While Barcelona is a traveler’s dream, the surrounding area of Catalonia is extraordinary. If you’re visiting the Catalan capital, I highly recommend you explore the underrated regions in this northeastern part of Spain. After almost 15 years of living in Barcelona and traveling to new towns and cities, I’m still amazed by the variety of…
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La Casa dels Entremesos: Giants, Big Heads, and Beasts
Maybe you’ve been to the citywide La Mèrce Festival, or a smaller neighborhood celebration around Barcelona. And you may have caught the gegants – towering figures parading and dancing around. Or, do you know about the capgrossos, or “big heads”? If you live in Barcelona, you’ve probably seen the annual Loteria de Catalunya (“Catalan lottery”) publicity ads for the past…
Is Barcelona Safe for Tourists?
You may know about pickpocketing in Barcelona and also remember the pro-independence protests and past terrorist attacks. This may lead you to wonder if Barcelona is the dream destination people make it out to be. So IS Barcelona safe for tourists? As a Barcelona resident going on 15 years here, my opinion is – YES,…
How to Spend 4 Days in Barcelona
How to Spend 4 days in Barcelona If you can spend as long as 4 days in Barcelona, you can bask in the city’s perpetually sunny weather, Catalan food delights, and balmy seaside. But Barcelona is more than just a fun hedonistic holiday. It has an exciting history, which is evident in its Roman ruins,…
How to Eat and Drink like a Spaniard
When I’m walking down the restaurant-filled Rambla Catalunya and just casually looking at the outdoor tables, it’s fairly obvious who the tourists are. It’s not necessarily because of their large cameras or white sneakers. It’s mainly because it’s 5:00pm on a cool autumn day, and there’s a large pitcher of ice-filled sangría on the table.…
Best Cities in Spain to Put on Your Itinerary
It’s easy – and unfair – to pin Spain as merely the land of bulls, sangria, and Antonio Banderas. In reality, it’s a diverse mosaic of regional cultures and languages. From the industrial yet dazzling Basque country in the North to the whitewashed pueblos of Andalusia in the South, I asked seasoned travel bloggers which were…
What to pack for Barcelona: babies and toddlers
Are you traveling to Barcelona with a toddler or baby? I’m sure you’re excited to come to this marvelous city, but you have doubts about what you’ll need. Will my stroller fit in on the Barcelona streets? Do restaurants have highchairs? Relax. I’ve raised three kids in Barcelona, and we’ve traveled overseas over 10 times.…
Popular Spanish Clothing Brands to Upgrade your Spain Style
If you’re looking to add style and personality to your wardrobe, you will definitely find chic treasures in Spanish clothing brands. From well-known favorites like Zara and Mango to upscale brands like Adolfo Dominguez, you’ll get to know the famous Spanish clothing brands in this ultimate shopper’s guide. As a 15-year resident, I’ll tell you…
Kid snacks you can buy in Barcelona supermarkets
Sometimes when you’re traveling with your kids, you want to feed them with snacks that are inexpensive, healthy-ish, and convenient to throw in your purse. Ya know, something to hold them over until their next meal. Or doesn’t cause a complete crumb explosion on a bus. Even Beyoncé brought snacks for Blue Ivy at the…
Greenery, Gravel, and Metal: Poblenou’s Modern Park
So what do you think of the phallic-looking Torre Agbar design? “Interesting and strange,” you say. Well if you like the tower’s quirky, modern design – by French architect Jean Nouvel – you might like his other work, the Parc del Centre de Poblenou. Like Barcelona in all its “design-y” glory, this park doesn’t fail to…