We headed to the heart of Barcelona’s Las Ramblas district. I write it in the plural because this 1.2-kilometer tree-lined street in central Barcelona is actually a series of shorter streets, each with its own identity – Rambla de Canaletes (named after its iconic fountain), Rambla des Estudis (because this was the site of a former Jesuit university), Rambla de Sant Josep or Rambla de les Flors (named after its flower market), Rambla dels Caputxins (because this was the site

No visit to Spain would be complete without having one of its quintessential dishes: paella . Purists say the Valencian version is the authentic one, but every region in Spain carries its own unique rendition of this iconic dish. Since Spanish restaurants are hard to come by in the city where I currently reside, I took advantage of the fact that I was in Spain. Hence, I tried to eat paella whenever I had the chance. The ones we had in Burgos were indeed delightful and I cou

If there is one regret that I have about my trip to Barcelona, it's the fact that I did not get the chance to see the interior of the famed La Sagrada Familia, a monumental church dedicated to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. I know, I know...you are probably thinking what a big mistake that was because it's THAT one place you should NOT miss when in the city. It is considered Barcelona's crown jewel! Some even say it is practically illegal to go to Barcelona witho

We enjoyed our stroll around Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. It offers a mix of small artisan shops, leather goods, jewelry, major brands, and souvenir stores, as well as, tapas bars, traditional Catalan restaurants, and xocolaterias (for hot chocolate and churros). While it is heavily touristic, it still gives you a unique and deeply historic atmosphere, so I would advise first-timers in Barcelona to visit (but you can probably skip this the next time you go). Several of my foo

We spent some time at the Plaça de la Seu, right outside the Barcelona Cathedral. It is often referred to as the “soul of Barcelona,” and I could see why. It is open, bright, and full of life. Locals were meeting up for coffee at the tavernas, street musicians were set up near the steps entertaining a crowd, artists sketched portraits for passersby, tourists gathered around their tour leaders while taking pictures, and pigeons fluttered across the paved stones as children tri

After a wonderful spread of Spanish ham and Spanish-style omelets, along with the usual breakfast fare of bread, eggs, fruits, cereal, yogurt, and cold cuts at the hotel’s restaurant, we were ready to start a day of exploration around Barcelona. The morning’s schedule consisted of a walking tour of the city's old district, the Barri Gotic , and our first stop was the Barcelona Cathedral, also known as The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, or its shortened name, L

Bon dia! This is the official greeting in Catalan, as opposed to the Castilian phrase, "Buenas dias," that I learned from my Spanish class and often use to greet Spanish and Hispanic friends. In Barcelona, it is quite handy to know a few Catalan expressions, especially when speaking with the locals. Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia, is a large metropolis. My first impressions as we drove along the busy streets of its many districts could be summed up into a few words