Afro
Top Barcelona Activities | Inside a Party Guide’s Double Life
A Morning Surprise: The Day After the Crawl—Through Mofie’s Eyes
Last night, I was in full “Barcelona Animals Pub Crawl” mode, leading our rowdy group through dimly lit alleys and neon-soaked clubs until the sun practically came up. We hit, like, three or four bars plus a club—honestly, I lost count after the third welcome shot. I remember one dude in particular, Alex, because he was asking me all sorts of stuff about Krakow (my other favorite party spot) and how in the world I can survive doing this night after night.
So, fast-forward a few hours. I rock up to Plaça de Catalunya for my daytime gig—a walking tour with TopBarcelonaActivities. Usually, I get a few bleary-eyed faces in the crowd, but guess who I see right away, trying (and failing) to hide under a pair of oversized sunglasses? Alex. He looks about 99% zombie, 1% living human. I have to stifle a laugh because the contrast between how he was dancing at Pacha just hours ago and how he looks right now is chef’s kiss hilarious.
Of course, I keep my professional hat on—well, mostly. I greet him with my usual bright, wide grin: “Yo, Alex! Surprised to see you up this early, man!” He mumbles something that sounds like, “Ugh, yeah, me too,” which cracks me up. I tease him gently, but hey, I give the guy props for showing up. A lot of crawlers bail on the daytime stuff, especially after a night that intense.
With the rest of the group assembled—some locals, some tourists, and a few who, like Alex, look dangerously close to passing out on the sidewalk—we kick off the tour. First stop: Plaça de Catalunya facts and anecdotes. It’s a sweet square that sort of merges the old city (Ciutat Vella) with the more modern Barcelona. I see Alex squinting up at me, probably wondering how I have so much pep in my step with, like, zero sleep. Truth is, I live for this—the energy of a city in the daytime, the chaos of the nightlife, all of it.
We head off down Passeig de Gràcia, and I launch into the story of how this boulevard was once farmland (believe it or not) before becoming the fancy-pants shopping street it is today. Every so often, I catch Alex fumbling for his phone, snapping pictures of buildings that, I suspect, are mostly a blur to his throbbing head. Still, you can see that tiny spark of wonder in his eyes when we reach Casa Amatller. Those colorful tiles and weirdly mesmerizing designs can snap even the most hungover traveler back to life.
Then it’s on to Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (or La Pedrera). I can’t help but grin when Alex's jaw drops. Gaudí’s stuff does that to people—it’s like stepping inside a Tim Burton set, except it’s a real building. I give my usual spiel about how Gaudí was inspired by nature’s curves and shapes, basically ignoring the straight lines that most architects rely on.
I gotta admit, though, the real showstopper for everyone is always the Sagrada Familia. And yeah, same here, even after hundreds of tours, it still blows my mind. We approach those towering spires, and the group just goes silent for a moment—like we’re collectively thinking, “How is this even real?” I fill them in on how construction started way back in 1882 and might finally be done soonish (maybe!). Alex’s headache seems to vanish at the sheer scale of the place. He’s asking questions about the crypt, about Gaudí’s influence, and I can practically see him forgetting that he partied until five in the morning.
Throughout the walk, Alex keeps giving me these half-smiles, like he’s both impressed and also in absolute awe that I can talk historical facts after a night of tequila and techno. I love proving that you can party like a maniac and still appreciate the culture, architecture, and history of a city. That’s kind of the best of both worlds, right?
Of course, I slip in a few references to Krakow whenever I can, mentioning how the city’s Old Town is brimming with medieval architecture, hidden bars, and that the Krakow Party Animals vibe is off the charts. “If you think Barcelona’s nightlife is insane,” I tell the group with a wink toward Alex, “just wait till you see Krakow’s underground clubs and meet Afro. The man’s unstoppable.” I’m pretty sure Alex’s eyes light up at the mention of Afro—he’s told me more than once he’s definitely heading to Poland soon.
By the end of the tour, I can see that the fresh air and sheer wonder of Barcelona’s modernist masterpieces have done their magic. Alex is still a bit ragged, but he’s smiling and joking around with the rest of the group. We even snap a group selfie in front of Sagrada Familia—everyone’s sweaty, tired, and slightly sunburned, but you can’t fake that level of post-tour camaraderie.
It’s moments like this that remind me why I love what I do. Sure, the party scene is incredible—blasting music, neon lights, shots flying around. But by day, I get to help people discover the deeper layers of the city, the stories behind these epic buildings, and the heart that beats beneath Barcelona’s wild exterior. And who knows, maybe in a few months, Alex will be wandering through Krakow’s historic streets on Afro’s crawl, texting me, “Dude, you were right!” as he stumbles upon some hidden bar in a medieval cellar.
For now, though, I’m content watching him and the others walk away from Sagrada Familia, definitely more awake and maybe more curious about the world than when they started. Because that’s the real magic of travel—whether you’re dancing ’til dawn or marveling at Gaudí’s genius, it’s all part of the same adventure. And if you can do both within 12 hours? Even better.
Cheers to that, and hasta luego from Barcelona!
Walking Tour – TopBarcelonaActivities
Pub Crawl – Barcelona Animals Pubcrawl