Bones Festes Barcelona !!

It is a riot of colors, lights, and people during the Christmas holidays in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The glittering streets, the overflowing crowds, and the festive vibes were alluring to all. I loved that every nook and corner of the city was decorated not just the main squares. The ornamented Christmas trees at various places were prime attractions for the Insta crowds. The long and wide roads had unique lights. Like me, hundreds stood patiently at the traffic signals to get a good shot of the overhead lighting.

Barcelona at any time of the year, is a blissful city with lots of sunshine, even in winter. The general air of laid-backness and chilling on the sunny beaches makes you instantly relax and gel in the vibe. With the growing tourism, there are multiple options to stay and no shortage of restaurants of all cuisines. Public transport is easy to navigate and cheap. I must admit, my views are limited as I was in the central part of the city.

Historically, the city was famous for its ports closer to the Mediterranean Sea, so trade was abundant. However, the love of arts, architecture, and colors stands out the most. The long history of wars, civil uprisings, and revolutions leaves its mark on the monuments, history, and culture. Despite all this, a quick stroll in the city will leave you spellbound with the scale and craft, and doesn't look like a war-torn city. The country continues to be religious hence Barcelona has multiple places of worship.

There is no dearth of things to do and see in this vibrant city for everyone. Throughout my trip, I was lost (at times literally) in arts, culture, nature, monuments, and food. The art history is interesting, one can see the influence of French and Italian art during the Renaissance and Modernist eras. The city has its share of artists like Antoni Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, and others who influenced the art scene. Antoni Gaudi is credited with putting Barcelona on the world map. It's easy to see why so many tourists and art lovers are drawn to his designs and work. The fact that the crowds at the 'Sagrada Familia' ever-increasing after 143 years of his working on it shows Gaudi's influence on the city and the country. There were even traffic jams at a few locations to take pictures of the buildings he designed and built.

You know when you are in Barcelona, the moment you touch down on the 'La Ramblas' street, the most famous street in Spain. Built during the Roman times from the dried-out section stream, hence named Ramblas(Sandy riverbed). Over the years, it was developed into a walking plaza with trees, artistic street lights, and colorful buildings with balconies where residents could observe people strolling this stretch of land from Catalunya Square to the port. The hard-to-miss Columbus statue on the tall column is a good landmark to remember in case you are lost. The famous sailor - Christopher Columbus set his sailing explorations to the New World from here.

The port was renovated during the 1992 Olympics, from an industrial area filled with smoke to a pristine and well-planned area. It is now a haven for tourists and locals alike. It's a wonderful stroll on the huge boulevards that offer views of the Mountjuic (Jewish Mountain), the harbor, ships, and old naval buildings. Hundreds of benches in the area to soak in the sunshine or catch up with friends added to the accessibility. The blue waters of the harbor, the calmness of the air, and the mild sunshine are enchanting enough for anyone. Bones Festes (Happy Holidays) was in the air for sure.