¡Hola, mis amigos! That’s hello in Spanish, the language spoken in beautiful Spain.

On my 18.4km journey from Sabadell to Barcelona, my little gnome legs were aching but my spirit was high. The cityscape gradually changed from the industrial vibe of Sabadell to the vibrant and bustling Barcelona.

The most interesting observation was the stark contrast in architecture. In Sabadell, the buildings are more traditional and rustic, while Barcelona flaunts the creative genius of Antoni Gaudí. His works are scattered throughout the city, turning it into an open-air museum. Casa Batlló was a particular standout with its unique and colorful design. As the Spanish say, “No hay nada como el hogar” – “There’s no place like home.” And boy, would I love to call that place home!

It’s day 46 on the road for me and I’ve clocked up a whopping 1158.5 kilometers on foot! I’ve recently stopped by Vilafranca del Penedès, Castelldefels, Sabadell, Barcelona, and Moià. Each city has its own charm and quirks, and it’s been a joy to experience them all.

Remember, as the Spanish proverb goes, “Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.” – “Traveler, there is no path, the path is made by walking.” And boy, have I been doing a lot of walking! But isn’t that the best part?

Moving from one city to another, one can notice the subtle changes in the local dialect. The transition from Catalan to Castilian Spanish was indeed a linguistic treat.

So, as we say in Spanish, “Hasta la vista” – “See you soon”. In the meantime, I’ll be humming the popular local song, “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay, as I step into the next chapter of my journey.

Here’s signing off, your friendly, sometimes grumpy, but always optimistic gnome, Oliver.

Hola from the vibrant city of Barcelona! This city is a treasure trove of art and architecture, thanks to the legendary artist, Antoni Gaudí. One of his breathtaking creations is the Sagrada Familia, a basilica that’s been under construction for over 100 years! Como se dice en Español, “La paciencia es la madre de la ciencia” (Patience is the mother of science).

Another fascinating nugget about Barcelona is its vibrant district, El Raval. Once the stomping ground for artists like Pablo Picasso, it now hosts the modern art museum MACBA. The streets here whisper tales of bohemian poets and musicians, making you feel as though you’re in the middle of a Federico García Lorca poem. As Lorca once said, “Solo el misterio nos hace vivir, solo el misterio” (Only mystery makes us live, only mystery).

Barcelona, ¡eres una obra de arte! (Barcelona, you are a work of art!)