WHAT I’M WEARING: PRETTY LITTLE THING AMBA GOLD METALLIC KNIT BRALET, PRETTY LITTLE THING KORI OLIVE FRINGE WAIST SHORTS, RIVER ISLAND ESPADRILLES, FOREVER 21 AVIATOR SUNGLASSES & HELMER GREY HIPPIE BAG
It’s been exactly a year since I officially moved full-time to Barcelona. This day last year, I began the arduous task of dragging most of my life up the elevator into the apartment I’ve since filled and grown into a home. I was excited, an emotion mostly fueled by my then lack of air conditioner, while the other half of me was still unsure. To be honest, most days I still don’t quite understand why I’m here, I love it but I love many places so the choice was almost as random as closing my eyes and pointing at a place in Spain. All I knew before deciding what that I wanted to come back to the country I spent most of my childhood and so here I am in Catalunya; refusing to learn Catalan (I’d rather learn Italian) but bouncing around the city as if it were mine. Now, I won’t be here forever, I’ll never be anywhere forever. I’ll move when the wind in my bones tells me to, that could be tomorrow, a year from now or next month. It’s the beauty of living without roots, there is no solace greater to me than knowing I can always leave. I am free and here by choice. It was a good choice. I’ve had two boyfriends, there have been many, countless dates between those. I made a few friends, but being nomadic like me, they left. I’ve eaten at many restaurants, dipped my feet into all kinds of night-life, from the painfully fancy to the absolute grimiest of bars. I have a tan deeper than ever before and Barcelona gave me the time I craved to make my body as strong as it can be as I inch towards the frightful 3-0. I want to tackle that milestone with as many muscles as I can. Looking back, the last 365 days have crawled by, it’s been a slow year and a much quieter life than the one I abandoned in Paris. The beach, cheap coffee and reliable sunshine are my favourite aspects of this city and absolutely why I am still here. The women terrify me which is ironic as the men are all quite lovely and handsome, it makes dating as easy as sunshine. That is if you can deal with the strangely complicated relationship most men seem to have with their exes. It’s probably, in my experience, the ideal place to find a boyfriend but the worst place to open a business. Rent is cheap, eating out won’t bankrupt you like Paris or London and Zara is a third cheaper. It’s an entirely different kind of city depending on the season but surely summer is the best. There is always a party, a beach, or a rooftop pool around the corner. Ultimately, it’s a lovely place, I do feel quite alone at times here because friends are hard to find but with a boyfriend and Biba, I’m doing just fine. This city is simply a chapter in my life, I’ll move on eventually but for today, here’s to 1 year here. Maybe it will double into two, perhaps I’ll move, I don’t know but for now, I’m happy to call this city home and yet simultaneously dreaming of an escape.
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