ABOUT ME

Hello, I’m Senem.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably planning a trip to Spain. Or maybe you’re already here and simply spending a few minutes browsing, trying to figure out what to do next.

I grew up in Istanbul and studied tourism. In my twenties, I spent several years working on a cruise ship, traveling constantly for work and getting used to waking up in different countries as part of everyday life. Seeing places that way teaches you something early on: cities are not just sights, they are daily habits, rhythms, and people.

After returning to Istanbul, I realized that out of all the places I had seen, Barcelona stayed with me in a different way. About fifteen years ago, I decided to move here.

Like many visitors, I had been to Barcelona before. Living here, however, showed me how much more there was to understand beyond first impressions.

I arrived speaking Spanish and assumed I was prepared. That confidence didn’t last long. Everyday life has a way of humbling you. Markets, paperwork, quick exchanges on the street. I remember realizing that strawberries weren’t called fresa here, but maduixa. It sounds like a small detail, but as I traveled more around Spain and later chose to work as a professional tour guide, it became clear that Spain isn’t one single place. It’s many different ones, and Catalonia is very much its own.

Today, I live in Barcelona, work here, speak the language, pay rent, and guide visitors professionally through the city and its history.