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5 Things to Know About Barcelona

April 1, 2015

Barcelona often gets a bad wrap. There are stories and experiences that many of us have heard over the years about this famous Spanish city and while I fell head over heels in love with it, a lot precedes a visit to this city, so here are the things you need to know about Barcelona before going…and why you’ll love it just as much as I did.

1. Don’t believe everything you hear.

Before our trip to Spain, I heard lots of stories from people about bad experiences in Barcelona. Whether it be stories of being pickpocketed or cases of food poisoning and bad food, I heard just about every bad situation everyone has ever had of experiences while traveling. After experiencing it, I definitely think there is potential for some of those things, but honestly, those are also the things that can happen anywhere. Yes, of course you should be safe with your belongings, but so should you at home. And yes, you should be careful of where you eat, but so should you everywhere. So I guess I would suggest: travel carefully and you won’t have any issues.

2. Everyone speaks Catalan and Spanish, but not everyone speaks English.

Everywhere you go, locals will be able to switch between Catalan and Spanish, which is helpful if you at least know some Spanish but don’t expect most people to speak English. We found that really only in the tourist areas did people speak English. I relied on my Spanish for the majority of the time during our trip (throughout Spain), so be sure to learn a few of the main words to get around…it made everything a lot easier.

3. Travel like a local.

Barcelona is filled with tourist spots and landmarks. It is also one of the most visited cities in Europe, so knowing how to get away from the major tourist destinations is important here. You’ll find the best food, the most authentic culture and the friendliest locals away from the hubs. So gather a list of local favorites from people you know or look online and head to those spots to travel more like a local and get a better sense of the city.

4. The city is so much more than just the beach.

For years I’ve always known Barcelona as the Spanish city on the Med’s beaches. And while that does reign true geographically, we didn’t even see the beach while there. The city is so special within itself that the beach is just another cool part of town. Barcelona is so much more than just a strip of beach so be sure to explore more than just the Med’s shores.

5. The metro is cheap and easy and can get you everywhere.

We love using local transportation systems while traveling and Barcelona was no different. The metro was incredibly clean, efficient and cheap to use. Buy a T-10 card if you’re going to be using it a lot, otherwise, you can buy single trip tickets to get around the city.

Traveling to Spain?

See all of my posts on the country!

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Barcelona : Gem on the Mediterranean

March 31, 2015

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the famous Barcelona. I’ve heard good and bad, horror stories of pickpockets and food poisoning and stories of how gorgeous it is, how good the food is and everything in between. I truth, I was a little nervous that I wouldn’t like it at all, that it would be too laid back, that I’d have my wallet or passport stolen, that the food wouldn’t be as good as we hoped. In fact, the total opposite I feel is true. I fell in love with this famous Spanish city, the crown of Catalonia.

Barcelona is one of those places that just spoke to me, its whimsy, its cool vibe, its incredibly ornate architecture and yet its under the radar personality, sort of like saying “I’m so cool, I don’t really need to say it.” You just know Barcelona is cool…enough said. One of my immediate reactions to Barcelona was that is France and Italy had a love child, it would be this city. The class and chicness of France mixed with the whimsy and flamboyance of Italy creates an incredibly special city filled to the brim with life, lovely cheerful locals and clean cosmopolitan streets, packed full of incredible buildings and unique moments.

There are certain places in this world that make an impression on us, that speak to us on a level that other destinations just don’t. Barcelona was a place that left a great impact on me, a city that I loved immediately. And not just because we didn’t have any issues with pickpockets or because the food was incredible, but because this gem of a city on the Mediterranean is just a very special place, a whimsical and yet ornate city with a rich history and culture. I couldn’t have picked a better introduction to the gorgeous country that is Spain and our few days in Barcelona will not be our last. There is no doubt we will be back to explore this gem of a city much more in the future, but for now, I’ll relish our time spent in this special city.

Traveling to Spain?

See all of my posts on the country!

Where to Stay in Barcelona

An Introduction to the Magic of Spain

March 30, 2015

Oh España…where do I start? Let’s just say I fell hard for the country and it will for sure not be my last trip there. The thing that makes it so interesting that we felt this way is that Spain was never high on our list. When people would ask us where we wanted to head to next, they would always say, why haven’t you been to Spain? I know it’s always been popular, but for me, it just wasn’t ever that high up on our list. I guess I pictured more of a party country, a warm spot for a beach…both of which aren’t really me. But oh how I was wrong.

Spain first popped up on Nick and I’s radar about a year ago when a Spanish restaurant opened in Portland and we first tried the cuisine of España. We were blown away and immediately started opening up to the idea of Spain for our Spring trip. We were previously looking at the Amalfi Coast of Italy as an option but moved our focus West to Spain and Portugal. Long story short, we are incredibly grateful that we did.

Spain is an incredibly diverse country, from the playful Catalonian atmosphere of Barcelona to the more grounded central part of the country including Madrid, to the Moorish Southern section of Spain to the Basque North. Each part is truly very unique and it is incredible as you travel around how much you notice a difference in language, in food, in architecture throughout the different parts of the country. Those cultural diversities make for an incredible mixture throughout the country, adding texture and diversity to everything. All together, Spain is a beautiful and magical country filled with cheerful people, fantastic food and a landscape that rivals the most beautiful in the world.

Spain for me was everything that I always expected from Italy but never really got. While much of Italy seems to be falling apart around you, with run down buildings and littered streets, Spain keeps the magic alive with impeccable ancient streets and buildings, incredible clean atmospheres and a magic all its own. From the whimsy of Barcelona to the organized charm of Madrid, from the orange groves of Sevilla to the Moorish charm in Granada, Spain is a country that I will now forever hold dear to my heart in more ways than one.

There is magic in Spain, a feeling that will linger with me for a long time to come. There are certain places in this world that we feel a connection to, places that we really do have a sort of a love affair with, that create in us this feeling that we belong, that we can’t wait to see again and that we find ourselves thinking about months and years later. I have a handful of places that I feel that way about, and now I will be adding Spain to that list, in particular Sevilla which I fell entirely in love with. So my advice to you: get yourself to Spain and let its magic envelop you.

Traveling to Spain?

See all of my posts on the country!

And for your trip to Spain, here’s where to stay!

Favorite Moments : London, Spain + Portugal

March 19, 2015

Every major trip we take, I like to record some of our favorite moments here on Land of Marvels, not only for my own reference to remember but also for all you lovely readers to see what we loved, what the best spots were and to help you plan your own amazing adventure. We were blown away by how much we loved Spain and Portugal and fell in love with lots of things on the trip, but when it comes down to it, here’s my top 5 favorite moments from our 11 days through London, Spain and Portugal.

We’ve been through London many times and we use it often as a stop over in Europe. We usually stay a couple days and try to see some new spots each time, but we had never made it over to London’s Soth Bank until this trip. I had of course heard about it for years, and now I know why. With gorgeous views of the London skyline, this walk along the Thames is a fantastic way to get acquainted with the city. We happened to have a gorgeous blue sky day on our walk and while chilly, it was insanely beautiful. We made stops at the Borough Market and took in views of St. Paul’s and the Tower Bridge and it was such a beautiful quintessential English day.

We arrived in Barcelona after dark and while we saw the view of Sagrada Familia from our hotel the night we arrived, it wasn’t until the following morning when we opened our hotel room window shade and took in the incredible view of the church with our own eyes from our hotel room bed that we were completely blown away.

Nick and I love a good market in Europe and our afternoon at La Bouqeria market in Barcelona did not disappoint. Filled to the brim with food of every kind, spices, meats, vegetables, fresh juices, this market was so inspiring and charming. I longed to buy the meat to bring home and to collect as much of the fresh produce as I could.

Sevilla completely stole my heart and the city will forever be so special to me, but one of my favorite moments there was wandering the windy streets of old Sevilla at dawn, before the street lamps turned off, before anyone was awake, before the dawn colors painted the sky. The tiny streets with the deep navy blue sky overhead were pure magic.

Our final night in Sevilla, Nick and I made our way down to the river that dissects the city and picked a spot amongst the locals on the banks of the water. We picked a spot and Nick set up to take some photos as twilight began to fade. I sat there and watched the sun set beyond the horizon, taking in everything that was happening and in the moment, felt so grateful to be able to experience this incredible world we call home.

Traveling to Spain?

See all of my posts on the country!

You Know You’re a Third Culture Kid When…

February 16, 2015

I haven’t written anything for a while on my childhood in the Middle East, though for numerous reasons as of late it’s been on my mind a lot. Sometimes I wonder how my life would have been different had I not been born in Saudi Arabia and every time that I think about it, I can’t help but be so thankful for that experience and for my parents choosing that life. It has completely shaped who I am, created in me a passion for this planet, a belief in equal rights and in respecting each and every person for who they are and where they come from. But it has also brought some interesting and often awkward moments throughout my life. Sometimes I can’t help but laugh at reactions from people and situations my childhood abroad have put me in, but nonetheless, it’s part of who I am and something I’m proud of.

Not familiar with what the term Third culture kid means? I wrote about it here.

You know you’re a Third Culture Kid when…

+People ask you where you’re from and you question if you should give the real answer or make something up.

+You give the real answer to the question about where you’re from and it takes 10+ minutes to explain, followed by a round of questions that take even longer.

+Your birthplace is an interesting topic of conversation.

+You grow up knowing you probably won’t be able to drive by your childhood home as an adult or go back for holidays.

+You spent years not fitting into your “home” country.

+You feel as if the world is your home, not one particular place.

+Living with people of different religions, different ethnicities, and different beliefs isn’t a bad thing, it’s wonderful.

+You crave the food of your birth country on a regular basis…. like schwarmas and will go any length to get them.

+Your memories of childhood revolve around travels to exotic countries, near and far.

+People you meet later in life will never fully understand the way you grew up.

+You are met with a round of questions going through Immigration booths around the world asking why you were born in _____________.

+That melancholy feeling you can’t quite shake about missing that home you had as a child never quite goes away.

+The world becomes your passion and your instincts are to help make it better.

Interested in reading more about my childhood in Saudi Arabia?

See all of my posts on the country!

5 Things to Know About Barcelona

1. Don’t believe everything you hear.

2. Everyone speaks Catalan and Spanish, but not everyone speaks English.

3. Travel like a local.

4. The city is so much more than just the beach.

5. The metro is cheap and easy and can get you everywhere.

Barcelona : Gem on the Mediterranean

An Introduction to the Magic of Spain

Favorite Moments : London, Spain + Portugal

You Know You’re a Third Culture Kid When…

You know you’re a Third Culture Kid when…

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Search Results for: food

1. Don’t believe everything you hear.

2. Everyone speaks Catalan and Spanish, but not everyone speaks English.

3. Travel like a local.

4. The city is so much more than just the beach.

5. The metro is cheap and easy and can get you everywhere.

You know you’re a Third Culture Kid when…

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