So, why pick up and move to Barcelona? If you’ve ever been to this city you might understand, theres some indescribable magical element about this city. Me and a friend have joked it’s something about being surrounded by beautiful mountains on one side and the Mediterranean sea on the other. (see the picture above for reference) The first time I experienced Barcelona, I knew this was a place that I was going to come back to. I had this unexplainable pull to the city, I still don’t even know what it was about this place that just felt like home to me..instantly.
Barcelona is so wonderful, filled with history, culture and so much energy. I feel so lucky to have been able to live in a city like Barcelona.
As I mentioned there is something magical about a city that has the sea on one side and mountains on the other…You can go take a walk up a mountain or you can go take a walk along the beach, whatever you wake up feeling like doing, it’s there. Or you can sit on the beach and stare at the mountains… Not to mention that both the mountains and the beaches are so breathtakingly beautiful.The sunsets are incredible, so bright, colorful and they seemingly get better each day.
Then there’s the old part of the city, you turn a corner and can walk past an incredibly old yet beautiful building, filled with so much history and so many stories. There are so many new places to explore, and even the places that I have already explored I always found myself returning to. It’s no surprise that I’m a city person, I need the energy and life of a city. I get bored easily, I need all the endless options the city has to offer, the constant stimulation. And Barcelona certain does not lack in that at all. Any type of cafe, restaurant, bar, club, store, anything, you have countless options here in Barcelona. I love this city and it certainly felt like home to me…but it also makes me happy to know that I can make such a foreign city feel like home so quickly.
What led me here…
My first trip to Barcelona was in January 2014, during my senior year of college for a study abroad program. It was one stop on the 6 week trip, traveling through Spain, only 6 days spent in this city..but wow those 6 days made such an impact on me. Before coming on the trip I had toyed with the idea of one day living in Spain… it was just something that never felt like it would be a reality. Kind of like a thing when you’re 5 years old and say you’re gonna be a pop star like Britney Spears when you grow up. Something that seems like it would be great, but would never realistically happen. Soo the idea of living in Spain was somewhere in the back of my mind during my trip, but never fully as a realistic thought. I came to Barcelona, and it was just game over. I knew that there was something about this city that was soooooo so right for me. Well, maybe it didn’t help that I was also very sick and delirious and had no clue what even was going on.. but I think that might have added to it, being so sick and having that negative experience yet feeling so good about this place.
On my return home I was discussing with Maggie how awesome this place was. Well ironically enough, she had been researching teaching abroad, specifically in Spain. She mentioned a program that she saw in Barcelona. I thought to myself this is it, not only do I get to go back to Barcelona… but I could go and live there for a year. That sounded magical, ideal and just utterly perfect to me. So we both applied to the program, got accepted and bought our one way tickets to Barcelona. Yes a one way ticket. When I was clicking purchase the amount of emotions that I experienced were all over the map.
I had the ticket, I had the plan, and yet it still didn’t feel like it was really happening. I packed all the things I thought I could possibly need into 2 big suitcases, and even as I was packing a years worth of clothes it didn’t feel real. As I said goodbye to all of my friends, it still didn’t feel real. As I said goodbye to my mom in the airport, it STILL did not feel real. Even on the plane, still had not hit me yet. Not until I stepped off the plane and into my magical city did it really hit me and feel real.
Attached are some of my favorite photos of Barcelona.. Sometime soon I will write more about specific parts of Barcelona.. stay tuned..
I understand exactly what you mean about Barcelona as my husband and I spent a month in the city (May, 2015) and fell head-over-heels in love with it also. When we left I remember thinking, “Wait, wait, there’s so much more to see!” Enjoy!
Beautiful pictures 🙂
Love Barcelona! This makes me want to go back SOON!
I’m currently planning to travel around Europe for next year, and i was planning to spend a day in Barcelona BUT NOW i think i need to add more days for Barcelona 🙂
Barcelona is amazing. I’ve been there about 4 times now.
great pics
I will be spending 6 days in Barcelona in June and reading this just made me anticipate it so much more!
I’ll be in Barcelona for 6 days this June and this post and the pictures make me want to be there now! I can’t wait!
Your photos are beautiful! Your post got me even more excited about visiting in August 🙂
Your photos are beautiful! The post got me even more excited about visiting in August 🙂
Great photography. Love the city.
Gorgeous photos of one of my favorite cities!
Hello there. I certainly agree, Barcelona is a marvelous city. My wife and I made the trip several years ago and can’t wait to get back. We also visited Madrid after Barcelona. We found the people of Spain to be marvelous. Very accommodating. Love your web site and I certainly will be a follower. Take care. Bob
Thanks for checking my page out Bob! Spain is one of my absolute favorite places to travel. From the people, to the food, to the culture and everything in between. Be sure to check back because I will DEFINITELY be writing more about Spain 🙂 Thanks again for checking out my blog!
Beautiful city! Glad you just went for it. As many times as I’ve been to Spain, and I used to live there for 3 months, I have yet to make it to Barcelona! Hoping to see what you see in the near future.
I totally get you – felt the exact same way when I first touched down in Lisbon. I just knew this was my city!
On another hand, I didn’t really enjoy Barcelona when I visited it some years ago. It was my first (and only) solo trip and I was feeling unsafe constantly, so I just couldn’t wait to leave and go back home. Funny enough, every time I mention it, I hear a voice inside my head, telling me that I should probably give it another shot… And this blog post just convinced me that I surely do!
Thank you!
what a fun experience, enjoy love!
I love Barcelona, I have been there three times and can’t wait to go back! I’m so jealous that you have been able to spend so much time there. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I still can’t believe I’ve never been! My roommate is heading over to Barcelona next month and I’m so jealous. Gotta get over to Spain soon! Loved all your beautiful photos!
Sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun in Barcelona! I’ll be honest and admit that I have thought about moving to Spain too! Of course, it was after my school trip there. Live in a coastal city, own a cutesy little shop. Life would be perfect! 🙂
So beautiful! There’s something so cool and (at the risk of sounding totally cliche) freeing about booking a one way ticket to a foreign place. It definitely takes courage but it always seems to pay off!
Love your photos! Barcelona is on our bucket list. You’ve provided wonderful sites to see and photograph.
Ah! I really want to visit Barca! Heard it can be so touristy though, but your photos are really inducing my wanderlust! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never been but it has always been on my list! Spain looks so beautiful and would love to visit one day. Looking forward to your next detailed post on Barcelona! 🙂
I always had this thing about the spanish culture. I feel so close to it that’s fascinating and scaring at the same time. Also, I know the feeling of a home that is not your own country anymore. It happened to me when I visited Germany. Hopefully, I get to visit Barcelona, and when I do that, I’d love to hear your recommendations!
Lovely photos! Makes me wanna head there right now 😊
It’s amazing that you got to realise your dream of living in Barcelona. Well done! I adore the city too but I think I would want to live in Valencia one day. Did you visit?
Beautiful photos. I’ve been to Barcelona twice and I hope to visit it again in the future.
Barcelona is gorgeous! I’ve been there a few years ago and especially loved everything that had to do with Gaudi. You’re so lucky to be able to live there for a year!
I LOVED Barcelona and this brought back so many good memories. Barcelona is indeed beautiful and your photos are gorgeous.
I recently visited Barcelona and fell in love with it, too! So wonderful you chose to go live there 🙂
I’ve been to Barcelona twice and still looking forward to come again soon! I was toying at the idea of working there since last year… just finding the right moment now…
I’ve been to Barcelona before. And I really love the works of Gaudi. And how they preserved it. It’s really amazing. Especially the La Sagrada Familia. Great pictures!
What a lovely place Barcelona is! I’ve never been but it’s on my bucket list! Barcelona also has great history and love the individual architecture design. Even hospital building is so gorgeous!
Beautiful! My girlfriend and I are looking for an interesting place to travel this summer and this might actually make the list. Sending to her now to see what she thinks 🙂
This makes me want to go there even more! Hopefully by this year I’d be able to go there!
Wow! I have been planning my bucket list and Barcelona is surely going to be in it now . And any place with sea view is surely going to be in my wish list.
Wow i never knew there was so much to see and do on Barcelona.
Thanks for sharing. It looks amazing. I would love to visit Barcelona one day!
Barcelona looks absolutely beautiful. My other half wants to do a short break here, these pictures may have persuaded me! There’s so much to see and I love the history
I love this city so much. We went twice in less than a year. I’m planning on going back again but probably in a few years when my boys are old enough to enjoy it too.
Oh I think I would feel the same way, it’s somewhere I really want to visit and I think when you land somewhere like that, you just feel at home! Gorgeous photos!
Yes Barcelona is great, it seems everyone loves to visit that city. Some say that it is becoming way too overcrowded with tourists especially during the season, but I would go back there again anyway when doing a tour of Spain and France by the sea.
Oh the feels! I’ve been to Barcelona a couple times and every time it feels different. There is just so much life, energy, architecture and food to sample there.
I would love to travel to Barcelona. I have heard a lot about it and planning a trip soon
I visited Barcelona some years ago and I loved it. There is something magical about the city.
My family live in Barcelona so I love reading about other people enjoying the city. Great photos too!
You have completely sold me on Barcelona. Well, maybe not only you but I have seen some amazing pictures of that beautiful city and you definitely just reminded me of why it is on my list of must see places in the world.