First stop, Barcelona

I’ve been traveling for the past two months and haven’t really had a second to sit and process any of it. It’s been non-stop — but in the best way possible. I’m trying to slow down and feel the moment more, which is why I started this blog.

Barcelona was the first stop on this adventure, and I stayed for a little over a month. It was a great city to start in. Even though it rained most of the time, we still did as much as we could — the cheap, the boujee, the touristy, the hidden gems. I liked it, but I was also happy to move on to the next stop (Lisbon) once our time was up.

The Vibe

The city is full of energy. People stay out late, the streets are always buzzing, and something is always going on. I didn’t always know what I was doing, but I liked being part of the chaos.

The biggest adjustment? How late they eat and go out. Want to go to a club? We wouldn’t even start getting ready until 12 a.m. I loved a good club night, but honestly, my favorite nights were the random ones where we ended up at some dank Irish pub with cheap drinks and loud music.

My Favorite Memory

One of the best nights I had was at a paella-making class with The Paella Club. We had unlimited wine (which was honestly dangerous), the food was delicious, and I honestly wanted the hosts to be my best friends.

After dinner, we ended up going out to the bars with people we met during the class. If you want to do a cooking class in Barcelona, I would HIGHLY recommend The Paella Club. Thank me later.

Everyday Life

Spending over a month in one place gave me time to settle into a little routine. I found a favorite coffee shop, a gluten-free bakery, and a gym (mainly for my mental stability, let’s be real).

I also got used to doing things slower — like waiting two days for my laundry to air dry or always needing to ask for the check instead of it showing up automatically. It’s different from home, but I kind of liked it. It forced me to slow down.

A mistake I kept making

One thing I learned quickly: don’t trust TikTok for everything. Especially not for food and nightlife recs.

Most of the viral spots I tried were super overrated,  crowded with study abroad kids (no offense, y’all are living your best lives, but I feel way too old to be clubbing with 19-year-olds), expensive, and just… meh.

The best places I found were the ones I stumbling into without planning.

My Barcelona Recommendations:

• Restaurant: Noxe
• Club: Bling Bling
• Bar: Dunnes Irish Pub
• Iced Coffee: Coffee Casa
• Cooking Class: The Paella Club
• Gym: Viva Gym
• Rooftop: Terraza de Vivi
• Sangria & Tapas: Taverna de Bise
• Day Trip: Montserrat & Sines
• All-Day Meal Spot: Honest Greens

My Barcelona Skips:

• Club: Razzmatazz (too many children)
• Speakeasy: Monk (crowded and pretty mid)
• Gym: Anytime Fitness
• Rooftop: Terrassa Sercotel Rosselló (charged an entrance fee even though we had a reservation and ordered drinks)

My Barcelona Gluten-Free Favorites:

• Quick Bite: Manioca
• Bakery: Hanai Bakery
• Italian Dinner: Luigi (best mushroom risotto I’ve ever had)

Final Thoughts

Barcelona was a lot — in a good way. It made me feel alive, even when I had no clue what I was doing. I’m really glad it was my first stop. It set the tone for the rest of the trip and gave me stories I’ll never forget.