Camp Nou & Exploring Barcelona

This past week I made it my mission to explore more of Barcelona. My teachers have been telling us that though traveling is amazing, we will regret it if we do not spend enough time in Barcelona. On Thursday afternoon, I went to Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona, with one of my friends. We began the afternoon by going on the Immersive Tour, which promised an in-depth exploration of the club’s history and its influence on the city’s culture. It felt like we embarked on a journey through time, tracing the footsteps of the amazing players who had played on the field. The tour made it feel like I was actually one of the players and like I was immersed in the team. The walls were adorned with incredible objects, from vintage football boots worn by legendary players to framed old newspapers. The museum’s centerpiece was the extensive collection of trophies. It is one thing to see the trophies through a TV screen, but it was a completely different experience to actually see the trophies right in front of me. As a native of Los Angeles, I had grown up in a city with its own amazing sports culture, rooting for the Lakers, Dodgers, and Rams. While I had always been aware of the worldwide popularity of fútbol, I never truly understood just how important it is to Barcelona culture. However, going on the tour and visiting Camp Nou, truly made me understand just how important fútbol is to the culture of Barcelona. It feels like it is more than just a sport, but rather brings the city together as one.

My weekend began by my best friend from home coming to visit me. It was his birthday, so I packed in a million things for us to do in the short two days he was here. It was his first time in Barcelona, so we decided to do all of the “touristy” things. We began the weekend by walking to La Sagrada Familia. Though I have been many times, as it is right near my apartment, the beauty of it never fails to amaze me! We then walked around the city, making our way to Parc de la Cituadella. My friend is studying abroad in London, and he was excited to experience the beautiful nature in Barcelona. We strolled along the tree-lines paths, looked at local artists at work, and even rented a boat to paddle on the lake! At first, I was hesitant to embark on all of the “touristy” activities, however, it made me realize that I have so much more of Barcelona to see. Later that day, I, of course, had to take my friend to try paella. We went to a restaurant right above the ocean and ordered their most popular paella. Josh, my friend, told me he wasn’t sure if he was going to like it, as he is a pretty picker eater. However, he took his first bite and I smile appeared on his face. I loved watching my friend experience the culture and people of Barcelona, as I got to view the city through his eyes.