Barcelona is a DIY happiness factor

I’ve worked in Barcelona for over two years and during that period, I’ve had an office of over a hundred people with only ten to twenty of them from Barcelona.  There has been a wealth of culture in the office from Italians, British, South Africans, Americans and many more.

I ask them the one question, “Why Barcelona?”

The majority would reply with things such as they met someone in Barcelona and fell in love.  Other people would say that they met their partner outside of the city, but their partner wanted to come back home and relocate to Barcelona.  The one answer, I have found over fifty percent of them saying when I asked this question was, “I came here on holiday and I never left.”

I have never worked or lived in a city and had that correspondence as to the reasoning behind why people reside in Barcelona.  As the months flew past, I began to comprehend the reason for their answer.  It’s not only the good food, wine or the cultural world that resides in Barcelona.  It is the best of both worlds.  If you enjoy living by the sea it is within easy reach from anywhere within Barcelona.  Morning and evening strolls or jogs can be taken along the coast.  There are many skateboards, roller skaters and cyclists that enjoy going along the coast in their different forms of transport during the weekend and especially in the summer months.  I spent many Sunday’s going on fishing trips with my boyfriend along the coast.

If you enjoy nightlife, then you can spend every weekend drinking to the early hours of the morning and still return to the office later in the day as long as you work your hours.  Our office and many others in Barcelona have a flexible policy in regards to working hours.  As long as employees make up their hours, their bosses are flexible, with their working hours.

The city has something to offer all ages and all needs.  Families have the experiences of visiting local parks which are situated throughout the city, you will see little parks and children playing in them during their free time.  The city offers so many different types of lifestyles that it has hard to not find the comfort that you require in life and essentially the happiness you deserve.  It was inspirational to listen to some many different stories about their love for the city. I’ve found that to be a memory that I have recited to many people that I have met since I left the city.