Elena's Barcelona Journey: Adventure, and a unexpected connection

For months, Elena had been planning to visit Barcelona and she is a singer and musician. She managed to fund her trip by selling a song titled "Ya Budu Tam." It's the song you're listening to in this presentation

Once in Barcelona (her first time in Spain), she began exploring the city, going out with friends, and enjoying the beach. At some point, she decided to download Tinder.

Although she went on a few dates, none led to anything serious—until she met me. She was certain she didn't want to be in a relationship with a Russian man again, so during her five-week stay in Barcelona, she thought she might as well try to meet someone new, and she start to use tinder.

I (Fernando) also had Tinder and went on several dates, but something always felt off.

"A Tinder Match, a Lunch Date, and the Start of Something New"

When I matched with Elena, I was tired of repetitive chats, so I suggested lunch instead. She agreed. We set our date for Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 2:00 PM. We didn't text before—just met at "Madre Lievito Poblenou.

When I first saw her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. The backlighting made it hard to see her, so we changed tables. Over pizza, we talked, and she told me she'd be in Barcelona for a month and had two kids. It didn't bother me—I just wanted to keep seeing her.

Since we were free, I offered to show her the city. I changed into something more casual, then we got Italian ice cream. It melted fast in the heat, making us laugh. Later, we visited Tibidabo. After a train, bus, elevator, and 400 steps, we reached the top of the cathedral, admiring the view. As we descended, I offered my hand—and suddenly, I saw her as perfect.

I rented a scooter to take her home, but her phone had died, and she was lost. I stayed until we found her place. Our date lasted from 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM. We lost our Tinder chat since we deleted the app after few weeks meeting. From August 5, we change to talk on WhatsApp.

The next day (august 5th), I (Fernando) had a one-week trip to Budapest. I told her (Lena) that I wanted to see her before leaving, so we met again for breakfast. 

Our first kiss place - Boheme - Rambla poblenou 80. We didnt take picture from this day, we took it from google

I felt bad knowing that she would be in Barcelona for a month while I would be away for a week. After breakfast, we walked along La Rambla de Poblenou, had another coffee, and out of nowhere, I stole a kiss from her.

Luckily, she kissed me back. Later, I walked her home, and we kissed again. I had to catch my flight. As I traveled to the airport, I kept thinking about not wanting to leave—I wanted to stay in Barcelona with her. 

But who could guarantee that this would work out? So, I thought that leaving would be a good test to see if we kept in touch. And we did. The week flew by, and each day, we wrote to each other more and more.

At first, we didn't text much—I didn't want to overwhelm her with messages, but at the same time, I hoped she would text me so I could keep the conversation goin

I started exploring Budapest, immersing myself in the city, when at some point, Lena told me she preferred voice messages or, if possible, a call.

Our conversation developed gradually.

Honestly, I wasn't used to doing that with anyone, but I was eager to get to know her and keep our connection alive.

So, little by little, I started sending more messages, more voice notes each day. We began sharing more about our lives, and what started as simple exchanges soon turned into deeper conversations.

"Back in Barcelona: The Night 

Our Connection Deepened"

When I landed back in Barcelona, I quickly turned on my phone and texted her, "Im here"

We met that same evening. I went to the supermarket, bought food, cooked for her, and we spent time together at my place. 

That night, we felt our connection growing stronger. Was our first Night together.

"Our First Trip Together:

Exploring Girona"

After returning from Budapest, I promised her that the following weekend I would take her on a trip to a city near Barcelona called Girona. I rented a car, and we set off.

During the drive, we talked about everything and felt increasingly comfortable with each other.

After checking out of the hotel, we visited an animal sanctuary called Butterfly Park Empuriabrava. On this trip, we realized that traveling together was not only a great experience to get to know each other better, but we also shared a love for exploring new places. Despite it being our first time organizing a trip together, everything flowed naturally, and we truly enjoyed each other's company.

"Making Memories in Barcelona: Adventures, Music, and New Friends"

Afterward, we make diferents activities almost every day:

• Attended a jam session
• Went to the Gràcia festival with her friend
• Visited the beach
• Visited museums
• We walk around all the City
• We make a party in my house and i introduce my Friends
• And did more sightseeing.

We discovered that Telegram, with the premium version, has an option to write in our native language... and Telegram translates it in real time to our own language. Starting on August 22, we began communicating on Telegram.

"A Beach Date, a Promise,

and a Forever Memory"

We had such an amazing time that I felt ready to take the next step. I planned a date, bringing a blanket, food, and drinks, and we spent the evening at the beach.

On August 27, 2024, I asked her to be my girlfriend—and incredibly, she said yes. At that moment, I felt like the luckiest man in the world.

Next Day August 28, 2024 at 13:30h.… we spontaneously got matching tattoos—a four-leaf clover with a small Barcelona symbol, representing the luck of having met in Barcelona. She placed hers on her hand, and I placed mine on my chest. I told my sister Carolina (whom I affectionately call "Caro") and sent her pictures to show her two weeks later.

"Our Last Moments

Before Distance Again"

She even canceled her trip to Paris just to spend two more days with me.

When the time came for her to leave, I bought a flight ticket just to get past airport security and spend a little more time with her. Saying goodbye was heartbreaking, and I couldn't hold back my tears, not knowing when we would see each other again.

Her flight was on September 5th at 10:40 PM, and from that day on, we've talked every single day—multiple times. Our conversations on Telegram are filled with thousands of pictures, videos, and calls.

"Trip planning to Istanbul

and proposal planning"

We then planned to meet in Istanbul in October, as it didn't require a Schengen visa. We spent nearly two weeks there (October 12–24).

While we were apart, the thought of proposing to her crossed my mind. At first, it seemed crazy—too soon—but the idea became so strong that I couldn't find a reason not to do it. I saw everything I had ever wanted in her.

So, I started planning. I called my sister, talked to my friends, and said, "I want to marry her. I need help picking a ring." I had never proposed to anyone before, and I didn't know there were so many types of rings. I visited several jewelry stores until I found the perfect one.

"Reunited in Istanbul:

A Trip Filled with Love"

The last time we saw each other was on September 5, 2024, and we finally reunited in Istanbul on October 13, 2024 (I arrived the night before). I went to pick her up at the airport, and we were overjoyed as we rode together in the taxi, finally side by side again.

Tourism wasn't really our priority—we just wanted to be together. We spent our time walking around the city, dining at different restaurants, and enjoying every moment at the hotel, making up for the time we had been apart.

We thought hiring a photographer to take us around the city was a great idea, allowing us to capture beautiful photos with different outfits in stunning locations. It was a trip we truly cherished, filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments.

"A Magical Proposal

on the Bosphorus"

I planned my proposal in Istanbul. On October 22, I rented a yacht with a photographer and videographer. I told Elena it was just a night photoshoot. When we arrived, we decided to have some tea while I waited for the boat captain to let me know everything was ready.

As soon as he gave me the signal, we headed to the yacht. The moment we stepped on board, the photographer started taking lots of pictures. I reminded Lena that it was all part of the planned photoshoot, but she had no idea that everything was actually a surprise. Meanwhile, I kept the engagement ring hidden in my jacket pocket, waiting for the perfect moment.

At one point, the yacht stopped in the middle of the Bosphorus River, and a message was projected onto a bridge: "Will you marry me?" She was in shock—she didn't know whether to look at the bridge, me on one knee, the photographer, or the laser projector.

Everything was so exciting, and she said yes. We captured the moment in a beautiful video and celebrated with a limousine ride to dinner, where we talked about our next steps. The full video was delivered to us a few days later… and it is posted on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFlElFSutOj/?igsh=MXlpeXNzbTR0Y2tt

"Reunited in Moscow:

Christmas with Her Family"

We thought it would be a great idea to meet in Moscow for Christmas—to spend time together and for me to meet her children, parents, and friends. We planned to stay together from December 17 to January 15, 2025.

Lena rented a beautiful house from December 23 to 28, where we celebrated Christmas and spent quality time with her kids. We played in the snow, watched movies, cooked together, played games, and made the most of every moment.

One special night, we finally told my parents about our engagement via video call. We wanted to share the news together, and once they knew, we felt ready to start posting pictures and videos on Instagram, making our engagement public.

"Choosing Our Rings:

A Symbol of Commitment"

The day finally arrived when we decided to visit a jewelry store to buy our rings. We were both filled with excitement and anticipation. She chose the ring for me, and I picked the one for her. However, we had to make two trips to the store because they didn't have her size the first time we went.

My ring was bought on December 29, and hers on January 4. Despite the small delay, it was such a special moment—one of the best we'd shared so far—starting 2025 together. The joy we felt in picking out rings that symbolized our commitment and future together was beyond words.

It was a tangible reminder of everything we had been dreaming of: building a life together and, eventually, getting married. The whole experience made everything feel even more real, and we couldn't have been happier to take this step toward our future.

"From New year to Goodbye:

Our Special Time in Moscow"

Before and after our stay at the Christmas house, her parents kindly let us stay in their apartment in Moscow so we could have some privacy. During this time, they took care of her kids, but we still spent two to three days a week together doing activities.

We went out with her friends, she showed me around her city and workplace, and introduced me to Russian food at several restaurants. In Moscow, hardly anyone speaks Spanish, but she took care of me 100% of the time. There were also a few days when we both got sick, and we looked after each other. We made the most of our time by having video calls with my parents and some friends to strengthen our bonds.

Finally, the day arrived when we had to say goodbye. My flight was at 3:35 AM on Wednesday, January 15th, and Lena stayed with me for as long as possible, until the moment we need to say "good bye" again.

"A Love Without Distance:

Our Journey to Marriage"

Since August 4, 2024, not a single day has gone by without us talking.

We share everything—our families, work, and daily challenges. There are no secrets between us. We know it may seem like a short time to take such a big step, but I have never felt such a deep and certain desire to marry someone. Elena has found in me a man who loves her with loyalty and devotion, and I want to give her that every single day—not just as her boyfriend, but as her husband.

Denmark became the perfect solution for making our dream of marriage a reality and starting our life together. Our plan is for her to move to Barcelona, and eventually, bring her children with us.

"A Love Without Distance:

Our Journey to Marriage"

Since August 4, 2024, not a single day has gone by without us talking.

We share everything—our families, work, and daily challenges. There are no secrets between us. We know it may seem like a short time to take such a big step, but I have never felt such a deep and certain desire to marry someone. Elena has found in me a man who loves her with loyalty and devotion, and I want to give her that every single day—not just as her boyfriend, but as her husband.

Denmark became the perfect solution for making our dream of marriage a reality and starting our life together. Our plan is for her to move to Barcelona, and eventually, bring her children with us.

"New Begining"

"We dream of writing many more chapters in our story—where marriage becomes the key that allows us to live together and build the family we so deeply wish to create"

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. If you need more photos or videos, we would be more than happy to share them and provide anything you may need.