On a quest to find hidden gems in Barcelona

Posted by Robert John on May 17th, 2021

If you are a guy or girl who loves soccer, there's a good chance you know FC Barcelona. For the readers who have no idea what I am talking about, FC Barcelona is a Spanish professional football club based in Barcelona. It's colloquially called Barca. I am a football player as well. I play center forward in my college football team. It is my lifelong dream to play for Barca. I come from a regular middle-class family, so I was aware of my family's financial limit. I never asked my parents for expensive things. And if you are or know a middle-class family, you know that everything is expensive to some extent. Families like us save all year to have enough presents for Christmas or other significant festivals. I, too, was saving for a trip to Barcelona and be able to attend a football match, ever since I was 8 years old but couldn't come close to afford a trip.

One day out of nowhere, I got a call from my parents to get home early. I finished my practice and went straight home. They were in the living room sipping tea. Imagining the worst-case scenario, I thought something terrible must have happened. Looking at their relaxed faces, I felt calmer. I asked them what was so urgent. My mother handed me an envelope. I opened my envelope, and there it was- a return ticket to Barcelona with hotel bookings. I felt like crying; I told them I couldn't take it as this must have cost them a fortune. They said they were lucky and got a great deal on flights and hotels. My flight was next week. But then the nationwide lockdown happened. I had no choice but to cancel my flights. I was given a travel voucher for future travels. I was doubtful of any future plans. After spending months on my couch watching re-runs of football matches, I was bored to tears.

But like a miracle, the lockdown was lifted, and Barcelona opened its borders for foreign travelers. I contacted the airlines and booked my flight to Barcelona. Three days after, I was standing at Barcelona Airport looking for an airport shuttle. I checked in at my hotel, took a shower, and went straight to Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is the most visited tourist spot in Barcelona. The entire street was bustling with crowds. Stalls were selling local goods, performers giving an exquisite performance on the streets. I spotted a café and ordered entrepa and bocadillo. It was the closest thing to a sandwich but ten times more delicious. I would recommend it to anyone who loves bread. It was also really inexpensive. I started walking along the street, taking in the life of Barcelona. I even spotted some kids practicing football tricks at the corner of the road. I knew there no matches happening in Barcelona but just being there made me feel like I am already a part of the club. Next, I made my way to the highly famous, Gothic Castle. It was a challenge to figure out the maze of tiny alleys and even more obscure corners. Despite being very good at reading maps on Google, I had to ask locals to point me to the Cathedral of Barcelona. The Cathedral was so grand in its own way. The architecture was something I had never seen before. It had elements of darkness and light fused together.

I made my way to Poble Sec, a street dedicated to local delicacies of Barcelona. The street was flooded with tourists and locals alike. With no particular café in mind, I picked Pinchos, a Spanish classic with a twist, and walked while nibbling on it.

The trip brought me closer to my dream. I thought I would never be able to get a great deal on flights after canceling it, but thanks to United Airlines Manage Booking, the entire process was seamless and built my trust in United.