There’s nothing that makes me cringe harder than going to a place and having an experience that is following the throngs of other visitors and never coming into contact with local people. If I am going to a place I want to feel the real energy, not just the touch the surface.
So, since 2010 when I left the comfort of Illinois and everything that I knew, it’s become my mission to swan dive into an authentic experience. As for Barcelona — I’ve lived here for more than 12 years now and I know all the ins and outs.
So, when you get to Spain, here’s what to do so you don’t act like a ‘guiri’ — the name the locals call clueless tourists.