Arriving to the city of Barcelona was overwhelming, between the excitement of the city and the curiosity of getting to know Forum-Nexus students, but it turned out to be one of my favorite cities. Barcelona beautifully incorporated Spanish architecture through its neighborhoods with Gaudi’s influence found all around the city.
The free time activities to choose from in Barcelona were amazing! The clubs were lively and Las Ramblas was always brimming with tourists from all around the world. Las Ramblas is the center of the city with stores, restaurants and lots of souvenir shops. We usually bargained at the shop, which was fun for my friends and me, especially when we got a good deal. There was nothing better than ending the day with a gelato in front of the fountains in Catalonia square. Catching the metro back to the hotel by midnight was challenging most days after having such amazing evenings in Barcelona with friends!
One must-see in Barcelona is la Sagrada Familia. La Sagrada Familia is a unique church completely engrosses by the gothic architecture design. The church is full of details, particularly in the exterior, which makes it more astonishing. Inside the church there is a huge hall that is designed differently versus the gothic style as the exterior, but still very interesting with fine details.
My friends and I got to see more of Barcelona by going on a morning walk to Parc Guell. Through the walk, we got to see many neighborhoods filled with Spanish spirit. We were guided by many locals who were quite helpful. As we got closer, we were astonished by the escalators that take you up the mountain, which were one of the unique marks of Barcelona, at least in my opinion. The park was amazing and full of colors, again reflecting Gaudi’s unique style.
More must-sees in Barcelona are the great beaches along the Mediterranean Sea along with many great seafood restaurants. Seafood Paella, or just paella in general, became one of my favorite dishes that I will miss the most after the trip. Not to mention the delicious patatas Braves as my favorite tapa.
Barcelona is a great city with lots to see! Surely there is something for everyone there. It’s what I would consider a complete city that combines culture, civilization and great people and I would definitely like to come back!
By: Rowa Senan, Forum-Nexus 2014 alumna
