Carter Henderson is a student at Kansas State University and a Featured Blogger. He is studying with ISA in Barcelona, Spain.

Hola,

I have been studying abroad in Barcelona for just over two weeks now. Already, I have been able to explore much of the city and try many new things during my time here. I have also had the chance to take weekend trips with ISA to Costa Brava and Valencia, Spain. I want to share with you my perspective and experiences in each of these cities so far, as well as how they compare to each other. 

Barcelona

Barcelona is the largest city I have ever visited in my life. Being born and raised in Kansas, this was an almost overwhelming change in my lifestyle. However, I quickly got used to the way of life in this city and am absolutely loving it so far.

Barcelona is a very diverse and touristy city, filled with many young people. The main languages spoken here are Spanish, Catalan, and English as well. Barcelona is a bustling city with lively streets; it seems as if this city never sleeps. It is known for its nightlife, which, based on what I have experienced thus far, is incredibly fun.

It is also known for its iconic architecture, such as the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell (both works of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí). Both of these places are stunning with vibrant colors and designs. My favorite thing to do here is simply roam around the city aimlessly. I love going to different restaurants and bars and trying new food/drink. The tapas here are incredible. 

Costa Brava

Costa Brava is not a city, but a region on the coast of Spain that is made up of many different small cities. My first full weekend in Spain, I visited the Costa Brava. My friends and I stayed in Roses but took a boat tour to have lunch in Cadaqués. Both of these are small coastal towns with some of the most beautiful beaches that I have ever seen. The seafood in these towns was also off the charts.

On the way home the next day, we stopped in Figueres and had a guided tour of the Salvador Dalí Museum. This was legitimately one of the coolest museums I have ever been to. The museum as a whole felt like one large piece of artwork. The vibe in Costa Brava is super laid back, and everyone seemed to really enjoy the lifestyle that these towns had to offer. 

Valencia

Just this past weekend, I stayed in Valencia for two nights. It is similar to Barcelona, but it is more spread out and it seems more authentically Spanish. Valencia is also the birthplace of paella. It is known for the City of Arts and Sciences, which is a collection of a science museum, a massive aquarium, an opera house, and more.

Our second night there, some sort of festival was going on in the streets we were able to see a lot of fireworks from a rooftop bar. Then, my friends and I went into the packed streets, where they had food, drink, and free live music. In my opinion, the nightlife here rivals that of Barcelona.

Overall, I think my favorite city I have been to so far remains Barcelona. It is just huge with so much to see and do. Valencia is similar to Barcelona, but it just has a different culture and city layout. Costa Brava is very different from the two; it offers a much more relaxed atmosphere with abundant natural beauty. I have loved exploring Spain’s east coast. While I’m still discovering Spain, I’m already eager to explore more of Europe and share those adventures with you.