Justine Ancheta, Writer

Supersize It: Playing Big at Parc de Francesc Macià

Let’s say you want to feel tiny — just for fun. I’m talking “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” tiny. Well there’s a spectacular park in Catalonia where little ones (and big ones) can pretend they’re as big as their thumb. It’s at the Parc de Francesc Macià in Malgrat de Mar. It’s just one hour away…

10 Things to do in Málaga, Spain

sToday I have a guest post from Paulina, who’s Paulina has lived in Spain for more than five years and fell in love with Seville. She’s a pro when it comes to Málaga and Southern Spain and writes about her favorite places in Andalucía at visitsouthernspain.com. Take it away, Paulina! -> Málaga is one of…

Review of a Context Tour: Barcelona, Gaudi and Modernism

I’ve said it before. If Barcelona didn’t have the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, or La Pedrera, the city could probably stand alone as a top destination. Why? The other modernist buildings – combined – is an alluring attraction. Who can resist the romantic facades of the Eixample district? Undulating lines, swirling forms, and intricate floral…

Sips, Sites, and Bites: Review of Eye on Food Tours, Barcelona

In Barcelona, the trends of food trucks, brunch spots, and hip restaurants with Instagram-ready neon signs don’t seem to be dying off anytime soon. While these modern hot spots are all fine and good, nothing compares to eating at a local family-run restaurant that’s outlived all the latest crazes. You know, those restaurants that serve food…

Viet Kitchen: an authentic Vietnamese Restaurant, Barcelona

Even though I’m not Vietnamese, I’m a snob when it comes to Vietnamese food. I’m from Southern California, which has an official “Little Saigon”. It’s where the first of hundreds of pho restaurants in the US opened. Pho restaurants called “Pho 79” and “Pho 23” saturate the streets of Orange County. I adore Vietnamese food…

Balthazars of Spain, stop doing blackface.

I’m always curious to see what kinds of blackface I’m going to come across around Three Kings’ Day. So many blackface Balthazars make their appearance at kids’ schools and Three Kings’ Day parades across Spain. While many authentically black people do play Balthazar, not every city or pueblo in Spain has access to a black actor…

Steel Donkey Bike Tours: Biking Through Barcelona

Imagine this. You’re cruising on your bike along a breezy promenade lined with seafood restaurants while momentarily glancing at the Mediterranean Sea. You see a colossal golden fish sculpture glistening against the sun, and the breeze runs through your hair. But before that, you’ve just taken an exhilarating bike tour, pedaling through the old Gothic…

My Dream Food Road Trip in Spain

Imagine this — taking a relaxing road trip around Spain, looking at the olive trees on the scenery, and stopping by historic towns with thousands-year-old cathedrals. AND eating the delicacy of the city. This, my friends, is my travel dream. (Which WILL be fulfilled one day.) While I can’t really do this right now, I’m a…

The Most Unpretentious Wine Bars in Barcelona

Are you a Wine Geek? And you can’t stand Wine Snobs? You know, those people who scoff at you if you don’t constantly speak of body, palate, and even legs? Well, here are snob-free wine bars in Barcelona — presented to you by my friend, Andre, who’s also the founder of Barcelona Eat Local Food Tours. Andre is…

Food Tours Barcelona: Review of Evolution of Catalan Gastronomy Tour

Barcelona as a food destination consistently draws curious crowds, lured by the Mediterranean traditional fare and avant-garde Catalan cuisine. So if you’re visiting Barcelona, joining a food tour the day you arrive can set the tone for your whole trip. Food Tours Barcelona, a recent addition to the Barcelona foodie scene, has thrown their hat…