Written by Kristina Mortenson, (University of Minnesota), CET Barcelona, Spring 2026
I have officially been living in Barcelona, Spain for two weeks. Literally such a crazy statement! Before departing from the US, I was so nervous. I was anxious about navigating my way around, making friends, forgetting something important and the language barrier I would likely encounter. I do know a fair amount of Spanish, but I am not yet bilingual. And the main language spoken in Barcelona is Catalán (which I have not learned).
Immediately after the airplane landed and I exited the aircraft, however, my nerves turned into excitement. My sleep-deprived self-saw signs which listed directions in Catalán, Spanish and English. This moment was so exciting to me, because I was officially in a Spanish and Catalán-speaking city. I am in awe about how many languages people speak here. The locals speak Catalán and Spanish, and many also speak English, French, and/or Italian.
My time here so far has been filled with lots of sight-seeing, socializing and food tasting. The vibe here is just IT. I fear I may not return to the US in a few months (Kidding—I’m going bankrupt as we speak). Anyways, over the last couple weeks, I have explored a lot of the city. I must share my adventures…
The One The Only: Sagrada Familia
Sagrada familia is STUNNING. The pictures cannot fully capture the beauty of Sagrada Familia. The famous building was designed by Antoni Gaudí, who is a very important figure around here. The tour was one of the first “big” things I did while being in Barcelona. My friends and I all trekked from our residence hall to Sagrada Familia together, and it was a beautiful walk. Our residence hall is quite close to Sagrada Familia!
On the CET tour, I learned a lot about Gaudí’s vision. His vision for Sagrada Familia represents three facades: the twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, Mary, and Jesus. When the church is finished, each important figure will have a piece of the tower dedicated to them.
Another important aspect behind Gaudí’s vision is the inside lighting. When the sun rises from the east, the colors are cool blues and greens. This is meant to represent birth and a beginning. As the sun goes down in the west, the colors are warm reds, oranges and yellows (this is depicted in the photo above!). This signifies sacrifice and an ending. Gaudí passed in 1926 and the building had not been finished, but his vision for Sagrada Familia is still being carried on today. Fun fact—I can see beautiful Sagrada Familia form right outside my bedroom window!
Casa Batlló
To continue with the topic of Gaudí, Casa Batlló is another famous building he designed. The building is located in a really interesting area. There are a lot of little shops and other famous buildings near Casa Batlló, so there was a lot to see in this area!
The building was completed in 1906 and is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. The shiny colors in the sunlight are indescribable. The building was absolutely glistening. In the picture, you can see Gaudí’s famous mosaic-like style is featured. Legend says the building refers to the story of Saint George or Saint Jordi as the locals would say. Basically, a prince saved the princess from a dragon; the prince stuck a sword through the dragon, and a red rose grew from the dragon’s blood. Now, on April 23, Catalunya celebrates Saint George with lots of red roses and books. The roof of Casa Batlló can be interpreted as representing the dragons’ scales, and the pillars could be interpreted as bones.
Every April 23rd, the balconies on the building are filled with red roses. I will be going back to experience Saint George Day!
Cascada Monumental
Walking and experiencing Cascada Monumental will definitely be a core memory for me. This was actually one of my first sightseeing experiences after arriving in Barcelona. Friendships were just starting to form, and everyone’s excitement was so high. Upon entering the park, I was truly at peace. The water fountain sounds were so soothing and the sun was shining. Someone was also playing a unique instrument in the background. We enjoyed looking at the pretty view and taking lots and lots of photos.
Food & Tapas
Now, I must discuss the food situation. Mediterranean food is absolutely my cup of tea. If you enjoy tomatoes, ham, breads, olive oil and fresh foods then you MUST try Barcelona food. On my very first day here, I had bread with hummus and then a poké bowl. At this moment I knew I would be eating good.
Later during my very first week here, the CET orientation took students to get tapas. If you happen to be reading this and do not know what tapas are, do not fret I am going to explain (I did not know what they were before coming here). Tapas are small Spanish dishes that are slowly eaten and enjoyed by many. Typically you order several different types of tapas, so then you can try many different kids. Some popular tapas are tomato bread, anchovies, olives, ham, and humus with different types of breads.
I have noticed a different way of life here when it comes to food. Firstly, the quality of food here is much higher and fresher than the US. Also, portion sizes are much smaller. When ordering a meal in the US, it can be difficult to finish due to the large portion size. In Barcelona, the amount of food is small.
Eating here is much more of a social event, where you are talking and eating slow. Continuing with this idea, there is not much of an urgency at restaurants. People are not in a rush to eat and then leave. And the waitresses are not in a rush to get you out. This is different form the US, where the restaurant industry is at a much faster pace. I learned there is actually a term for this idea, which is called sobremesa. The term literally translates to “about the table.” During lunch, which is most Spanish people’s largest meal of the day, people converse for a long time. Even after finishing your meal, you do not get up and scurry out. People stay and talk.
I learned and experienced a sobremesa with my Spanish family friends, who picked me up from the airport on my very first day. I ate the pictured poké bowl with Queralt, Claudí and Lídia, who kindly exposed me to this way of living. Also not pictured, but an honorary mention goes to the strawberries. They are the best tasting berries I have ever had. Anyways, stay tuned for next time! Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you start thinking about traveling to Barcelona!