I wanted to hit my daily goal of 10,000 steps last night, so I decided to take a nighttime walk along the port of Barcelona. I hadn’t expected it to drizzle all evening—not enough to get drenched, but just enough to clear the streets, leaving the city unusually quiet. Peaceful, actually. That’s the word. It turned out to be one of the most tranquil walks I’ve taken in a while.
It’s rare to see the port of Barcelona so empty at 7 p.m., free of crowds and tourists. There’s something about the locals here—just a hint of rain is enough to keep most of us indoors, spoiled by the city’s almost constant sunshine.
As I walked, I was reminded of how beautiful Barcelona truly is. It’s easy to take it for granted after living here for over a decade. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve overstayed my time and that it’s time to experience somewhere new—another culture, another language, that rush of novelty I always crave when I travel.
And yet, who would’ve thought that a simple walk on a rainy evening—seeing the city lights reflected in puddles, the streets almost empty—would make me feel so grateful to be here?
Funny how it’s the unexpected moments that remind you why you’re exactly where you need to be.
