By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Throughout the summer Barcelona neighborhoods throw local bashes which are something like a block party on steroids. Everyone from the barri, or “neighborhood,” gets involved in the festivities. Usually these parties will go on for a weekend or in some cases an entire week. It’s now too late to » Read more

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— I’ve lived all over Barcelona, from the upper Eixample by the Sagrada Familia, to the ancient heart of the city in the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter). I now live near the sea, which suits me best. Which barri is right for your trip or move to Barcelona? That depends » Read more

By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— One of the top five reasons I live in Barcelona is the weather. I’m from the Pacific NW in the United States, which is lovely when the clouds lift. Sick of the rain, I wanted to be in the sunshine which motivated me to move to Costa Rica, Guatemala » Read more

By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— July in Barcelona means humid days on the beach, lots of visitors in the city, tons of cool music and cinema festivals and the second best sale of the year. Sales are held in Barcelona twice a year, in January and in July. Of course, these are the times » Read more

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— In my six years in Barcelona I’ve been to Park Güell twice. Both times when I have gone up there I’ve promised to come more often because it really is a fabulous park, but the bus ride is so long to get up there that I rarely follow through. » Read more

By Cynthia Kane in Madrid— Bars that offer stacks of board games for their patrons are becoming more and more popular in Madrid. And although you can find one here or there in every neighborhood, two barrios in particular are packed with Trivial Pursuits, Taboos, checkers, chess and more: Malasaña and Lavapiés. Here are my » Read more

By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— Beauty takes pain. Or at least that’s what my mama always told me, and anyone who has been waxed is sure to agree that being “bikini ready” is not for wimps. While beauty treatments may sting, they don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are » Read more

By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Suddenly flip-flops, sunglasses, reddened skin and the smell of coconut suntan lotion are filling the air. This can only mean one thing in Barcelona: spring, and high-season, are here. As the summer approaches the city streets will swell a bit more each month with visitors, tourists, cruise-ship goers and » Read more

By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— You have a coffee, munch a croissant, ride the bus and buy a postcard for your mom and BAM!…. another €10 is gone! This is a city where it is very easy to spend money at a rapid clip. Here are a few places where it pays to lay » Read more