AIDA Gibraltar 2025 · Page 3

Day 7 Barcelona

This morning we arrived in Barcelona. 15 degrees, a clear sky – perfect weather for a relaxed stroll through the city. We had deliberately not booked an excursion and instead took the AIDA shuttle into town, nice and simple. After another excellent breakfast at Rossini, we set off at around 10 a.m.

Our first destination was La Rambla. This famous boulevard is already buzzing in the morning: street artists, small stalls, cafés and people from all over the world. The mix of composure and big-city energy is typical of Barcelona. You don't just walk through it – you drift along a little, like a leaf in the warm Mediterranean wind.

From there we continued on foot towards the Hard Rock Cafe. The way there led through smaller side streets, which are where the city's real magic lies. Narrow lanes, old facades with wrought-iron balconies, with modern shops and small bars in between. In districts such as the Barri Gòtic or El Born, Barcelona feels almost timeless: medieval structures meet modern life, washing hangs between the houses, and mopeds weave through streets meant more for horse-drawn carts.

Particularly lovely are the many small squares that suddenly appear between the houses. A few trees, a fountain, café tables in the shade – perfect places to linger and watch. Here Barcelona shows its relaxed, life-loving side: loud and colourful, but never hectic.

An all-round successful day with lots of walking, sunshine and the feeling of not just seeing this city but experiencing a little piece of it. Barcelona says goodbye in a friendly way – and makes it easy to come back one day.

Unfortunately a lovely trip always passes too quickly, and it was pouring with rain on Mallorca. The rain made saying goodbye easier, and so we flew back from Palma de Mallorca to Hanover at 8.20 a.m.