This must be one of my favourite cities. Barcelona is known for its art and architecture, in fact the majority of the buildings are works of art in and of themselves. Barcelona is a cosmopolitan capital of the Catalonia region of Spain.

For me it’s a perfect city to just wander. The Gothic quarter is a rats maze where you can get lost a dozen times a day. While the rest of the city is a great layout in a grid, it still exudes a sense of wandering.

Barcelona is a mad house of people and it’s not just tourists. The whole city is outside.

This is my theory and I have no proof to back it up. But when apartments are small it is hard, impossible and uncomfortable to have lots of people in for a dinner party. So what do people do, they walk or ramble around. The city is their living room. That is when they meet friends, family and neighbours.

This monumental design by Anton Gaudi broke ground in 1882 and while I have now seen the outside three times, I hope to get inside after it is completed in 2026!

While watching this basilica under construction I am in awe of what it took to build cathedrals 7, 8 years ago without our modern construction methods and materials.

It’s amazing what one is conditioned to. Here in Barcelona I think the temperature is perfect for walking around, even swimming; so while I am in a short sleeve shirt, Barcelonians are wearing winter coats, scarves, toques, gloves. I am sure they think I am crazy, but I keep telling people I am Canadian 😀 Just an observation!

I did one side trip outside of Barcelona to Montserrat, a monastery village in the hills. Benedictine monks have been living here since the 12th century. The view along with the train ride up the mountain was worth it.

As you have read in previous posts that while on the Camino the food to went from very bad to very good with at least it will keep me alive in between! Barcelona is a foodies paradise.

When you wander the alleyways you find these small restaurants wanting to provide top notch food. Chefs who believe in their calling. And hence I have had some great food experiences.

After walking for 30 plus days and almost 2 weeks of touring around I ended my journey on a high, yet calm and quiet weekend in Sitges, Spain. A seaside town south of Barcelona; similar to what Chester is to Halifax, only a thousand times better!

One final comment. I collected shells in Sitges so if anyone wants to walk the Camino I have a shell for you to take on your own journey!

There is so much I haven’t mentioned or addressed but now it is to head back to Canada.