When I think of Barcelona, I think of youth. The city has a young spirit that begs for adventure. When I arrived in Barcelona I took a dive into the city and never came up for air until it was time to go home. I found the city receptive to me. It was not just the friendly people, but it was also the layout of the city, the Ramblas, the shops, the beach culture, and the nightlife.
I stayed at the Equity Point Centric Hostel when I first visited the city. The hostel is centrally located in a beautiful building. You can get anywhere from there. I loved that the hostel is also close to the gay bars. 😉
When I arrived in the city. I had a big suitcase with me, I was doing a multi-city tour, and so I needed a change of clothes. It was a hot day when I arrived, and I remember thinking, oh God how far is this hostel. Luckily it was not that far.
My first order of the day when I travel to a new city is to walk the streets. When I had checked in, the receptionist told me about a roof-top with a view, so I decided to start there with a drink before going on a sigh-seeing tour. While enjoying my drink I met three other travellers. Two guys and a girl, and I gathered that one of the guys was dating the girl. They were from Brazil, and while we were having small talk they asked me to join them on a city walk. I accepted seeing that I was going to walk alone anyway.
This was so much fun because they knew where all the spots were. The first stop was the Barcelona Cathedral – Sagrada Familia. It was an impressive and intimidating structure. The details on the structure are beyond. We wanted to go inside, but the lines were too long. It was already in the afternoon, and we figured it would be better use of our time to go somewhere else. So we went to the Park Güell, which is also something out of this world. The experience of the park was made that much more fun and special by having these new friends with me. This is one of the wonderful things about travelling, that you can meet total strangers and have intimate moments with them, even if they do not become lifelong friends, they forever become part of the city for you.
I loved the nightlife in Barcelona. First of all, it starts late. People go to dinner around 22:00 and 23:00, and then go out after that. So the clubs really only pick up after midnight, and they go on forever. On one of the nights I remember coming out of a club and the sun was shining. I felt like such a rock star.
I also visited a Gin bar while in Barcelona. My first Gin bar ever. I didn’t even know there so many Gins in the world where you can have a whole bar selling just mother’s ruin. It was everything. The barman was friendly, and they recommended a Gin who’s name I can’t pronounce but was absolutely divine. I have never looked at Gin the same after that experience.
One of the receptionists at the hostel gave me an eye over and asked me if I was going to Sitges while I was in Barcelona. I was like, what is Sitges? He told me about this paradise sea-side town south of Barcelona and that if I want an awesome beach experience I need to go there. I decided to take the train to Sitges on my last full day in the city, and just spend the whole day and then come back to prepare to depart the next day.
When I arrived in Sitges, I understood why the receptionist recommended it. It is the gayest little seaside town I have ever seen. It was so overwhelmingly beautiful and cute and filled with shops selling swimwear and other beach paraphernalia. I went into this obviously gay swimwear/underwear shop where I bought the smallest swimwear costume I have ever owned. It was blue in colour and made of this lycra material, and it was so beautiful. I wonder where it is? 🤔 It was appropriately called “next to nothing.”
The rest of the day was spent by the beach lazing about, watching gay men prance in speedos, and swimming in the Mediterranean crystal-clear-bath-water-warm sea water. It was glorious. I couldn’t believe my luck of being in Sitges and being guided by the fabulous receptionist who can make spot-on recommendations. This is why I believe in my heart of hearts when you travel, find a local and mine their knowledge of the city you are visiting. Local knowledge of a city is the best travel guide.
When I was supposed to go back to Barcelona, Sitges was just starting to come alive. The drag queens were out and the bars were having happy hour, and I ended having one more drink too many and I missed all of the trains to Barcelona. I partied until the morning hours, and I met this American boy who suggested we go to his hotel and wait for the first train at the hotel. I agreed. I made it to the station in a couple of hours, and I was nervous because I had a plane ride to Berlin to catch. I arrived at the hostel, took my clothes and ran out to catch the subway to the airport. It was a close call but I made it.
I haven’t been to Sitges since, and I worry that my second time won’t live up to the magic of the first trip. The euphoria of my day there was probably also made more intense by the limited time I had there. It left me wanting more.
