Showing posts with label activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label activities. Show all posts

Friday, 18 September 2015

Every good thing comes to an end

Leaves begin to fall from trees, the wind is getting stronger. Summer is nearly over and so is my unforgettable experience here in Barcelona. More than two months have already passed since I arrived in this city, when everything  was still to be discovered, people, places, streets, scents, colours. And as always, when you start getting used to something, it is time to change, time to go on. It will be even harder to go back home now, since I've been spending more than twelve months abroad, first on Erasmus in France, Strasbourg, then here for my internship in Barcelona.

Barcelona has been a wonderful place to live in, I am glad I chose this city for my internship cause it offers everything someone could look for: good weather, beaches, fun, pubs, discos but also cultural events, museums, music, festivals. The time spent here allowed me to learn more about the Catalan culture and its strong traditions, to such a point that now I can even say a few sentences in Catalan :).
I am thankful to my Spanish housemate Miguel, who helped me a lot with my Spanish and who made me smile every single day with his energy, kindness and craziness. I will never forget the songs danced together, our walks through Barcelona and his stories about the secret corners of the city.

I had already been to Barcelona before and my feelings towards this city are still the same, overwhelming and conflicting: on the one hand the traffic, the noises, the hundreds of tourists to avoid while you're walking on La Rambla, the 40 degrees you have to go through every single time you get the metro; on the other, the beautiful views of the city from Parc Guell, from Tibidabo or Los Bunkers, where you almost feel like if the city was under your control. The sound of the waves on the beach in the sunset, when you are surrounded by lots of people but it's like if you were alone. The tiny streets of Gracia and Barceloneta, where locals leave their doors open, arousing your curiosity with the smell of their Sunday's lunch.


Besides fun and emotions, I also learned a lot from a professional point of view. For this reason I want to thank Jessica, who taught me about marketing (a complete mystery for me until three months ago!), and all my companions at 1Global Translators for the amazing summer spent together. I am sure that what I learnt in the Marketing Department will turn out to be useful for my career. So thanks again to everyone who was part of this (especially Domenico, a loyal friend from the very start <3 ) and hope to see you again soon, who knows where. 

Thursday, 13 August 2015

7 Free Things to Do in Barcelona

1.     Free museums on Sundays

All the city-run museums (including the Museu Picasso, MUHBA and MNAC) are free on Sunday afternoons, from 3pm to 8pm. Others are also free on one given day of the month, often the first Wednesday or Sunday – check individual websites for details.

2. Browse the Mercat de la Boqueria

This famous indoor market hall is a colourful explosion of fruit, vegetables, seafood, rows and rows of cured jamón and some mind-boggling butchers’ displays. There are tapas bars, pizza stalls and all manner of produce you can try before you buy.

3. Admire Modernisme architecture 

While many of Barcelona’s architectural gems have admission fees to see the interiors, the arguably more impressive facades can be seen for free. The mind-blowing workmanship of Gaudí’s magnum opus, the cathedral-like La Sagrada Família, for example, or the three stunning examples of Modernisme that sit side-by-side on the Passeig de Gràcia – the Casa Lleó Morera, the Casa Amatller and Gaudí’s Casa Batlló.

4. Bask on a beach

Barcelona has some wonderful beaches perfect for resting aching feet after days of sightseeing. Barceloneta is the most popular, with its lovely sweep of golden sand and promenade backed with restaurants. For something less crowded, walk further north towards the Fòrum area.


5. Sniff out free music, dancing and art

There’s always some sort of free cultural event going on around town, whether it’s jazz in the park, a poetry reading or a kids' workshop. Visit For Free page for information on upcoming events.

6. Lose your way in Barri Gòtic

Get lost in a warren of cobblestone alleyways lined with bars and quirky shops and dotted with quiet little plaças, in the atmospheric medieval quarter of Barri Gòtic. Eventually you’ll almost certainly surface on La Rambla, or the Via Laietana, which flanks the area on the other side.
7. Wander through Plaça Reial

At this arcaded plaça, reminiscent of a more modest version of St Mark’s Square in Venice, look out for Gaudí’s first piece of commissioned work for the city – lamp-posts featuring coiled dragon-headed serpents leading up to a winged helmet.