Dear Barcelona,
You’re a city like no other. You aren’t perfect, but you’re unforgettable.
The truth is, I wasn’t really expecting you could draw an image in me. As you can see, I’m this solo female traveler type who avoids being traced by any fleeting moment, who hides from any shadow of emotions. I don’t invest much on feelings as I’ve been so used to a fast-paced world where everyone leaves and I myself leave too. As to why I ended up as a girl who’s carefree, crazy impulsive, and on the go. I move from one city to the other, probably walking out of the hostel door the next day, and would just stick a post-it by the lobby saying “the lower bunk bed at the left is now empty.”
All this time, I thought I was already happy and contented with my travel. I thought I was on the right track, with a straight path. But when I came across you, I suddenly felt lost because, well, I got stuck in you. Day by day, when I got to know more you as a city, it slowly felt like it’s a place where I just want to pause, or sometimes rewind.
The truth is, all I really wanted back then was to set foot in Spain. It was in the dream of mine to explore several Spanish cities that I patiently listed long before. On top of that, it’s also part of the bucket list to tally as many countries I could visited in a lifetime. My target is 50. And that’s why it didn’t come easily into my senses that I would want to stay longer in one city like you, Barcelona.
My peace suddenly got aligned with you.
All along, I was traveling for years, being restless and with no plans to stop. I couldn’t utter any other better word than traveling. Searching for the very reason why, I realized that I was doing that to cover up what I couldn’t find: myself. Traveling had let me find temporary comfort in a chaotic world that has been. I never really asked myself this frequently, but the answer to the hounding question is that my soul was in search of a permanent sanctuary because it’s so tired of not being itself.
I love your warmness. The fact that it is way warmer than other Spanish cities, I enjoyed walking daily through your historic Gothic alleys. You’re old and outdated, but you have an own way to keep up and remain noticeable. Also, you’re a grand city and yet you have a nearby beach. It’s like saying you are formal, but not really. At times when I was longing to return home, being in Barcelona always made me feel warm and an inch away from home.
At the same time, I also love your coldness. While everyone knows that I simply can’t stand the cold, I’d always remember the cold nights in Barcelona that I braved and embraced with open arms. When I chose no warmer because I wanted to embrace your coldness. Yes, you could be as warm as ever on summer days, but you have that unique coldness that got me frozen for days.
They say you’re very touristy, but as time went by, I discovered your tucked corners. Of all the places, Barcelona’s mountain side has got to be my favorite spot. There, I found the simple life I hardly have had with my life in the city. I realized that while I was always busy wanting something grand and loud next to me in life, contentment and true happiness are rather what makes me complete, and they’re found in the simplest things.
When I saw you for the first time, right away I found the beauty in you. But don’t misjudge that I only look at the exterior, because I don’t intend to look at the obvious. To me, what’s more valuable are the things that aren’t easily seen. So while people are quick to say you’re just another busting city, very few people know your hidden beautiful sides. People say to mind your stuff when walking around Barcelona as there are rampant pick pocketing and notorious bad hands, but I never felt more secured in the arms of your city and that only one thing got stolen from me: my heart. I’d always remember that day at the Montserrat, where, I dropped my heart somewhere in the echoing mountains.
With love,
Shelly Viajera
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