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Experiencing Madrid Like a Local
Blog: WildJunket - 4 August 2011
Just last month, I spent a few days in the sizzling heat of Madrid to catch up with a good friend who’d come all the way from Canada to Spain for our wedding. We both used to live in the bustling Spanish capital, where we spent most of our time roaming the streets, partying, meeting [...]
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Photo of the Week – Barcelona
Blog: Ottsworld - 22 July 2011
I’ve already taken you to some of the main sites in Barcelona such as the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s creative tilework. But Barcelona is a diverse city full of architecture, food, art, and energy. This week I bring you some of the diversity of Barcelona. After all – there’s more to Barcelona than simply Gaudi! [...]
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Plane views: Barcelona
Blog: velvet escape's blog - 20 July 2011
Barcelona is one of my favourite European cities. Known the world over as the home of Gaudi and Miro, Barcelona boasts some of the most famous landmarks in the world such as the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece. For visitors, Barcelona offers great shopping, world-class museums, a picturesque historic centre, a vibrant culinary scene, pumping [...]Plane views: Barcelona is a post from: Velvet Escape's blog
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Europe with Kids — The Ultimate Guide
Blog: My Little Nomads - 16 July 2011
The best destinations in Europe for kids and families. Detailed information for planning your trip.
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Photo of the Week – Barcelona Tile
Blog: Ottsworld - 15 July 2011
As you walk around Barcelona you can’t help but be memorized with the tile work and architecture thanks to Guadi’s many masterpieces sprinkled throughout the city. The colorful, intricate and sometimes flamboyant tilework is everywhere bringing the city a warm glow. Here are some of my favorite colorful works of art! If you are [...]
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Apartments for Extended Travel
Blog: Ottsworld - 14 July 2011
I sat outside in my neighborhood in Barcelona at one of the many outdoor cafes on Avenue de Gaudi. The avenue was lined with little shoe and fashion shops I had never heard of, coffee shops, mobile phone retailers, and some small tapas cafes. I was surrounded by locals of all ages at other tables [...]
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My Favorite Activity in Barcelona
Blog: Ottsworld - 12 July 2011
The colors are the first thing that grabbed me, a collage of vibrant green, red, and yellow swirling together from afar, but upon closer inspection each had it’s own boundaries. Once I was in front of the masterpiece, it appeared that each color was placed with care in such a precise fashion. Yet at the [...]
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Photo of the Week – Inside La Sagrada Familia
Blog: Ottsworld - 8 July 2011
The church of La Sagrada Família (Sacred Family) is a work on a grand scale which was began in 1882 and is scheduled to be completed in 2025. This religious and architectural masterpiece by Anontio Guadi is a short walk from my Barcelona apartment which means I can easily stop by and shoot pictures whenever [...]
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Why You Must Visit Barcelona More Than Once
Blog: As We Travel - 8 July 2011
After Lisbon, we headed to Barcelona, one of the proudest cities in Europe - I say [...]Why You Must Visit Barcelona More Than Once - As We Travel - Around The World Travel Blog
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Back on Two Wheels – Barcelona
Blog: Ottsworld - 7 July 2011
I unfolded my stiff white document for the first time and ran my hand over the glossy picture; it had been tucked away in my passport holder for the last 2 months just waiting to be used. Now I proudly handed over my international drivers license to the young clerk at the motor bike rental [...]
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Catalan Festivals: Sant Joan 2011
Blog: Oranage Polka Dot - 23 June 2011
It is official Summer has arrived in Catalunya. Not because Summer Solstice was on the 21st of June. But rather, because tonight is the eve of Sant Joan. Otherwise known as La Revetlla. For the past few nights, we have...
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Barcelona Finds: Baking Supplies
Blog: Oranage Polka Dot - 19 June 2011
Since I recently wrote about Catalan birthday parties, I thought I should list some of the places where I buy my baking supplies in Barcelona or sites that have EU shipping. As I mentioned in that post, the baking section...
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The quest for the perfect Catalan meal
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 18 June 2011
You’d think it would be easy to find a good meal in Spain. For some reason, I have not had the best of luck with eating out during my time in Spain. The places I’ve been, the pintxos have been soggy, the patatas bravas greasy and the fideua salty. On Friday, however, I finally lucked out! I had a fantastic lunch at Hotel Amrey Sant Pau across from the beautiful Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau.
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My favourite spots in Barcelona
Blog: Barcelona travel and culture - 17 June 2011
Having visited Barcelona on a number of occasions, I have found myself re-visiting certain places as I just simply cannot get enough of them. In all honesty, Barcelona is such a full and diverse city that each person will no doubt have their own opinions on where the best spots are, but below are some spots which I think would appeal to all.Gaudi’s Former home in Park Guell - Park Guell in its entirety is my favourite place in Barcelona, but this house in particular has so much history attached to it that I always find myself drawn here.
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Tatiana, Soraya, and Raymi's photo journals: June 15, 2011, Barcelona
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 15 June 2011
I thought a neat way of getting my daughters to record some of their experiences in Barcelona would be through photo journals. Thus, this first installment when I was able to squeeze a couple of sentences out of them about our trip to Barcelona.Tatiana’s photo journal: June 15, 2011
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Making Lemonade out of Lemons: An unexpected trip to Vallvidrera, Spain
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 13 June 2011
On Sunday, we ended up in a small town in the hills just outside Barcelona called Vallvidrera. We were on our way to Tibidabo, but got on the wrong train and decided to make the best of it. I am glad we did. Here’s what happened.
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Parc de la Ciutadella with the family: Boat rides, parrots, a fountain and a fabulous picnic
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 11 June 2011
When I showed my 10-year old daughter, Soraya, the picture of the fountain in Parc de la Ciutadella, she exclaimed: “I want to go there!” Thus we set out on Thursday afternoon for the Park to see the amazing fountain.
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Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya with Three Kids: The endless joy of feeding pigeons
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 9 June 2011
On Monday, our family got on the train and went to check out the famous Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas.As usual, my ten-year-old twins insisted they did not want to leave our apartment in Sitges and go into Barcelona. I reminded them that they often tell me they don’t want to do things, but end up having fun anyway. Finally, we were able to drag them out of the house and down the hill to the train station.
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Calcolcotta in Barcelona – Have you been here?
Blog: Vagobond.com - 7 June 2011
Catalan feasts are amazing events. The wine, the long scallions, the dips, the tapa... Each year in Catalonia there is a huge feast of the onions
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Catalan Customs: Birthday Parties
Blog: Oranage Polka Dot - 6 June 2011
Typical Catalan birthday game (a more friendly alternative to a pinata) | 2010 A recent article from a fellow Barcelona blogger who writes for a local magazine, reminded me of a draft post that I started on 14 September 2010,...
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Rain, Long Walks, Immigrants, and Expatriates: Another Day in Sitges
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 3 June 2011
Tuesday was a rainy day in Sitges. That put a damper on my plans to spend the afternoon walking along the beach. I like to take long walks along the beach, as these walks allow me to process all that is going through my mind. I find long strolls to be therapeutic. When I can put one foot in front of the other and not have to think about where I am going or what time I have to be there, my thoughts flow freely. If I am having trouble making a decision or figuring out a problem, a long walk usually does the trick.
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Monday Afternoon in Parc Guell
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 31 May 2011
On Monday, we ventured out from Sitges to Barcelona to visit Parc Guell – home to many of Gaudi’s fabulous sculptures and beautiful gardens.
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These are a few of my favorite things (to eat and drink) in Sitges
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 31 May 2011
I have to say that I love going food shopping in Spain. The cheese, wine, olives, chocolates and cavas are my favorites thus far. Of course, you can get most of these items in the United States. In Spain, however, they are ubiquitous and a bargain!My favorite cheese so far is the goat cheese, not the chevre like the French eat, but an aged goat cheese that is firm, flavorful, and creamy. In Spanish it’s called queso de cabra semi-curado. I got 120 grams for 2 euros and enjoyed every bit of it.
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Barcelona House Party – Shoes at the Door – Photo of the Day
Blog: Vagobond.com - 30 May 2011
It just makes sense. Still, you can tell it was a successful party by the number of shoes.
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Ups and Downs of Life in Sitges, Barcelona: Beautiful City, Bad Food, and a Lost Wallet
Blog: Fourteen months, four countries, and three kids - Tales from the Field - 28 May 2011
Yesterday started out just lovely. After getting my morning writing tasks done and having a delicious lunch, I headed down to Sitges with my daughter, Soraya.
