Barcelona is an incredible place, and we loved our time there. We probably could have stayed for many more moons. So, to celebrate our first month and a half of living abroad – and to start a habit of reflection and consensus after each of our major stops along this crazy journey – I give you: Joe […]
Category: Spain
No Excuses: Working Out While Traveling
We’ve all been there: we work out and eat well in the months and weeks leading up to a vacation, but once that plane’s wheels are up, most of our well-intentioned plans to exercise on the beach evaporate like steam from a hot tub. And sometimes, that’s just fine – if the goal is really […]
Gaudi’s Masterpiece: The Awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia
You might have heard of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia – it’s the massive cathedral, started in 1882, that’s still being built today 90 years after its master-planner’s death. Not-so-fun fact: Gaudi died in 1926 after he was hit by a tram, and was therefore unable to witness the completion of his crowning achievement. Because of this tragic fact, […]
“Getting Involved” with Mexican Food at Hoja Santa
Every once in a while, we’re fortunate enough to dine at a truly fine restaurant – one that transcends the ordinary – and even the great – to become really exceptional. Joe and I discovered such a spot, recommended to us by the owner of a small-batch, high-end tequila company called Ocho Tequila (the restaurant uses […]
Creating Community Abroad with InterNations
I think I speak for both Joe and myself when I say the best thing about Austin is our friends. We’re so fortunate to have several strong networks of great buddies there, and we miss everyone dearly. When we decided to move abroad for a year, I knew we’d need a way to create connections while traveling from […]
Adventures in Paradise: A Day on Formentera
While browsing through various travel blogs some time ago, I discovered an article about the powdery-soft, often pinkish beaches of a place called Formentera. Upon further googling, the crystal clear, calm waters and rose-hued sands immediately left me eager to visit. I finally got that chance when Joe and I visited Ibiza, and our trip to […]
Celebrating Love in Ibiza
When you value experiences over material things, events like birthdays and anniversaries have the potential to become grand adventures and to produce memories that will last a lifetime. Fortunately, Joe and I would almost always choose a trip over presents, so to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary we booked a last-minute weekend trip to the […]
Education and Inspiration in the Douro Valley
When I asked friends who had recently been to Porto whether they recommended a day trip to the famed Douro Valley for a wine and port tasting tour, the answer was a resounding yes. I had seen photos of rolling hills packed with vine-filled terraces, steep slopes ending in the winding Douro river, and sometimes humble […]
Porto revisited: We Didn’t Come Just for the Port!
Despite the ample opportunities we took to taste beautiful, local Portuguese wines and ports, much time still remained to explore the lovely city of Porto and take in the culture of “the North.” Porto is an extremely hilly city, and in certain areas its tightly packed buildings appear to be stacked on top of one another, […]
Highlights of Porto: Tasting Our Way Around
Ever since we decided to spend time in Spain, I knew we needed to visit nearby Portugal as well. I’d heard tantalizing stories about the coastal cities, tiled buildings, eclectic architecture and valleys packed full with terraced grapes that produced unparalleled port wines…sounded like a dream destination to me!
Continuing Cultural Education: Tastes of Barcelona
Joe and I often stop for a minute and marvel at the fact that we’re currently living in Europe. Out of nowhere, one of us will turn an awe-struck, giddy smile on the other and say, “holy CRAP, can you believe where we are right now…?? Can you believe how beautiful ___ is??” or something […]
Getting Cultured: Saturday at the Museum of Catalan History
In an attempt to get the most out of this year as possible, we’re making it a point, while living amidst so many architectural, cultural, and natural marvels, to engage in least one culturally/personally enriching experience a week – preferably more, but we set reasonable (surpassable) goals. After all, we’re not tourists here – we’re living, working, cooking, […]
Semana Santa: Easter in Barcelona
In the Turner household growing up, we primarily celebrated Easter on Easter Sunday: I received a colorful, wicker-woven basket overflowing with edible treats, the “Easter Bunny” (my mother) hid brightly colored eggs and a decent amount of candy around the back yard while my dad cooked piles of pancakes or waffles, and there followed a […]
La Pepita: A True Gem
Once in a while, we’re fortunate enough to dine at a truly wonderful establishment where the food is innovative and delicious, the service is attentive and friendly, and the ambiance is just the right blend of mood-setting and lively. All this we found when we visited La Pepita in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighborhood.
Mercado de la Boqueria – A Lot of Everything
There are always thronging, milling crowds clustered just outside and at the entrance to la Boqueria market in Barcelona, making it seem both impassable and strangely inviting at the same time. We had walked by this massive, indoor market many times on the way elsewhere but had never ducked inside – until this morning. Planning ahead […]
Little Treasures: Sunday Street Markets
I’m discovering that Sundays are special in Barcelona – everyone is out and about, the cafes are as full as can be, many shops are closed, the beaches showcase more people than sandy space, and the city’s vendors are well aware and prepared.
The View from the Top: Hiking Montjuïc
This past Saturday, after a fairly relaxing morning, Joe and I casually embarked upon what would become an epic hike up (and back down) Montjuïc, one of Barcelona’s many (sometimes steep) hills.
Mas Vino, Por Favor! Fun Facts about Spanish Wines.
While reading today, I came across a site called The Local, which shares Spain’s news in English. A wine blogger, Timmer Brown (@catalunyawine), had posted some interesting articles about Spanish wine, which intrigued me immediately. After reading about some of the best wine bars in Barcelona (I’ll be visiting every single one, thankyouverymuch), I found […]
The First 48 Hours in FOOD (and Drinks)
Ah, Spanish food – tapas, paella, various (myriad, really) types of thinly-sliced pork products, incredible cheeses…and so, so much more, as we quickly discovered. After settling in to our adorable, extremely well-located apartment (thank you, Airbnb sublets), we turned our attention to getting out of it.
Forgotten Wine, and Other Travel Foibles
Here’s how to do the Austin airport right: get there early enough to imbibe a wine flight and/or a glass at Vino Volo before your flight – hell, spring for a snack if you feel particularly swanky (or hungry) as the food is delicious. Stopping by the wine bar has become our pre-flight ritual and always […]
