is possible to go inside, but we decided to walk around the building and enjoy the seaside views 😀 Montjuïc is the perfect place to escape the crowds of the old town and see Barcelona from a slightly different perspective 🙂
Food
As I mentioned earlier, you can have amazing culinary experiences in Barcelona! One of the goals of our trip was to try as many Spanish and Catalan dishes as possible 🙂 The cuisine of the Iberian Peninsula is famous for its seafood and meat, but vegetarians also have plenty to choose from! Below are some of my best-remembered delicacies:
Churros con chocolate
This Spanish delicacy is becoming more and more recognizable in other countries. Oblong “donuts” fried in oil, served with hot chocolate. Totally worth it 🙂
Paella
A traditional dish from Valencia. The main ingredient is rice with saffron, served in a characteristic round pan with two handles. The most common additions are seafood, meat or vegetables. Fingers lickin’ good!
Ensaïmada
A snail-shaped pastry originating from the Balearic Islands, often filled with cabell d’àngel – a type of jam used in many Catalan pastries. You can get it in many local bakeries.
Sangria
I don’t think I need to explain to anyone what it is 🙂 We drank it by the beach in Barcelona at sunset – the most atmospheric option 🙂
Crema catalana (ice cream)
This is a traditional Catalan dessert, very similar to the French crème brûlée. We didn’t get to try its “classic” version, but we did taste ice cream with this flavor – delicious!
Fruit bought at La Boqueria
As I wrote earlier, the La Boqueria market is an amazing place where you can buy fresh fruit that attracts with its colors and aroma. Perfect for cooling down in the heat typical of Spain 😈
Summary
The trip to Barcelona was my first contact with Spanish and Catalan culture. Walking through the streets, lying on the beach or listening to the melodic mix of other languages, I felt again how much traveling means to me. Nothing teaches you about the world better than personal contact with a different mentality and approach to life. Even though we only spent a few days in Barcelona, it was enough time for me to catch my breath and escape from Polish reality for a moment. Touched by the sun and inspired, I returned to Spanish language and culture classes with a completely different attitude. And I am extremely grateful for it!
I hope today’s post will inspire you to save up and plan your own trip to this beautiful city. If you have already been there, share your impressions and recommendations in the comment section- it will certainly be a beautiful addition to my thoughts! <3
With love,
Kasia
