Experience Barcelona like a local I have the good fortune to have a friend, born and bred in Barcelona, who kindly took me by the hand, sometimes literally, to let me experience Barcelona like a local. Of course, there are many places every visitor to Barcelona just has to see, like the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi buildings, the Liceo and Palacio de la Musica or the Montjuic mountain and park. But, ... Read Full Article
Barcelona: The New Mecca of Shoes
For shopping addicts, there is no fix as satisfying as finding fabulous shoes at an attainable price. These days, sadly, if you’re craving a fashion forward style in luxurious material that won’t leave your feet looking as if they’ve been through Chinese binding, the price tag is upwards of $400. In Barcelona, however, shoes are a right – not just a privilege for those who can afford ... Read Full Article
Photo Essay: A Ramble Down Barcelona’s Ramblas
If you're in Barcelona, the place to be - day and night- is the Ramblas, that Plane tree lined pedestrian boulevard that takes you from the Placa de Catalunya direct to the sea. The Ramblas is alive with open-air restaurants, artisans selling their wares, and a multitude of street performers lining the boulevard, all seeking your attention. Check -out our photos of the Ramblas street ... Read Full Article
Paella Recipe: Eating Spanish with The Ravenous Traveler
Getting to know a foreign country through its traditional flavors is a whole-body experience. In Spain, the scent of sofrito—a mix of garlic, onion, peppers, and tomatoes sautéed in olive oil—can open the mind to Spanish culture just as quickly as a visit to Sagrada Família in Barcelona. Throw in a carefully made seafood stock, Spanish paprika, and Valencian-grown rice, and you’re getting closer ... Read Full Article
Exploring Barcelona’s Eixample Neighborhood
Barcelona, a European cultural center with a city-proper population of 1.6 mil, has several great neighborhoods, to include: Ciutat Vella (Old Town), the Barri Gotic, La Rambla, and El Raval. Another great neighborhood that visitors will not want to miss is Eixample, a vibrant, relatively modern district of Barcelona. Designed in the mid-nineteenth ... Read Full Article
Exploring Barcelona’s Montjuïc
Montjuïc, situated on a hill in Barcelona’s Sants-Montjuïc neighborhood just southwest of the city center, boasts some of the best views of the city as well as some of Barcelona’s finest museums and sights. Montjuïc hill overlooks the Barcelona city center and harbor. Once covered with forest, the hill was cleared in the late nineteenth century for building. It was then selected as the site ... Read Full Article
Barcelona’s Mercat de la Boqueria
One cannot visit Barcelona without spending an afternoon, or several, at the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria. Located in the city’s old town, with an entrance just off La Rambla, the market is extremely accessible and thus very popular with tourists. Don’t let the throngs of camera touting visitors scare you, the market offers some of the city’s best food and is well worth pushing your way ... Read Full Article
Gaudí’s Barcelona
Gaudí's Barcelona - How its Unique Architecture Defines the City Antoni Gaudí’s unique architecture, also known as Catalan Modernism, defines Barcelona for many of its visitors. Born in 1852, Gaudí became one of Spain’s most celebrated architects. His works defied any one particular architectural style though were clearly influenced by art from around the world, including: India, Persia and ... Read Full Article
Where to Stay in Barcelona, Spain
Where to Stay in Barcelona 3 Tips for Finding a Great Place in Barcelona Barcelona is a beautiful city and has become extremely popular in the past years. If you are planning a trip to the capital of Catalonia, you'll need to do three things: Decide on Where to Stay in Barcelona Book Early Don't stay too far outside the city And we are here to help you with both. Before ... Read Full Article
Two Short Weeks in Spain
A few years ago, my husband Bill and I, along with several other bloggers, were invited by the Land of Valencia Tourist office on a trip to experience the Valenciana area of Spain and the FIB Music Festival, held for the past 17 years in Benicassim. Although we have traveled to Europe more than 40 times, this was our first trip to Spain. We were delighted with the invitation, and we ... Read Full Article