My first few days in Barcelona have been incredible! I really didn?t know what to expect, but I am so excited to immerse myself in the culture over the next 5 weeks and learn everything that I possibly can about the region of Catalonia.
Our first few days in Barcelona have been jam-packed with amazing food and a lot of sightseeing, which are my two favorite things. We walked 10 miles each of our first two days, and around 6-7 miles each day after. We did a scavenger hunt around La Rambla, a mile-long street where most tourists (and pickpockets) congregate, and it has really helped me orient myself. My apartment is located in a really friendly neighborhood surrounded by local shops and restaurants and only a metro ride away from the heart of Barcelona. I?ve loved getting familiar with the public transportation system and having the ability to walk everywhere.
The first big adjustment that I had to make, besides my sleep schedule, was regarding dinner time and siestas. In Spain, breakfast consists of a pastry and coffee in the morning, lunch is around 1-2 PM, tapas (shareable appetizers) are eaten in the late afternoon, and restaurants don?t open for dinner until 7:30-8:00 PM. It?s not unusual for families to eat around 9:30-10:00 PM. You also need to be conscientious of your time, because most businesses close from 2-4 PM for siesta (nap) time. On numerous occasions during the first week, we had forgotten about this and tried to eat lunch or go shopping only to find that everything is closed. Tapas come in handy on those days and help tie us over until dinner around 8 PM. My favorite tapas so far have been chicken croquettes and fresh bread with a tomato spread and I?ve had the most incredible pizza as well.
I can?t wait for the next several weeks as we explore more of Barcelona and spend a few days in Madrid!
