In March, I traveled to Spain and Portugal for a couple of weeks. Both countries have always been on my radar, and when my sister decided that’s where she wanted to go celebrate her 40th, a few months after the occasion, I was excited to explore a new place.
Barcelona was the first city in our itinerary, as we had decided to work our way from east to west across Spain and then Portugal. My first impressions of the city were its distinct European feel with its grand old buildings, confusing, large roundabouts, and magnificent sculptures on every corner and square center. Everywhere you look, the city is full of art and culture. Even window displays can be a work of art.
One of Europe’s greatest features is its squares, and Barcelona’s squares did not disappoint. These large open spaces surrounded by old architecture and anchored with a monument or fountain are great meetup places for soaking in the atmosphere. It’s fun discovering them too, since small, narrow alleys lead you there. You don’t usually see the square until you turn a corner or emerge from a narrow road.
Navigating the streets of Barcelona would probably have been challenging before the time of GPS-enabled smartphones, but nowadays it’s as easy as navigating the streets of your home city. Getting lost on purpose would be a great way to explore this city actually. You never know what you’ll find, and there is always something interesting to see.
The surroundings may be a feast for the eyes, but the city’s food markets are a feast for the stomach. We visited La Boqueria Market in Barcelona and found food stalls selling all sorts of local delicacies. Spain is known for its Iberian ham, which you can find in abundance here. Food vendors shave thin slices off the legs of ham displayed in front of their stall. Iberian ham comes from the Black Iberian pig that’s native to areas of Portugal and central and southern Spain. The saltiness of the ham is best paired with cheese and grapes.
Loads of fresh fruits and veggies can be bought at this market. The variety is impressive. Besides your standard bananas, strawberries, and pineapples, you can find more exotic fruits, such as dragonfruit, mangosteens, mangoes, papayas, and more. It was very tempting to get everything, especially with the aromas of the sweet-smelling fruit filling the air.
Neatly arranged stacks of macarons and brightly colored candies will entice any child or adult with a sweet tooth.
For those who prefer savory, Catalan dry-cured sausages of different varieties are sold here as well.
These colorful popsicles are a sweet treat on a warm day.
Even though I arrived severely jetlagged from a long flight, the sights, sounds, and flavors of Barcelona kept me going through the first full day. After months of planning, there’s no better reward than to experience the places I read about in the guidebooks and the pictures I saw online. I was quite tired by the end of the day, but excited for the days to come on our trip.