Unrequited Love : A Barcelona Story

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Unrequited Love : A Barcelona Story

They say Love Lasts Three Years

I haven’t seen the movie, but I do relate.

My honeymoon phase with Barcelona did in fact last – as per common urban legends – around 3 years. Admittedly, we had our ups and downs, and some fights throughout spring and summer last year. But nothing like the violent breakout last September, which ended with me in the hospital.

Allergies turned Barcelona’s love into hate; our toxic relationship dragged for one more year, and I finally put a stop to it today.

To the Moon and Back (to Cluj)

Looking back at the last 7 years, from the 2 countries that I called Home (for a while) and according to TripIt, 128 trips – over 450 days – in 96 cities and 30 countries, I’ve gone full circle (around earth) more than 16 times – that’s almost to the Moon and back.

And Back. To Cluj. To where it all started.I make this move harboring no illusions: because no matter how much Cluj Napoca has changed for the better, it’s hard to imagine another European city that can compete with my Barcelona.

So even though we part ways today – I’d like to thank you, Barcelona.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

Thank you for giving me the courage to finally learn to swim (and thank you, Elvis)! Thank you for teaching me how to drive, thank you for teaching me proper Spanish.

Thank you for all the walks by the beach, in summer or winter.

Thank you for being my home base to go off exploring the most magnificent hidden corners of Spain:

Castle sleepovers

Concerts in the lavender fields

Concerts on Casa Batllo’s rooftop

Seeing the 1.000.000 blooming cherry trees or the Pink ocean of Aitona

the numerous cava tasting trips (I’ll tell you all about the latest one soon)

All those Game of Throne settings

And medieval villages

And surprising waterfalls.

Thank you for your cheap flights to the Baleares and Canares – with the black sand beaches of Tenerife, the cheeky chipmunks of Fuerteventura, the tropical beaches of Formentera and the cloud forests of la Gomera.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the San Joan festivities and the Fiestas de Gracia. Thank you for the music, the friends I’ve made, the food (oh, the food!) the many sunsets and sunrises.

I am grateful for all the summer nights; the otherwise 210 days of sunshine in a year; the occasional light-storms; and all the G&Ts and the chiringuitos and rooftops.

And since it was definitely not all rainbows and sunshine:

I will most definitely not miss Plaza Catalunya teeming with ever-growing camera trotting tourist hoards. Nor the oh-so-stereotypical bachelorette weekend parties (is Barcelona really your only option, ladies?)

And yes. My nemesis. Those nose scratching, eye swelling, cough inducing (and the occasional anaphylactic visit to the emergency room) Allergies, that brought me to the brink of despair.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

P.S. Here’s a little secret: UnTravel Romania, here I come!

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