Barcelona For The First Time

When trying to describe Barcelona, it’s difficult to pick the proper superlative because they all apply. Barcelona is an amazingly beautiful and historic city with an incredibly rich and complex history. The people are warm and genuine and ready to assist with any questions a visitor might have. Along with its magnificent architecture, desirable walkability, amazing food and drink, it consistently ranks as one of the top ten cities in the world to visit and live in.

When I was doing research for our trip I came across this quote from  Miguel de Cervantes. “Barcelona, Don Quixote exclaimed, is a fountain of courtesy, shelter of strangers, hospice to the poor, land of the valiant, avenger of the offended, reciprocator of firm friendship, a city unique in its location and beauty.” That’s what I call a proper descriptor.

Every person we spoke with about Barcelona basically echoed that sentiment. In fact, when seeking advice from friends, most conversations resulted in similar responses. First, they get this far-away dreamy look in their eyes and then sigh, “I love Barcelona”. Usually followed by, “You just need to walk around and get lost”.

And that’s exactly what we did. We took everyone’s advice and wandered the streets and narrow passageways; taking in all the sights and sounds that the city has to offer. We went to La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s most famous work. Walked up and down La Rambla multiple times. We strolled through Parc de la Ciutadella and zigzagged our way around Barri Gòtic. We also spent time in the neighborhoods of El Raval and El Borne. And of course, we stopped into multiple tapas bars for a bite to eat and a glass of wine or Spanish Vermut.

We spent a significant amount of time one day at Museo D’ Historia de Barcelona. ​ It’s a museum, a subterranean adventure, and a trip through time. You start off by entering the courtyard of a gothic urban palace, followed by a ride in the elevator down from “Barcelona” to the Roman city of “Barcino”. Below the streets and buildings of Barcelona, you can walk along old Barcino, the original name of the city, on a set of footbridges. You’ll also pass the remainders of an old Roman bath and some dye-works, go through a wine cellar and an ancient fish processing place. In the end, you rise into medieval Barcelona, where you can see a few of the old chambers of the former royal palace: The king’s chamber, “Sala Tinell”, and the royal chapel, “Santa Agatha”.

And as everyone knows, Barcelona is legendary for food and drink. With its endless choices of restaurants, you are almost guaranteed a wonderful experience. In addition to the fabled tapas and wine bars, there are plenty of international options. But let’s face it, you’re in Barcelona for a reason and it’s not to eat fried chicken. Along any walk, you will pass multiple restaurants and cafes. Tapas for two and a couple of glasses of wine is usually under thirty dollars. And if you venture off to explore El Raval, the cost is even a bit less.

Like most who visit Barcelona for the first time, we realize we haven’t even scratched the surface of what the city has to offer. This trip leaves us longing for much more. So our hope is to possibly spend an extended amount of time here in the future. Maybe next spring and summer in one of the neighborhoods close to the center of town next year. That sounds like a good idea. But first, we need to get to Costa Rica!