In the way of the good, there are so many wondrous things the city has to offer. The architecture is beautiful, the museums are outstanding, the cafés and restaurants are plentiful. There are mountains surrounding the city and it faces the sea with its beaches and the port. When the weather is right, there is nothing better than walking the tree-lined streets of the wide boulevards of the Gràcia or Eixemple neighbourhoods or the narrow, ancient ones in the Gothic Quarter.
I don’t go to the Sagrada Familia every time I visit the city, but I have gone every time I have out-of-town visitors. And it takes my breath away every time. I’m an admitted agnostic, but the depth of spirituality and love that Gaudí expresses through his designs and that his followers have maintained, is so apparent and so beautiful that it touches me deeply. It’s truly a unique experience, and I often cry when visiting the Basilica. I tell guests that it is the only essential “must-do” for visitors to the city, even though there are many other delights to be had!
One of my favourite spots is the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boquería, a market of over 300 stalls in the old city. It is packed with tourists, but there are locals as well, buying fruit, vegetables, fish and meat; and the small bars inside the market have some excellent tapas and sangria! I often stop there when I go into town to shop.
Barcelona probably has some of the best restaurants in the world, but even the multitudes of “average” ones can provide a great experience with Spanish and Catalan foods. My problem is that I just don’t know them! People ask me for recommendations all the time, but I have only a few that I have tried myself. There are lists and lists online of the “best,” but I’m usually only in town for the day and I don’t enjoy eating out alone. I don’t mind having a bite by myself, such as in the market or at a café, but to truly enjoy a wonderful meal, to me, requires a companion to share in the pleasure. So, I’m slowly creating a list. If you have a recommendation that you’ve tried and love, please pass it on to me! So far, Cerveceria Catalana (fabulous tapas, always crowded, no reservations), Terrassa Martinez (incredible view of the port and the city), and the Real Cercle (overlooking the busy pedestrian shopping street, Porta de l’Angel) are my go-to spots with friends.
The bad is that Barcelona can be very crowded, as it has seemed again since the end of widespread COVID. I’ve heard that Barcelona is the second most visited city in Europe, after Paris. And there is also the crime – primarily petty crime such as pick-pocketing, which requires some vigilance. I’ve been a target — a slashed tire, a broken car window, a potential shake-down averted…
The ugly, I would say, are the unfortunates. There are homeless in Barcelona as there are in all big cities, but I don’t see many, and there are beggars on the streets. But the most disturbing sights are the seriously deformed. I’ve encountered several asking for a handout who are crippled beyond belief, misshapen and contorted. Not to receive a pat on the back, but I always give these people money. Their lives seem destined to be miserable from the start. Some may have support or family that is not visible to me as I pass by, but I can’t help but worry that they have no one to help them, maybe they were abandoned by their families or they just outlived them. It’s extremely upsetting. I’ve heard people say that some beggars actually have plenty of money, that they live on the streets because they prefer it. Some are happy and like the lives they live. That may be true in some cases, but not these people. It seems impossible.
To end on a lighter note! I had another fabulous sunrise recently, and … a great visit with US friends…
Susie's Senior Year Abroad 