Barcelona: A Personal Perspective

We flew to Barcelona (via beloved Portugal). By the way, we had our first successful experience with eSIM. We bought it in advance, switched it in the plane, and it started working right away. Convenient and cool!

We booked a hotel in the upscale Eixample district. The views from the rooftop are stunning.

There is a certain difference in traveling when you are not just a tourist. Today my daughter and I went to look at different residential areas of the city where she is thinking of renting an apartment next year.

She currently lives in the very center and she really likes it.

I love Barcelona more and more. I like both the center, which is like a huge architectural museum, and the semi-central areas just as much. There are no tourists in these areas, but there are playgrounds and residential buildings, as well as shops on the first floor, cafes along all the streets, and squares. I just walk around and I WANT IT ALL!

So we went straight to the apartment windows. Prices’re not bad. We saw small one-room apartments for 100K euros. Three-bedroom apartments with two bathrooms go for up to 300K euros.

We spent the afternoon at the Museum of Catalonia. It’s an amazing museum.

But I find a report from the store even more interesting: what’s the price. It’s impressive!

We analyzed it. Meat is the closest in price. Milk is too (we buy in larger quantities). Eggs are 50% cheaper. Yogurt is the price for 4 pieces. Bread is a bag of 12 for a euro!

The weather is… tricky. It’s hot enough in the sun to be in a t-shirt, but as soon as you step into the shade, it’s cool. So it’s best to wear a light jacket over your t-shirt.

You see people on the streets wearing everything from shorts and t-shirts to down jackets.

Our trip took on a whole new dimension today! A new group of holidaymakers arrived from Germany, and the family reunion in Barcelona is off to a great start! We started with the Sagrada Familia. It is as beautiful as ever.

Our vacation is definitely an “athletic” one. We’re constantly on the go, walking over 20,000 steps every day! That’s a lot even for office workers like us.

On the bright side, our stress levels have halved, and we’re sleeping for almost 10-12 hours a night (quality sleep!). The time difference sometimes keeps us up at night, but that’s just a minor inconvenience.

Overall, even though this vacation is physically demanding, it’s also very healthy for us.

After a short break, our friendly team made it through a 4-hour walking tour of the city. Tours are always so interesting, because you learn so much about the culture, history, and even the little things (like the different types of ham or the Spanish-Catalan relationship). For example, there are 3 brothers who run a Michelin-starred restaurant in Girona, and the waiting list is months long. The youngest brother got tired of only feeding “the rich,” so he opened an ice cream cafe on the Rambla for everyone. But… each ice cream is something special, just like you’d expect from a Michelin restaurant.

Some other interesting things about Barcelona:

The city is actively reducing car traffic. Many streets are becoming pedestrian-only, and others are becoming one-way only. But it’s not just about restrictions. The city is also encouraging people to use public transportation and bicycles. A monthly public transportation pass costs 20 euros (a single trip costs about 2 euros). For 10 euros, you can add a 3-month ticket for commuter trains to 6 zones (including the coast and mountains). The city is also building bicycle paths and making it easier for people to rent electric bikes. A city subscription for an electric bike costs 56 euros per year for residents.

It may seem strange and uncomfortable to be without a car, but when public transportation is good, why do you need one? When you need to go somewhere, you can take a taxi or rent a car. It’s cheaper than owning a car.

This is the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat, Cadaqués, about 150 kilometers from Barcelona.

The Salvador Dalí House-Museum is a must-see for any fan of the surrealist artist. The museum is located in the small town of Portlligat, about 150 kilometers from Barcelona. The house was Dalí’s home and studio for many years, and it is filled with his paintings, sculptures, and other works of art.

The museum is open to the public from 10:00 to 18:00 every day except Tuesdays. Admission is €11 for adults and free for children under 9.

If you’re planning to visit the Salvador Dalí House-Museum, I recommend booking your tickets in advance. The museum can get very crowded, especially during the summer months.

Here are some tips for visiting the Salvador Dalí House-Museum:

• Book your tickets in advance.
• Arrive early. The museum can get very crowded, especially in the afternoon.
• Take your time. There is a lot to see and do at the museum.
• Be prepared to walk. The museum is located on a hill, and there are a lot of stairs.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking.
• Bring sunscreen and a hat. The weather in Portlligat can be very hot and sunny.
• Bring a camera. You will want to take pictures of the museum and the surrounding area.