Hola Barcelona!

People say that once you travel, you're never quite the same and I didn't realise how true that statement is until I arrived at Johannesburg International and felt this wave of surrealism wash over me. Did I really just spend nine, life changing months in Europe? Did I really see all those beautiful cities? This summer I spent my holiday in South Africa after teaching for a few months in Poland. It was great coming home and seeing all my loved ones. Two months flew by and before I knew it I had found a new teaching post in Spain. And this is where my new adventure begins...

The intersection at Universitat Metro

The view on the way
to Park Guell

I started off with a two week trip travelling through the country; not knowing a word of Spanish or anything about the culture itself. Looking back now, I'm surprised at how unprepared I was in moving to a new country, but oh well! All's well that ends well. My first stop was beautiful Barcelona.

Graffiti is permitted only
on the doors of buildings

My first impression of Barcelona, from the airport to the city, was how much I was going to like living in this country, and second; how much the scenery reminded me of home. Spain has this rough wildness about it that looks untouched. I'm not talking about palm trees and sandy beaches, but the desert element that encompasses parts of the land.

It is home to one of the most popular football clubs, FC Barca, as well to the Catalonian community. From Picasso to Gaudi, interesting history to outrageous parties, from beaches to museums; it seems that this famous city has it all. Lonely Planet dubbed it "a mix of sunny Meditteranean charm and European urban style", which seems to fit this metropolis quite aptly.

There are so many amazing sights in this city, but four days were not enough to touch and feel and see everything. I think that some cities need a proper amount of time to really explore what it has to offer. Four days is enough just to touch the surface; see the obvious tourist attractions.

Me in front of the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is a large, unfinished church that was designed by famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. His work is evident throughout the city and his name is glorified in architecture and art alike. He died before building was completed and is still being built to this day; cranes tower over its highest peak. I didn't go inside, even though I had planned to. It rained that day and I wasn't willing to stand in the queue for hours but I can just imagine how amazing it must be.






Park Guell is a large tourist magnet for Gaudi fans too. It is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on a hill that overlooks the whole city. I found myself wondering around and thinking that Gaudi had a keen eye for finding the beautiful balance between nature and mankind. The focal points of the park are the mosaic salamander and the undulating wave that creates a long bench with enclaves to sit and socialise. Gaudi incorporated a lot of mosaic into his art, which adds splashes of colour to his structures.

The view from Park Guell

A lot of people are drawn to one of Barcelona's most famous streets; La Rambla. This busy, yet lively pedestrian boulevard is dotted with cafes and restaurants, kiosks and news stands; a street that never seems to sleep. A famous street market called La Boqueria is a prominent landmark on La Rambla and should definitely be visited. It has a vast array of foods that pique your appetite.

The port at sunset

Christopher Columbus
monument

The port is an amazing place to walk around at sunset. The city and hills on one side with the hundreds of yachts on the other; it seems to be the place that attracts locals and tourists alike for a relaxed evening out. The monument of Christopher Columbus, a 60m column, can be found at the harbour at the lower end of La Rambla.

Barcelona is a city that seems to suck you in and never wants to you let go. People love it or hate it but everyone has an opinion, which in itself is impressive. I happened to love it and I will definitely return, just like a love sick bee wanders aimlessly until eventually it finds its way back to its beautiful exotic flower.

The interior of the church Santa Del Mar