Moving To Barcleona - Top 5 Memories From The First Month

There is something very sentimental and sensitive (at least for me) about our first memories of Barcelona. Those first months in the temporary apartment in Poblenou felt almost like a honeymoon—minus the stress, of course. The girls were with my parents, living their best life, and for the first time since becoming parents, it was just me and my husband again.

Between the challenges of finding a place to rent and adjusting to a new remote-work routine, we still tried our best to create memories and truly enjoy Barcelona.

Here are five things I cherish deeply from our beginning here:

1. Poblenou

Loving Poblenou was definitely an acquired taste for me. When I moved to Barcelona, I imagined the classic modernist architecture you see as a tourist—the beautiful Eixample buildings with charming details, high ceilings, and that historic atmosphere. But that life is for the lucky ones who actually live in that district. Barcelona has many faces, and I discovered them little by little.

Poblenou was once a warehouse district, now transformed into one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods. When we moved, it was still changing very fast—full of construction sites, a not-so-pleasant canalization smell (still there!), and old industrial hangars turned into living spaces. Coming from perfectly clean Luxembourg, you can imagine our shock.

It took time to appreciate the neighborhood, but now I truly love it—especially the familiar feeling it gives me.

2. Long evening walks on the beach

One of the perks of living in Poblenou is how close it is to the sea. Within ten minutes of finishing work, we could already be on the beach, walking together as the sun set. Those quiet evening strolls became our way of unwinding and reconnecting.

3. Chiringuito

One of the first new words I learned in Barcelona was chiringuito. These beachside terraces became one of our favorite discoveries—places where you can simply relax with a cocktail in hand while watching the waves. They’re simple, but they carry that special Mediterranean magic.

4. The first strong rain—and the sky after

Barcelona rain is nothing like what I was used to before. When it rains here, it pours—intensely, dramatically. But what comes after is extraordinary. The sky clears into colors that feel almost surreal. I still remember that first storm and the breathtaking light that followed.

5. The moon on the beach

I’ve always loved beautiful moons, and the beach offers the perfect stage for them. There’s something about the moon above the sea—calm, bright, and endlessly captivating—that stayed with me from the very beginning.

If you want, I can refine the style further, make it more emotional, more literary, or adapt it for a blog post or social media caption.

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How I Discovered Ulysses Syndrome and Learned to Feel at Home in Barcelona