Blog Feed: Orange Polka Dot

Life in Spain: Board Games

Published on 2011-12-18 19:10:32

Monopoly in Catalan | photo: FernandezMoro My daughter asked for the Monopoly board game for Christmas or Reyes (Three Kings). Easy enough, I thought. That was until I saw the price and remembered some pictures in my blog photo backlog.... > read more

Barcelona Festivals: Fira de Santa Llúcia 2011

Published on 2011-12-03 11:06:24

Barcelona's largest outdoor Christmas Market, Fira de Santa Llúcia, celebrates its 225th anniversary this year. The one-stop market for all your Christmas decorations and trees, located in the front of the Barcelona's Cathedral, runs from 26 November to 22 December... > read more

Grocery Series: Buying Beef in Spain

Published on 2011-11-13 17:27:06

Spanish Cuts of Beef | Gastronomiaycia It has been ages since I did a post for my grocery shopping series. But don't worry, I am still taking photos and risking have another run-in with security. In organizing my pictures, I... > read more

Exploring Barcelona: My Insider Tips

Published on 2011-11-12 12:27:50

Did you know that San Francisco and Barcelona are Sister Cities? Although I am a Bay Area native and worked in the heart of San Francisco, I did not know about the relationship of my two favorite cities until I... > read more

Barcelona Festivals: La Mercè 2011

Published on 2011-09-24 06:06:30

Barcelona's "festival of all festivals" La Mercè, celebrating the city's patron saint began on 22 September 2011 and ends on 25 September 2011. La Merce is the pinacle of all Barcelona's festivals offering four days of free activities - free... > read more

Life in Spain: Organic Recycling

Published on 2011-09-19 16:33:31

Recycling Bin in Sant Cugat | 2011 I bet you don't find this thrown on the ground beside your city's organic garbage recycling bin. What the heck is that... you ask. Just your average leg of jamon that is commonplace... > read more

Spain Travel: Inns of Spain Unique Hotel Selection

Published on 2011-08-25 13:29:02

Ever since we moved to Spain, I get overwhelmed searching for hotels for our explorations within Spain. In big cities, it is easy enough to find well-regarded articles in travel blogs, magazines or newspapers that recommend unique hotels. But in... > read more

Street Art: Seen in Amsterdam

Published on 2011-08-06 11:40:43

Amsterdam | April 2011 Awhile back, I mentioned that I have a huge backlog of photos to post on this blog. One of the categories is street art. As a walk through city streets I am constantly scanning the walls... > read more

Catalan Festivals: Sant Joan 2011

Published on 2011-06-23 11:34:55

It is official Summer has arrived in Catalunya. Not because Summer Solstice was on the 21st of June. But rather, because tonight is the eve of Sant Joan. Otherwise known as La Revetlla. For the past few nights, we have... > read more

Barcelona Finds: Baking Supplies

Published on 2011-06-19 05:22:35

Since I recently wrote about Catalan birthday parties, I thought I should list some of the places where I buy my baking supplies in Barcelona or sites that have EU shipping. As I mentioned in that post, the baking section... > read more

Catalan Customs: Birthday Parties

Published on 2011-06-06 11:03:06

Typical Catalan birthday game (a more friendly alternative to a pinata) | 2010 A recent article from a fellow Barcelona blogger who writes for a local magazine, reminded me of a draft post that I started on 14 September 2010,... > read more

It has been too long!

Published on 2011-05-22 08:24:08

I can't believe it has been so long since I have written. I am so sorry! And if you are reading this, B. from cooking class, you are not right about my lack of blogging! Shortly after moving here, I... > read more

Catalan Customs: Giving a Proper Toast

Published on 2011-01-17 18:40:08

My Parents giving a Catalan toast at Catalan restaurant | 2010 Around the globe, friends and strangers often raise their glasses to share a toast. Whether it be a simple "cheers" or a more involved quote, toasts are often used... > read more

Lonely Planet Blogsherpas: Toasting Around The Globe

Published on 2011-01-17 18:35:32

Welcome to the 18th blog carnival of the Lonely Planet bloggers from the Blogsherpa program. A few of us will discuss toasting customs we have experienced around the world. See Simi Travel hosted the previous carnival focusing on travel that... > read more

Spanish Traditions: Los Reyes Magos

Published on 2011-01-04 19:05:43

In Spain, most children have not received their holiday gifts. Perhaps, they were lucky and Papa Noel (Santa Claus) brought them a token gift on the 25th of December. It is not because they were naughty, but rather because it... > read more

Spanish Traditions: New Year's Eve

Published on 2010-12-30 18:49:08

Red Panties for Sale in Sant Cugat | 2009 Dinner plans. Check. Cava. Check. Red panties and twelve grapes. Check. Red underwear and grapes? Just what kind of New Year's Eve celebration is this? Nothing naughty, just the typical preparations... > read more

Catalan Traditions: Christmas in Catalunya

Published on 2010-12-17 09:43:17

Experiencing Christmas in Catalunya for the first time last year was definitely not the Old World Christmas season I expected from living in Europe. After all, who would guess you could find a man with his pants down and pooping... > read more

Barcelona Festivals: Fira de Santa Llúcia 2010

Published on 2010-12-16 18:52:30

Barcelona's open air Christmas Market, Fira de Santa Llúcia, will be open for one more week. Regardless whether you celebrate Christmas, a trip to Barcelona's Christmas market is a must for holiday visitors. Until 23 December 2010, the Fira de... > read more

Catalan Traditions: Mushroom Hunting

Published on 2010-11-16 16:56:15

My son, the disappointed mushroom hunter | Montseny 2010 A few weekends we participated in an autumn Catalan tradition - mushroom hunting. Or as my son called it, "boleting." Bolet is the general name for mushrooms in Catalan. Catalans love... > read more

Restaurants in Spain: Dining at El Bulli

Published on 2010-11-01 20:21:41

Me and Diego with Ferran Adrià | 16 October 2010 "Be careful, it's delicate." "Smell the sachet first, and in two courses you will eat what is inside." "Two bites only." A few of the instructions we were given while... > read more

Lonely Planet Blogsherpas: Jamon in Spain

Published on 2010-10-04 19:10:52

My kids examining a wall of jamon in the supermarket | 2009 I rounded the corner in search of orange juice and yogurt. First I was overcome by an aroma that I had never smelled before. Immediately, my children pinched... > read more

Lonely Planet Blogsherpas: Favorite Places

Published on 2010-09-16 18:08:55

One of the beautiful beaches at Sea Ranch Sophie's World asked the Lonely Planet bloggers to write about their favorite place for the latest Blogsherpa blog carnival. I have a long list of travel favorites. Everything from favorite country for... > read more