Studying abroad has been a dream of mine for quite a while now and Barcelona is the perfect destination. I have always loved the Hispanic culture and wanted to learn Spanish via immersion. The opportunity to study international business and the European Union with an emphasis on economic affairs is unique and has me ecstatic about the next few weeks.
We arrived in Barcelona on Friday, July 9th. Since then, we have visited Sagrada Familia, competed in a scavenger hunt in multiple districts, and enjoyed exploring the city. Sagrada Familia was absolutely spectacular and the attention to detail on the entire project is extremely impressive. The Barcelona Archdiocese’s commitment to finish the Basilica and fulfill all of Antoni Gaudi’s wishes is admirable. The scavenger hunt gave us a chance to explore the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas, and Passeig de Gracia. We were able to learn about the history of all three places and see the key sites of each district. The Gothic Quarter had a few beautiful ancient buildings and interesting enough had some Roman influence. Las Ramblas has a beautiful main street with trees lining a massive walkway filled with shops and people. There was a historic fountain we saw that is said to make you fall in love with the city if you drink the water. Passeig de Gracia is also a very historic, beautiful district of the city. There was a stunning building designed by Antoni Gaudi within the district among other impressive pieces of architecture. We capped off the scavenger hunt with a phenomenal meal at a local restaurant. We were given tons of classic tapas to try and they were all great. Exploring the city has been the highlight of the trip thus far. We are living in the Sant Antoni district, which is full of music and color. There is a huge renovated market right next to our apartment that has been extremely convenient for snacks and any essentials. We have also visited the beach on multiple occasions. We have been to La Playa de Barceloneta, La Playa de Mar Bella, and Platja de Sant Sebastia. All of the beaches are always packed and full of tourists from all over the world. Barcelona seems to be somewhat of a melting pot of people, given we have met people from Ireland, France, and Denmark. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has not treated this city well and restrictions were recently put into effect. Nonetheless, the city has been full of life and energy. The city was electric during the Euro 2020 Final on Sunday night, even though Spain lost in the semifinal. The passion for soccer is contagious and something I wish the United States had.
We are fortunate enough to have traveled to Spain with the brilliant Dr. Panina. She has had great recommendations and advice for places to go and tips for navigating the busy city. The metro has also been very convenient in navigating the massive city and helping us get to where we are supposed to be on time. I am looking forward to the next four weeks in this beautiful, colorful city with other Aggies who share my passion for experiencing new things.