There are
cities that I like due to architecture or natural environment, some others due
to the atmosphere, because they are quiet or welcoming or dynamic, and some
other because I got good memories. I realized that the fact that I like a city
or not does not only depend on the city itself, but also on circumstances
(Girona received me covered in flowers while Gent welcomed me with heavy rain),
on myself, on my mood at the moment, and on the experiences I lived there. In
the last post I started talking about the cities where I would like to go again:
Stockholm, Rome,
Viena and Rio de Janeiro.
This is the second part of the list.
Bruges
A small
city in Belgium,
a perfect place to go around by bike and get lost between small streets and
channels. It will remain in my mind as the place where we forgot a photographic
camera in a restaurant (a reflex that we had recently bought, of all things).
We went back to the restaurant one day later, without any hope, but we found
it. Thanks Bruges!
 |
| Channels... |
 |
| Streets... |
 |
| And a panoramic city view |
Bergen
The second
largest city of Norway
is known for the Bryggen, the wooden houses which have been declared World
Heritage Site. In addition to the colorful wooden building, we found an
interesting market where you could find anything, and where we met a Spanish
guy who worked in summer in Bergen and in winter
in Madrid
(cool plan!). The second time I was there I discovered the hidden side of Bergen, a small
neighbourhood with white houses and lots of flowers.
 |
| Bryggen |
 |
| It is a city next to the sea... |
 |
| Seagulls dancing around a fountain |
 |
| The hidden side of Bergen |
 |
| The market, where you can buy wild salmon and whale |
Barcelona
Barcelona is the city where I was born and
where I will always go back. I grew up there and abandoned her when I was 20,
like a rebel teenager that wanted to see the world. Some years later, and after
having travelled a lot, I have realized something: a lot of relations get worse
over time and distance, but instead of that, my relation with Barcelona has improved. Now I see her with
different eyes, I miss her when I am not there and feel happy every time I go
back.
 |
| My favorite place... the sea! |
 |
| One of the hidden places I like the most... the cactus garden |
 |
| Rambla |
 |
| The evenings... |
 |
| Gaudi and its colors |
 |
| Smiles |
Paris
I could not
talk about cities without mentioning Paris.
This is a city that woke up contradictory feelings in me: I did not like it but
I would like to go back. I had heard so much about it, that I was surprised and
upset about my disappointment. I must admit that it was December and it was
cloudy and rainy all the time, so obviously it was not the best moment of the
year. It was all grey and sad. Where was the city of light and love I was
expecting? I promised that I would give it a second opportunity, and I feel the
moment has arrived. Soon I will go back to Paris!
 |
| Eiffel Tour |
 |
| Notre Dame |
 |
| Grey sky... |
 |
| In the fog... |
 |
| Lafayette shopping center, ready for Christmas |
By the way,
at the end I did not tell which of these cities is a finalist to 7wonder cities.
Can you guess which one is it?
