Travel Talk

Barcelona, Spain is a Seriously Cool City

August 4, 2014July 11, 2022 by SHABL

sagrada_familia_barcelona

Greetings,

I’m writing this from around the corner of the Sagrada Familia, where I picked up an apartment for the last few nights; solid spot. I’m just getting acquainted with this beautiful lady of a city called Barcelona, and all I can really say is that, well, she’s cool. I have merely scratched the surface of what it’s like here, but I like it a lot. When I first got here, my batteries were on that blinking light from a wild time in Belgrade, but now that I’m back in the green, everything is rolling full steam, and so glad I finally made it to Barcelona…

la_rambla_barcelona

I’ve been doing a mix of this, and that with lots of seriously long sunny sidewalk strolls. When you’re on a roll, it doesn’t really matter where you go because wherever you end up is somehow where you were meant to be, yes? On these random strolls, I’ve found myself by the beach, La Rambla, Barcelona Cathedral, in the gothic quarter, at the Sagrada Familia, and even made a trip up to get an eagle-eye view of this fine city from Park Guell. That Gaudi was a real genius, and I spent the day today just strolling around. I can see why people fall in love with this place; it’s quite easy to do. You can do Barcelona in a day or spend a few weeks. It’s one of those cities that will keep you coming back regardless.

park_guell_barcelona

I will mention that the subway to Barceloneta, which is the stop by the beach, is utter madness, and I’ve learned firsthand what it’s like to be a sardine in a tin. I will mention that you should watch your stuff and it’s not that I feel this city is dangerous, it’s just there is so much going on with so many people from all around the world staring at the sights that it’s no surprise stuff goes missing from time to time. It’s simple math, and one could also say, “welcome to the big city.” Sights aside which I’ve only seen a sliver of, this place is just cool.

barcelona_beach

I’ve been lost, I’ve asked questions, and I’ve had chats with randoms on the streets; everyone, for the most part, was beyond hospitable, helpful, and happy. The vibe here is contagious, and as I’ve mentioned before and will do again, I’ve only tasted this city ever so slightly. What a predicament I find myself in now as I’ve got an ambitious plan of sorts to see more of Spain but quite happy just hanging out here in Barcelona. If you like ham, you’re in heaven as I’ve never seen so much. The tapas on countless street corners are delicious, and this place is also quite reasonably priced for such an international city on the beach…

view_barcelona_park_guell

Tomorrow I have to check out of my pad, and I’m torn as to what I’m going to do. I do believe the only reasonable thing to do is take a bus to Andorra for a few days to hang out in the Pyrenees before returning for another day or so and heading south. I wanted to make it here in 2010 when I was riding the rails, but sadly, the connection I wanted was full, and as a result, I never made it. That said, had I made it, I wouldn’t have enjoyed the last two days here with my current mindset, which is clearly different than it ever could have been four years ago and a little clearer, might I add.

park_guell_gaudi_barcelona

I always say it’s important to live somewhere inspiring if you work for yourself and this city most certainly is. Barcelona is cool, and if I didn’t have a flight to Rome from Valencia on the second of September, perhaps I’d look into apartments.

Generally, visitors staying for a few weeks or more would benefit from the many apart-hotels and apartments in Barcelona. They’re often more economical than daily rentals.

Unlike other types of accommodation, staying in apart-hotels and apartments while in Barcelona has several advantages. For one, they provide the necessary comforts to make you feel at home. From separate living and sleeping areas to various pieces of entertainment equipment, you have everything you need to keep yourself comfortable throughout your stay.

If you’re planning to stay a little longer, apart-hotels and apartments with fully-equipped kitchens can be great for your food or diet requirements. They also have full amenities and facilities you can use while getting the most out of your stay in Barcelona. For example, if you want to relax, you can enjoy an in-house fitness center, swimming pools, spas, and even a retreat space for meditation and relaxation.

When it comes to security, staying in apart-hotels and apartments can also give you peace of mind knowing you’re safe. They’re equipped with advanced security systems, round-the-clock staff, and guards to secure the area. Lastly, the best thing about these spaces is that they can offer you the privacy and freedom you need while traveling in Barcelona. Whether you want to sleep, play, or work, you can do whatever you want without any fear of getting disturbed or disturbing anyone else.

That said when seeking out asylums to spend time and get down to business; you can always come back without worrying about your accommodation. Also, Barcelona is beyond easy to get to with most major airlines, and yeah, thrilled I made it. If the whole world is one big school, and you’ve hung with lots of its students, you always appreciate coming somewhere new and meeting a city that’s cool.

architecture_barcelona