Why it’s better in Barcelona

Spain is the most exciting country I have been discovering. Nobody wants to talk about its islamic past but it creeps in like a fog every morning. Islamic Spain was nearly for 800 years! The most sophisticated education, music, poetry and medicine was introduced by the muslims; while the rest of the Europe were still in mud. Al-Andalus is the most evident part of Islamic Spain.

This history is never talked about. However, flamenco, Cordoba, Alhambra, poetry, palm trees, famous bath houses, Sevillia, Granada is magical and it was introduced by the muslims! No one wants to talk about it today because it’s an inconvenient truth. It’s popular not to like the muslim world. I leave the history part to the historians. However, I do hope you visit South of Spain at least once in your life and keep your heart open.

I used to live in London for over 14 years. I was born in Lithuania. I lived in Rome for about three months then moved back to Lithuania. After seven months I went back to London. Now I live in Barcelona. I can tell you in Barcelona it’s better than anywhere else I have ever lived and been so far. Maybe it’s because I am creating a life with the love of my life or maybe it’s because it’s a marvellous place to be for the soul!

Nature

Barcelona is a European city with a beach. What I have discovered it is a city with a beach, mountains, horses and much more! The culture here is a lot to do with the outdoors. I live on the highest point of Barcelona called Tibidabo. It’s most known for an amusement park. It’s where Woody Allen filmed Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I live in a quiet part, away from the amusement park, on the other side, although it’s just 5 min walk from there.

On weekends I’d encounter Spanish people on walks. Spain is famous for pilgrimages and long walks. No wonder this town is full of natural parks. On my almost daily runs I encounter cyclists thinking they are on “Tour de France”. I mean nature not a park as we know Hyde Park in London. I am talking about natural nature a mountain with its own path that can take you up or down or a windy road to wild bores and bunnies.

Horse clubs seem to be as common as beaches here. What’s more exciting is, people in the club, are as relaxed as cats in the sun. It doesn’t seem to worry them we haven’t paid the bill since January. You book a class and cancel the last minute — they are cool. No extra fees for cancellations. People are alive to their true values. They understand sometimes unexpected circumstances arise.

The horses in the club are the most chilled animals I have ever seen. What’s to worry? They live in a massive natural park with their friends (other horses), they have south facing views and some of them don’t even work that hard. A dream life! What about the beach?

The most well known beach in Barcelona city is Barceloneta where we used to live. We used to call it “the Piccadilly Circus” of Barcelona. Simply because of the amount tourist would walk there day or night. If you go to the beach there’s an area for nudits right next to the W hotel and the area for the rest of the tourist.

You won’t be disappointed every five minutes you will be offered a 5 euro massage by the sweetest Chinese ladies. You will be given a chance to try out your negotiating skills too for a cooling mojito brought to you. If you want to discover other beaches you’d have to get out of Barcelona but close enough like Castelldefels, Stiges or near Girona.

People

I haven’t ever seen a nation willing to help and not have any prejudice about you; from the potter in your apartment building, cleaner and people on the streets to the rich. The driving school owner looks like a happy hippy. They seem to be relaxed about the system but always meet the requirements. They don’t stress that I haven’t got a green NIE yet instead they book me in for another driving lesson.

People at a bank love spending time with you as if it’s your last day on earth. My husband and I went to the bank at 10am and left at 2pm. All we were doing is updating our existing bank details. I love how some people will go out of their way to help you.

The other day a funicular broke at Peu del Funicular station. The staff organised a few taxis to take people up and down the mountain free of charge. The cars passing by would offer a lift to a person from a queue waiting for a taxi. The lady at the supermarket would go out of her way to help us park so she can speak a bit of English. The list is endless.

The little bits of kindness and magic you see on a daily basis. You’d think this type of kindness no longer exist but in Barcelona it’s very much alive! The waiters with tears in their eyes would be apologising they are closing for lunch and have to turn us away. The shop owner carry your celery for you. And, of course, they all want to feed you. Some of the Spaniards would get angry like funderstorm if you are in their area and don’t say hello.

Bureaucracy

Like in any Southern European city I can’t escape bureaucracy. Having said that, they’ve got a system where everything works (eventually). It does sound complicated at first, but once you get all that’s required, it all works. I cannot understand how, and I wouldn’t be able to explain it, but it does work.

For instance, everyone living in Spain needs to get a Padron; it is a shorter for something I cannot remember. You have to go to an office and within 15 min you get your Padron provided you have all the paper work they need.

On the other hand, we are building a house and waiting for planning permission for more than six months. As the Spanish saying goes: “Las cosas del palacio van despacio’ which means “things from the palace go slow’ and it does. However, the slowness of things somehow doesn’t irritate me. It’s just how it is.

Instead, you ride your horse or have more pallea, go for a swim in a sea, hang out with the Spaniards sipping tea in a mountains. You know eventually it will all work out. The Spanish are not mean people they genuinely want to help you, however, you have to follow the system.

Life

Life in Spain is in colour! The food, the people, the nature, the music, the weather and everything around you is in colour. You are alive to your own human emotions of life. You are not in a rat race of corporate ladder to earn more, be more, date more, drink more and etc.

The only person you are in a race with is yourself from the past. You continuously think on how to improve yourself, be better, what to create that matters, how do I contribute to the world to help people…

People have real values. The values of what really matters! They go for lunch from 2pm — 4.30pm or even 5pm. This gives you time to spend with your loved ones, get a real break from work because what really matters is your soul and family. And yet they seem, as a nation, to work the longest hours.

People are genuinely relaxed, happy and nice. Because they eat food in colour and have a life in colour. My horse teacher sells horses for a living. She sings in her spare time and exercises one hour a day every day.

The happiest person I have met. A vet has the most luxurious life one would say but it’s a norm in here. Horses, a house, a place by the sea goes on a holiday with horses to an amazing vila in August. A life that’s what matters here.

People tend to work really hard but they are happy. Not happy, as one would be wearing a mask like an actor on the stage, but actually happy. People are real. It’s not like I have experienced in England.

You spend hours investing in someone and it turns out to be a total moron. A stiff upper lip people, who are not honest about anything let alone feelings. The kindness I have seen in Barcelona is like nowhere else in the world.

Art and Culture

There’s more art and culture in Barcelona than in the Louvre museum. I am not comparing the Louvre it’s one of the beautiful museums I have ever been to. What I am saying is, art and culture is bursting out of every corner in Barcelona.

Everyone is creating something! No matter what it is, whether it’s a new app, a new business or a new Picasso painting. Every street you walk on you get inspired to either sing, draw or dance. Gaudi buildings in Barcelona continuously inspires artists; add a great weather and the people it’s a magical combination.

No one is in competition. Instead, they are learning from each other and inspire one another. Not only that, people are creating yoga and art; drawing and meditating; drawing and horses; and writing and horses….you name it; you’ll find it here.

There’s always something on! Various events almost every night of the week. The variety of music is anything from exuberant flamenco to an abstract jazz or simply cuban — sexy salsa on a dance floor. You fancy an art exhibition — you won’t get disappointed. The art exhibitions here are cool with music and drinks and all kinds of things.

On some weekends I hear the flamenco sounds echoing in the mountain like a quiet reminder of islamic Spain telling me of its past. Our neighbour is a flamenco dancer/singer. There’s various writer groups in Barcelona. Some are pretentious! I have been to an amazing dance performances.

Whatever art form you wish, it’s here! It’s easy to create here because of so much colour and beauty around. It comes from a soul not because someone has been recognised by some art institution. What people actually care about is the art that grabs your soul and won’t let go of you until you leave some of your soul behind.

Final thoughts

From a mountain to a beach is 20 min by car. That’s what makes it so wonderful. You have a life where real nature is seconds away. Whatever your soul desires it can have it within minutes!

What important to note is that your own attitude matters! If you have an attitude like your “shit don’t flush” trust me you’ll get the same back. It’s like anywhere else in the world!

The sad thing about Barcelona is the latest brand of mass tourism! They are like a bad breath that simply won’t go away no matter how hard you try. They act worse than wild animals. Well, animals wouldn’t act like they do.

I saw drunk English guys peeing in the reefs in a middle of the city. Women dressed up like prostitutes thinking it’s fun to spend a hen night kissing people stopping in their cars and disturbing traffic.

The problem is they think they are better than anyone else so it gives them a permission to act like the scums of the earth. And they are continuously drunk. No wonder the hospitals are filled with 20 somethings with hepatitis issues! I understand it’s a holiday for them but it’s the home for many.

Islamic Spain is so alive in Spain you just have to open your eyes. It’s in the food, in the kindness of people, medicine and education. The Moors, as they are known, are the Spaniards today and they are very much alive like many years ago. Your soul becomes alive here.