I was excited to visit the Spanish region of Catalunya (Catalonia) in order to interview Michelle and Matt Norman and explore the city I’ve dreamed of visiting since I was small and saw the Cheetah Girls singing in Park Güell. Also, “L’Auberge Espagnole” is one of my favorite films, so it was surreal to walk around the city where the movie takes place.

I’ve tried to decide if I like Madrid or Barcelona more and have come to the conclusion that while Madrid is gorgeous and one of my favorite places in Spain, Barcelona has soul. It is also near the sea, which pretty much solidifies it for me. I didn’t get to stay as long as I would have liked (you really need a week or more) but I was grateful for the time I did spend and that I got to see works by Antoni Gaudí, one of my favorite Spanish architects.

While in the region, I also met new friend, Elise who lives in the seaside village of Vilanova i la Geltrú and was able to stay with the Norman family in Sant Cugat del Vallès. We got to see the work they are doing with partners like Grupo 5/14 and Pastor Nelson Araujo, who let me be a fly on the wall while they served at-risk neighbors a biweekly meal.

Michelle told me that homelessness is an issue in Barcelona, like all large, touristic cities, but groups like Grupo 5/14 are working to combat this.

One tour group who works in the city itself comprises formerly homeless tour guides who teach people about income inequality and give participants an overview of the work that still needs to be done.

I was unable to take this tour since you need a reservation, but I was able to go out on my own and see sites like the houses of Gaudí, the Arc de Triomf, Barcelona’s slightly decrepit but magical city park, Museo Picasso, Parque Güell and the highlight of the trip, the Sagrada Familia. Even though I was unable to enter the church due to overbooking, the sight from the outside was enough to make me say, “wow” and start babbling to myself in Spanglish.

Barcelona and the region of Catalunya is unlike any of the other six Spanish regions I’ve visited. It has its own language, Catalan, which everyone knows and you must learn to go to school as well as teach. It is like a mix of Castellano and French with its on distinct lexicon. They also have different holiday traditions and an interesting communal spirit of solidarity which Matt and Michelle were quick to highlight in their interview.

“One of the things we love about the Spanish and Catalan people is that they really have a mindset of solidarity,” Michelle said. “They stand alongside one another. They want their community to be better. They want to stand with those in the margins.”

People were friendly and very receptive despite the city being overwhelmed in the last few years from tourists. My blablacar driver, who is a teacher in the city, told me that the government is trying to brainstorm ways to incorporate more family-friendly and history-based tourism. They need tourism that focuses on cultural understanding rather than just young people coming to party.

I found that although I struggled with understanding Catalan, most everyone spoke Castellano, and we didn’t have troubles communicating.  I will definitely be back to visit Barcelona and explore more of this city of solidarity.