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The idea of traveling to Spain came to me many times, and of those many times I happened to go to Barcelona.
It is the country I have visited on several occasions and where I feel most at home. I remember well the first time I went there, when I was observing from the airplane window the barren inland countryside. I really thought I would enjoy the moment, because it would be the first of many, and so it was. In particular, I have been to Barcelona many times, but of these in some I added nearby destinations.
The longest trips were two, to Andalusia and the Basque Country. Both were for 10 days, the first in company and the second solo. To the first one with my Australian friend, I devoted a separate chapter in this blog.
Traveling to Spain on weekends
For longer or shorter weekends I have been:
- Barcelona and its surroundings (I lost count of the number of times), combining Tarragona, Zaragoza, and Andorra
- Madrid 2 times (including once with friend)
- Valencia
- Ibiza and Formentera (with a quick passage to Barcelona)
So I’ve seen a lot in general but little sea, while many people go there just for that; I especially like the cities and their atmosphere.
Going to Barcelona, but not only
Along with Vienna, it is the non-Italian city I know best, because a brother of mine lives there and I have been there several times. But really only on one occasion can I say I really visited it, and among other things I took the opportunity to go to Zaragoza and Andorra as well.
Going to Barcelona is a great classic for outings with friends for bachelor/bachelorette parties or various anniversaries. Because of this there are crazy prices and lots of tourist traps. Maybe some even see a little of the city, most really very little. It’s an experience I’ve had, although it doesn’t sit well with me.
The first time was for New Year’s Eve in 2000, the second time for a bachelor party in April 2008. I had a great time with various goliards, but we could have done the same in Misano Adriatico. I don’t deny my young life when I prioritized messing around with friends, but now I find it almost inconceivable. By the way, at that time there were no low-costs yet and you went by car.
Barcelona on New Year’s Eve with 4 friends and Catalan relatives
It was me and 3 friends who were cousins to each other. We left between one blizzard and another, at night, 13 hours of travel time plus stops. Hosted by the very kind aunt of one of my friends who lived in a tiny apartment together with her daughter; we tore her house apart for 5 days, a couple more than planned because all 4 of us got sick. She would come back from grocery shopping that might normally take her a week and we would devour everything in an instant.
Of the city we saw very little, just the 2 main stadiums and strictly only from the outside the Sagrada Famiglia at night, which at the time was dimly lit and surrounded by cranes.
We celebrated the evening of December 31 at home with aunt and cousin and then at the Olympic Harbor jumping between bars. I well remember catching one of my friends on the fly who was falling into the water and lots of laughter. On New Year’s Day, in a pitiful condition, we went to lunch with our many relatives. It was a real marathon since we got up late in the afternoon but it was really engaging. I think it is the best to experience such festivities with the locals.
Going to Barcelona to go clubbing
In April 2008, friends made both round trip by car, in 4 days; because of work I could not leave with them and joined them by plane. Of cultural I saw more in the afternoon in Venice, from where I flew. There were already cheap flights at the time, but the birthday boy had never flown and promised he would do it the first time on his honeymoon, so he arranged that splurge,
A hostel with enough beds for everyone could not be found, so after the night at the disco we spread out and I found myself sleeping in the wrong place. I woke up early and trying to see what the situation was like in my hostel, on the way I casually crossed paths with the friend with whom we had reversed beds. There were cell phones, but not whatsapp, and abroad we paid dearly.
Traveling in Spain, around Barcelona
In my plans was to go to Barcelona for another New Year’s Eve, solo, but my father was not well. Also there was still some aftermath of the pandemic, so I postponed to August (2022). That’s the worst time, both because of the glut of tourists and high prices and the heat; by the way, I would have been inspired to go to Andorra (especially for its spa) in winter with snow.
While my brother worked, alone; otherwise together with him, this time I toured the city far and wide, entering all the most celebrated places. I observed in an exemplary way a great truth: the restaurants in the most touristy areas are more or less bad, while if you go into less down-to-earth areas you make remarkable discoveries, sometimes you just have to turn the corner.
In this regard, I can understand if you’re at Octoberfest; but for what reason to pay an arm and a leg for frozen dishes on the Rambla with a liter mug of beer that gets warm after 10 minutes since it’s 40 degrees?
I was happy to enter the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlò and Parc Guell, but also the tours to the Barrio Gothic and Barceloneta even though there was too much crowding; in fact, we avoided the much celebrated Ramblas as much as possible. My fixed thought while I was in those places was for poor Antoni Gaudi who was far from seeing his masterpiece finished and ended his days ended under a streetcar. Read his sad story here.
Zaragoza and Andorra
With my brother I went to Zaragoza, which in summer is a real oven. But the city is worth it and the main square is remarkable. My brother is an avid smoker, so stops and meals always outdoors, and with the heat it was frankly a little air conditioning now and then wouldn’t have bothered me. But otherwise we get along, he is a good walker like me and we like to give satisfaction to the palate, plus he is a cook and going to dinner with him is interesting because he points out aspects that I usually miss.
However, I didn’t indulge the urge to visit the small, lesser-known places; so, to Andorra (3 hours by bus from Barcelona) I went alone and indeed the center has little to offer. The Caldea thermal baths, the largest in Europe, are super, there are probably some nice treks in the mountains, but I had decided to give it only one day.
Next stop Christmas in the Balearics and traveling with mom
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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