I like re-visiting places. I already have my personal thoughts about it after the previous visit, and because of that I am taking it slower with sightseeing, with less rush and travel adrenaline. See some sights that I might have missed for the first time. I had my flight to Santiago from Barcelona, so it was fairly obvious that I wouldn't miss an opportunity of spending some time in the capital of Catalunya just before the departure. I have been there nearly 5 years ago, after all! I actually flew in to Valencia and then took a bus to Barcelona.
I have difficulty in establishing my relationship with Barcelona, because I honestly love it and hate it at the same time. It is undeniably beautiful and charming, getting lost in the gothic quater is one of my favourite things in Spain. But ugh, the amount of tourists... Not only the tourists, but all the commercial nonsense that goes along like cheap entertainment and guys offering you weed on every corner in broad daylight... I chose a hostel right by La Rambla (the most crowded street in Spain probably) but it was so crowdy in the area that I didn't enjoy it that much.
But well, all the negative things said, let's continue. Slightly irritated as I was, I walked around the Rambla's area spotting the places I remembered from my previous trip. When I was there for the last time it was still winter so I remembered it more gloomy. This was a nice improvement in my mind.
I had a few things prepared that I wanted to see in Barcelona, because I have missed them out for the first time. Climbing up Montjuic was one of them. I did not really know what to expect, and I lazily walked up from a route that must have been very unpopular among tourists, because I only saw locals there. I ascended a set of stairs while walking along the hill from the seaside. The road went through classy parks, not-so-classy parks, picnic spaces and more.
I really got a feeling of the presence of its inhabitants, you know, lots of families just spending time with their children, or going alone to read a book or to practice guitar.
I passed by the Olympic Village and Joan Miró Foundation just to find myself by the touristy side by the famous stairs leading from the National Museum of Art to Plaza Espana bellow. It was the time when the golden hour started giving the city a wonderful warm glow.
I wouldn't be an architecture student if I missed out the pavillion designed by Mies van der Rohe (the father of modernistic architecture as we know it). The pavillion is a replica, actually, but I reckon it was worth seeing after reading about it in class for the hundredth time.
And then for the rest of the evening and the following morning I wandered around hunting for street photography opportunities. I was quite successful.
I believe that Barri Gótic (the gothic quarter) is the most charming early in the morning, when the sun is already up but people are still in beds. Well, not all of them, but it is much less busy at that time.
True, all the venues were still closed and I had to wait for breakfast and my morning coffee, but I didn't mind really. I started off from my hostel on La Rambla and moved slowly uphill through Barri Gótic, then Eixample and then some other districts, the names of which I have forgotten...
Then I had an idea and I couldn't tell back then either was it great or terrible. I thought that I already came so far by foot, so maybe I would climb all the way to the top of mountain Tibidabo by foot? I read some stories on the internet that it is possible and that many people have done it. Besides, it was said that a cool funicular was operating from one station to the top to make the hike shorter. So I started climbing.
But guess what. The funicular was not operating at that time.
I was very angry and didn't feel like turning around and looking for another route once I was that close. Then I saw a trail leading up, my online map also claimed that there was a trail that I could use, so I took my chances and kept on going by foot. It was on a high altitude at that time and the views were already making me feel satisfied of my decision.
But as I climbed and climbed the road transformed into a mountain-like path where I really had to be careful where I stepped. At that time I started to regret my decision because I was very tired and the climbing seemed to last forever.
Being very exhausted, I reached the top after 3 hours of walking and climbing. I shouldn't have done it, but I was extremely proud of myself that I managed to do it.
However, I used public transport to descend the hill.
Barcelona's seaside is great. The port, the beaches... I spent a lot of time there, just sat on the beach and read a book. I felt very calm.
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