Buenos días, Barcelona y Valencia!
While studying in Paris a few summers ago, I fell in love with Barcelona.
First, I watched L’Auberge Espagnole, a film that follows the adventures of a French graduate student living in Barcelona. Shots of white sandy beaches and incredible architecture left a sizable, Spain-shaped imprint on my mind. Second, I befriended a group of Spanish girls, one of whom was from Barcelona. When they heard I had never tried Spanish food (after I inadevertantly insulted them by asking if it was similar to Mexican food), they made me an incredible feast–and my favorite part was the tomato-based tapas, a Barcelona speciality.
Three years after my infatuation began and a few months after setting it as a travel goal, I’m finally going to see the city for myself. My expectations are a bit tempered after reading a warning about falling in love with Barcelona; namely, that it’s not the perfect paradise that Americans tend to picture it as–it’s a real city, where people work, play and siesta. Along with Barcelona, I’ll be heading to Valencia (with high expectations) and La Tomatina.
And La Tomatina? Well, let’s just say that we European-based travel bloggers are going to try our hardest to put #TBEX to shame at the world’s biggest tomato-throwing food fight. For those who don’t know, Travel Blog Exchange was in June 2010, and basically managed to squeeze crazy amounts of travel bloggers into New York City on the same weekend. All sorts of online friendships finally morphed into real-life interactions through panels and after-parties. Constant tweeting about the fun they were having left those of us on the other side of the Atlantic jealous enough to try and upstage them. I’ll be meeting up (and throwing tomatoes) at the minds behind Suzy Guese, A Chick With Baggage, Freedonia Post and What’s Dave Doing.
I’m strangely nervous about the language barrier in Spain, even though I’ve picked up a few phrases from helpful Spanish-speaking friends and a delightful free iPhone app. I’ve become so accustomed to understanding and being understood in French that I’m a bit anxious about being just another English-speaking tourist again. I keep telling myself that if I managed in Hungary and Czech Republic by myself, I think I should be able to swing another romance language.
I’ve also decided that Spain is going to be a test for me as to the future of travel: are guide books necessary anymore? I’m going to rely on the help of the Twitter community, online Lonely Planet recommendations and scouring the travel blogs of those who have already tackled Spain to see if I can get by without a guidebook taking up valuable space in my backpack. With that in mind, what are your must-sees, must-eats, must-dos in Barcelona and Valencia? Anything you wish you would have known or done differently?
Heads up that posts might be sporadic over the next few days as I attempt to get my fill of sangria, tapas and salsa dancing. Perdón!
