Discover Barcelona Through New Eyes

Me @ La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona 2025

Travel to Barcelona is discovering the beauty and spirituality within oneself. There’s just something magical about this city that feels inviting and familiar. This year for my 34th birthday I decided to go back to a city I hadn’t been to since my 26th birthday with one of my best friends and Puerto Rican papi's, as well as my translator Johan. Before, I didn’t feel as though I explored the city the way I wanted to, but I definitely felt this surreal connection to Spain, almost as if I had been there before. Fast forward to the present day and a DNA test later and I can shockingly say I descend from the House de la Cerda. I guess my 6th great grandmother was calling me back home.

I decided to explore like a local. I never want to do what’s cliché or standard when traveling. As the late Palestinian author, Edward Said would suggest, don’t experience a place “othering”‘the people who live there. But experience it as the actual people do. After all, we are all human. I doubt Catalans and Spaniards are visiting America for a school shooting, so I wasn’t about to look for a running of the bulls event or something as cliché. For one week, I was going to be a Catalan, and with 13% Spanish DNA according to ancestry.com (not sponsored), I’d say I did my non-racist ancestors justice. The racist ones I’m not counting. So let’s get into my favourite things and places in Barcelona that will make you look less like a tourist and more like a chic yet chill local. 

Sights to see:

Of course if you're traveling to Barcelona you have to see the sights. As much as I enjoy living like a local when I visit a new Country/City I do love to actually take in the sights that have made the city so popular. LA Sagrada Familia, probably the most notable place to visit in Barcelona is an expensive ticket at €36, 00 for a guided tour with audio. But if you miss that tour, they will not refund or reschedule you. Yay, delayed flights. But if you go on Sunday morning during service it is free to enter. Parc Güel is one of my favourite places to visit. I don't recall there being a fee to enter in 2016, but now it's around €18, 00, best to book online as it can sell out quickly.

Antoni Gaudí is an absolute genius and his work is wrapped around Barcelona so venture around and you will see it. This was the second time I was unable to see the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. It was built in 1929 and restored in 1992, the show begins every 30 mins. The first time I was travelling with an impatient person and the second time it was under construction. One day, I will see that light show. I could use a little bit of magic. I mean, couldn't we all? Lastly, something not so monumental, but stunning all the same was the cable car ride we took from Jardins de Miramar. The panoramic views of the city and the ships setting sail were amazing. The garden or jardin as the locals would say was stunning and consisted of a variation of not only trees, plants and flowers, but critter life as well.

Because I am Creole & Cajun descent I was ecstatic walking passed Cajun Barcelona. I didn't get the opportunity to dine, but if you knew this history of Spain, France and Louisiana and how Jambalaya is a Creole remix of Paella you would know how important and amazing this restaurant is. Many Creole people will show you the strong French influence in our culture and language, but the Spanish is also in there and it shows in our food and culture as well.

My Top 5 Barcelona Travel Fav's:

Best Rooftop Bars: La Dolce Vitae at the Hotel Majestic. Gorgeous view of the city, at night it seems magical. TimeOut Market Barcelona has a cute rooftop bar with affordable wines and cocktails and a gorgeous ocean view of the shipyard with the iconic W Hotel in view & chill international music that adds to the ambiance. Enjoy the sun and breeze at TimeOut Market Rooftop Bar. If you're looking for a good drag show then check out Priscilla. If you prefer a speakeasy aesthetic that also gives Coyote Ugly film vibes I would recommend Bobby's Free in the Eixample neighbourhood. Last, but not least one of my fav bars we went to as it was so chic and could easily be placed in any metropolitan cities gay area and be a hit is The Moon.

Transportation:

Barcelona has really decent public transportation. Now the metro or subway isn’t as vast as the NYC transit, but it’s quite comparable. The ticket machines are quite ancient. But you can tap your smartphone or card to enter. You can even tap on the buses. The only issue is you can’t tap after midnight. So if you have an early morning flight and think you’ll take the bus to the airport you’ll be surprised. Allow time for an uber or taxi. 

Pick Pockets:

This is a legit epidemic here. Someone tried me and failed. Thankfully so, as no one wants to go to jail in a foreign country for beating off a thief. I was leaving the Arc de Triompf and decided to walk to the Gothic Quarter which is notorious for pick pockets. As I walked along a busy street with people bumbling about I was bumped.

The guy looked like a tourist and I shook it off as people traffic, like in NYC. He then was close behind me, that closeness that isn’t unfamiliar in crowded touristy places- but the one where you feel you’re about to be assaulted. I turned around and he and a friend jumped back quickly and pretended to be eyeing something on an outside store rack.

My Bday Cheesecake Surprise!

I looked at my bag and realised one of the pockets was slightly unzipped. When I looked up I noticed the two men staring at me. I looked them directly in the eyes and mouthed something I'm sure they understood. Being that they hadn’t actually stole anything or physically assaulted me I couldn’t make a formal complaint. But I did keep an eyes on my bag and my surroundings. I’m always pretending to not be alert when traveling, whilst actually being alert. I noticed two older British women behind me and decided to keep an eye on them incase the two men were to return and try robbing them. They circled the block a few times and then disappeared.

B-Day at The Beach:

The day of my birthday I awoke feeling as though a weight had been lifted. I didn’t care what anyone else was doing or what issues they had going on. I just wanted to be selfish and do whatever I wanted. Johan had been invited on a day trip to Sitges so I took the time to go discover the city a bit more. Whilst out and about a guy nearby on one of the dating apps invited me to the beach.

After my tourism I went back to my hotel to change and grab a swimsuit. Soon after I was at Platja de la Mar Bella beach. I found the guy I had met online and he introduced me his three friends. We sipped pre-made cocktails and chatted about where we were from and what brought us to Barcelona. They were all from a South or Central American country and had moved to this amazing city years ago.

As the sun began to set on a restful day his friends left and I asked about local places to grab food. I should probably add we were on a nude beach, so many people were nude. I had never done something like that, but at 34 I had to get into my birthday suit before leaving the beach. It was liberating and I wondered why I’ve always been so afraid to live freely?

We left the beach and walked north towards the W Hotel. As we left a carnival was taking place with children on rides and playing games to win stuffed animals. We cut through Las Ramblas and entered what reminded me of Notting Hill Carnival. DJ’s and parade goers all about. It was exciting, people enjoying themselves with friends and family. We walked and boarded a bus that allowed me to tap my debit card for entry. We met up with his husband and went to their favourite restaurant. He reminded me that I said I wanted to visit an authentic place as we entered a colourful restaurant filled with patrons and the smell of great food. They took turns introducing me to the restaurants owner, manager and the waitstaff. They surprised me with a cheesecake and candles and sang Happy Birthday to me. It was probably the best birthday I’ve ever had. 

Day Trips:

If you can squeeze into your trip, an inexpensive train can take you to Sitges, Montjuic Castle, or Madrid. Some trains to Madrid range between €7-€12 one way. But to be honest with a city as thriving and exuberant as Barcelona it may be difficult pulling yourself away. 

Local Behaviour:

The locals are amazing, recently it’s been in the news that locals were attacking tourists with water guns due to inflating costs. As I completely understand how unfortunate it is to see that you can no longer afford the neighbourhood you grew up in because it’s been bought by foreigners or businesses raise their prices because the tourist can afford to pay higher prices I am happy to say I did not experience a single negative interaction. That being said, as tourist it is always best to always be on your best behaviour when visiting other countries.

Shots

1€ Bar