• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Time Travel Turtle

A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME
  • BY COUNTRY
    • WEST EUROPE
      • Belgium
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Ireland
      • Liechtenstein
      • Luxembourg
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Switzerland
      • Wales
    • NORTH EUROPE
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • Latvia
      • Lithuania
      • Norway
      • Sweden
    • SOUTH EUROPE
      • Cyprus
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Holy See
      • Italy
      • Malta
      • Portugal
      • San Marino
      • Spain
    • EAST EUROPE
      • Austria
      • Belarus
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Montenegro
      • Poland
      • Serbia
    • NORTH ASIA
      • China
      • Japan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Mongolia
      • North Korea
      • Tajikistan
      • Uzbekistan
    • SOUTH ASIA
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Myanmar
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • Antigua & Barbuda
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • USA
    • SOUTH AMERICA
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
    • AFRICA
      • Egypt
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
    • OCEANIA
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • MIDDLE EAST
      • Jordan
      • Turkey
  • MOST POPULAR
    • The world’s oldest backpacker
    • Orangutans in Borneo
    • The need for speed
    • Trying to get out of the slum
    • The lake swamped with tourism
    • Journey into Dreamland
    • The village where life begins again
    • Is Cambodia safe for travellers?
    • Making the perfect gin and tonic
  • UNESCO

The melody of Barcelona

January 26, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 29 Comments

CITY DISCOVERY

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, it was the first time that we met. Barcelona, how can I forget?

Itโ€™s the mix of the classic with the modern that gives Barcelona its flavour. The same way the operatic melodies of Montserrat Caballe combine with the stylised pop of Freddie Mercuryโ€™s voice in their song โ€˜Barcelonaโ€™.

I donโ€™t know why I think about this song when I think of Barcelona now. Itโ€™s been weeks since I was there and I have only discovered the duet since then, as I did research into a city that I feel calling me back.

Perhaps the song is part of that: siren-like, itโ€™s more like the city than it ever meant to be.

Montserrat Caballe, the opera singer and Barcelona local, asked Freddie Mercury to help her write an ode to the city in preparation for the 1992 Olympic Games.

She was supposed to be the guide, the local expert with the guiding hand. Instead, it was the excited foreigner who takes control and directs the action.

Her warbling, so controlled and so perfect, contains the restrained pleasure of a Spaniard who knows how much joy there is in Barcelona.

His almost-shouting is like an excited child who has just discovered it for the first time.

barcelona, spain, queen song,

barcelona, spain, queen song,

โ€œSuch a beautiful horizon, like a jewel in the sunโ€, Mercury sings.

In Spanish, she acknowledges that the charms of the city will be revealed and all are welcome.

โ€œRing the bellsโ€, her harmonious words can be translated. โ€œOpen your doors to the world.โ€

It works, though. His enthusiasm is complemented by her grace without either tempering the other. And itโ€™s this consummation of the two which captures the city for which the song was recorded.

barcelona, spain, queen song,

Barcelona’sย  new and old

Take Antoni Gaudi, for instance. He may have been born in the region but his flamboyant architecture was as foreign as any British singer.

It was embraced by Barcelona and by one of the most traditional organisations in the world โ€“ the Catholic Church.

This was not just the new and the oldโ€ฆ this was modernism and tradition and a pairing that defines the city today.

barcelona, spain, queen song,

barcelona, spain, queen song,

The doors of Barcelona have well and truly been opened to the world. It is the fourth most-visited city in Europe and the sixteenth in the world.

The Olympics did their job and there is no need to ring the bells anymore.

As an example: the Port Vell, the waterfront harbour entertainment district, went from a rundown industrial area before the games to a magnet for more than 16 million visitors last year.

barcelona, spain, queen song,

But the modern complex on the shores of Barcelona sits just metres from the historic quarters of the city, with their small winding alleys leading pedestrians in circles to squares built upon the houses of the holy cross.

On the steps of the Kingโ€™s Square (Placa del Rei) it is said that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella welcomed back Christopher Columbus from his discovery of the New World.

barcelona, spain, queen song,

Little did the citizens of Barcelona know how, 500 years later, people would be leaving this square to return home and regale others of their worldly discoveries.

Little did they know that the welcoming bosom of an opera singer would be used by a blogger as a metaphor for a classical European comfort unweathered by the New World which had just been found.

barcelona, spain, queen song,

barcelona, spain, queen song,

Returning to the song and to Freddie Mercury….

In one line he sings the sentiments of most who visit Barcelona. I know he speaks for me. โ€œAnd if God willing, we will meet again someday.โ€

Time Travel Turtle was a guest of accommodation website HouseTrip but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Elmer Cruz |

    November 20, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Reply

    I will go to Barcelona someday.

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 11:56 am

      Reply

      I’m sure you’ll love it!

  2. Maris King |

    November 20, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    Reply

    Wow. love that video and I also the aerial view of the place. It’s almost perfect.

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 11:56 am

      Reply

      Thanks. Yeah, it’s a really pretty city with lots to discover!

  3. D.J. - The World of Deej |

    November 20, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    Reply

    Perhaps my favorite city on the planet…

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 11:57 am

      Reply

      I’m not surprised. I’m not willing to give that title to any city yet (except perhaps home) but I can see how Barcelona would be a good contender.

  4. Molly |

    November 20, 2012 at 6:55 pm

    Reply

    The city I lived in for over 8 years and have been visiting for over 24 years. A great post highlighting the contrast between old & new. Barcelona is a must see on every travellers list. My tip is to visit the Plaza Sant Felip Neri and discover the tragic history of this corner of the Gothic quarter.

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 11:57 am

      Reply

      Oh wow, thanks for the tip! Hopefully I’ll get back there sometime and will check it out.

  5. Anita |

    November 20, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Reply

    Barcelona is such a great city and you have a perfect eye for details ๐Ÿ™‚ love your pictures!

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 12:00 pm

      Reply

      Thanks – I always think it’s a lot more fun to look for the little things that make up a city. The forest for the trees… or something like that, right? ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Jennifer |

    November 20, 2012 at 10:52 pm

    Reply

    Gorgeous photos of Barcelona! I’ve traveled through there a handful of time but have yet to actually visit Barcelona. I really need to do that one of these days!

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 12:02 pm

      Reply

      How could you pass through and not stop to see the place! Dios mio! But I do understand that there’s so much to see and do it wouldn’t be the kind of place you’d just want to pop into.

  7. Abhishek Behl (Wild Navigator) |

    November 21, 2012 at 6:31 am

    Reply

    Barcelona is certainly on my travel list and have many friends there ๐Ÿ™‚ will surely take your suggestions for my travels.

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 22, 2012 at 12:11 pm

      Reply

      There’s a lot to explore in the city. Just make sure you’re prepared!!

  8. Laurence |

    November 22, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    Reply

    Barcelona was a place I was initially wary of visiting – so many people had told me how wonderful it was that I was worried it could never meet the hype. But it did just that and more – one of the few cities I’ve visited where I could see myself spending a great deal of time ๐Ÿ˜€

    • Michael Turtle |

      November 28, 2012 at 11:51 am

      Reply

      It’s got that perfect mix of excitement around every corner so you can keep exploring… and a natural comfort that makes you instantly feel at home. I’m sure you’ll get back there and settle for a bit one day.

  9. PurpleTravelKate |

    December 4, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    Reply

    I’ve been to Barcelona a couple of times and never get tired of it. A friend used to live there so I visited a lot – even seeing the Gaudi houses, Sagrada Familia or strolling down the Ramblas more than once never gets old!

    • Michael Turtle |

      December 7, 2012 at 11:35 am

      Reply

      That’s exactly it – it never gets old. It’s one of those cities you can live in for months and always be finding new things. Or keep going back to visit, and always discovering a different area. Or just enjoy the place you already know!

  10. Linda McCormick |

    December 11, 2012 at 11:54 am

    Reply

    Oh god yes, Barcelona is the place I’d most love to live in the world. Fantastic capture Michael!

    • Michael Turtle |

      December 13, 2012 at 11:12 am

      Reply

      It’s got that kind of vibe, doesn’t it? Of all the cities in the world, there’s something about it that makes people feel naturally at home straight away.

  11. Cristina Garcia |

    December 16, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    Reply

    I love that song! I bought the LP back then and everyone expected to see Freddie Mercury at the Olympics. He didn’t make it.
    Love it, love it

    • Michael Turtle |

      December 17, 2012 at 9:11 pm

      Reply

      Hardly anyone knows that song. I’m so impressed that you not only know it, but love it. Excellent!!

  12. Anna |

    April 6, 2017 at 2:07 pm

    Reply

    The photos are just amazing and the song by Freddy Mercury: mind-blowing! I love it in combination with Las Fontanas at Placa Espanya!!! They don’t play it every time I noticed, but when they do, it’s fantastic!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. whatsapp status in urdu |

    February 25, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    Reply

    Wow. love that video and I also the aerial view of the place. Itโ€™s almost perfect.
    urdu status

  14. urdu whatsapp status |

    February 25, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    Reply

    Perhaps my favorite city on the planet

  15. Harshita Bhawnani |

    May 25, 2020 at 5:52 pm

    Reply

    your blog is very interesting.

  16. Harshita Bhawnani |

    May 25, 2020 at 5:53 pm

    Reply

    Hi,
    This is Harshita Bhawnani. I am an enthusiastic writer. While surfing the internet, I found your site that seemed to be very interesting and informative.
    I would love to discuss an opportunity to create an article for you. My article would be custom made for your site and would be helpful for your readers.
    Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in.
    I look forward to your reply.

    Best regards,
    Harshita

  17. Cahokia Mounds |

    March 31, 2021 at 5:41 am

    Reply

    Some of TTTโ€™s writing is nice but some is very lower level, like someone who is trying too hard to sound sophisticated.

Primary Sidebar

This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

Want Occasional Updates?

Sign up to be the first to hear the latest about the adventures of Time Travel Turtle. You'll also get access to special offers and exclusive news.
Thank you! You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.

Search

  • PRIVACY POLICY