At first, navigating through the maze of buses and metros seemed a daunting, or hard, task. After all, there are now ten metro lines in Barcelona, and hundreds of bus routes! However, the system is very well-organized and can get you nearly anywhere in the city. Now, I absolutely love the bus and metro services here in Barcelona!
Beyond the public transportation system, I also enjoy walking. This is part of the reason why I love my new neighborhood, which is right near the Arc de Triomf, AKA the “Victory Arch”. (I moved from Horta to Arc de Triomf today!) My neighborhood is very central. This means that I can walk everywhere, from the beach to downtown to the mountain foothills.
I think that both public transportation and walking speak to the environment and culture of Barcelona. First of all, using public transport is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, or the amount of damaging CO2 released per trip, which helps the environment. For example, a car emits 89 pounds of CO2 per person per 100 miles, while a full bus emits only 14 pounds. Secondly, I think walking reveals a cultural aspect of the city, in that it allows you to slow dow. When you walk, you can interact with the people and things around you. One of my favorite parts of Spanish and Catalan culture is its people-oriented nature. Friendships and family ties are seen as very valuable here. Walking allows me to take time to observe the things that make this city so special.
