In the summer of 2025, we set off for Spain. It was not just a simple trip. It was a meaningful journey to revisit Spain, which I first visited 22 years ago in 2003 with my then-girlfriend, now my wife, and to share it with our son, who was born during this time and is now a high school student. I was particularly curious about how much Sagrada Familia, which was an unfinished construction project back then, had changed. Sagrada Familia is where I first confessed my feelings to my girlfriend (now my wife) 22 years ago, making this visit even more special.
The 2003 trip to Spain was a grand adventure that spanned Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, and Seville, but so much time has passed that only fragments of memories remain. This trip was also an attempt to vividly recall the hazy snapshots of past experiences as present memories.
Above all, I thought this trip would serve as a special motivation for my son, who is learning Spanish. His Spanish teacher had praised him for being talented at language acquisition and doing quite well, so I hoped he would enhance his interest in the language by experiencing it firsthand in Spain.
The Long Journey Begins: 25 Hours via Frankfurt
Although there was a direct flight from Seoul to Barcelona, I opted for Lufthansa considering the cost. This choice saved about $1,500 compared to a direct flight. However, it did not signify a smooth start.
After a long 13-hour flight, we arrived at Frankfurt Airport, but the plane stopped just 5 meters from the terminal due to a landing gear issue. We had to wait on the plane for quite a while as we could not move to the terminal. Ultimately, our connecting flight was delayed, suggesting some operational issues with Lufthansa.
During my 8-day trip to London in 2024, I had used China Eastern Airlines and transited through Beijing, which had been a very smooth journey. The transfer from Heathrow Airport to my accommodation in Paddington had not taken long, so the beginning of this trip to Spain felt far more physically exhausting in comparison to the comfortable memories of that previous trip.
We left home at 6 AM on July 1, but we arrived at the Barcelona Airport Hotel (BAH) near El Prat Airport and checked in at local time 1 AM on July 2. Considering the 7-hour time difference between Seoul and Barcelona, it took a total of 25 hours. It was literally a 'Door to Door' journey of 25 hours.
The Barcelona Airport Hotel (BAH) was chosen because I anticipated arriving late at Barcelona Airport and wanted a hotel that was as close as possible. One of the key reasons for booking this hotel was the free hotel shuttle bus service connecting the airport and hotel.
At night, the shuttle bus runs at 40-minute intervals, so waiting for 20-30 minutes without it arriving was quite anxiety-inducing. In a strange place without knowing any Spanish, and in the dark night without anyone around to ask for information, I tried calling the hotel numerous times, but they did not answer. When the hotel shuttle bus finally appeared like a savior amidst growing anxiety, I was incredibly relieved.
It was puzzling that the hotel had not answered the phone multiple times, but nonetheless, the BAH hotel we arrived at by bus was very clean and the staff were friendly. Exhausted, I sprawled onto the bed while falling asleep, filled with excitement about the Spanish adventure starting the next day. It felt like the excitement of the first night of our long journey to Spain erased the fatigue I carried.
In the next segment, I will share the story of our first day in Barcelona. What was the city like after 22 years?
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