Having spent two weeks here, I’ve come to consider Barcelona the most international and “friendliest” of the big cities, as compared to New York, Paris, London, or Madrid. Among our favorite purchases was our “museum passport” that gave us entrance into six incredible museums (photos below).

Given the holidays, we were missing family and friends, so Kevin and I were fortunate to have spent this time with a kind and fun international group of hosts and guests at Primavera Hostel in the central L’Eixample neighborhood.

Like all cities, there is an underbelly of crime, drugs and homelessness (sadly, my phone was pick-pocketed on New Year’s Eve in Plaza Espanya), as well as an underclass seemingly reserved for African immigrants who collect metal and other discarded material from construction sites and dumpsters and move it around in shopping carts. To them, the city is not so friendly.

To wrap up Barcelona on a positive note, our last day in the city was the first day of 2024 and it was quite magical, beginning with a visit to Gaudi’s truly stunning Sagrada Familia basilica and ending with an uplifting New Year’s Day concert of Strauss, Opera and Ballet at the famous Le Gran Teatre del Liceu and a stroll at night on La Rambla.

Bye Bye Barça!

(Link to prior posts on Barcelona that share more on Christmas in Catalonia, Gaudi gazing, botanical Barça, food favorites, and futbol)