Are You Moving to Barcelona? Common Expat Questions Answered
Answering some of the most common questions I receive from expats preparing to move to Barcelona. So you’ve decided the expat life is for you (maybe after taking my online quiz here) and you’re ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! Congratulations on making a fantastic decision to move to one of the most desired cities in Europe. As an expat wife living in Barcelona for three years, this city has earned a very special place in my heart. But before stepping foot here, I spent the months leading up to our relocation agonizing about soo many things. Neighborhoods, schools, apartments,…
An Insider’s Guide to Barcelona Tapas by Neighborhood
Learn where to find the city’s best tapas in every neighborhood, recommended by Barcelona Food Experience. Barcelona neighborhoods (barrios) seem to have personalities of their own. And while they each take on a slightly different vibe, visitors can expect to find similar highlights in them all. Great nightlife, gorgeous architecture, rich history, unique shopping…and most importantly AMAZING food. We’re constantly discovering great places to satisfy our pallets, even after living here for more than two years. And if there’s one thing we’ve come to realize about the restaurant scene here, its NOT to judge a book by its cover. Some of the smallest…
8 Awesome Weekend Trips from Barcelona in Under 2 Hours
Mountains, beaches, history & nature make weekend trips from Barcelona limitless. According to local travel authorities, holiday-goers should plan to spend their summer months much closer to home by taking road trips versus jet setting to a faraway place. And with so many beautiful beach towns and remote mountain villages to visit from Barcelona in just under two hours, this isn’t necessarily bad news! Of course, we’ve loved exploring new European cities like Vienna, London, Paris, Prague, and Rome. But a friend once told us if we moved to Spain and didn’t have a chance to actually experience it beyond Barcelona, it would…
An American Expat in Spain
Truth be told, I agreed to move to Spain and become an American expat having never been here before. No pressure at all, right!? It was during a time when we were done having kids but weren’t ready to completely settle down for the next 30 years. So after some research and lots of late night discussions over wine or coffee – or sometimes both – we decided to stop questioning and start packing! Call it an enormous leap of faith, but also one of the most exciting parts of our move. The unknown waiting to be discovered. What would we find? Who would we…
9 Vintage Furniture Stores in Barcelona
If you’re in Barcelona and wondering where to find unique history-rich furniture that doesn’t come from IKEA stores, read on. One of my favorite passions from back in the states was restoring and painting vintage or second hand furniture. I loved this hobby so much, I ended up turning it in a little side business for myself. It was one of the things that was hardest for me to walk away from once we decided to move to Barcelona. People ask me constantly why I don’t continue the art here. Honestly, the furniture market and logistics in Spain are very different from back…
My Favorite Apps for Tourists and Expats in Barcelona
How in the world would we survive these days without the convenience of technology? Things that seemed virtually impossible 20 years ago are now a finger swipe away. I’ll admit, sometimes I think about the fact that our family has moved to the other side of the globe and wonder if we’re crazy! Language barriers, cultural differences, currency conversions, metric system, city navigating. It’s all overwhelming if you stop and think about it long and hard. But then I’m reminded of how modern the world has become. How very easy it is today, thanks to the internet and tons of useful apps, to…
10 Things I’m Finally Doing While Stuck at Home
Right now, the world is at a standstill. Shops and restaurants closed. Schools operating virtually or not at all. Only essential employees deemed necessary to head into work. From China to Italy, the United States to Australia – we’re all stuck at home wondering and waiting for what comes next. On my end of this global pandemic? Our family of five has been isolated to the fifth-floor apartment we call home in Barcelona. And while the days have been filled with preparing meals, homeschooling three kids, and cleaning (SO much cleaning!), I find myself more motivated than usual to take on some new…
20 Ways to Battle Quarantine Woes
When we first found our cozy apartment in Barcelona, I never thought it would one day turn into a quarantine headquarters. “I mean, how much time will we really be spending in the apartment anyway?” we first asked ourselves when moving to Spain. “Sure, it’s a little tight – but it’ll be fun!” we laughed to one another. Yet, here we are in the middle of the global pandemic called Coronavirus. Day 10 inside this little fifth-floor apartment with three young active kids. Day ten and counting… The irony sure isn’t lost on me! And I know, I shouldn’t complain. There are plenty…
What One Week in Coronavirus Lockdown Has Taught Me
To date, more than 233,000 people across the globe (NY Times) have contracted the COVID-19 Coronavirus. And 17,000 of those cases have been right here in Spain, which is now considered one of the top three most badly affected countries battling the epidemic. As Spanish residents like us wait at home in lockdown mode, the world is bracing itself for what comes next. Being isolated from family, friends, coworkers – it all feels so confusing! And turning on the TV or reading news articles doesn’t exactly provide clarity and comfort. It’s hard to decide what source to believe anymore! So, I’ve taken a…
