What to do in Barcelona with 25€ (or less) a day - spend smart!

Ladies and gents, welcome to the revolutionary brand new blog from SuiteLife about what to do in Barcelona with 25€ (or less) a day! Get ready for some really valuable insider tips for people just like you, but just with a little more experience in BCN :P! For that matter, don't be shy, feel free to share your tips in the comment section below. But for now, enough with the chit-chat, and lets get the party started!

BREAKFAST

All nutritionists recommend a big and nutritious breakfast and who are we to go against that? And since we're in Spain  you should start the day with a Spanish bocadillo (aka baguette with filling, usually ham and/or cheese). And since we know you want only the best, we highly recommend Panaderias 365. They are all over the city and for approximately 3€, you can get a huge bocadillo that is also tasty! And obviously a great day starts with an awesome coffee, they serve lattes for only 1,25€! THAT IS: 4,2€ (so far).

YOU CAN NOW HIT THE BEACH...

With no exaggeration, summer is definitely claiming its rights here in Barcelona (35° C today at 5PM :O ), so there's no friggin' way of being in Barcelona and not going to one of the beaches! So, time to get some tan lines on that skin and let everyone know what an amazing time you are having in this fantastic city (P.S. no beach leg selfies though, that is so 2014 :P )! Obviously the beach is free, but in order for the fun to be complete, here's what you are gonna need:

• a public transportation ticket (either metro or bus should be fine): 2,15€
• a 6-pack of beer cans : 3€
• some snacks: 2€

THAT IS: 7,15€

...OR YOU CAN GO HIKING IN THE HILL OF TIBIDABO

The Tibidabo Cathedral is an amazing part of the Catalan culture on Barcelona, but the way to get there is even more awesome! Why? Because if you are more of a hiker than a 'bather', this is the place to be for you, as you will find yourself in the middle of nature breathing fresh air away from the city pollution? The pathway up to the Cathedral slithers round the hill and takes approximately 1 1/2 h to reach the top, so we would like to make some suggestions on what you would need:

• first of all - public transportation ticket: 2,15€
• bottle of water: 0,50€
• protein bar: 1€

THAT IS: 3,65€

LUNCH

After all these extremely physically draining activities, clearly it's time for some well-deserved lunch! SuiteLife Barcelona recommendation: TENTO! Wondering why? Well because you can also find them pretty much everywhere within the city and they sell healthy cooked dishes that are only 2 mins away from touching your mouth, due to the fact that they have a lot of microwave ovens where you can heat your stuff up! Not to mention they have a very wide range of meals with which you can customise your own menu for just 6,95€!!! The menus include 2 main courses, bread, a small bottle of water and a dessert! You can also go with the 1/2 menu (with only one main course) for 4,95€, but trust us, spending 2€ more for another plate of food is worth it here! THAT IS: 6,95€

SIESTA? NAH, THAT S**T IS FOR LOSERS!!!

You haven't come to Barcelona to sleep now, have you? It's sightseeing time, because sleep is for the weak! So, after lunch, you have to burn those calories for good! And thank God, Barcelona has a bazillion places for you to see and admire! If you click here, you will see the SuiteLife recommendation for the MUST-SEE sites here in Barcleona, so why not check our blog for more info ;)? Costs:

• walking: FREE!!!
• water bottle: 0,50€
• some snacks: 1€

THAT IS: 1,50€

DINNER

Dinner should be the lightest meal of the day, so after you're done with all your plans we suggest you hit Cerveceria Montaditos! Most of their tapas are  1€ (!!), and believe us - they are reeaally good! Plus you can choose from a lot of varieties, which is awesome because you get to experience the real Spanish food! Prices:

• 4 tapas * 1€ = 4 €
• beer = 1€

THAT IS: 5 € TOTAL: 24,85€ And that's it, SuiteLifers! Feeling more enlightened now? Thought so! That's what happens when you know what to do in Barcelona with 25€  (or less) a day! Now it is yours to take! Till next time, peace out! Muchisimas gracias, Dragosh (El Dragon)

Barcelona Photo Blog – Barcelona neighbourhoods in photos!

After many blogs about eating, shopping, traveling… the Suitelife team have come up with the idea of Barcelona photo blog in which we show you the beauty of all Barcelona neighbourhoods with some aspects of artistic expression such as Barcelona sculpture, Barcelona architecture, Barcelona street art and daily life of residents there. Let’s travel to Barcelona and explore art, architecture, people and tradition through our interns’s lens!

1. Barri Gòtic

Street performer in Plaça Reial, popular meeting place Located in the old city, Gothic area with many attractions is always crowded by tourists, but in the evening you will find out that locals are attracted to many restaurants and bars.  Old, narrow, but beautiful streets, interesting bars, nice coffee shops and restaurants or clothing stores, you can find them all and do anything you want in this famous neighbourhood.

2. Raval 

MACBA, housing the city's main collection of modern art and popular skate spot El Raval is part of the second development stage of historic Barcelona. Even it was an unsafe and  no-go area for tourists in the past, the Raval is being transformed into a lively and multi-cultural neighbourhood with a variety of attractive cafes, restaurants and bars.

3. El Born

One of El Born's characteristic narrow streets One of my favourite neighbourhoods with the best pizza in town - only 1.50 euro a slice :) ! Here you can find nice restaurants, bars, trendy but pricey boutiques, shoe shops and one of the most amazing modernist buildings: the Palau de la Musica.  Ciutadella Park (also home toBarcelona Zoo) is such a perfect place for picnic weekend!

4. Barceloneta

Passeig Don Joan Borbó Comte Barcelona where you'll find some of the city's best seafood restaurants. Of course Barceloneta is one of the city's most visited and popular districts with its perfect location near Barcelona's Port Vell and sandy beaches. What should I say about this neighbourhood? In my mind, Barceloneta's images are: rows of restaurants and bars, sound of guitar from street performers on the sand, locals sitting in their chairs in the street and narrow balconies displaying clothes drying in the sun!

5. L'Eixample

Beautiful park near Sagrada Família Central and quiet from the chaos of Plaza Catalunya or Espanya, L'Eixample is a nice place to stay in terms of safety and convenience. The area is packed with buildings in art-nouveau style, some of the best and most expensive restaurants in town and most of Barcelona's international designer shops! Rambla de Catalunya is my favourite place to sit and people-watching from one of the many beautiful terrace cafes!

6. Gràcia

One of the nicest streets in Gràcia Gràcia is one of the most popular and vibrant district in the city! You can't think of Gràcia without imagining the modernist Casa Fuster and Gaudi's Cava Vicens! Plaza del Sol is the most renowned area of this neighbourhood (with terrace cafes), being a place for people to convene to drink and be merry at night!

7. Diagonal Mar

The yellow flowering trees in a park in Diagonal Mar, Barcelona With the broadest and most important avenues, modernist architectures, international schools and many large and modern shopping malls with supermarkets,  restaurants, cinemas and various services such as massage spas or hair salons, Diagonal  Mar is the deifnitely a city hotspot!

8. Poble Nou

In Poble Nou, you can sit and enjoy the old part of district with elegant buildings and pavement cafes, see the locals and the kids playing in the park, Barcelonians going about in their business. There is a local Rambla street there and I love it more than the famous one! Furthermore, just a few minutes walking and you can see the beach which is quieter and non-touristy. Its the perfect place to escape to once you're tired of Barceloneta beach.

9. Poble Sec

Street art and graffiti wall in Poble Sec. Between the city centre and Montjuic, Poble Sec is sufficiently away from the main tourist areas. Therefore, it is fairly quiet except when your place is near the Camp Nou stadium or in Carrer de Blai - the ideal location for  many local bars and restaurants with authentic Catalan cuisine with very reasonable price!

10. Villa Olimpica

Student gathering in a park near thePompeu Fabra University campus In this area, Bogatell is an ideal place to sit and relax after a long day at the beach! With old looks of small cafes and narrow streets, the Olympic village also has many clubs, bars and restaurants where you will meet all of your entertainment needs! There are many famous architectures in this area such as The Port Olímpic de Barcelona, Golden fish and Torre Mapfre! This is a photo collection taken by people who fall in love with Barcelona, the town you never want to leave! Hope you enjoyed our very own Barcelona photo blog and now let's discover more information about all neighbourhoods in Barcelona through more of our blogs below! Top 5 Barcelona neighbourhoods EL Born Raval Gracia Eixample Gothic Villa Olympica Diagonal Poble Sec Poble Nou

Calle Aribau Barcelona - a world of fun, all on one street, does it get any better than Calle Aribau Barcelona?

Aribau Barcelona, known as Carrer Aribau in Catalan or Calle Aribau in Spanish, is one of the coolest streets in Barcelona, full of Barcelona bars, Barcelona Restaurants and of course,  home to the SuiteLife office, Carrer Aribau Barcelona is possibly the coolest places for Barcelona nightlife.

WHERE IS CALLE ARIBAU?

Carrer Aribau is a long street running for about 2km's from Via Augusta down to Gran Via, Placa Universitat. It's more or less a straight road, downhill or uphill -depending of course on which direction you are going in!

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT IT?

I lived in Barcelona for over a year and never even knew about Calle Aribau in Barcelona. Although central, Carrer Aribau is located a little way out of the centre of Barcelona city. Only after working in the SuiteLife office did I realise the secret world of fun I had been missing out on. It's a beautiful old, dramatic street with strong bold architecture and sums up the "Eixample barrio". I would say that Calle Aribau has two distinct characteristics. By day, it's all business, and home to many of Barcelona's upmarket offices. You will see business men walking around in their smart suits, and notice some swanky cars driving up and down the road. By night, it's party central and offers some of Barcelona's finest bars, cocktail bars and Whisky bars. You will find the same crowd in the bars having their after work drinks.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO ON CALLE ARIBAU?

There are countless bars, restaurants and clubs on Calle Ariabau, here are a few hand selected "extra special" places we think you NEED to check out!

La Flauta Restaurant - Tapas Not Just for the Tourists!

The businessmen who work on Carrer Aribau queue up for a table here at lunch time, it's one of the most popular restaurants in Barcelona, but not only with tourists. Catalan locals love this place and it's authenticity shines through, from it's classical Catalan tapas menu, to it's simple but handsome interior. (Click here for a more in-depth look at La Flauta) Aribau 23 | Eixample | Barcelona |+34933237038 Mon – Sat 08:00 – 01:00

Le Cyrano - A bar where you "pour your own drink" Be careful though!

Have you ever been to a bar, where you get to pur your own drink? NO? Well you need to get to Le Cyrano, a Barcelona bar like no other. If you want for example, a Gintonic (Gin & Tonic), they will give you the bottle of Gin and a bottle of tonic and a glass, it's up to you to decide how strong you want your drink. All this, and it's only €4.  As you can imagine, this is one of the most popular bars in Barcelona and attracts tourists and locals alike. (Click here for a more details). NOTE!*!*!*! - Friends of mine have gone to check out Le Cyrano only to find it's closed. In reality, they were just to early, Le Cyrano doesn't open until 11pm! Don't forget this is Barcelona and the party doesn't get going until much later than usual! Aribau 154 | Eixample | Barcelona| 08036

Espit Chupitos Bar - The widest selection of "shots" in Barcelona!

In Barcelona, we have "Chupitos" which translates to "shots". This bar which is basically called "shots" has some of the craziest and most creative shots you are likely to ever try, apparently over 500 varieties. The "Harry Potter shot" is a flaming hot experience not for the faint hearted, and is also the reason you will see fire extinguishers hanging up behind the bar.

"Be sure to let the flames go out before drinking!"

Located directly opposite the SuiteLife office, this bar is typically full of Americans but also locals looking for something fun to do on the weekend! Espit Chupitos | Aribau 77 | Eixample | Barcelona

“DONTELL” - Barcelona's secret restaurant..shhhhhh!

When I say this Barcelona restaurant is a "secret restaurant", I don't mean it's secret because only the locals know about it, I literally mean it's a secret. Disguised as a laundrette, Dontell restaurant looks like a typical Barcelona laundrette, complete with a "dry cleaning" price list in the window. You cannot walk into this Dontell restaurant off the street, you NEED to book a table first. Confirmation of your table will read as "Your dry cleaning is ready for you to pick up!" Once inside, you'll be given a secret number to dial into the "vault" style door, leading into the restaurant area. Dontell is the ideal Barcelona restaurant to take your friends and family to, but "Dontell" them in advance and remember to take a camera for those confused/shocked family photos! Dontell Tintoreria (Restaurant) | Aribau  55| Eixample | Barcelona | +34934520720

The SuiteLife Office

Located smack bang in the middle of Calle Aribau, we at SuiteLife are proud to have our office here, right in the thick of it. With all this fun stuff to do, right on our doorstep, it's a wonder we ever get anything done! So if you are looking for flats in Barcelona or simply want some advice about moving to Barcelona, pop in for a coffee and and hang out on the SuiteLife terrace with views of across the city! The SuiteLife Office | Sobre Atico 2 | Ariabau 80 | Eixample | Barcelona | +34934514118 Experienced, written and loved by Ben Holbrook - SuiteLifer and Aribau Adventurer :)

Salsa Barcelona - Where to Shake That Booty!

Do you like Salsa? Do you like Barcelona? Well boys and girls, please read on! Because this blog is going to be all about Salsa in Barcelona. What to do, how to do it, and, most importantly, where to do it! When we're talking about 'shaking that booty', we are obviously not talking about our lovely Miley Cyrus trying to twerk, because no, just no, we don't want that. No, we're going to shake our booties with the lovely (originally) cuban dance; Salsa! Yeah, that's right, it's from Cuba. So we don't only owe the Cubans for creating the delicious Mojito, but also this enormously sensual dance. Oh, speaking of Mojito's, check out our blog about amazing cocktails!

What to do?

Did I get you hyped yet? No? My bad. Am I not enthusiastic enough? Okay, let me just tell you one thing. When you want to practise Salsa in Barcelona, you get extremely flexible in the hips, and we all know what they say about people who have flexible hips... they're great dancers! Either with a partner or on your own, mastering  Salsa boosts your self-esteem by a huge amount. It might sound weird, but it does. Being confident about your moves makes you confident about yourself. If you don't believe me, try it and see for yourself. So what should you do? Think about heading to one of these classes and giving it a shot:

How to do it - Schools

Well obviously I can't make you a Salsa-expert instantly. Because this is a blog. These are just words, no classes. Lame, right? Yeah I know, so to help you become an expert, I'll be telling you where you should go to take classes! (For some of them you might want to improve your spanish skills).

Escuela Salsa Barcelona

The first one on our Salsa Barcelona  list is a spanish one. For just 19 euros you can get 4 seminars, 1 hour each. You'll have free entrance on fridays and the bar (open hours), and you can subscribe on your own or with your partner! Please have a look yourself on their website.

Shangó

Shangó is a small, sweet club, and gives free(!) salsa classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:30. (And a happy hour from 21:30 - 23:00, in case you need a little liquid courage when it comes to dancing). It is located in the Gothic neighbourhood, carrer d'En Groch 2.

Dance School Antilla

Another school where you can go to practise Salsa is Dance School Antilla. They have professional dance classes, and you'll be mastering the dance in no-time! You can also get private classes, or just drop by for one week to see how it's like. This school is really, really flexible. Try it out! They are located at Carrer d'Aragó 141, and please feel free to do some of your own research on their website!

Where to dance?

There are sooo many clubs where you can do the Salsa in Barcelona. I mean, you can do it anywhere, anytime, but of course we prefer do it in clubs where they have the right music, don't we? Well here is a list with some of the best clubs (it's so hard to pick the best ones, but I'll do my best, just for you)!

Antilla Salsa Barcelona

If I had to pick a number one club to go for salsa dancing in Barcelona, it'd be Antilla Salsa Barcelona. (It's also where you could get classes I mentioned earlier.) This club has a lot of performances of a lot of music bands with so many different kinds of music, with a mix of latin and fusion music. The club has a lovely atmosphere and is divided into two spaces (sala 1 y sala 2), which offer (sometimes free) dance lessons, workshops, performances and delicious Caribbean cocktails. Please do not miss out on this club- its definitely worth a visit!

Mojito Club

If there's another club worth mentioning it'd definitely be the Mojito club. It's not a HUGE club, but the atmosphere is definitely caliente! It's so worth it to visit this club. People line up and dance together, and every now and then the DJ comes down to teach everybody some dance moves! It's located at C/ Rosellón, no. 217. If  you drop by, could you drop a comment below and tell me how amazing your night was?

La Clave

Another great club is La Clave. As soon as you enter this club you realize you've made a great decision entering the room. Because honestly, the music, the people, everything is just so nice. It gives that amazing Cuban taste while you're going out. Yes, this is a great place to Salsa. La Clave is located at Passeig del Rengle – Torre d’Ara. Oh, and you can also take salsa classes here (Like, amazing classes). They have party nights fridays - sundays, and on the other weekdays it's an extremely professional dancing school.

Habana Barcelona

The last one for our Salsa Barcelona blog would be Habana Barcelona. You can start your evening by having dinner here, and about 1-2 am they will clear the tables, and everything just turns into this one big Salsa club. This is another must-see! Grab a bite and end the evening with a lovely salsa swing. Yeah, I love it, do you? Oh, and from Thursday - Sunday they offer free classes where you can just walk in and join the fun!
So this is it for today guys. Hope you found our blog useful for your Barcelona Salsa desires! So put on those boots, grab your partner, and let's salsa to it! Untill next time, ~Tjeerd

Catalan Recipes - Open Your Eyes to Catalan Cuisine and its best dishes!

Barcelona, symbol of the Mediterranean cuisine, has been a must-visit location for food lovers for many years. Catalan recipes are infused with geography, history and culture here.  Catalan cuisine has constantly absorbed influences that have helped to shape the country’s rich and diverse culinary traditions. Cooking here has great character influenced by Greek, Roman, Italian and French culture, which have left their mark on this complex cuisine by taking the best of each country and creating a culinary package of the region. Catalonia is also made up of coast, mountains and fields and this is why a lot of typical Catalan recipes use concepts revolving around fish and meat. Many fresh products are used thanks to local farmers who are developing work on the land and bringing the tastes and traditions of Catalan gastronomy to the people and positioning it as a symbol of Mediterranean cuisine.
Behind the cuisine of Catalonia today, lies the story of a country, a way of being and of doing things.

Catalan eating habits – leisure activity!

Food is a huge part of life in Barcelona and all Catalonia and because of this  it really dictates the schedule of the day here. Catalan people tend to eat their meals later in the day than is usual in other parts of Europe. To get the best culinary experience here you have to know the habits of local people and know the best Catalan recipes.

Breakfast! El Desayuno!

A lot of Catalan and Spanish people skip this meal and don't put much importance on it at all. People tend to start breakfast here between 8 and 10, or just don't eat at all much passed their coffee and cigarette. Usually it consists of a coffee, juice, hot chocolate or tea + a croissant, toast with butter or toast with olives & tomato, or a slice of Spanish Omlette. At this early hour you will find special deals in the cafes and bars giving you opportunity to buy coffee and pastry at a great price.

Coffee time! El Café!

Time for a little snack or just a coffee, is normally after sitting in the office for an one or two, between 10.30am and 12.00pm. You can order different kinds of coffees but here are the most popular orders in Spanish:

• Café solo – a shot of espresso
• Café cortado – like espresso macchiato
• Café con leche – coffee with milk, a little closer to a latte than a flat white
• Café Americano – American style blackcoffee

You can be lucky and find special offers to buy a mini entrepa (a small filled baguette) with your beverage.

Lunch/ La comida

Time for the main meal – the largest and the most important during the day in Catalonia. It takes place between 2pm and 4pm. In the restaurants you can ask for “menu del dia” which changes every day and allows you to choose from various options at a reasonable price. A lot of places are closed during lunch time: like small shops, businesses, public places and ect. so keep this in mind coming to Catalonia.

Afternoon Snack/ La merienda

Since in Catalonia dinner is eaten late, you can have a light afternoon snack between 5pm and 6:30pm to keep you going. You can get at this time of the day typically some pastries, hot drinks, or small sandwiches. Its the ideal time to try chocolate and churros. (Gran Viader churros place is one of the most famous in Barcelona!)

Dinner/La cena

So let’s start from this that you are eating dinner quite late in Catalonia - between 9pm and 11:30pm. It’s a much lighter meal than many foreigners think and it’s typically smaller than lunch. At this time of the day you can try tapas, which are not as popular in Catalonia like in other parts of Spain, but still without any problems you can find many places which are serving them, although we think that you should try dishes made by following Catalan recipes. As well, you have to know, that the last meal can last several hours. The most enjoyable part would be sobretaula (post meal chat) and in typical Mediterranean style by sharing a fusion of dishes with friends and family by the table.

We are warmly inviting you to enjoy Catalan food and we are giving you few simple catalan recipes which you can try by yourself at home!

#1 Pan Con Tomate (Pa Amb Tomaquet)

Sometimes called Pan a la Catalana in other parts of Spain, it is one of the simplest, most well-loved, and most widely eaten dishes from Cataluña.
Ingredients

• Baguette
• 2 juicy, ripe tomatoes, peeled
• 1 clove garlic
• 3-4 tbs olive oil
• Salt to taste

Preparation

1. Cut the baguette lengh-wise and then in the smaller pieces. Toast the cut sides under a grill, or in a toaster oven.
2. Peel tomatoes and garlic, place in food processor and crush and thoroughly mix. This mixture you can pour into a small bowl to serve.
3. Drizzle olive oil over the toasted sides of baguette. Sprinkle salt on top. Spoon tomato mixture on bread and spread evenly.

Optional If you wish, add thinly slices Spanish cheese, chorizo or ham.

#2 Escalivada

Catalonians eat this dish as a first course or as an accompaniment to meats.
Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 4 small eggplants
• 4 spring onions or large scallions
• 4 red bell peppers
• 2 tomatoes
• Extra virgin olive oil for brushing, plus 1/3 cup
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• Salt

Preparation

1. Prepare an oven - 260 C
2. Brush the eggplants, onion, bell pappers, and tomatoes with olive oil. Arrange the vegetables on a rimmed baking sheet or in a roasting pan and roast, turning every 10 min, for 20 minutes, or until the skins blacke and the vegetables are tender.
3. Remove the vegetables from the oven and slip into one or more plastic bags, and let cool for about hour.
4. Unwrap the vegetables. Peel the eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes and peel away outer layer of the onions. Split the bell peppers in half, discard the seeds and stems, and cut lengthwise into strips. Transfer to a bowl. Trim the stems from the eggplants and core the tomatoes, and then cut them into strips of the same size as the papper strips and add to the bowl. Trim the onions, cut into rings, and add to the bowl along with the garlic.
5. Add the 1/3 cup olive oil, season with salt, and toss to mix well. Serve at room temperature.

Optional You can use seasoning of minced garlic.

#3 Esqueixada

This is a traditional Catalan recipe. Cod fish is used in many different ways in Catalan cuisine and this one is in my opinion the one that accentuates the flavor of the fish the most.
Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1 pound salt cod (previously soaked in water at least 6 hours, rinsed, then patted dry
• 1 small green pepper
• 1 small red pepper
• 4 firm yet ripe tomatoes
• About 15 black olives
• One onion
• 1 cloves garlic
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Red wine vinegar

Preparation

1. Shred the cod into pieces with your fingers and place it in a serving dish.
2. Finely chop onion and bell peppers. Cut the tomatoes in half, then, with a cheese grater, grate the tomato pulp (some prefer the tomatoes chopped rather than grated, you can try this way as well) Mince the garlic.
3. Throw all of the previously prepared ingredients onto the plate of fish and toss. Top with the olives, then dress with olive oil, vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss once more and you’re done.

#4 Suquet de Peix

“Fish stew” in the Catalan language, and it is a traditional dish from the region. Like all traditional dishes, there are many variations of this fish stew.
Ingredients (4-6 Servings)

• Picada Sauce:
• 50 gr peeled whole almonds
• 2 slices stale bread
• 3-4 Tbsp flat leaf parsley (stems removed)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1-2 Tbsp vinegar
• 2-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Stew:
• 1 onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 3 large, ripe tomatoes
• 1 lb potatoes
• 2 lbs (1 kg) pieces solid white fish (such as halibut or gilt-head bream)
• 8 shrimp
• 1/2 to 1 liter seafood broth
• salt to taste

Cook Time: 30 minutes Preparation

1. First prepare the picada sauce:
2. Toast the blanched almonds under the broiler or in a frying pan. Chop the parsley leaves. Peel and finely chop the garlic.
3. Place the almonds, parsley, garlic into a food processor. Crumble the stale bread and add to the rest of the ingredients.
4. Mash or process the ingredients as you slowly add oil and vinegar, forming a paste. Set aside for later.
5. Now:
6. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Cut the tomatoes into small cubes. Peel and slice the potatoes into rounds about 1/4 inch thick.
7. Pour a few tablespoons of olive oil into a large frying pan and heat on medium. Sauté the onion for 2 minutes, then add tomatoes and garlic, and continue to cook. Add the potatoes and stir to coat.
8. Mix a few tablespoons of seafood broth with the picada, then add to pan and simmer.
9. When potatoes are almost cooked, add fish to pan and simmer. If liquid evaporates, add seafood broth as needed. Sauce will thicken. As soon as potatoes and fish are cooked, add shrimp. Cook until shrimp is done. Adjust salt to taste.
10. Serve hot in open soup bowls.

#5 Romesco

A sauce made from almonds, roasted garlic, olive oil and dried red peppers.
Ingredients (1 ¾ cups around 8-10 serves)

• ½ cup of roasted almonds
• 1/2cup grated Parmesan
• 1 Garlic clove
• 45 grams jar roasted red peppers (drained)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• salt

Cook Time: 10 min Preparation

• In a food processor pulse almonds, parmesan and garlic clove.
• Add roasted red peppers, olive oil, vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon salt and blend until smooth.
• Serve wth bread and vegetables.

#6 Crema Catalana

Version of the French dessert, crème brulee, but we are giving you Catalan recipe of it ;)
Ingredients

• 500 ml whole milk
• Colored part of ½ orange peel
• Colored part of 1/5 lemon peel
• ½ cinnamon stick
• 1 vanilla pod, split lengthways
• 7 egg yolks
• 95g sugar, plus 6tbsp extra, to serve
• 10g cornflour

Preparation

1. Put the milk, orange and lemon zests, cinnamon and vanilla pod in a saucepan and gently bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the suger and cornflour until pale and creamy. Pass the milk through a sieve and discard everything else. Return the milk to the pan over a medium heat. Just before it reaches boiling point, slowly add the egg mixture, whisking continuously until it begins to thicken, about 7 minutes.
3. When the mixture is think anough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, remove it from the heat and pour into individual dishes or remekins. Cover each serving with a disc of greaseproof paper to prevent a skin from forming, and let it cool before placing in the fridge.
4. To serve, remove the greaseproof paper, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar on top of each crema and caramelise using a blowtorch. Alternatively, place te sugared cremas on a tray under a preheated gas grill for a few minutes, until the sugar turns dark brown. Allow the sugar to harden, the serve immediately.

#7 Panellets

Traditional sweet which you can find in Cataluna. Very popular at “Dia de Todos los Santos” or All Saints Day and served with “cava”, Spanish sparkling wine. Ingredients (for around 32 cookies)

• 500g ground raw almonds
• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 -1 cup water
• 1 small potato
• grated peel of 1 lemon
• 3-4 drops lemon juice

Toppings:

• pine nuts
• sweetened cocoa powder
• candied fruit
• Flavorings:
• instant coffee powder
• coconut flakes
• Preparation

Preparation

1. Blanch almonds, then grin in food processor until almonds are a fine dust.
2. Peel the potatoes and cut into quarters. Boil potatoes in a saucepan until cooked. Drain water and mash with a fork.
3. Place sugar in a medium saucepan. Pour ½ cup water into the pan and stir to dissolve sugar. Add moe water to completely dissolve sugar if necessary. Place on medium heat on stovetop and bring to a boil, stirring often. Add 3-4 drops of lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture is a thick syrup.
4. Remove saucepan from heat. Using a large wooden spoon, gradually stir in ground almonds, potato and grated lemon peel. Allow to cool to room temperature. Then, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
5. Pre-heat oven to 190C degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Spoon out dough with a teaspoon. Roll dough into small balls in your palms. Then roll the balls in powdered cocoa or pine nuts. If using pine nuts, brush each with a bit of egg white.
6. If you want to flavor the cookies, separate a portion of the dough and with your hands, work in a bit of instant coffee flakes, candied fruit or cinnamon. Then make individual balls.
7. Bake cookies just long enough to brown the pine nuts - about 4 minutes. Using a spatula, remove immediately before cookies cool.

Bonne Appétit, or as they say here in Catalonia 'Bon Profit'!

Enjoy our Catalan Recipes!

~Natalia

[caption id="attachment_2703" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
PortAventura: Family Amusement Park in Barcelona[/caption]

PortAventura Barcelona: What A Great Park!

Last Saturday, I went to the biggest theme park in Barcelona; PortAventura. PortAventura Barcelona is a major family amusement park that covers around 34.000m2 and 33 attractions. Though it’s not very close to Barcelona, people refer to it as the amusement park of Barcelona. The train from Sants Estació will take you there in 1 hour and 15 minutes for about 9 € roundtrip. My roommate was smart enough to buy our entrance tickets online, so we could sneak past the immense queue and enter the park immediately. Just to give you a tip: if you plan on going for a one-day trip or a weekend away and want to skip the queue for buying your entrance ticket, check the Spanish version of the website (.es) since there are no one-day or two-day tickets available on the English website (.com). So, there we were; 10 a.m. on a Saturday, with I don’t know how many other kids, teenagers, adolescents, parents and even grandparents, all standing at the very beginning of the park and not knowing which way was the best to go and avoid long queues for the roller coasters. We just made peace with the fact that we were going to be in long lines for certain roller coasters and we'd just enjoy PortAventura Barcelona including the queues. The map, which you can get right at the entrance, showed four intense roller coasters, marked with a black diamond behind the name of the ride. Now, two things you need to know about me: 1) I get carsick very easily and 2) I always try to push my boundaries. That being said, it might not be a surprise that of course I had to try all the four intense roller coasters, no matter the consequences.

"Furius Baco": A Fully Deserved Name

The first ride we did was called “Furius Baco”. I now know why it’s called that. It’s the fastest rollercoaster in Europe at 135 km/h or 83.9 mph, which the ride reaches in a brisk 3.5 seconds. As you might think, my stomach was left behind as we took off. Nothing is farther from the truth, though! This roller coaster actually went too fast for me to even get sick. Think about it, only 55 seconds later from when we took off, we were back at the start again. You barely have time to even blink!

"The Stampida": A Wooden Madness

We then gradually walked through the park to the second rollercoaster on our list, which was the “Stampida”. This is a dueling wooden rollercoaster and makes a lot of noise. Excited as we were, we walked across the park to get to the ride, only to find out that the waiting line began just a few metres after the entrance. This meant waiting in line for at least 2 hours, so we skipped this attraction and decided to come back later when it hopefully wasn’t as busy.

"Hurakan Condor": On Top of The World!

The third roller coaster we did was called “Hurakan Condor”. What a name and what a ride! The ride consists of four cars that are all able to fit four people around a giant central tower. A giant magnet pulls the riders up to the top of the tower, where a picture is taken just before it releases the car. Then, there’s a freefall of 86 meters (282 feet) at a speed of 115 km/h (71.46 mph). Again, I had to wait a couple of seconds for my stomach to catch up with me. But even this roller coaster didn’t do the trick of making me nauseous.

"Dragon Khan": Am I Drunk?!

After having a drink, we walked over to the fourth and last intense ride of our list: “Dragon Khan”. As we approached the rollercoaster, I had to stop and think for a second. This rollercoaster has eight inversions. EIGHT! Just one is enough to turn my stomach, imagine the damage that eight could do. But, as you may know by now, I would regret it if I didn’t take my chances. So, there we went. After having waited in line for about an hour and a thousand doubts later, it was our turn to go. Apparently there are these “Express” tickets that you can buy so you can skip the queue, but when we found out, it was already too late for us. I was quite confident when I got into the car, but when the safety bars came down I started to wish I hadn't gone through with it. I became less and less excited and more and more frightened as we started climbing the lift hill. The first loop was fine, the second as well as were numbers three, four, and five. But at inversion number six I started to feel a little light-headed and by the time we got off, I could barely walk a straight line. But still, no sign of nausea! When we stepped out of the car, we had to sit down for a couple of minutes, waiting for the light-headed feeling to pass. After a while, we decided that Dragon Khan was the last of the roller coasters and that we would just walk around the park and go see some of the shows instead. PortAventura Barcelona is more than just roller coasters and wild attractions.
Besides the wild attractions, PortAventura Barcelona also has many roller coasters and other rides for children and families. There’s a whole children's area built in the middle of the park and there are attractions like those found at a fair as well. In addition, if you prefer shows instead of roller coasters, then you’re at the right place. PortAventura Barcelona truly is very appropriate for a nice one-day trip or weekend away from Barcelona and provides activities for the whole family! --- If you're looking for medium and long-term apartment rentals in Barcelona, Spain, SuiteLife Barcelona has you covered! Please check out our site, www.SuiteLife.es, for great Barcelona Apartments, Insider City Info, and Tons of Great Services! Cheers ! - Lindsay

The Best Vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona

Restaurants that serve vegetarian food in Barcelona can be quite hard to find. If you are looking for decent veggie food check out our selection of vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona! Spain and vegetarianism are not two words you would normally associate with each other. For many the understanding of being a vegetarian is open to quite a liberal interpretation. Many restaurants and cafes in Barcelona will consider fish, chicken, and even ham as legitimate vegetables! Although Vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona have difficulty finding much of a local audience, they are perhaps becoming more popular. If you are vegetarian or vegan and are sick of bocadillos de tortilla o patatas bravas, why not try one of these restaurants.

The Top 5 Vegetarian Restaurants in Barcelona

Arco Iris – One of Barcelona’s oldest vegetarian restaurants and a favourite with locals. There may be a queue to get a table but it’s definitely worth the wait. The name means ‘Rainbow’ in Spanish and they have a 4 course lunch or ‘menu’ that is worth every cent. Delicious cremas, salads, inventive main courses, and deserts are served up in a cosy, friendly atmosphere. The menu is good value at 9€. The only unfortunate thing is that it’s not open for dinner. + Great value, great food, and friendly service. - Not open at weekends. When: Open Mon-Fri 1pm-4pm Where: C/ Roger de Flor, 216, tel: 934 582 283 Juicy Jones – If you are looking for top quality food and a cheap and cheerful restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere,  then this is the place. It has a colourful, hippy décor and serves a great selection of juices and smoothies perfect to pack in those vitamins. You can choose from hummus, huge salads, carrot soup, lasagna, and their speciality the Thali - an assortment of curries and rice. The ‘menu del dia’ is 8.50€ during the week. + Great selection of juices, very good food and 100% vegan. Relaxed atmosphere and cheap. - Service can be slow. When: Mon-Sun 10am-midnight Where: C/Cardenal Casañas, 7 & C/ Hospital, 74, tel: 934 439 082 No credit cards. [caption id="attachment_11170" align="aligncenter" width="275"]
Juicy Jones[/caption] Sesamo – An impressive and stylish restaurant with imaginative dishes that range from truffle tortellini to pumpkin risotto. It’s very good value and definitely an excellent choice for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. There is also a nice selection of organic wine and beers and the menu changes frequently. Menu from 12.50€-15€. [caption id="attachment_11161" align="aligncenter" width="183"]
Sesamo vegetarian restaurant Barcelona[/caption] + Amazing dishes and cosy atmosphere. - Nothing. When: Mon 1-5pm, Tue: closed, Wed-Sat: 1-5pm, 8pm-1am, Sun: 8pm-1am Where: C/ Sant Antoni Abat, 52, tel: 934 416 411 L'Atzavara – Great restaurant in Eixample which provides a large variety of tasty veggie options. Choose from a healthy selection of salads, crepes, homemade soups, and vegetarian paellas. Fixed menus vary between 10-15€. + Varied menu and good service. -  Not much. When: Mon-Thur: 1-4pm, Fri-Sat: 1-4pm, 8.30-11.30pm Where: C/Muntaner, 109, tel: 934 545 925 La Báscula – Tucked away in the heart of the Borne district La Báscula used to be a chocolate factory! It has a wide range of veggie offerings from crepes to quiches with a menu that changes daily. They also have a fine selection of drinks with teas, smoothies, and milkshakes. + Charming and unpretentious. Great selection of drinks. - Nada. When: Wed-Sat: 1pm-midnight, Sun:1-7pm Where: C/ Flassaders, 30, tel: 933 199 866

The Best of the Rest (more mainstream joints!)

Maoz – A chain of take away bars serving falafel-based vegetarian and vegan food in pita bread. You can choose your own toppings and come back for more. A great place if you want to grab something quick and cheap on your way out. Origin 99,9% – More vegetarian friendly than anything else but worth a mention because it is all organic. Finding organic food in Barcelona is a little like finding fish on the moon so if what you are looking for is organic this chain of restaurants is a good bet. They also give you the recipes of the Catalan influenced dishes on the placemats. Fresc Co & Lactuca - A business model that relies on the fact that peoples’ eyes are bigger than their stomachs. This chain of restaurants offers up an all-you-can-eat buffet of healthy salads and not so healthy pizza and puddings. Not strictly speaking vegetarian but good nonetheless and you don’t have to worry about poor service if you’re in a rush. Let us know if you have been to any other good vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona. Ranald Ward

Barcelona Travel - Weekend trip 1: Madrid

Barcelona attracts over 5 million tourists every year. However, Barcelona can also lead travelers even deeper into the Spanish life and culture as it is a great place to begin traveling in Spain. You may have decided to go on sight seeing/adventure across Spain, or maybe you just want to explore the possibilities of Barcelona’s proximity to cities and cultures. Either way, I highly recommend travelling from Barcelona to Madrid one sunny weekend. And if you fancy getting out of the country, check out our tips on heading to Milan.

Travel from Barcelona by Train

The fact that you can visit Madrid as a day trip from Barcelona, is an incredible testament to Spain's excellent high-speed train system. The Madrid-Barcelona high speed rail line, connects Madrid with Barcelona in the north east of Spain passing the cities of Guadalajara, Zaragoza, Lleida, and Tarragona. These fast trains (which remind me of bullets) take only 2 and a half hours. There is also a slower traditional train between the two metropolis, however the time of travel is approximately 8 hours. Ticket prices depend on the type of train you are taking. If you choose the slow train, you’ll pay a little over €41 per person, one-way. If you choose the high speed trains, the ticket costs between €110 and €130 per person one way, depending on the hour of departure. The bullet trains enter Madrid via the Madrid Atocha station while the slower trains enter into Madrid from the station Chamartin. Trains are easy to board as there are several departure times daily.

Barcelona Travel by Plane

I found the bullet train to be fast, reliable and relaxing as I watched northern Spain’s beautiful scenery rush by my window. Numerous budget airlines fly between the two Spanish cities. Vueling, Iberia, Air Europa, and Spanair will all take roughly one and a half hours of your time before you arrive to your desired location. There are numerous flights daily between the various carriers and prices vary just as much. Vueling and Iberia are usually the cheapest, however this also means cheap service, cramped seats, and no pretzels! Remember that no matter which kind of transportation you decide to use, prices vary depending on the time of year. Prices are always higher during the busy summer season especially in Barcelona which some people consider to be the tourist capital of Spain.

Travel from Barcelona by Bus

Traveling by bus is one of the cheapest ways to travel through Spain. You can easily jump on a bus from Barcelona’s North station and after a 8 hours ride, you'll arrive to Madrid’s Mendez Alvaro station. There are several types of buses you can choose. The typical ones are the eurobus and the supra.  The eurobuses give you free entertainment such as movies and newspapers. In the supra buses there are also electrical sockets and wi-fi. The price of a tickets depends on the type of bus you choose. A ticket on a normal bus costs €28 per person, one way. A ticket on the eurobus costs €41 per person, one way and a ticket on the supra bus costs €35 per person. Madrid has so much to offer even for the most hardcore travel veterans. While I believe it is possible to spend a lifetime seeing the sites of Barcelona, its always great to escape the city and enjoy the beautiful backdrop of Spain. Let me know if you have any additional information about traveling between Barcelona and Madrid. How was your weekend getaway? Which of these two Spanish metropolis do you enjoy more? Share your stories here. If you're interested in more travels from Barcelona you should take a look at this blog! - Jade

BEST INSPIRATIONAL CONCEPT STORES IN BARCELONA

Shopping in Barcelona is truly amazing and fun because the city offers shoppers a big variety and number of shopping destinations from the high fashion and fast-fashion brands to boutiques and craft shops around its districts and neighborhoods. That's why Barcelona has become one of the shopping capitals in Europe,  set many new trends in the fashion world as well as responded and updated rapidly to new concepts and ideas. Today, SuiteLife introduces the best concept stores in Barcelona where shopping is as much about the experience as what you buy. If you want to have a whirlwind tour of the best shopping that Barcelona offers, check out our ebook Shopping in Barcelona

WHAT ARE CONCEPT STORES ?

Coco Chanel said it best: “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening". Originating in the fashion capital of the world, Paris, a concept clothing store is a retail store that goes beyond simply selling products and instead appeals to a general sense of lifestyle. The customer visit the shops not only for buying clothes but also for having a full emotional and sensory experience. Concept stores usually offer items from different designers and brands to suite different styles: high-fashion, urban fashion, hipster fashion or ecological-friendly fashion. Since more and more people choose to shop online, concept stores have been born to attract more customers to visit the physical stores. Apple and Burberry are the leaders of this experience-focused trend. Some famous concept stores in Europe are Collette (Paris), 10 Corso Como (Milan), Dover Street Market (London), Simple (Prague),... In Barcelona, concept stores are also called "object shops" and are outstanding with exquisite interiors.

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

BOO

Located in the cosmopolitan Gracia neighborhood, Boo is one of the most well-known names in the world of concept stores in Barcelona. The name was borrowed from Boo Radley, a character from the classic novel “To Kill A Mocking Bird”, to fit its retro interior design. The shop has a distinct 1950s air and a definite nostalgic feeling. It is decorated with many interesting things such as rotary phones, cloth bags, glass snow balls, books, flowers, and especially a mounted deer head collection. Basic colors like black, brown, gray, white dominate Boo. Everything is well-ordered and detailed. Boo’s clothes, shoes and quirky accessories are hand-picked carefully by the owner, Àlex González, who has worked in press departments in various fashion labels. Boo sells premium American, British, Nordic clothing as well as local designs. “Simple but elegant” is what the shop brings to its customers. Feature brands are Birds Denim, Nudie Jeans, Filippa K, Gentle Fawn, Penguin, WeSC and Sugarhill,... Address: Carrer Bonavista 2

BON VENT

In contrast with the simple and minimalist Scandinavian style of Boo, Bon Vent is a colorful Mediterranean concept store located in the charming Born district. This shop is perfect for people who are in love with Mediterranean, with its culture, lifestyle and craft industry. Once you enter to this cute little shop, you will see a lot of items reminding you of a sunny beach such as espadrille, straw hats, summer garments, woven baskets,... Hot colors like orange and yellow bring joy to the store and will remind you of warm summer sun. Beside clothes, hats and footwear, the shop also sells handcrafted toys and painted pottery showing local life in Barcelona. Address: Carrer de l'Argenteria, 41

LURDES BERGADA

This is another shop following the idea of simplicity, minimalism and enigma. There are four shops in Barcelona, but the most impressive store is the one located in one of the best shopping mall centers in Barcelona, L'illa Diagonal. The store is  a huge unique timber structure made from about 1000 pieces of wood and assembled together with 2400 screws. The wooden walls are made with irregular triangles making you feel like you're in a modern day cave instead of a clothing store. Lurdes Bergada and its brother Syngman Cucala (for men) conjure a concept: simplicity, purity and industry. In order to simplify the look of the store as well as to emphasize the concept, basic materials such as concrete for the walls and fine cements of the floor were used. The brand's womenswear features a taste for unstructured pieces and simple colors like black, white and grey. Winter is coming soon and this is a great place for those who want to have a new mysterious look. If you have not had time to visit this amazing store, you can check out its new collection on its website. Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 557

COQUETTE

"Born to be beautiful" is a slogan of this shop. Born is definitely the trendiest area of Barcelona and a heart of concept stores. Coquette's interior and clothing design are influenced by French style. Isabel Campelo, a fashion graduate, opened the first Coquette store in Born district in 2005 and it soon received visits from many fashion lovers, which lead to the opening of 2 more stores: one nearby and one in the upmarket area around Turó Park. The shop follows the ware-house style and sells an elegant edit of tailored womenswear to style-conscious Spaniards, as well as an impressive collection of jewellery, handbags and shoes. Coquette stocks the finest elegant and feminine French womenswear brands including See by Chloé, Isabel Marant, Vanessa Bruno, Les Prairies des Paris,...Furthermore, Coquette's collection is complemented with select Spanish and Italian brands such as Masscob, Hoss Intropia, M.Grifoni and especially Vincent du Sartel for leather purses. In Coquette, you can find everything you need for polishing your look. Address: Carrer del Rec, 65

FOOTWEAR

MUNICH L'ILLA DIAGONAL

With the help of Dear Design being a well-known interior design company whose clients include Burberry, Nike, Moritz, Custo and Misako, Munich is always thought of, not only as a flagship brand focusing on sport shoes, but also as unique concept stores around the city. The most talked-about store is Munich L'illa Diagonal. The design of Munich store in L'illa Diagonal focuses on the concept of carefree movement and angular pieces. Dear Design has come up with the idea of "strolling" and being free in a poetic and imaginary set that makes the walker dream again. To let this idea become reality, the design team has transformed many natural elements such as trees, hills, rocks and birds into part of its style. The surfaces are finished with black glass, mirrors, metal trees, hanging cage-like boxes from the ceiling, which carries a carefree, experimental air and an energetic space. Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 557

JEWELRY

TOUS

The prestigious jewelry brand Tous opened its new elegant and spacious concept store in Avinguda Diagonal, the best shopping area in Barcelona.  Its open space of 200 square meters with a wide range of products can satisfy and enhance the experience of any customer. A variety of luxury goods combined with beautiful furniture allows the client to have a greater interaction with the product. What makes Tous unlike  traditional high-end jewelry stores is that it creates original jewels crafted in unique materials: day-to-night jewelry following the latest trends. Address: Avinguda Diagonal 479
We hope that you like this blog and inspire you to visit new shops besides many famous brands. If you know any cool concept stores, leave us a comment ! ~ Trang

Travel from Barcelona: Weekend trip - Milan

As much as I love living in Barcelona, I must say it does feel good to escape every now and then and the price of  travel from Barcelona to other places in Europe is often very cheap. Sometimes I forget just how small Europe actually is and how easy it is to travel from Barcelona cheaply! Or if you want to stay in the country, check out our tips for a trip to Madrid. Last weekend I had a weekend escape to Milan. After a short hour and a half flight, I was transported to a new country with a new language, people, and scenery. I purchased a round trip weekend flight with Iberia Air for only 120 Euros. I booked a cheap hotel outside of the city and enjoyed inexpensive food and cheap bus rides. I had the chance to enjoy traditional Italian cuisine, gawk at all of the Lamborghinis driving by and wished for nothing more than exploring Milan's incredible fashion scene.
While I travelled the tight Italian streets like the backpacking adventurer I am, I felt as if I had travelled into another time and world. The language spoken all around me sounded so much like Spanish, but was at the same time so different with new accents and phrases that I couldn't hope to decipher! The smells and the food were so different, from pizzerias to the pasta and strange breads in the bakeries. I had truly left Barcelona behind and seen a new world of Italian style and sophistication!
The side streets were very narrow, winding and many were their original cobblestone whilst the main streets where sprinkled with the latest sports cars. Walking around the shops was like being in a fairytale, with clothes sparkling and shining like royal treasures. So many of the elite shops had queues out of the door, all lining up to get their hands on the latest fashions. Never in my life had I seen so many shopping bags! There was a constant rustle which seemed to flow me around as people scurried, bags in hand, from shop to shop looking for their latest fashion conquest. It sometimes seemed like a race with those with the most designer bags set to win. It was a race I didn't dare to take part in, being an intern on a budget and all, but somehow I still arrived home penniless and exhausted...but in a good way! I had survived the streets of Milan, treated myself to Italian food, and learned more about a world that I had forgotten was so nearby. I came back to Barcelona wanting more from Italy but there is so much of Europe still to see! I've already booked my next adventure for Berlin in February and I'll keep you in the know about my next exciting experience. Every week I try to explore something new that Barcelona has to offer us, but its worth remembering that the world nowadays is so small and you can find adventure anwhere, even on the other side of the mediterranean! Please share any exciting weekend getaways you've had - we would love to hear about your adventures! - Jade