First Steps in BCN

It is my first time that I post here something about myself. If I am doing it, it’s probably because I want to share my former experience and how it continues or maybe just because I just feel like doing it. When it comes to travel, there are certain things you have to expect. But you also expect something more. You want stories to tell. You want adventures to remember. You want travel that inspires and surprises. My story is really complicated but to summarize I come from Ecuador (really little country in South-America but an amazing place), I did most of my studies in France in Brittany (next to Normandy). Also, I was chosen to be part of the Erasmus program in the Netherlands in Maastricht (Between Liege and Aachen). And I am currently doing my first internship in Barcelona. (Everyone knows where is located but in case someone does not know where Barcelona is, just look it up on google). When I landed in Barcelona my expectancies were mixed. I did not know what I was looking for and what this city was about to teach me. The first couple of weeks were really hard for me. I landed in this city and many problems started to arrive at the same time. I had the feeling of struggling and I could not see myself finding the best way to solve all these problems. Therefore, a feeling of repulsion for this city came to me. Day by day, things were far from being solved. Nevertheless, I started to appriciate and enjoy Barcelona. This city is teaching me new things I have never thought about it before and which were not part of me. People I have met here are incredible and we always do something together. It is strange; it’s like a little community of international interns that are always doing something together after work. It’s such an International city that becoming Barcelonian would actually mean becoming more European or more International. Barcelona is also the first city that hosts Italians, (even my roommate is Italian). Now, instead of speaking Catalan or Spanish, I am learning Italian in Spain (does not make any sense). Think I had the opportunity before but I did not take advantage of it. Besides those problems I have, BCN is teaching me how to actually don’t care about them. Imagine a tsunami coming straight ahead to you and you just stand there without moving believing that it’s only a nice and fresh shower. It may be like this at the end. I am enjoying it and of course BCN is teaching me how to live with it.

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. 

Benefits of Erasmus Programme

Erasmus has multiple benefits. Of course, these benefits vary from person to person. But i will try to mention the more general benefits here. Erasmus above all a different education system and will introduce you to the institution that has been integrated into this system. It will be close to perfect as a foreign language. In addition, you will be able to prove a lot of things to study in a foreign language. Your self-confidence will be so good. You will learn the economy of the country and the business. This creates the opportunity to get to know your company can operate in a global sense.
Your awareness will increase your ability to communicate with persons and institutions will increase your ability to solve problems. Meet with different cultures, it will increase your ability to communicate. The lessons of the schools in the country that went through Erasmus, your school will be able counted basis.

Erasmus also not an easy task to go too. To prepare the necessary documents for completing the process will teach you the bureaucracy alone. This information will remain standing you will gain skills and experience. Being alone will increase your ability to travel on your own. It will increase
your chances of finding new friends.
By addition of these benefits;
 Living in the Post-Graduation Preparation: After studying the associate and bachelor degree programs, to be able to make at least master's or doctoral you need to know a foreign language and judges. Erasmus by allowing you to improve your foreign language easier for you to communicate with different cultures.
Work and Economics Preparation: to meet people from different cultures, speak and learn their economic structure, to make it easier to look at events from a broader perspective. It will also help to gain an increase in business and foreign language skills and different positions is much higher.
Self, to recognize their talents and Borders: the completion of a section of the Education and family from abroad to remain separate during this time you will live a very different experience. First, you learn to stand on your own feet, to get to know yourself better and explore the capabilities of yourself and discover the talents that you have but you did not know before.

Barrio de Gràcia

If you are a tourist, and you are searching for something to do or see in Barcelona, you should go to the district of Gràcia!

I have been living there for three months, and I guess I won’t live in a place like this anymore.

Gràcia was an independent municipality until it was annexed to Barcelona in 1897, along with other villages in the area of Barcelona. For that reason, walking in this district is like take a walk in another city.

Gràcia is a really creative, artistic and residential area. There are a lot of different squares like Plaça del Sol and Plaça del Diamant, where you can sit in and enjoy the good atmosphere.

Moreover if you want doing some shopping or drink something with your friends, here there are so many little and cheap shops, bars and restaurants that you will never forget!

Finally, if you are lucky enough to be here from the 15th august to the 21st, you can enjoy, as the majority of people say, the best “Fiesta de major” of Barcelona. It’s an amazing tradition where many streets are decorated following different specific themes, with ornaments done manually by young and older people with recycled objects. In these days there are also lots of concerts and different events.

If you want to get lost in this fantastic district you can take the green metro and stop in Fontana, or also take different buses: the 22, V17, V15.

Enjoy it!

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.

Visit to Sagrada Familia

After a month spent in Barcelona I decided to go and visit one of the most famous monuments of this city: la Sagrada Familia. Actually I went there because a Chinese friend of mine came here for her first time and heard so much about it that she asked me to go with her.
I was pretty curious about it too, its style is so different and unique from the outside that  I had always wondered how the inside looked like.
The ticket for students is €13, which according to me is too expensive, considered that it is a church, a place built for people who want to pray and practice their religion, but compared to the prices for other monuments such as Casa Mila and Battlo, which cost around €20 it's to be considered quite cheap.
Once I got inside Sagrada Familia I admit that I was charmed by its uniqueness and majesty. It is so much different from every church I saw before and I am happy I got the chance to visit it.
The only, big problem that I found was the atmosphere in it: people talking loudly, children running around, big screens projecting Gaudi's story and his ideas.. all things that, according to me, ruined the spirituality  that is to be found in a religious place, or at least in a catholic church.
I know that silence and order are difficult to be mantained in such big and crowded places, but maybe it's worth to try.

Barcelona’s most breathtaking places

Do yourself a favour and don’t be a typical tourist when you are in Barcelona! The cosmopolitan, pulsing heart of Catalonia receives around 8 million tourists every year; with its fantastic art and architecture, and with its many attractions, Barcelona has got a lot to offer. Although all tourists have clear ideas about what to see and visit, the city has got many hidden treasures that are just waiting to be discovered.

Here the five most breathtaking places in Barcelona.

Monestir de Pedralbes

Located just a few Km away from the city centre, this monastery is perfect if you want to escape from the hectic city life.
The monastery was built in 1327, and since then it has been the heart of the religious life of the city. Nowadays it can still be visited and admired from inside and outside, and it also features a beautiful park.

Parc del Laberint d'Horta

It is a pity that almost nobody knows about the existence of this jewel, which actually represents the oldest park in Barcelona.

The park spreads across 9 hectares and is divided into an old, classical garden and a more modern and romantic one. Gigantic trees, peaceful atmospheres and ponds enrich the park, and will guarantee you a once in a lifetime experience.

P.S: Watch out! Only 750 people are allowed to enter each day.

Poble Sec

A great alternative to the “main stream “ city centre might be Poble Sec, the old urban centre of the city. What visitors will find here is lots of night life, as well as typical bars and restaurants, including one of the best tapas restaurants in town, “Quimet & Quimet”.

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Fortunately, this charming amusement park is somehow unknown to most of tourists. What is amazing about it is that old and rustic atmosphere, which can hardly be found elsewhere.

Tibidabo Amusement Park is extremely family friendly and perfect for the youngsters, since it lacks in scary rollercoasters, but it is full of the classic attractions, such as a ferris wheel, from which you can have an outstanding view of the city.

In addition, you might also take the chance to visit the church “Temple de Sagrat Cor”, which is just nearby.

Refugio 307

If you are passionate about history, then this is the right place for you!

Refugio 307 is an underground refuge dating back to the Spanish Civil War. Since Barcelona was heavily bombed during the war period, this shelter offers an amazing tour through its labirintic corridors and the different rooms where people lived during this period.

Definitely an educational trip!