When I first visited Rome, I was 14. My family had been warned about pickpockets. So my mom had a genius idea to keep her money safe. She sewed a huge pocket inside the front panel of her underwear to hide our money. And she didn’t get robbed! Fast forward to today. Now, they sell…
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What to Buy in Barcelona: Souvenirs and Gifts
Barcelona has its share of cheeseball souvenir shops filled with Gaudí mosaic bulls. But it also has hushed boutiques, generations-old specialty shops, and one-stop-shop department stores overflowing with unique Barcelona foods and objects of curiosity and beauty that you won’t find outside of Spain, and sometimes Barcelona. Let me share some of the best souvenirs…
The Visionary Urban Design of the Eixample District, Barcelona
In 2008, when I first moved to Sant Antoni, a neighborhood in the Eixample district (pronounced ‘eshampla’) of Barcelona, I was overwhelmed by the endless blocks and blocks of buildings. And on each block, everything looked the same – fruit stands, bakeries, supermarkets, banks. Then more fruit stands, more bakeries, more supermarkets, and more banks. Barcelona urban…
Buyer’s Guide: Best Anti-Theft Travel Bags 2023
BUYER’S GUIDE: BEST ANTI-THEFT TRAVEL BAGS 2022 Compare the best travel purse for Europe or Asia, or wherever you’re going. No matter how prepared you think you are for traveling, it may be difficult to outsmart pickpockets. What’s an extra measure you can take to not get robbed? Buy one of the best anti-theft travel…
Gifts for Barcelona lovers that you can order online
Maybe you’ve recently taken a trip to Barcelona. But you forgot to buy a few gifts for friends and family. Or maybe you had such a memorable time…and you’re pining to taste, feel, or see anything that has to do with Barcelona or Spain. Alas! I’ve created this gift guide for you to inspire your…
Fideuà vs. Paella: The Spanish Dish Showdown
Some rivalries in Spain are hard to kill. Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona. PP versus PSOE versus…Podemos? And in Catalonia, another harsh battle is being fought: the fideuà versus the paella. Anyone familiar with Spanish food knows about paella, a one-pot rice dish stuffed with goodies like mussels, shrimp, chorizo, rabbit, peas, or other ingredients. It belongs…
Best Anti-Theft Backpacks for Travel 2023
BEST ANTI-THEFT BACKPACKS FOR TRAVEL 2021 Are you nervous that you’ll get your money or passport stolen on your trip? Of course, vigilance is the best way to prevent pickpockets from stealing your stuff. But it is physically impossible to be constantly focused on all your belongings all the time. (I know — pickpockets have…
Ten Reasons Why Barcelona is a Smart City
Barcelona is the first city in Spain coined a “Smart City” and is named the fifth overall in Europe in 2013 ahead of Paris, Stockholm, and London. And with all the noise about the Mobile World Congress this week (with Mark Zuckerberg as a keynote speaker), Barcelona will be the epicenter of technology and innovation come…
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…
The Ostentatious and Decorative Streets of Festa Major de Gràcia 2015
Hi, everyone! July robbed August of all of the heat, so it seems we have a mild and rainy August. I’m not complaining. It’s perfect for being outdoors in the city! Also, you cannot miss the Festa Major de Gràcia in Barcelona. It’s the neighborhood festival of concerts, films, workshops, eating, drinking beers, and more…
