My name is Katherine Bishop and I’m an art student with a love for design, photography, and travel. While studying abroad in Barcelona I noticed that it’s a city that moves at its own pace and I began to really enjoy it. For all its size and constant activity, it feels calm in a way that is rare for a place with such energy.
The Mediterranean way of life seems to run through every street, café, and conversation. It is a rhythm that is unhurried yet full of life, allowing both locals and visitors to feel present rather than rushed. Even when the streets are busy and the plazas are full, there is a sense of ease that shapes how the city breathes. Meals are one of the clearest examples of this. People make time to sit together and truly enjoy their food, often for hours. It is not just about eating, but about being with each other.
Another part of this lifestyle is the value placed on rest. The idea of a siesta might seem old-fashioned to some, but in Barcelona, you can feel its influence. Shops may close in the afternoon, and the streets can grow quiet for a while. It is as if the whole city takes a deep breath together before the evening begins. This pause is not laziness, but a kind of balance. It creates space in the day to slow down, to recharge, and to be ready for the lively nights that so often follow.
The contrast between the warm stillness of the afternoon and the vibrant energy of the evening feels like part of the city’s charm. The Mediterranean rhythm is more than just long meals and afternoon rests. It is woven into the way people move, greet each other, and enjoy simple pleasures.
There is time for a coffee by the sea, time to chat with the person at the market stand, time to watch the sunset without checking a phone. Even in a big bustling city like Barcelona, this way of life makes the days feel more open, less crowded with hurry. It teaches you to notice the small things that are easy to miss when life is rushed.
Spending time here can shift the way you see your own life. You start to realize that calm does not always mean quiet, and that joy can be found in the in-between moments. The city shows that it is possible to live fully without constantly chasing the next thing. It invites you to be part of its rhythm, to slow down, to savor, and to let each day unfold at a pace that feels human.
Check out all CIS Abroad programs in Barcelona here!
Blog by Katherine Bishop, University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
Summer in Barcelona – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona