Barcelona is the most popular destination in Spain for American tourists, and one of the most popular in all of Europe. After only a day or two there, it will be easy to see why. The city offers great weather, incredible food, access to beaches and mountains, fascinating architecture and cultural gems, and some of…
The contrast between the streets of Barcelona and those of most other major Spanish cities is stark, and not just for the architecture. The flag of Spain, commonly hung from balconies all over the country, is not visible here anywhere near to that extent, except on federal buildings. Rather, the red and yellow stripes of…
Editor's note: no, we are not calling our readers dummies. We are just trying to borrow some of the brilliance of the popular books. I am so excited for this post, as it's nice to get two different views on Barcelona - mine and this one from Madeleine. Full disclosure, while I may have accomplished…
It is one of the first things I was warned of when I began to plan a visit to Barcelona. "Don't leave your suitcase even for a moment." "Keep an eye and hand on your belongings at all times." "Don't put your phone down, and hold it tightly." Petty crime, especially theft and pickpocketing, are…
Love him or hate him; there seems to be little room for opinions between those extremes when it comes to Antoni Gaudi, the architect who is more closely identified with transforming a single city than anyone perhaps since Sir Christopher Wren and his additions to London's skyline. When visiting Barcelona, it is impossible not to…
It's such a contrast to pretty much everything else I've seen in Spain, a country with so much history. The palaces and monuments of Seville and Granada seem to be a world away here in Valencia; the complex I am currently standing in is so ultra-modern that is seems less European and more Saturnian, like…
It was a long bus ride from Granada to Valencia, more than eight hours in a seat with the Spanish countryside rolling by. I check into my hotel, drop my stuff in my room, and start bouncing excitedly. This entire time I've been in Spain - three weeks so far - I've eaten well, very…
So you've come to Granada to see the Alhambra. You spent a day touring the incredible site, one of the finalists for the seven new wonders of the world, and maybe even watched the sun set from one of the view points in the city to see it glow in the twilight. Tomorrow you'll wake…
Words can't accurately describe my feelings as my small tour group departs the office and walks toward the wall. The morning is chilly, but clear here at the top of a hill in the middle of Granada in southern Spain. Our group, headsets on listening to our guide narrate, shows our tickets and enters. Some…
For Americans visiting Spain, Barcelona and Madrid seem the focal points. Both are amazing destinations, but seeing only those two cities misses my personal favorite city in Spain: Seville. The capital of Andalusia is one of the cultural highlights of all of Europe, a mid-sized city, easy to explore and with more to do than…