In this article:
My heart, though, always lingered across the Atlantic, dreaming of Italy, France, Europe, the whole shebang.
And then, serendipity happened.
I'm from a family that never travelled.
My mom always dreamt about traveling but due to her mindset, never thought it was possible. She was a working nurse and single mother trying to make ends meet.
In hindsight, there were plenty of opportunities and ways to save up enough to make traveling possible. The thing is, if traveling is not a priority, it will always get put on the back burner.
I love my family and they are the nicest folks ever, but they are happy just being around each other. We never really traveled out of South Florida much.
My first flight was a one-way ticket to Atlanta to pursue a new life with my now wife. Since then, I've crisscrossed the U.S.—LA, Dallas, New Orleans, Chicago—a taste of the road, a nibble of adventure. Even Quintana Roo, Mexico, for a work gig, but never, and I mean never, had I ventured "across the pond."
Now, as a videographer and music producer, work takes me places, but never overseas, usually just the usual suspects in the States. My heart, though, always lingered across the Atlantic, dreaming of Italy, France, Europe, the whole shebang.
And then, serendipity happened.
Dreams to Reality: A Week's Notice to Barcelona
A friend from film school rang me up.
Trade my services for a trip? Hell yeah.
The catch? Pack your bags, we're cruising the Mediterranean—Barcelona, Spain, Italy, France, Ibiza.
Dream destinations that came knocking, and the only caveat? Be ready in a week.
Work commitments hung in the balance challenging my resolve, but then reality hit me like a ton of bricks. This is the stuff people save a lifetime for. A chance of a lifetime. No turning this down.
Barcelona, a city that, until now, lived in my imagination, or as Jason Bourne’s backdrop (he was in Madrid, but who's keeping track?).
Work? I'll figure it out; there's got to be WiFi on that ship.
Prep for the trip meant getting the house in order, and before I knew it, I was on an eight-hour overnight flight with Delta. The flight was cold, and the thin blanket didn’t do much to warm my body, but my mind was on fire. Over the pond on an adventure of a lifetime.
Enter Barcelona.
Vibrant Arrival: Familiar Faces and Spanish Vibes
In America we are just 2 black dudes. Here we are brothers in arms, even if only for a moment before we went our separate ways.
Post-customs, I step into a vibrant new world.
Spanish signs assaulting my senses. A mix of feeling lost and exhilarated. I’m in a new world.
Oh, and here’s a plot twist—I spot an ex-coworker in line. How weirdly comforting to see him in this foreign land. In America we are just 2 black dudes. Here we are brothers in arms, even if only for a moment before we went our separate ways.
As an American, English-speaking dude, finding someone who speaks a smidgen of my lingo isn’t rocket science. Spain, you see, is kinder to us linguistically challenged than we are to Spanish speakers in the States. Unless you’re in Miami, that is.
Time to get to the Hotel. Ubers here moonlight as taxis, so I was confused, especially since its not the best rideshare app. I would give that prize to Free Now, their local ride-share that comes much faster and is cheaper to boot. I didn’t know that at the time so I waited 30 minutes for an Uber. It arrives, and my broken Spanish and the driver’s broken English make for a comical conversation via Google Translate.
I arrived at the Hotel and realized I forgot my contacts at home. I only had one pair of disposable contacts which were in my eyes. They were already itchy. I get my contacts from the UK since they don’t need a prescription and I figured that may be the case in Barcelona. I googled and found a place in a mall nearby. I checked in and they hotel clerk gave me directions.
Culture Shock via Burger and Beachside Delights
I left my luggage with the Hotel and went off on a mini adventure. I didn’t want to under see my first trip overseas. OK bad joke. Long story short, I got to see the vibe and experience everyday life in Barcelona by walking through the mall. I found an eye place and they got me situated pretty quickly.
I thought I would stick out like a sore thumb, being that I am a black man with a hip hop vibe, but they didn’t seem to care. I get much more awkward (or racist) looks in certain places in the states.
Here in this foreign land, I felt like I belonged.
Crisis averted, I also had lunch. Attempted to order a cheeseburger—apparently, burgers here skip the usual toppings. Spinach leaves and cheese, no ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, or mayo. Culture shock via burger.
Back at the hotel, I settled in, then hit the rooftop. Drink in hand I took in the view, Mind-blowing. Cityscape, architecture, peace—I felt it all.
At 5 pm, running on empty from the Atlanta time warp, I set out to explore the city. Barcelona, a city that, until now, lived in my imagination, or as Jason Bourne’s backdrop (he was in Madrid, but who's keeping track?).
Thanks to the super helpful hotel clerk, I hit the Free Now App instead of Uber, a quick 10 minute wait and we’re off.
I had no idea Barcelona was a beach town. Of course I knew they had to have a port since we are taking a cruise, but I didn’t understand how much this relates to the vibe of the city. Like most places close to the sea, the vibe is super laid back. People seem relaxed and unbothered. I thought I would stick out like a sore thumb, being that I am a black man with a hip hop vibe, but they didn’t seem to care. I get much more awkward (or racist) looks in certain places in the states. Here in this foreign land, I felt like I belonged.
Walking down the street I observed the incredible architecture. It felt like an old city and I realized how new the structures in America must be compared to other cities throughout the world. I thought about how long these buildings must have been here. Before America was even born, I bet some of these places were here.
They seem to take pride in art. They have a different relationship with graffiti. Instead of it being shunned like in America, it is embraced as part of the city’s aesthetic.
I went to a nice restaurant on the beach. As expected, they had lots of seafood, and also very good wine. I ordered some sort of pasta and clam dish. Not my norm, as I’m not a big seafood guy, but this was excellent. The service was outstanding.
The sky turned orange as I could see the water from the window. I was facing east so I couldn’t see the actual sunset but it was still beautiful. The bill came and I was shocked. The price was much less than I thought. I had 2 glasses of wine, a plate full of pasta with fresh seafood, and a dessert. It was about 40 euros, less than 50 US dollars. Things are much cheaper over here. This meal would’ve at least costed $70 USD in Atlanta.
Nightlife Insights: Alleys, Clubs, and B-List Revelations
I felt like I was untethered to the government of my home.
As the romantic date with myself was wrapping up, I received a text from my friend. They were going to eat and asked if I wanted to join. Even though I just ate, I was here to get as much experience as possible.
It was a 15 minute walk to where they were going and I could walk off this pasta because I know it's going to be like a brick on my stomach.
I was wrong about that. Their pasta felt different. It was lighter and I didn’t feel like I needed a nap afterwards. Interesting.
As the evening grew darker, I walked through alleyways lit by old school looking lanterns, crowded with free spirited people who were headed to party.
The feeling was so different. I felt like I was untethered to the government of my home. Which was a freeing yet frightening feeling.
Yes they have police and laws here, but I wasn’t familiar with how all of that worked. I didn’t know the laws or the rules. However that sense of freedom made everything more exciting and kept me in the moment. It was a very eye opening walk and I think about it from time to time.
Yes, I think about a walk. It was that interesting.
I met up with my friend Rod and his family who quickly became my friends. We ate at a pretty good restaurant. Not as good as the one I went to earlier but decent. We shared stories of our day, ate, and laughed.
It felt safer to be with people I know. Walking around solo was a bit of a rush, but I was able to connect with my people and compare notes.
After we ate, we didn’t want the night to end. It was my friend’s wife’s birthday after all. It was time to turn up. We stumbled around the alleyways talking loud and taking photos looking for a place to party. Maybe we stood out then, but I couldn’t tell, there were lots of people around also getting lit. I had no idea Barcelona was such a party town.
We saw some other black folks and got super excited. They were not as receptive as we were. In fact there was some tension between a member of my party and one of the girls in their group. This disappointed me. As the very few black people there, we should be embracing each other even more, but I digress.
Still they joined our group for a short time as we walked to a club. They had a line and were not letting anyone else in. The same member of my party that had issues with the other girl was able to talk us into the club. Maybe it helped that I had a camera. The girl from the other group wanted us to get her in.
We all threw the peace sign up to them as we went in feeling like B list celebs. Payback is a bitch I guess.
We traversed through a speakeasy style tunnel with stone walls leading to a very cool club. The music was great and the DJ was playing top 100 like a normal club in America.
I was bum rushed by some Australian women asking about my camera and who I was. Members of my party politely rescued me from their surprisingly aggressive antics and we all took shots and toasted to my friend’s wife, Kiki. I was already having the time of my life and this was only the beginning.
Mediterranean Reflections: Embracing My Mother's Dream
Tired but buzzing with excitement, I was ready to explore a corner of the world my family had only dreamt of. Yet, here I was, lying in a hotel bed 4,500 miles away from home, realizing—I am my mother's dream come true.
Getting back to the hotel was an Odyssey.
App rides? Nowhere. Uber? Vapor. Taxis? All occupied.
Forced to hit a main road, summoning a Free Now ride—the irony, not lost on me.
Eventually we found our way back to the hotel to get some shut eye. The next day we officially embark on our Mediterranean adventure on the Virgin Voyage Cruise line.
Tired but buzzing with excitement, I was ready to explore a corner of the world my family had only dreamt of. Yet, here I was, lying in a hotel bed 4,500 miles away from home, realizing—I am my mother's dream come true. Emotions welled up; I wished my mother and wife were with me. A silent promise—next time, they will be. For now, I’m soaking up every moment of this dreamy experience—here we go.