Wandering Barcelona, Part I
As my plane crossed over the Pyrenees, which poked brilliantly through the clouds, dusted with snow like powdered sugar, my excitement for my trip to Barcelona began to grow. The plane swooped over the cerulean sea and then landed in colorful, sunny Spain.
My first European adventure while abroad, Barcelona meant a lot to me. I had planned the trip myself, spontaneously to visit my friend Larkin, and now I was touching down in a place I had never been. I descended from the plane into the bright, cheery air of Spain, took a shuttle to the main airport, breezed through customs and immigration and found myself ready to embark on my adventure.
In the subway station, after a brief exchange in broken English with a worker, I bought a ticket to Santa Estacio, the city center, and met up with Larkin.
Barcelona is as bright and colorful as I imagined it to be, with fresh, warm air that makes it feel like summer is on its way. Dancing palm trees pop up all over the city and the buildings look even and painted like a movie set. We started our day at the Arco de Triunfo of Barcelona and then through Parc de la Ciutadella.
The park is as vibrant and energized as the city itself. Along every corner were street performers and vendors. Men with huge vats of bubble mix blew giant iridescent orbs over the sidewalk for children to chase. All around us were palm trees and vivid green spaces. The pastel buildings were especially lovely against the pale blue of the sky. I really do love taking photography that is colorful and rich, and Barcelona was the perfect subject.
In the center of the park was the great fountain, Cascada Monumental, a breathtaking structure which towered over a little pool of water. The pictures hardly do it justice, in real life, it’s hard to believe just how grand and enormous it is. At the top of the cascade of water, Venus stands in an open clam shell, overlooking all the tourists.
We ventured onwards through the park, coming to our lunch destination. Bubar, a little café serving small bites to eat was the perfect place to stop and sip on a couple cortados. This was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip. In short sleeves, beneath the shade of a canopy, we took in the warmth of the city, surrounded by leafy green plants and groups of Spanish speakers. I ordered an empanada. The little flaky pocket of cheese and mushrooms was mouthwatering, and I could’ve had about ten more.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay at the café forever. We ventured out again into the more central Plaça de Catalunya, where there were strips of shops and many more people. It was amazing to me that some were in full winter coats. For the people who live in the city, this is the middle of winter, though to me the air was heavy with summertime.
We did a bit of shopping, and then decided that it was the perfect time for gelato. Once again, we found ourselves sitting in the warm Spanish air, savoring the flavors of the city—this time its sweeter side. The parlor, just like the rest of the city, was comprised of dazzling pastels. Taking our time enjoying our gelato and the sunshine, we finally moved on to visit our last tourist destination of the day.
The Gothic Quarter is the old part of the city. The streets are enchanting and European, filled with history and charm. I especially love the old tiles on the walls. The tiled architecture was a major attraction in Barcelona, especially in Park Güell, which I will be writing about in a future post. I was definitely enamored with the tiles and their pops of color.
Walking down the old streets, I was surprised how much the area reminded me of Italy. While every city and country in Europe is unique, there are also some things they all have in common. The lovely shaded alleys that take you into breathtaking city squares are all variations on a theme, like snowflakes they’re all the same but different. Part of the fun of traveling for me is discovering each city’s personality.
In the central square of the old city was a sweet little market where we browsed for a little while. There were many old treasures, people’s various collections of vintage treasures. There was everything from old pins and postcards to old china and furniture.
We finished our tour for the day outside of the Barcelona Cathedral. The stunning architecture was a nice place to end. Surrounded by the sounds of the market and the towering old buildings, it was truly a little taste of Spain. I even got a photo with one of the locals…
