14 Things You'll Miss When Leaving Barcelona

When your home is other people's vacation spot, you know you're living a special type of dream. I landed another consulting client in this district and walking around, view constantly obstructed by dadbods, cameras, and iPads in the air, frantically trying to capture everything around them, I realize that this stroll I take to "work" is something people have paid thousands to experience. I will never take that for granted. I love this city. I love these people. I love this life. ❤ #entrepreneur #travelblogger #professionalrisktaker #dreamchaser #adventurejunkie #notseekingtreatment

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 26 Mai 2015 à 6h43 PDT

3. Sexy police officers

They wear their hats to the side, they’re always perfectly groomed, and they have a strap on their upper thighs that look like it has no function but to tease. Touché officer. I’ll just be over here committing a petty crime waiting for you to rest on me, ahem, I mean ARREST me.

4. Gorgeous plazas.

In case you forgot the definition of flawless.

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 10 Juin 2015 à 13h14 PDT

5. Parades with giants

I’ve learned to stop questioning Catalan traditions and accept them while silently laughing inside. The first time I paraded alongside “gigantes y cabezudos” (giants and big-heads, usually depicting historical figures or archetypes of the town), I’m not too prideful to admit I may have pissed my pants.

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 22 Sept. 2014 à 7h36 PDT

6. Castells

Catalan pride has never felt stronger than when you’re watching them mount and unmount themselves with this long-standing human tower tradition. It’s simply chilling and something I will never get tired of watching!

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 19 Oct. 2014 à 9h06 PDT

7. Rallies and protests

It’s not Barcelona if you didn’t casually walk into a protest. Whether about independence, taxes, or how much they hate tourists (oops!), the atmosphere is electric.

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 11 Sept. 2014 à 11h52 PDT

8. Sh*tting logs around Christmas time

Caga Tío. The sh*tting log that poops out presents after being smacked by the kids the night before Christmas is all you need to know about Catalan culture. A much cooler story than Santa Claus tries to sell us.

9. Being called “guapa” 10 times during a grocery store checkout.

Spanish is a sexy language. And despite you rolling out of bed 10 minutes before arriving to the local supermarket, expect the cash register woman to call you some form of beautiful multiple times.

10. Amazing festivals.

You can try and keep up with all the festivals in Barcelona, but you will fail. Or at least your liver will. Barcelona finds any reason to celebrate anything.

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 15 Mars 2015 à 13h51 PDT

11. Bars everywhere.

In metro stations, in libraries, in gyms. Thank you, from the bottom of my liver.

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 17 Avril 2015 à 14h40 PDT

12. One of the most efficient metros on the planet.

Barcelona metros are accurate to the very second of arrival. And if running late or early, timers will adjust accordingly so that what you see on the screen is always accurate.

13. Nightlife. Oh, the nightlife.

When a lounge plays music loud enough for you to dance to even though you’re way out on the beach, what more could you really ask for in life?

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 17 Mars 2015 à 22h35 PDT

14. The views

No matter what part of the city you’re in, expect the view to blow you away. Park in the front, city in the middle, mountains in the back, beach on the side. Thank you, Barcelona. That’ll be all from you today.

Une photo publiée par Gloria Atanmo 》The Blog Abroad (@glographics) le 3 Févr. 2015 à 2h40 PST