Marrakesh to Barcelona
11 January 2026
Leaving Marrakesh always feels like stepping out of a story painted in terracotta and desert gold. And then suddenly, you are airborne — suspended between continents — on your way to Barcelona, a city that carries an entirely different rhythm.
The flight was smooth. What wasn’t smooth, however, was the repeated questioning about visa permits. Almost every check-in counter and customs officer asked.
We explained — Malaysians can enter Spain visa-free for ninety days.
A small comedy unfolded when my friend confidently declared, “30 days.”
I quickly corrected her — “No, 90 days.”
That slight hesitation earned us a few extra seconds of scrutiny, but eventually we were waved through.
Arrival: Modern, Structured, Familiar
Barcelona’s airport felt efficient and structured — almost sharply so after Morocco’s softer chaos.
They even checked our boarding passes before allowing us to access the overhead rail connection to the metro. Order is taken seriously here.
We bought the 10-trip transport card (T-Casual), which works seamlessly across metro and buses within Zone 1.
And as the metro carried us into the city, something familiar stirred in me.
This is why I loved Barcelona years ago.
It is modern — clean lines, functioning infrastructure, clarity.
Yet it carries centuries in its bones.
Compared to other cities we’ve visited, Barcelona feels cosmopolitan but not detached from its past. It is lively in a way that feels organic — not forced, not curated.
It simply breathes.
La Rambla, Under Reconstruction
It was too early to check in, so we left our luggage and began walking.
We headed toward La Rambla, once a seasonal river outside medieval city walls, now one of the city’s most iconic promenades.
But this time, it was under construction.
The shops were open. The cafés were functioning. But the street performers — the living statues and musicians that once defined its energy — were absent. The boulevard felt restrained, as if mid-transformation.
Still, Barcelona was unmistakably Barcelona.
The Pier & A Familiar Scam
We continued toward Port Vell, the old harbour revitalised during the 1992 Olympics — the moment that reshaped Barcelona into a global city.
And there, it happened again.
A man approached me and asked if I was from Turkey.
Turkey?
I understand that it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish East Asians from Southeast Asians. But Turkey? That was new.
It was the familiar “we are friends, let me give you something” routine that ends with them asking for money.
I ignored him.
I encountered this exact scam on my first trip here years ago. I was not going to fall for it now.
Experience hardens you in small ways.
We walked along the pier, wandered into the mall nearby, visited Times Out Market, and let the afternoon unfold.
Gothic Shadows & A Sudden Moment
From there we walked toward the basilica, past the arch, and into the Gothic Quarter — the old heart of the city, built on Roman foundations and layered with medieval stone.
The streets narrow. The light softens. Sound echoes differently.
We had just left the Museu Picasso, where Picasso’s early works reveal a young artist before he fractured reality into Cubism.
And then — noise.
At first I thought it was something playful. Maybe street performers. Maybe someone tapping rhythms on cups.
A young man ran out from a side alley. He paused briefly, facing me. Then he ran again.
A younger boy followed.
I was still trying to process it when a woman ran out behind them shouting, “Por favor…” and something else in Spanish.
That was the moment it became clear.
It was a snatch crime.
The boys had already run past us. A few people further down the street looked startled but unsure. I wasn’t certain if anyone managed to stop them.
We stood there for a few seconds — suspended in that strange space between confusion and understanding.
Not knowing what else we could do, we walked on.
First day in Barcelona.
And we had already witnessed a theft.
Reputation & Pattern
Barcelona has a reputation for petty crime. At least among my acquaintances.
I used to think maybe it was exaggerated. That people post when something bad happens but rarely post when nothing happens.
But purely from my own experience:
On my first visit 20 years ago, an older Asian lady pulled me aside and warned me I looked like an obvious target.
On another day, two men tried the “ask for directions” distraction, while another posed as police asking to see passports.
And now, on this visit, I witnessed a snatch crime unfold in front of me.
In total, I’ve spent maybe four days in Barcelona in my entire life.
And each time, something related to petty crime happened.
So while Barcelona is undeniably beautiful, you do have to be careful.
That is simply my personal experience.
A Quieter Evening
After that, we didn’t really dare to wander aimlessly.
The energy had shifted.
We decided to head back, check in properly, and rest. We took the bus — efficient and straightforward — and called it a day.
Sometimes travel fills you with wonder.
Sometimes it quietly reminds you to stay alert.
Barcelona, it seems, does both at once.
Dinner & The City’s Redemption
At night, we went to a nearby eatery and had a splendid dinner.
And I have to say — Barcelona has good food.
Despite everything, the city still feels alive. Vibrant. Full of movement and possibility.
It is beautiful.
It is historic.
It is modern.
It requires awareness.
And that was our first day back.
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