Life in Barcelona

Guys!! I had one of my best holidays ever in this small town, located in the heart of the “Costa Brava”. Only 2 hours north from Barcelona by car, Roses combines all the best characteristics for a really enjoyable week-end or maybe even more days: the beach is very large and beautiful, there are lots and lots of pubs and discos, there are many cultural places of interest and there is a great mix of nationalities, due to its’ proximity to France and the rest of Europe. (more…)

Tags: Roses, Costa+Brava, Towns+in+Catalunya, Holidays+in+Catalunya

This winter has been very hot here in Barcelona…and disappointing for all winter sports lovers like me. But you know, we have to look forward now and just enjoy the sunshine! So, although it is still March, the recent weather has inspired me to put my shorts and sun glasses on!! It’s spring time, it’s “chiringuito”’s time!!

For those who don’t know what a “chiringuito” is, it is a type of bar located at the beach, where they offer drinks, ice-creams, refreshing fruits, snacks…etc, with some chill out/dance background music. Believe me, it’s great if you have the chance to go to the beach and find a chiringuito close by. There are a lot in Barcelona, for example Princesa Beach Bar or Barceloneta Bar. Actually, I live in Barcelona and I always go to the same beaches. The reasons?? I know where the water is clearer and I also know where the good chiringuitos are !!

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Tags: Chiringuitos+in+Barcelona, Beaches+in+Barcelona, Summer+in+Barcelona

Montserrat literally means “jagged mountain” and is used because of the peculiar aspect of the mountains which are visible from a great distance.

I’ll be there again, for my second time next week! It’ll be so exciting to climb these strange rocks again. On my first visit we were three people and a dog, we left the car at the bottom and we walked up until the sanctuary…when we got there, the dog was the more tired of the group! I really enjoyed that day, walking around, having a rest in every shady place, and watching the extraordinary views!

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Tags: Barcelona+Mountains, Montserrat+Barcelona, Montserrat+excursion, barcelona+excursions

I was looking at the pictures of the past weekend…and I was realizing again how gorgeous it was!!
We were nine people, divided into two cars, with just a small bag each, and plenty of food and drinks.

You can’t plan a trip and then expect that everything will go exactly according to schedule!!! We decided to leave Barcelona early, 8.00 o’clock on Saturday morning…(trust me…it’s a big effort for me!!) …at nine the two cars, one smelling of leeks and the other one of onions, finally left the city , in an attempt to get to the Pyrenees!! “An attempt”, because the only one of us who knew the way is not normally trusted when he says “I know where it is”! Last time we went right around the block twice and he was still saying “I know where it is!”…but he’s our friend and we love him in any case! … And he happens to have a house in the mountains

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Tags: Catalan+Pyrenees, weekend+outside+Barcelona, Mountains+near+Barcelona, Port+del+Compte

It’s Friday and the end of a looooooong week, which gives way to the possibility of a great weekend! I have already planned it all!
I hope the weather will be friendly!
I want to go to Tossa de Mar, have you been there? Heard about it?
Tossa de Mar lies in the heart of the Costa Brava, (95 kilometres north of Barcelona). It is a really pretty town, with cobbled streets, a magnificent ancient castle and a beautiful mountainous background, with lush green valleys, gorges and natural springs!
There’s a bustling beach life in this attractive resort which appeals to couples and families, rather than all night revellers.
Tossa de Mar was the backdrop of a famous movie called ‘The Flying Dutchman’, starring screen idols like Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra! There is a statue of the actress in the old town, in honour of her stay here!
The coastline is a 14-kilometre stretch of sandy tourist beaches and small sheltered coves. I CAN´T WAIT!

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Tags: Tossa+de+Mar, Barcelona+interesting+places, Tossa+de+Mar+near+Barcelona, Barcelona+nearest+beaches

Are you looking for a beautiful spot by the sea? If you are here in Barcelona for a while and you want to explore the area, or to go somewhere new for a day, then there are so many options and the choice is often really difficult!

If you visit any tourist information office or website then you will find out about the most common day trips and the most popular tourist attractions in Catalunya, such as a visit to the magical mountains of Monserrat, or to the nearby Dali museum in Figueres, or a short train ride to the pretty nearby city of Girona.

However, situated right on the Cap de Creus peninsula around 30 minutes from the French border, the enchanting white village of Cadaqués  is one of the most symbolic places on the Costa Brava and quite a well-kept secret! (more…)

Tags: Cadaqués, Day+trips+from+Barcelona, Barcelona+excursions, Cap+de+Creus+National+Park, Costa+Brava

Who hasn´t seen the colourful tourist buses passing by in the city centre every day, full of camera-crazy, smiling, nodding people, twisting their necks this way and that, according to the loud speaker instructions?! “Nooooo, that´s not for me! I prefer to explore the city at my own pace” you might say. Well at least that´s what I thought, until one fine day of enlightenment… (more…)

Tags: tourist+bus+in+barcelona, sightseeing+barcelona, tourist+attractions+barcelona

Hi everybody!!

As you should already know, Barcelona and Catalunya do not only offer nightlife or the beach.  I think that all the people who live in Catalunya are very lucky because they can enjoy a great time going to the beach…and also practicing some SKIING!!! Actually, the Pyrenees are located just 2 hours from Barcelona and even less from Girona or Lleida.

I know that this year we’re not being very lucky with the weather to practice skiing, as there hasn’t been much snow! but most of the ski resorts are already open! So, if you are planning to do something different during the weekend, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some amazing days in one of the numerous ski resorts Catalunya offers you.

However, I want to tell you about one ski resort in particular. If you are interested in going skiing during the weekend or even only for one day, the best option is to go to Port Del Comte, no doubt! (more…)

Tags: Port+Del+Comte, skiing+in+Barcelona, skiing+in+Catalunya, ski+resorts+in+Catalunya, skiing+in+Lleida

If you are interested in nature you need to go to the beautiful area in in the northern region of Catalonia! This is the only national park in Catalonia and it is called Agüistortes and is situated not far away from the border to France, in the heart of the Pyrenees.

I was there a month ago, and even though it might be a bit far away from Barcelona, it is definitely worth going there if you have a couple of days off.

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Tags: Mountains+in+Barcelona, skiing+in+Catalunya, Catalunya, Pyrinees

For all the people who are coming to Barcelona for holidays, do not miss the opportunity to visit some towns close to Barcelona…there are also very nice places to go close to the city.

As an example, I would recommend you to visit a town called Sitges. It is located just 40 km south from Barcelona and you can go there by car, train or bus. One of the greatest things of Sitges is without any doubt its architecture. The streets are strait, there is also a great and beautiful church and there are lots of art galleries. In fact, many painters come to Sitges to get inspiration to their work because of its views, buildings and the general atmosphere.

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Tags: holidays+in+Barcelona, Sitges, bars+Sitges, Spanish+architecture