Barcelona

A few months back, I decided to go to a new country every month. It sounds strange, but moving to London was partly so that I could explore places that weren't London. So I made a list of cities that I wanted to visit, and narrowed it down to return tickets that were under £70. Barcelona didn't make the cut as it was over £90 return, but something changed the way I think. A friend of mine died, it was quite sudden as well. I started realising that you never know which day will be your last, and if I died before I saw Barcelona (a city I've always wanted to visit) because I wanted to save a bit of money, then I was beyond retarded.

So I booked a ticket, packed my bag, and boarded a plane for a place that every skateboarder wants to visit, to a city that I'd been told more than a few times that I'd love. I hear they call it Barca.

Skateboarding

That's the reason we're here isn't it? Barcelona was built to skate! I had so much fun cruising down the alleyways and along to waterfront, MACBA is a must do - although it gets crowded as fuck! Nevermind is a great bar to hang with like minded people if you're a skater.

Coffee

Now unfortunately I've only had a couple of coffees in Barca, and the place that definitely stands out is Satan's Coffee Corner - they just had it down! Great espresso, great pour-over, great service, and a great vibe. I thoroughly recommend checking this place out if you're a coffee enthusiast. It's through a maze of alleyways and I fucking guarantee you'll get lost - but it'll be worth it. I had a fantastic time there, with my makeshift hostel family. We spoke about the differences of where we are from and also of how we drink a coffee. 

The problem with so many coffee places is that they can very easily come across pretentious. The guys at Satan's obviously knew that they knew their shit, but in English, Spanish and Catalan, they were super patient with everybody and more than accommodating. 

Pizza

I only had one slice while I was in town, but it was fantastic! Head over to Circus Pizza for a late night bite. It was simple, nothing crazy, and on point - plus the girl in there was super cute!

Public Transport

The subway system in Barcelona is quite simple to get the hang of, but I'm really sure you won't need it for most things, unless you don't want to walk up to Parc Guelle. Especially if you're a skater, you'll want to cruise the alleyways and see the city from the ground. Taking the subway will probably just limit how well you understand the streets. 

Weather

It's really not going to get that cold here. If you're from a super hot place, you might complain in the winter, but for most homies it just ranges from "lovely and cool" to "lovely and hot". If you go there and complain that it's too hot in the summer, you can fuck right off. Go outside and get a tan, like I've been trying to do for the past twenty years. There's a beach anyway, so no excuses.

Sights

Parc Guelle is legit! I didn't pay the fee to go into the best bit - and to be honest I regret it - but it was still a beautiful spot to hang with my hostel familia. Head down to the beach and walk around as you try to forget about your shitty home-life. Gaudi's buildings are fantastic, and there's a big-ass church that is still being built - lazy cunts! Walk down La Rambla and enjoy your very own pick-pocketing experience.

I loved it in this city! Another little tip is to go to Mercat Princesa. It's basically a fancy tapas food court. Get something from here and something from there, and drink a bunch of wine. I thoroughly recommend heading to this place, you won't regret it!