An intinerary-free trip to Barcelona

Tripoto
1st Dec 2019
Photo of An intinerary-free trip to Barcelona by Mishka

I've been traveling for work for years now, attending conferences, workshops and fellowships in Asia and in Europe, but on each occassion my trips were overtaken by itineraries filled with back-to-back meetings. I have seen some gorgeous places, but never truly felt like a holiday-maker until my trip to Barcelona last year. I wanted more than anything to experience this vibrant city on my own terms, something I was never able to do in the past. Although I was eager to plan every hour of my stay, I resisted the urge to obsess and instead decided to chase a feeling. Sponteneity was the name of the game, so I booked my flight, secured an AirBnB and left the rest up to chance.

Singing angels at the basilica

Day 1

La Sagrada Familia Basilica

Photo of Sagrada Familia, Carrer de Mallorca, Barcelona, Spain by Mishka
Day 2

Nightlife in the Gracia District

Carrer de Verdi

Photo of Carrer de Verdi, Barcelona, Spain by Mishka

On my first morning in La Sagrada Familia, I arrived at my AirBnB jetlagged and grumpy, weighed down by too much luggage and a pillow wrapped round my neck. Without the day planned out for me, I was feeling anxious to make the right call on how to spend the day. My hosts gave me a long list of local cafes, museums and markets to check out, but none of them spoke to me. I suppose I was so worried about making the typical tourist choice that I ended up not choosing at all, opting instead to take a walk through the town and see how things panned out. So, a little jittery from the bitter airplane coffee and lack of sleep, I ventured out ready to soak in the Spanish sunlight.

The second you look outside in La Familia, you will see the towering Basilica peeking through the clouds over 170 meters in the air. It's a wonder to behold, truly, but I was determined to find a more obscure location for my first visit in the city. What I didn't know was that the church bells ringing out from the towers are like angels beckoning you in- a call to travelers that must not, cannot, be ignored. Almost begrudgingly, I made my way into the church and was instantly in awe of the building. Suddenly, any other choice seemed ludicrous and I was so grateful not to have missed exploring this stunning space.

The parkades in Carrer de Verdi are gorgeous, and when you don't know where you're headed, the detours and walkways seem like secret passages laced with mystery and intrigue. One surprising turn after the next, I found myself in a small alleyway at the center of Gracia. The beauty of this area is the interconnectedness of every establishment with the city itself; locals and tourists spill out of bars and restaurants with drinks in hand; waiters carry trays of cocktails, weaving through the throngs like bees; the buzz in Gracia is palpable. I indulged in a little nightcap at bar whose name escapes me, but that night it felt as though I was celebrating with all of La Sagrada.

I had only two days to explore Barcelona, and because of these limitations I tried to stay close to my accommodations. This ended up being more of a pro than a con, however, as I got to discover some curious and obscure spots as I wondered through the town. The next time you're in La Sagrada, I highly recommend going where the wind takes you and leaving the maps and guide books behind.