We have officially completed 3 days in Barcelona.
I am lucky enough to have 3 good roommates who respect and value each other. We each have different plans for our time here and we all come from very different backgrounds, but it is amazing to see how we have all come together to become friends.
On the first day, we purchased a metro pass, all unlimited for one month. It was a great choice because we need to be up and down the city for internships and classes. We also use the Metro to find the cheapest restaurants, souvenir shops, and groceries. In Spain, taxes are included in the prices and, even with that, prices often feel minimal than in the U.S.
There are two things to look out for in Europe in general: pickpockets and overpriced tourist locations. I have heard a lot that pickpockets are everywhere in the city; it is best to keep track of your belongings, especially in crowded spaces. In the city’s most famous attractions, like the Sagrada Familia (pictured above), the souvenir shops and restaurants will usually have higher prices compared to less touristic areas.
Over the summer, I will have a few friends visit Barcelona and I plan on getting together with them to show them what I have learned and explored. Some of these friends already graduated and others I haven’t seen in an eternity. I am very excited to have this sort of environment to rekindle our friendships.
After the first day, I sort of felt like one of the locals because I had the opportunity to make typical tourist mistakes, but managed to learn from them.
Over the next few months, I hope I can continue to make this foreign place feel more like a second home.