Follow Your Heart in Barcelona

Sometimes a trip is just what you need to gain a new perspective. We’ve partnered with world traveler Dr. Cacinda Maloney from the blog Points and Travel, as she travels back to Barcelona — a place filled with memories and life-changing moments.

Where to Go in Barcelona

I had arrived in the eclectic city of Barcelona, Spain, Madrid’s quirky half sister, which is best known for its modern, undulating architecture, tapas bars and a laid-back Mediterranean vibe. It was a quick pre-trip for the Viking Ocean Cruises yacht, Viking Star, with little pre-planning done on my part for this city visit. I had only a few ideas as to where to go in Barcelona.

I was delivered from the airport via Blacklane Car Service, and was excited to stay in a hotel that had encompassed the “old city” walls from the 1st century AD, the ancient Roman ruins. The hotel I would be at was situated right in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter: The Mercer Hotel Barcelona.

The driver dropped me off near Via Laietana, just down below the opening of these walls. I rolled my carry-on, past them to enter the city up to the top of Lledo Street, only to find that behind a pair of imposing and grand double wooden doors, there she was: The Mercer Hotel.

Photo Credit: Mercer Hotel Barcelona

The Mercer has a lovely location down a narrow street that is barely wide enough for a car to drive through. I was excited to visit, as it has just been named as one of the Top 25 Hotels in Spain! It also was the perfect spot to start a walking exploration of my “where to go in Barcelona?” search.

I dropped my bags and headed for the streets.

I passed paintings on outdoor brick walls, old gothic churches, gelato shops and cafes.

I continued on to squares full of people having lunch outside in the quaintest of squares. Each turn, each square was an exciting visual adventure. Graffiti and art were everywhere as I continued through a maze of streets and cobble-stoned walkways.

I had been walking and photographing for about 4 hours, when I decided to sit for a while and breathe it all in.

I love this majestic Spanish city: Barcelona.

Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw him, tucked away, down a cobbled-stone gothic street. At first, I did not think it was him, it was only later, as I sat on that wrought iron bench, intensely listening to his work that I realized it really was him. He was a bit older, a bit grayer, but it was him! A flood of memories came back to me and it reminded me of my first encounter with him.

He had me at “hello:” only here it is “hola”. (click here to see him play).

As I sat on that bench that day four years later, he also had me contemplating the seasons of my current life, the ones we all inevitably go through.

Here is an excerpt from that time in my life that I encountered him in 2012 …

“The juttings I could see were from the medieval basilica Cathedral de la Seu, which was built on top of ruins from the Roman Empire temples of 343 AD. Little did I know, the magic would continue around a few more corners. I could hear it, but wasn’t sure what it was. It was coming from another courtyard square, the sounds of a violin that make you want to stop and listen, yet knowing you need to get closer to the sound. This sound was a violin concerto by Vivaldi called The Four Seasons. I was expecting one of those CD’s that you can buy on the streets for a concert that the church would be having later that evening, but what I got was so much more than that.”

“There he was. Only one man, in his blue jean shorts, standing up against the amazing basilica door . . . playing his heart out in a song. The acoustics were amazing in this small little square.”

He played: Violin Concerto by Vivaldi called The Four Seasons.

The “he” was: A violin player in the streets of Barcelona circa 2012.

Who was he? I later found out that his name is Gigi Anghel. Literally the best I have ever heard in my life, bar none (and I have been around the block a few times and to my share of concerts, operas and great opera houses!).

Gigi Anghel, a street violinist in Barcelona, Spain

The “me” was: Cacinda Maloney, whose life was upside down during that time in 2012, searching the world for her soul.

Who was I? A girl in search of the life she had only dreamed about, but was not living. I was going through seasons: seasons of change, seasons of life.

Antoni Vivaldi, who composed these “season” concertos back in 1723, took great pains to relate his music to the texts of the poems he wrote, translating the poetic lines themselves directly into the music. He separated each concerto into three movements: fast, then slow, then fast. Each sonnet is then linked into three sections.

“Winter” is peppered with its silvery pizzicato note from the high strings that made me sit still in silence and pay attention.

“Summer,” which evolved into thunderstorms as its final sound, which was the path I was on at that time.

And now here I am, four years later, in a different season of my life:

“Spring,” while things are blossoming and budding again in my life!

Joan Fontcuberta’s photo mosaic mural known as “El món neix en cada besada.” (in English: The world begins with every kiss).

I was so excited to see him, he was like an old friend, although he has no idea who I was and what an impact he made on me that day in 2012 and now again in 2016. I am grateful to him for his talent, for his persistence to play his art form on the streets of Barcelona and for being so passionate about what he does. He is absolutely inspiring.

Spain-Barcelona-Sept-2012-Day-3-100-e1443307279562

The amazingly talented street violinist in 2012 (taken from my video of him in 2012).

I took quite a few photos and videos of him while watching this time and eventually he noticed and he gestured over to me to “buy a CD” with his hand and his eyes.

I looked down into my purse, having only arrived from the USA that very day and realized I only had 50 euro bills from the ATM machine. I gave him 50 Euros in exchange for one of his CDs and even though I felt silly doing it, it was the best money I have ever spent.

He freed my soul that day and I fondly think of how much he and his music has inspired me. So even though this article started out about “what to do in Barcelona”, I never know where my heart will take me. My advice on where to go in Barcelona is to follow your heart. Wander through the Gothic Quarter and Bjorn until you can wander no more. Take it all in and breathe. Barcelona will change you forever.