We are leaving Barcelona tonight and it's so sad because I've really loved it here. It's a magical city and every nook and cranny has something worth exploring. Here's what's different about Barcelona (compared to other places we've been):
1. The official language is Spanish, but a different dialect than what we're used to. For the most part, it seems similar (but what do I know, I don't speak Spanish), but I did notice they pronounce their 'c' as a 'th.' So, 'gracias' is really pronounced 'grathias.' I haven't heard that in any other Spanish dialect, but again what do I know.
Along with Spanish, they also speak Catalan. Everything in Barcelona is translated into Spanish, Catalan and English.
So far, we haven't had to use any Spanish because everyone speaks English, even in our neighborhood, which is far less touristy.
2. Barcelona is considered the capital of Catalonia and they're actually trying to become their own country and leave Spain altogether. Catalans not only speak a different language, but have their own culture and don't want to be considered Spanish.
3. The food here is cheap compared to everywhere else we've gone (and compared to home), especially if you shop self-service. We can buy a week's worth of grocery's and snacks for about $50-$60. And that's splurging because we load up with snacks. If you're on a food budget, Barcelona is the place to be. Don't get me wrong, restaurants in the touristy areas can still be pricey, but if you leave those spots, you can get a decent meal at a decent restaurant for 10 Euro easy.
Tapas have been overrated, in my opinion. I haven't had them in a bunch of places, but when I have had them, they're nothing special and usually cost almost as much as a regular sized plate. They usually consist of potatoes, olives, seafood and sometimes meats. I've dabbled in each and been unimpressed. I probably just haven't gone to the right places, so don't take my word for it.
Paella however, has been wonderful. I've had it a few times and it's been great every time.
4. Taxis are also cheaper here than anywhere else we've been. However, they definitely find their way to get over on people by adding all these extra fees for luggage and for picking you up in certain areas. On a normal day though, you can get across town for about 5 to 7 Euro.
5. Attractions are expensive in Barcelona. You can end up going way over your budget just to see all the sights, which is something that isn't usually the case in other parts of the world. Plan on spending between 10-20 Euro on each place you go (and sometimes more for the audio guide).
6. Even though it's a big city, I feel like people are more easy-going here. They are definitely more accommodating to tourists, which is good because tourists are everywhere. Everywhere you look, you can find hoards of tourists and big, red double-decker buses packed with people. I think living in the neighborhood of Gracia was perfect because it's not a really touristy neighborhood, so we got more of a local feel.
1. The official language is Spanish, but a different dialect than what we're used to. For the most part, it seems similar (but what do I know, I don't speak Spanish), but I did notice they pronounce their 'c' as a 'th.' So, 'gracias' is really pronounced 'grathias.' I haven't heard that in any other Spanish dialect, but again what do I know.
Along with Spanish, they also speak Catalan. Everything in Barcelona is translated into Spanish, Catalan and English.
So far, we haven't had to use any Spanish because everyone speaks English, even in our neighborhood, which is far less touristy.
2. Barcelona is considered the capital of Catalonia and they're actually trying to become their own country and leave Spain altogether. Catalans not only speak a different language, but have their own culture and don't want to be considered Spanish.
3. The food here is cheap compared to everywhere else we've gone (and compared to home), especially if you shop self-service. We can buy a week's worth of grocery's and snacks for about $50-$60. And that's splurging because we load up with snacks. If you're on a food budget, Barcelona is the place to be. Don't get me wrong, restaurants in the touristy areas can still be pricey, but if you leave those spots, you can get a decent meal at a decent restaurant for 10 Euro easy.
Tapas have been overrated, in my opinion. I haven't had them in a bunch of places, but when I have had them, they're nothing special and usually cost almost as much as a regular sized plate. They usually consist of potatoes, olives, seafood and sometimes meats. I've dabbled in each and been unimpressed. I probably just haven't gone to the right places, so don't take my word for it.
Paella however, has been wonderful. I've had it a few times and it's been great every time.
4. Taxis are also cheaper here than anywhere else we've been. However, they definitely find their way to get over on people by adding all these extra fees for luggage and for picking you up in certain areas. On a normal day though, you can get across town for about 5 to 7 Euro.
5. Attractions are expensive in Barcelona. You can end up going way over your budget just to see all the sights, which is something that isn't usually the case in other parts of the world. Plan on spending between 10-20 Euro on each place you go (and sometimes more for the audio guide).
6. Even though it's a big city, I feel like people are more easy-going here. They are definitely more accommodating to tourists, which is good because tourists are everywhere. Everywhere you look, you can find hoards of tourists and big, red double-decker buses packed with people. I think living in the neighborhood of Gracia was perfect because it's not a really touristy neighborhood, so we got more of a local feel.
Since yesterday was our last full day, we went to the beach one last time to watch the sun set.
We saw this old couple and thought they were just the sweetest:
I hope I'm still dipping my toes into the ocean at that age!
As sad as we are to leave, we are so excited to get to Greece! We are staying on the island of Rhodes, which was recommended to us by Aaron's brother-in-law. Since Aaron wants more of a city feel and I want more of an island feel, Rhodes sounds like the perfect mix of both. It's not very close to Athens, so we have to take a second flight to get there. Here's a map:
Athens is smack in the middle and Rhodes is on the far right. It's an hour flight and seems way far off from everything else, but it looks like an amazing place. Plus, we'll probably go island-hopping a little (depending on how expensive it is).
Here are some pics of our new apartment. It's not all that modern and supposedly has crappy internet, but we got a deal we couldn't pass up!
So that's it! Our flight is at midnight (3pm in California), so today will be a day of packing, cleaning and relaxing before our flight.
See you in Greece!
Glad you made it there. Sounds idyllic.
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