Sunday was for slowing down. We spent the morning at Platja del Llevant, one of Barcelona’s newer beaches, where families gathered to swim and play in the soft autumn sun. Even in October, the Mediterranean was inviting, and the city’s skyline gleamed beyond the waves.

That night, we joined nearly 80,000 fans at Camp Nou for a FC Barcelona soccer match. Football isn’t just a sport here—it’s a cultural heartbeat. The chant “Més que un club” (“More than a club”) says it all. Founded in 1899, FC Barcelona became a symbol of Catalan identity and resilience, especially during Spain’s dictatorship when the Catalan flag and language were banned. Cheering alongside tens of thousands of passionate fans felt electric, like being part of something much bigger than a game.