When you are coordinating a trip for seven people, you need to figure out how you are going to get everyone through the big sites, preferably as economically as possible. That is where Rick Steves came to the rescue. I had everyone in our group download the Rick Steve’s Audio Europe App. Using this app…
During my time in Barcelona in early 1999 my mom went on a quest for the mysterious cousin M. This was someone she had been close to when she was younger. Cousin M had moved to Barcelona for a scholarship opportunity. Then…she seemed to disappear. Mom knew a few snippets. She had some kids. She…
In the middle of the urban jungle that is Barcelona stands a little mountain, an oasis of green in a sea of concrete and steel. Montjuïc is where you go to get away from the bustle of the city but still walk down and be able to get lunch with a friend. My mom saw…
I LOVE to shop. It’s my second favorite activity (after traveling). I got this from my mother. So imagine I’m in Barcelona – with my mom – and we are near one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. You know we are going to make a stop along Paseo de Gracia. Paseo…
The University of Barcelona is a sprawling organization with campuses all over the city. However, for whatever reason, in 1999, all the exchange students took classes at the old campus, right off Plaza Universidad. The building, built between 1863 and 1882, is classic Moorish architecture, with big courtyards and lots of greenery. I remember being…
“My cousin wrote back…she wants to meet for lunch!” “Your cousin? The one in Barcelona you haven’t seen in 40 years?!” “Yep, here is the address of the restaurant we are going to meet at.” Look at map…”Are you serious? If I remember correctly, that’s the not so great area of Barcelona. It’s full of…
When you are a college student studying aboard, you are generally poor. You have some money but you want to use it for traveling to different places around the country (or Europe) so the weekdays, when you have classes, you try to keep your costs to a minimum. I was a typical broke college student,…
The beautiful beating religious heart of Barcelona is hands down the beautiful Gothic cathedral. La Sagrada Familia is all about architecture, but La Catedral, that’s pure old school religious soul. Built in 1046-1058 AD with a Gothic façade added in 1298 the church is hundreds of years of art, sculpture, and religion Beautiful Gothic facade…
As a student living in Barcelona, my classes all ended before lunch. One of my favorite activities was to walk the short distance to Plaza Catalunya and then down las Ramblas, eventually steering into el Barrio Gotico. People watching was cheap and entertaining, so I’d get a coffee at a café and nurse it for…
In 1999, I was a young exchange student living in Barcelona and having the time of my life. While there I went on a tour of the Sagrada Familia. At that time, the tour did not have a set price, but donation based pricing. And the “tour” was simply access to the museum on Gaudí…