Hello everyone. There is exactly one day left until our Amor Barcelona blog "goes live"! I am very happy and excited. And while there is still time - I want to tell you my story.
My family and I moved to Barcelona from Minsk a little over 9 months ago. The move changed everything: habits, way of thinking and worldview. My friends often ask me if we like living in Barcelona. We definitely do. There are pros and cons everywhere. I will start with the positive aspects:
KINDNESS AND OPENNESS
The first thing that pleasantly surprises me is how the people of Barcelona are attentive to the people around them. At the checkout they often let you through if you have a baby with you or only a bottle of milk. Once a girl stood with us at the elevator just to help me get in with my stroller. And afterwards she just went to her apartment on the first floor. The construction workers on the street courteously pull back the fences for you. Grandma gives you mints on the street because she heard you coughing so hard. A woman turned out of her driveway, parked next to our empty baby stroller, and ran out to see if everything was okay: she was worried that someone had left the baby in the middle of the road.
I could go on forever. And I'll be surprised for a long time to come. Everybody smiles. Everyone is happy to see you, even at the end of the day. It's warm. And I'm not just talking about the weather. Of course, there are exceptions everywhere. In Barcelona, too, you can meet an angry granny or a waiter who is not happy that you don't speak Spanish well. But it's very rare. It is rather an exception to the rule.
life pace
The most important thing Barcelona teaches you is to live in the here and now. There is no need to worry about what was and will be tomorrow. There is no need to worry at all. The philosophy of life here is based on two unshakable concepts: "manana" and "tranquila". Which means "tomorrow" and " stay in peace". These two words are like immutable spells (hello to all those who adore Harry Potter;). In short, there is no antidote for them. Anything that prevents a Catalan from being in the moment falls under "manjana" and "tranquila".
You can postpone almost anything for the sake of your own peace of mind. If you haven't solved an urgent issue by Friday afternoon, forget about it until Tuesday. And on Tuesday it may turn out that it is not so urgent. Close the door of the store in front of the nose of the crowd of tourists, because the siesta begins - the Spaniards know and practice it. They are not about money and career at all. Family and leisure come first. And then everything else, and only if it is for pleasure.
FREEDOM
Freedom here is not a theory. It's a practice. It starts with childhood. I wrote above - children can do anything. Yell - yell, run around - keep it up. I very rarely hear Spanish kids being shushed or yelled at. Growing up in such an environment, Catalans know their rights and regularly seek to improve them: strikes and demonstrations are commonplace here. And they organize them for literally any reason.
There is life and freedom everywhere. In appearance, in words and actions. Here it is easy to express any emotion. Barcelona allows you to just be yourself without judgment and without looking at the opinions of others. Just live as you want and respect other people's freedoms as your own.
CULT OF CHILDREN
On the street, every second grandma will compliment your child. The first thing I learned here were all the synonyms for the word beautiful;) Qué bonita, guapa, guapita - this is what Matilde, my daughter, hears in her address every single day. In any establishment in Barcelona you will be welcome even with a screaming baby. I have never once felt uncomfortable here, nor have I caught any stares. On the contrary, Matilda and I are the centerpiece of the program and the most important element of everyone's pleasure. Because children are sacred here. They can do anything. I really mean it!
And you can also do anything for young parents. And there is no social isolation here. A mother and her newborn can be found on the noisiest café terrace. It seems that Spanish babies have it in their blood. They can sleep at any noise level. And Barcelona is also a city where it's a pleasure to move around with a stroller. The barrier-free environment here is organized at the highest level.
PRODUCTS
There are about 35 markets in Barcelona. The main one is the tourist magnet Boqueria. This is where the honorable seniors go not only to buy, but also to socialize. Vendors and customers are passed down from generation to generation. In short, markets are a cult and a tradition. And for us newcomers, it's a special kind of pleasure. For me, it's almost like going to a museum. Some mornings we just stroll through the market with Matilda, even if we don't need anything. The eye never gets tired of delighting in the exuberance of color and abundance. Flavorful breads, juicy vegetables in every season, watermelons from April, the freshest seafood, an incredible selection of cheeses... Buying avocados from the same lady is a tradition. She will often clarify if I want to eat it today or tomorrow. She'll choose the best, and in the meantime she'll chat with Matilde in Catalan :)
I was also blown away by the selection of organic products: I love the stores of the local chains "Veritas" and "Ametller Origen". You can find everything you could possibly want in them. From cosmetics and household chemicals to farm eggs, fruit and vegetables, legume pasta or a hundred vegetarian options. And all within walking distance of your home.
CLIMATE & SEA
Well, what can I say... I used to think a lot about how climate affects my well-being, mood and worldview. When I moved to Barcelona, I was convinced by personal experience: it matters. Just imagine: here there is no such thing as snow, slush or ice! Even puddles - they dry up extremely quickly! The sun shines here almost every day. Golden Autumn lasts until about the middle of November. In December and February it can be +24 during the day. Some people even manage to sunbathe on the beach and swim in winter.
And if you have some problems or your mood is not so good, you just need to take a bus and relax for a couple of hours by the sea. The salty wind will sweep away all worries! The sea is a gift. Of course, in Barcelona it's not quite clean and in summer it's better to go to the nearest suburbs. But it's available and it's real. You feel the closeness of the sea anywhere in Barcelona. The air here is special. "You have to live by the sea, mom, you have to do what you like and, if possible, not complicate anything..." - remember these lines?
And most importantly, you won't get bored here! There's always something going on in Barcelona: exhibitions, concerts, street fairs, festivals and parades. There are hundreds of attractions, thousands of cafes and restaurants. There are stunning mountains and parks. The eyes are delighted even when you walk down the most ordinary street. Every day I find something new. Every day we work on Amor Barcelona to share the most interesting things and to give you the spirit of this charming city!
