Postcard Journeys: Discovering Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸

Spain. What do I say? Magnetic, beautiful, fascinating — the three words that come to mind when I think of Spain. Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing a bit of Western, Central, and Northern Europe. However, this was my first time travelling to the South of Europe, and if I had missed this, oh boy, I would have regretted it so badly!

Whilst in Spain, Ricky and I explored a bit of everything — the charming city of Barcelona, the beautiful mountains of Montserrat, and the most stunning beach I have ever visited in Sant Pol de Mar. As I write this on the flight back to London Gatwick, with a flat white in hand and Ricky fast asleep in the seat next to me, I can still replay one of my favourite moments from this trip - us sitting on the beach, laughing, chatting away, sipping coffee, whilst allowing our feet to be soaked by the soft Mediterranean tides.

Ahhh, well! I want to write this chronologically — right from when we landed at BCN Airport to when we walked past the Sagrada Família one last time before taking the metro to the airport! But I feel like I can’t structure this blog the way I have with my previous travel blogs. The reason is simple: there is just way too much good stuff to write about! Maybe I’ll go back and re-edit this, but a part of me doesn’t want to, because I want to keep it as real as possible. We’ll see how it goes, and hopefully you’ll enjoy reading this as much as I’m enjoying writing it.

We landed in Barcelona and headed straight to our homestay, just 100 metres away from the Sagrada Família. The Sagrada Família is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world — and one of the longest-running architectural projects in modern history. This extraordinary basilica blends Gothic influences with Gaudí’s signature organic, nature-inspired style, creating a structure that feels alive, fluid, and deeply symbolic. Construction began in 1882, and Gaudí dedicated the last 40 years of his life exclusively to the project. At the time of his death in 1926, only a small portion had been completed. Today, the basilica is still under construction, and it is hoped that it will be completed by the end of 2026. We also purchased tickets to explore the inside of this magnificent basilica, and it was definitely so worth it. From the stained-glass windows to the jaw-dropping interiors, the Sagrada Família was truly a vision and we took our time to make the most of our indoor tour around the basilica.

Our time in Barcelona also included visiting Park Güell, where we — along with many other travellers — witnessed Gaudí’s wonderful artistic monuments. It felt like stepping into a fairytale (pretty much all of Spain makes you feel that way!). The colourful ceramic mosaics created an atmosphere that was deeply whimsical. It was also lovely to see how the park reflected Gaudí’s signature approach: drawing inspiration from nature, geometry, and Catalan culture. Although the park itself was absolutely stunning, it was packed with tourists (to be expected!), which we found a bit challenging. I guess arriving early in the morning would have made the experience much more smoother. Our favourite part of the park was the upper terraces, which offered panoramic views of the city and the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

After Park Güell, Ricky and I headed to Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, two iconic, UNESCO-listed residential buildings designed by Gaudi. Casa Batlló is famous for its colorful, marine-inspired facade and "bone-like" balconies, while Casa Milà is known for its grey, undulating stone structure. Although both buildings had a story to tell, we both preferred Casa Batlló over Casa Milà due to its colour and unique design.

When it comes to Spanish cuisine, I want to say it’s one of the best in the world. We had the best paella from Restaurante Sea Breeze Beach House, located on Barceloneta Beach. It took over 45 minutes for the food to be prepared, but the wait was definitely worth it. Although we had already tried paella with chicken and bean sprouts on the first day, this time we wanted to try seafood paella (I approached with caution!), and we both loved it. We ended our meal with sangria and Spanish flan (Spain’s national pudding), which made the evening complete 😊

On our second day in Barcelona, we were fortunate enough to visit the stunning Montserrat. A trip to Barcelona is not complete without visiting Montserrat — it was truly one of the best decisions we made. The majestic mountains conceal a historical and spiritual treasure: the Montserrat Monastery. The monastery has its roots in the 9th century when a group of Benedictine monks established themselves in this remote, mountainous location. Their choice was intentional; they sought solitude and spiritual communion with nature.

The isolated location and breathtaking natural beauty of Montserrat provided the perfect setting for monastic life and contemplation. Alongside this, Montserrat is enveloped in an intriguing legend involving the Black Madonna. According to the legend, in the 9th century, the image of the Virgin Mary was found in a cave on the mountain by shepherds. The figure earned the name “La Moreneta” (meaning “the little black lady”), and she became a symbol of hope and devotion for the Catalan people. The Virgin of Montserrat is widely venerated and is the patroness of Catalonia. My favourite moment was when we walked towards the shrine and finally got to see the Black Madonna. As there weren’t many tourists, it was a beautiful experience — calm, spiritual, and moving. We grabbed some coffee and pastries before heading back down to catch our train to Barcelona. We even had a bit of an adventure when we discovered that the last cable car from the mountain had already left — our only option was to hike down! It took me right back to my university days, when I was part of the Hiking and Mountaineering Society at the University of Worcester. Oh, how fun it is to see the world I thought!

Our time in Barcelona also included visiting the most stunning beach in Sant Pol de Mar. Although it was a bit chilly, we arrived in time to see the sunset, splash our feet in the sea, and admire the beauty of the beach. What makes Sant Pol de Mar truly special is that it is not a major tourist destination. You can escape the hustle and bustle of the city, bring a book, and enjoy lazy lunches by the sea. We didn’t stay too long at the beach as we were flying back the next morning to London Gatwick and wanted to hit bed early.

So, here I am now on the flight back to London, reminiscing about the memories and the wonderful time we had in Spain. I fondly remember the conversations Ricky and I shared with our lovely host at the homestay. Choosing to stay in a homestay rather than a hotel was one of the best decisions we made. We learned so much more about the Spanish way of life by living with a family who were keen to share their perspectives. I’ve always been someone who wants to travel for culture, not clout, and this journey was a reminder that I should continue travelling that way.