Abroad Passport: January in Barcelona
Hi from Barcelona! My name is Halle, and I am a junior at the University of Michigan. I am studying in Barcelona this semester. Although it was overwhelming when I first arrived, it did not take long for me to become familiar and comfortable with the city of Barcelona. Living by my school and by the Placa Catalunya was a great move because it is a young, safe, and upbeat scene and where most college-aged people live in the city. I love Barce because it's sunny and on the beach, balancing the urban vibe.
One of the top three attractions I've seen since I've been here is the MOCO Museum, a modern and contemporary art museum featuring Banksy and Tekashi Murikami. It's a great first museum to visit and a great place to take pics. Park Guell was another destination that I absolutely loved visiting. My friends and I got familiar with the Gaudi architecture and took plenty of cute pics with the breathtaking views. Lastly, you must visit the Sagrada Familia, a ginormous centuries-old church, your first month in Barcelona because it is so essential to Catalan (Barcelona's) culture and truly is a sight to see, definitely worth paying to go inside.
It wasn't easy adapting to the Spanish diet when I first got here if I am being candid. But, now that I have spent some time here, I have learned of many go-to spots that have made it much easier to adjust. First, Flax & Kale is the best healthy food you will find in the city. They have salads, tacos, avocado toast, and more which helps make eating healthy while abroad a little easier. Second, Bo De B may not be as low-cal, but it is seriously worth the hype. This hole-in-the-wall authentic sandwich shop is SO good, and if you go, tell the workers what protein you would like and let them handle the rest. Trust them. For dinner, my favorite restaurant is Robata sushi, which just has a great menu, excellent service and has been my favorite place to go with friends.
I don't even really know where to begin with the shopping, but all I can say is pack light because you will be returning home with double the number of clothes you came with. The city is studded with Zara's on every corner, and the fast fashion is real. These stores have entirely new things every week, and you will never leave empty-handed. At this point, I stop at Zara on my way home from class to "pick up a top for tonight." Although I do not support the lack of sustainability, it is definitely great shopping. Zara is great, but make sure you give the cute Spanish boutiques around town a little love. I will never forget my first purchase, a green sweater from a boutique called JG Moda, and it's worth much more to me than the classic Zara sweater. Anything else you might need, whether it's appliances, bedding, bras, groceries, etc., you can find at El Corte Ingles, a 9-story department store with multiple locations throughout Barcelona and is very useful to have.
So far, I have visited two other cities, both of which were incredible. My first trip was to Lisbon, Portugal, with my roommates from UT Austin, Tulane, and Michigan and my other friends from school. The city had so much to offer and was the perfect first trip. The main sight we went to see was the castle (Castelo De St. Jorge) which was an excellent spot for pictures and peacock sightings! The clubs were absolutely insane, with great vibes and music on the water. We went to K. Urban Beach and Lush. Honestly, the dinners we went to blew me away and don't even compare to America. BOA was a sophisticated restaurant with fantastic food and the best waiter named Benny who told us where to go. It's also where we met Mattia, who invited us to a bunch of cool events throughout the weekend. Mano y Mano had insane Italian food, which we ordered absurd amounts of and cleaned off every plate. Lastly, you HAVE to go to Fauna y Flora for brunch, trust.
Last weekend, I went to Madrid, which was another insane time. We went with a bunch of Michigan kids from other cities and the roomies and other Barcelona friends. The highlight was seeing the Palace, which changed my life. If you go to Madrid and don't go inside the Palace, you are doing it wrong. Some great spots we went to for nightlife were Teatro Kapital, Liberty Supper Club, and Goya. Also, go to the Reina Sofia museum to see the Guernica by Picasso and get food at Yitai Asian street food market!
As I am writing this article, I'm shocked realizing all the crazy opportunities and memorable experiences I've had, and it's only been a month! So my final notes are just that if the Spanish people stare at you, they aren't being mean. They're just intrigued by Americans. Also, please don't stay in your bubble and don't just go with the crowd - make your own plans and do your own thing, at least sometimes. And finally, try to learn a little Spanish, it really makes it easier to live here.
¡CIAO from Barça! Until next month!
Written By Halle Zelin, University of Michigan ‘23