Live well. Travel often. Experience more.
Went to see a lady about a Babka! If you’re meeting a friend you haven’t seen in a while, Lady Babka is the perfect spot. It’s that kind of place where meeting a friend feels more like an occasion. Obviously, I’m here for the babka — the original,...
Hotel Cap Roig on the Costa Brava I’ve been up and down the Costa Brava more times than I can count, but one of my most memorable trips was staying at Hotel Cap Roig in Platja d’Aro. It was right after COVID, when hotels had just reopened with distancing in place....
When you wander through Barcelona, the best advice I can give is always be looking up! The facades of the buildings and balconies are not to be missed, as well as the incredibly designed doors, all the classic pieces of Barcelona’s Modernisme architecture. All...
Stylish Hotels in Barcelona I’ve had so many people come to Barcelona over the years and ask me where they should stay. My first question is always: who are you coming with? Because the hotel I’d recommend for a couple is not the same one I’d send a family of four, or...
Finding Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez Barcelona If a library could feel like part spa and part boutique hotel lobby, then Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez Barcelona has done just that. When I heard it had won a big design award, I immediately opened Google Maps...
When I first moved to Barcelona, I never really got into the whole vermut thing. I tried it, of course, but I didn’t really get it. To me, it was just another drink. It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I started to understand what it really means — and now I...
There’s a lovely garden on Montjuïc that I adore. I call it the lily pad garden, but its official name is Jardins de Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer — which is exactly why I just call it the lily pad garden. This beautiful little spot is hands down one of my favorite places in...
The Glòries Area Just Got Way More Interesting I’ve been completely obsessed with the new Glòries Park in Barcelona lately. This park has literally been in the works since I moved here nine years ago, and who knows how long before that. So the day I discovered it was...
Taking the beach train from Barcelona is one of the best ways to escape the city and feel like you’ve gone on a mini-holiday. Over the past couple of years, I’ve made it my mission to visit all the beach towns along the Catalan coast just north of the city, and this...
The Girona Flower Festival (Temps de Flors) It seems like such a quaint throwback – an entire city decorated with flowers to celebrate Spring. Cities around the world observe this tradition and Spain is no exception. The Girona Flower Festival (Temps de Flors)...
While many head to Girona and its surroundings for world-class cycling, our group of six opted for hiking in Rupit when the weather turned too wet for a bike trip. Options for hiking near Barcelona and Girona are plentiful and Rupit is no exception. This little-known...
So after you’ve ticked off the big sights, done the tours, wandered the museums, and checked the “must-see” boxes in Barcelona, it’s time to look for the other kind of fun. The stuff that makes you feel like you’re really living here, not just visiting. Over the years...
Of all of the paperwork and research involved in moving abroad, none determines the long-term satisfaction of your child in a new country than the choice of school. Public, private, religious? Large or small? In the city or outside? Local, international, multilingual?...
Positioned between the green hills of the Collserola Natural Park and the blue waves of the Mediterranean, Barcelona provides the ideal backdrop for exploring both city life and the great outdoors. The city itself is home to over 200 kilometers of cycling paths and...
Mixed Variety Mushroom Paella with Truffle Picada (vegetarian/vegan) The name paella comes from the pan itself in which is cooked. The typical Spanish flat pan with handles is the main center point on a weekend in Spain, when families gather around the fire and cook a...
Barcelona inspires beautiful living. Whether you’re decorating a 30-square-meter studio or a sprawling ático, the search for stylish furniture and unique Barcelona home decor can feel overwhelming. To make it easier, we’ve rounded up some of the city’s most creative...
Congost de Mont-rebei is that quiet, middle child nobody notices because her louder siblings – the Costa Brava beaches and Pyrenees ski stations – get all of the attention. Last May, our family friend, Ricardo, casually shared with me a photo of an area in...
Since the first sip. Wine and I are in a long term relationship. I have always appreciated wine, but I feel a little guilty for not taking the time to understand the complexity of it. In all honesty, it overwhelms me and I find it a bit intimidating. I know what types...
Lovely little Girona, the shining jewel in the Catalan crown, holds a special place in my heart. I called it home for seven years and married the love of my life in its beautiful cathedral, itself the centerpiece for the annual Temps de Flors. A Girona day trip from...
The COVID-19 quarantine’s true heroes have emerged from expected and unusual places. Healthcare workers, face mask producers, food store employees, bicycle messengers and bus drivers. But there are a number of further unsung heroes who are doing their best to keep...
Run Barcelona I began running in Barcelona four years ago. Coming from Costa Rica, I was used to running alone in the wilderness on narrow, mountain trails. In Barcelona, my initial attempts of lacing up my sneakers and just heading out to run in the city failed...
The rain falls so infrequently in Barcelona that the city’s inability to deal with the occasional storm is legendary. Traffic grinds to a halt; a free taxi is a rare sighting; sodden umbrellas and sweaty commuters pack buses. The tried and true plan of letting...
Winter in Barcelona may have bright, sunny days with just a hint of chill, but in the evenings, the temperatures drop enough to want to heat things up with a cocktail and a lover. The challenge is sorting through the myriad bars and restaurants in town to find one...
With all of the hype around Barcelona beaches, architecture, and nightlife, it’s easy to forget that our lovely city on the Mediterranean is also less than two hours away from several ski resorts. You can spend your morning tearing it up mountainside and arrive in...
The 2019 winner of the best panettone in Spain went to Barcelona’s Cloudstreet Bakery, and with good reason. They have mastered the art of making this Italian holiday favorite. Getting through the small door into the bakery itself to get a bite of the best turns...
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