One place and a million emotions!

Life is not without surprises, few may turn good and few may not. We are lucky if that surprise gives us everything we asked for, with all the emotions put together, make us cry in happiness and sadness and in the end give us a package which we can carry proudly for rest of our life, even to our death bed.

I have had one such amazingly exquisite experience last summer which can never be taken away from my remembrance, Barcelona! La Ciutat!

Visiting Barcelona sat on top of my bucket list for long, for the city and the culture around the place, for the craze of Mediterranean atmosphere and primarily for the football. I had nothing to complain when my friends planned for a trip to Barcelona last summer. So that was three of us. The whole trip was planned around a football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, El Classico, the oxygen of the trip. It was no ordinary match, the match which has the capability to freeze the entire footballing world.

More than any other influential factor in the city, this trip was important to me because of the emotions I had been through. I am so contended about the trip now, only because of a then emotional package I carried with me, worth the trade-off.

Dazzling orange sky and the horizon welcomed me at the airport, too much of excitement made us hit the beach as the first thing to do in Barcelona. A terrible choice which we hadn’t realized then. It was already around 21.00 when we reached the Beach (Barceloneta). We enjoyed the sand and the salty wind for quite some time before we decided to head back to the room. The beach was so alluring that made our visit there every single day we stayed in Barcelona, the beauty of the beach was not the only reason we were there but one of many other obvious reasons, like; to share sunbathe atmosphere with other sunbathe lovers.

Then the unexpected thing happened on our way back to the Airbnb place. I was burglarized in one of the most shadowy places in Barcelona, it’s subway. I do appreciate their tactical improvisation and blame my sloppiness, especially in an unknown city which I barely adapted to. I gifted them my precious two-year-old Lenovo k4 note. That incident turned on a whole new perspective for all three of us. Triggered our instincts to next level.

I was standing in the city of my dream, will be going to the stadium which I contemplate equal to a temple, will be attending the highly anticipated match of the summer and I was there without my phone; which entirely cut off from the outside world, navigation to find my way back to the room if I am lost, can’t take pictures of the city as may I wish, Cannot take damn picture of the Stadium and Lionel Andres Messi.

I was not allowed to use any of my friend’s mobile, considering the history I find that reasonable. Things can’t get any worse than that and I felt so lost, but in few instances, it turned as a blessing in disguise. When my friends were busy taking pictures, I stood there capturing moments live. When they were so busy sharing the pictures on the internet I relished the teeny tiny details of the city. Even back at the Airbnb, they were busy with their phones but I sat on the balcony with “harmless red colored Spanish water” in my hands and enjoyed the beauty of the city.

The majestic Sagrada Familia, Casa Milo, Casa Blanca, The Catalunya centrum, Las Ramblas and every part of the city was so artistically impressive. The atmosphere was so lit and it was so orangey. I had so much fun with people from all parts of the world. I could see strong Catalan feeling and flavor among native people rather Spanish.

All of a sudden, I felt so alive, alive yet alone, alone like never. That made me realize the importance of prized people around me, the very people I took as granted, also I missed my parents and I felt horrible that I should at someone else’s mercy to talk with my parents and do anything I want to. Life became so dependable, I have always stayed depended for a small extent, we all have been there always but when there is no choice for you but to entirely depend on someone that will affect your morale and what exactly happened with me.

The one place where I felt togetherness was Nou Camp, the stadium of Football Club Barcelona, the largest stadium in Europe with a seating capacity of 100,000. The experience of exploration is added with its oval architecture. The significance of Camp Nou is its roof because it has no roof, It won’t give you the congested feeling additionally you can celebrate the team along with the mighty sky. From outside Camp Nou looks ordinary but the ceremonious setup can be seasoned only when you get in. I booked a seat on the epicenter of the oval setup, to experience the astonishing top view. Until I climbed six stories I was not able to look at the artistry of the setup when I reached the topmost floor and got through the door, it was just wow, could experience the impeccable halo of the interior atmos. It wouldn’t be too much even if I say I felt getting into a heaven. I felt so connected with the other 80 + thousand people around me, who were present that day; chanting, cheering and singing. Felt the first goosebumps in many years when the best ever player in football history, Lionel Messi came out to warm up. My excitement of watching many great players was quenched with utter satisfaction.Though we lost the match it was one hell of an experience.

If you are a guy and if you plan to take your girlfriend (maybe boyfriend) on a trip to Barcelona, firstly I wouldn’t recommend it, secondly, if you still want to to take her (or him) you shouldn’t miss out Park Guell and Montjuic. Park Guell because of the calm and soothing roads which take you on top of the hill and the for the view of the city and the mighty Sagrada Familia, Montjuic because you can’t find a more romantic castle anywhere else in the city and if you want to know the history of Catalunya.

I have been to many places in past one year but nothing gives me the feeling, experience, and exposure like the one I had in Barcelona. If you ask me if I will visit it again, oh yeah I will and next time it will be definitely Legendary!