After being back in the states for a little over three days, I can definitely say it feels good to be back, but I am missing the culture and people in Barcelona. We landed in Austin Saturday night after an almost 24 hour travel day. We were all exhausted and ready to get some much-needed sleep after our busy two weeks exploring Barcelona.
To start off our second week, we had class time and visited Parliament which was actually very fascinating and beautiful. We ended up cooking at home in our apartment because it was a gloomy Monday. Tuesday ended up being a beautiful day which was perfect since we were outside for most of the day. We visited BCN Activa before heading to Montjuic for an unexpected hike. The view at the top was beautiful and we were able to see a 360-degree view of Barcelona. My roommates and I hurried back down the mountain to make it in time for a rooftop reservation looking at La Sagrada Familia. It was absolutely beautiful.
On Wednesday, we headed to the Port de Barcelona where we heard a presentation and went on a boat tour throughout the port. We grabbed lunch at a nearby seafood restaurant overlooking the water before heading back for class time. The next day we took a bus to Montserrat which was absolutely beautiful. We saw an amazing morning view with no tourists on site. We listened to the choir in the church. The boys’ singing was amazing. I was left speechless. We had a quick lunch at a very good restaurant. Then, we headed to Freixenet for a tour and cava tasting. It was the perfect way to end the day.
After time reflecting on my trip, I can definitely say that there are many differences between Spain and America especially when it comes to the business setting. In America, we very much prioritize work in our daily lives. We constantly see advertisements and get a few days off for holidays. However, in Spain, we all noticed the lack of advertisements. When we got there, everyone was still on holiday. Many times we noticed that shops were closed during the day. In Barcelona, they do not all take a siesta; however, outside cities did. We also saw how much more fast-paced American businesses are. We are all about changing and adapting to technology and trends. It was very interesting and refreshing to see how many companies in Spain did not follow this mindset.
Overall, my time in Barcelona was amazing. I really enjoyed seeing everything even in a short amount of time. I wish I could have been able to experience the city longer, but I know that I will be back.