Barcelona

By the time we got to Barcelona, our 8th and last stop, our expectations were high and energies were low. But that didn’t stop us from having a great time. There is no better way to top off the Portuguese fish, meat and beer than to delve into the tapas, paella and sangria in Spain! From the first night itself, the tone was set for minimizing planning and maximizing walking, relaxation and food!

We walked around the northern part of the town trying empanadas from every second place and settling into a buzzing bar to enjoy some beers and sangria, ending the night with a feast at the McDonalds looking over the Sagrada Familia. Every night that followed was filled with patatas bravas, croquettes, paella, churros, cocktails, beers and sangria. You are bound to run into live music and bands unknowingly. I had a great time at Ocana.

One night, as we were sipping sangria at 1am on a street corner, a kid juggling a football caught my eye. Over the next hour, I ended up playing football with Ali (9y) and Sully (14y), brothers who’d recently moved from the US to Barcelona to pursue a career in football! Every time I think back to this moment, I am reminded of how joyful and carefree I felt. We later realized that the boys were related to the bar owner and had stayed out late to help him close the bar. Before we could head back inside to pay the bill, the bar owner had decided that our drinks were free as for we had been loyal, cheerful customers 🍻 Turns out, people in Barcelona love giving out free drinks as this was not the only time we got free drinks. The next day, while we waited for our bus to head to the beach, we grabbed some beers from a nearby bar and when I pulled out my wallet to pay, a friendly voice said to us (translating from Hindi) “You’ll remember that Arjun gave you free drinks when you visited Barcelona”. Absolutely Arjun, I will!

A hot afternoon that starts with a beer can only end with a swim at the beach! It was a glorious day to put some sunscreen on and just bake and relax at the beautiful Somorrostro beach. Unfortunately, we did not plan this well and had to rush back to the apartment after an hour to get ready for a Flamenco show! Now, I’ve watched a bunch of theater and been to live music bars but this experience was quite novel. Flamenco is unique and local to Spain and it comes in a few different levels. The Gran Gala Flamenco is the most widely seen Flamenco Spectacle in the history of Barcelona. It is the only Flamenco show that can be found in the two most emblematic theaters of the city: El Palau de la Música Catalana and El Poliorama. We watched the show at El Palau de la Música Catalana, which is a spectacle in itself - an artistic landmark of outstanding beauty and a highly prestigious music venue. At Gran Gala Flamenco, all that Flamenco has to offer: Castanets, Dress Train Sweeps, Fans, Precious and Sensual Costumes; all along with original music. For about 90 minutes, we were kept engaged by the different “palos” (or rhythmic patterns) and walked out completely enthralled and mesmerized.

Flamenco is not just music and dance but a holistic artform that tells a story. And it is not the only Barcelona icon that tells a story. Sagrada Familia is the heartthrob of every tourist and local in Barcelona. Walking around the church is like flipping the pages of a novel. Each chapter reveals a new character or a twist in the tale. Everytime you think you know something to be true, you learn about the origin of that truth. For example, the church was built by the poor neighborhood on donations, which is a big reason why it is still (as of 2024) not built. Today, the delay comes from corruption (surprise!). The bishop now owns the project and uses money from tickets to fund it, pocketing a lot of the money for himself. Gaudi lived a long life and his evolution as an architect - from French to Minimal - is recognisable from looking at the facade when you are facing the church and when you stare at the window panes later! Look out for the fruits that he added on top of the towers - Gaudi was a farmer 🧑‍🌾

I have definitely not had enough of Barcelona. From the young age of 6, I’ve religiously followed FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi and watched them win hundreds of games at the Camp Nou. Unfortunately, the stadium was closed for construction during my visit. But that is just another reason to visit Barcelona again!