An Introduction to Barcelona Language (And It’s Not Spanish)
One of the biggest misconceptions about Barcelona is that Spanish is the primary language. But contrary to popular assumptions, there are several other languages spoken in this country other than Spanish depending on what region you come from. Like many things, we didn’t find this out until after relocating here! Different Languages of Spain In northern Basque region where Bilbao and San Sebastian are, the language is called…Basque. In our home city of Barcelona the first language is Catalan. Cata-who?! Yes Catalan, which comes from the region of Spain known as Catalunya including Barcelona, Girona and stretching as far south as Tarragona. This…
7 European Beauty Brands to Fall In Love With
Discover the pharmacy grade skincare brands that dominate the beauty industry here in Europe I never meant to cheat on all of my old favorite beauty products from the states! But I had no choice. When we moved abroad to Spain and I eventually ran out of my regular supply, I knew it would be ridiculous to wait nine months for our return trip back home before replenishing! Imagine – on top of countless other “expat” things I needed to adjust to and make decisions about, now I had to tackle everyday personal stuff. Like, what face wash to use and which eye…
How Not to Look Like a Tourist in Spain
When my family and I first moved abroad and became expats in the amazing city of Barcelona, we didn’t take notice to how we may have…”stood out” amongst locals. I mean, with so many other things to worry about and decisions to make, there simply wasn’t time to NOT look like a tourist those first few months. Looking back now two years later, it amazes me to this day that we never fell victim to pickpocketing – since we didn’t exactly blend in! And here’s the thing. Standing out in a world of wallflowers is never a bad thing. But when you’re an…
6 Barcelona Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of
Before moving to Barcelona, I used to think Americans holidayed more than any other culture. Always a party, always a get together, always some reason to celebrate! And while that is certainly true and one of my favorite things about being American, the Spanish are in a whole different category when it comes to holidays or festivals. It seems like every two weeks our children are off from school for one holiday or another. Most of which I had never heard of before living here. It was so confusing the first year of our expat assignment. Who are we celebrating? Why are we…
5 Perfect Date Nights in Barcelona
Looking to wow your special someone with a unique date night in the Catalan capital? These 5 ideas will guarantee a night to remember. After more than three years living in this vibrant city, one thing is for sure. Barcelona has it all! Whatever you’re into when the sun goes down, it offers the perfect date night for couples. Seeking a romantic table for two in a quiet outdoor plaza? Plenty of top notch restaurants to choose from. Perhaps you’re into a more authentic experience wandering the dark alleys of El Born – lots of options. For adventurers in search of reaching new…
Expat Advice for Choosing an International School
When you are preparing to move abroad, the list of decisions and things to consider seems endless! And when children are involved, understanding what the best option is for their education is top on the list. In this featured podcast with The Expat Cast, I loved sharing my advice for choosing an international school for our two older children and a local trilingual school for our youngest. Check out more of the podcast on Choosing an International School here and my high-level tips below for making this big decision as an expat family. *Listen on the website, on an iPhone with the…
4 Smart Tips for Visiting Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia
Like Times Square in Manhattan or Big Ben in London, Barcelona has its iconic Basilica de Sagrada Familia drawing in millions of visitors per year. It’s an awe-inspiring structure designed by the late Antonio Gaudi and whether or not you’re into architecture – it’s a must see! When you have the chance to live in a foreign city, you quickly learn the “dos and don’ts”, the “secrets and scams” of landmarks such as this. I’ve put the following tips together for Triptipedia, the online encyclopedia of travel tips, to make your visit to Sagrada a delight instead of a mess, trust me. 1.…
4 Different Spanish Potato Dishes
If you plan to visit Barcelona or even to live here (lucky you!), three things you’re guaranteed to fall in love with are the weather, the architecture and of course THE FOOD! It only took my husband and I a matter of days to dive into Spanish tapas and what we found was a ton of Spanish potato dishes! Our favorite quickly became patatas bravas, Think deep fried potato wedges served with both a sweet aioli and spicy salsa. And after two years of eating our way through the streets of Barcelona, we realize every restaurant has their own variation – which keeps…
Dressing Like a Local in Spain: Your Go-To Guide
Don’t get caught looking like a tourist while visiting Spain! After two years of living in this fantastic city and trying desperately to look less and less like an outsider, I’ve come to several fashion conclusions. There are some definite DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to dressing like a local in Spain. In other words, fitting in like a local versus standing out like a…tourist! Regardless of what time of year you visit Barcelona, these tips will help you to plan accordingly and look the part! We first set foot in our new home city during the last week of August. The…
