Barcelona for solo travellers and travel guide
The sun sets over the mountains in the beautiful, French countryside. After traveling for 15 hours by bus from Paris, I arrived in the heart of Barcelona at 5 in the morning. The bus station was bustling with early morning travelers as people came and went. As I sat in the waiting area, I observed the city slowly wake up. Bakery and café employees arrived and began wiping down the counters and the glass cases. Customers trickled in to purchase coffee or tea as they prepare for their travels.
Soon I lift myself up and wonder down to the metro with just an oversized backpack and rusty Spanish. After a few minutes of staring blankly at a map, I gather the courage to ask for directions from a local. She kindly shows me how to operate the ticket machine and gives me directions to my hostel. Still slightly unsure of my abilities to translate, as we near my necessary stop she tells me to get off here. I pop out into the city from the underground and immediately study the available map to gather my bearings. I trudge up to the hostel backpack in hand exhausted after the long travel.
The receptionist, an older gentleman, kindly and quickly finds an available bed, sets up a locker, and allows me to use the facilities to clean and freshen up. I gently roll to sleep among sixteen other people, pleased I made it to Barcelona, and to my bed without incident. This single incident conveys the city of Barcelona perfectly and Barcelona has proven to maintain these characteristics throughout my three month stay.
