Posts by author Regina W Bryan
Sometimes, you just need a burger. Photo: Jorge F.
Vintage clothes, cupcakes, brunch and now burgers. These trends have swept over Barcelona leaving people well-fed and questionably clothed. Unlike vintage, which doesn’t get me going, burger shacks are a welcomed addition to the Barcelona food scene. Here are a few top diners for a double with cheese. Betty Ford’s Joaquin Costa, 56 Barcelona, 08001 » Read more
Be wary of tourist traps along La Rambla. Photo: Fred Romero
Like any major tourist destination, Barcelona has its share of attractions that promise too much, but deliver too little… while usually draining your budget. These, my friends, are called “tourist traps.” They’re usually easy to spot (just look for crowds of tourists with nary a local in sight), but their allure can still be too » Read more
Hot chocolate with whipped cream at the Buenas Migas coffee chain in Barcelona. Photo: Ebarrera
By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— Yesterday over dinner I asked my sweetie if he remembered the last time it rained in Barcelona. We both tried to remember. It’s been weeks. While the sun is shining and there’s not a cloud in the sky, mornings are crisp and chilly and it feels like winter. On » Read more
By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— Not all hotels in Barcelona are created equal when it comes to location. While it’s true that some of the cheapest rooms can be found outside of Barcelona’s city center, this isn’t always the case. There are some great hotel deals to be had right in the center of » Read more
Barcelona's holiday season takes some endurance. Photo: Carquinyol
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— In Barcelona, and in fact all over Spain, the party seems to go on forever. While there are holidays, long vacations and festivals year-round in Spain, December is an especially merry month offering up nine days of “fiesta” instead of just the 25th and 31st/1st. So merry, it’s scary, » Read more
A look at the grand Sagrada Familia. Photo: Jonas Denil
The Sagrada Familia or Holy Family, is one of Barcelona’s “Oh-My-Gawd” sights and is a real must-do. It’s impressive, it’s wacky, it’s Gaudí’s last project, and it’s a basilica now, thanks to the Pope. If you see no other Gaudí buildings in Barcelona, see this one. Due to the fact that it is awesome, in » Read more
Barcelona's public libraries offer free Wi-Fi to members. Photo: CWagner
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Cheapos rejoice! There are plenty of ways to Tweet, Dig, Tumble and surf in Barcelona for free. While many hotels and hostels in Barcelona have free Internet access (or should, anyway), here are a few options for when you want to get out of your dimly lit hotel room. » Read more
Barcelona's charming Placa Neri hides a tragic history. Photo: Manelzaera
For many, Europe = plazas, or squares. Cobblestone plazas corralled by cafes, grand plazas with state buildings looking down on passersby, and intimate, hidden plazas with bubbling fountains sprouting from their centers. Certainly, Barcelona has its fair share of city squares. The neighborhood with the most plazas in town is Gracia, where the famous Plaça » Read more
Barcelona tapas! Photo: Unsplash
Spanish food and wine is as diverse as the many regions that make up the Iberian Peninsula. Here I narrow in on a few must-eats in Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain! 1. Tapas You can’t come to Spain and not have tapas, which are like appetizers. In some parts of the country (especially the south) when you » Read more
To tip or not to tip? Photo: Kent Wang
I just got back to Barcelona after spending two months in the United States and Canada. It’s normal to have a little culture shock when going in-between countries, and one of the aspects of life back in North America that always confuses upon return is tipping. In Barcelona, and all over Spain, it’s not usual » Read more
Making friends at a photoblogger Meetup in Barcelona. Photo: Fran Simo
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— I came to Barcelona in 2005, and my goodness there was a lot I didn’t know! An ex-pat friend and I often joke that if we had known what it would take to establish ourselves in this sunny metropolis by the sea, we never would have come. Yes, it » Read more
Horns a-blaring at La Merce festival in Barcelona. Photo: Thomas Perry
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
The streets of the Barri Gotic. Photo: Jonathan Taglione
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
Getting some latenight scoops in Barcelona. Photo: Gnomeza
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
Summertime shopping in Barcelona. Photo: Oh 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 of the year when locals are » Read more
Barcelona's Park Guell is a celebration of all things Gaudi. Photo: George M. Groutas
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. I adore its weird mosaics, spooky » Read more
Tourists snapping a shot from high above Barcelona. Photo: Unsplash
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 backpackers. This means longer lines at » Read more
The (free) view from Barcelona's Castillo de Montjuic. Photo: Calafellvalo
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
Enjoy Parque Güell in Barcelona for free. Photo: Jorge Franganillo
Barcelona on €20 a day? It is not easy, but let me tell you, it can be done! Here’s the Cheapo guide how to go super shoestring in the Catalan Capital city. 1. Sleep super cheap. Unless you have friends in Barcelona, you are going to have to pay for somewhere to sleep, which could » Read more
Barcelona's bakeries offer more than just bread. Photo: Avinash
Bakeries are a tasty way to save big in Barcelona. There are SO many bakeries in this town that it’s hard to walk two blocks without running into one selling flaky croissants, baguettes, chocolate napolitanas, and large loaves of pa de payés, a Catalan farmers’ bread. Bakery sandwiches Bakeries also usually sell sandwiches, which are » Read more
Lovers buying books, celebrating St. Jordi's Day. Photo: Tgrauros
No box of chocolate See’s, no tacky stuffed bear, no lovey-dovey cards from Hallmark. Nope. The Catalans have an entirely different way of celebrating love: with books and roses. Men give one red rose (instead of a dozen) to their sweetie on St. Jordi’s Day, Barcelona‘s most romantic day of the year. And women? They » Read more
By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— The good news for music lovers is that there is music every night somewhere in Barcelona. The bad news is that tickets can be spendy! But fear not. Here are a few ways to enjoy great music in Barcelona a Cheapo’s budget: Atrapalo Web site The absolute first place » Read more
How about a burger in Barcelona? Photo: Unsplash
By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— As much as I love Rioja wine, Manchego cheeses, golden olive oil and paella, there comes a time when one tires of Spanish food and wants a bit of curry or guacamole in life. Barcelona’s non-Spanish/Catalan foods scene improves each year (I’ve seen a big change in the five » Read more
Andorra mountain range. Photo by storrao
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona—Barcelona is not known for its harsh winters. As I write this, it is 6 degrees celsius out – or about 43ºF – not exactly beach weather but also not a typical cold winter wonderland. However, it’s easy for Barcelona visitors who are in the mood for frolicking in the snow to » Read more
Barcelona's Aerobus shuttles you to El Prat. Photo by ImageLink
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona—Barcelona‘s main international airport, El Prat, is one of the cushiest I have ever been in. It has elegant Spanish and Catalan shops, tasty cafes serving up strong espresso and sweet croissants, and an openness to it that makes wandering around or running to catch a connecting flight fairly easy. » Read more
