United States of America
My name is Katherine Tolley and I am an American living abroad in Barcelona, Spain. I love writing about traveling and offering tips for young travelers on a budget, families looking for activities, couples seeking out the best local restaurants, and just about everything else in between. I have a passion for Spain and Barcelona in particular but enjoy writing about travel all over the world - especially if it involves food.
I also work on my own personal blog, the Defloured Baker, which chronicles my travels and life with celiac disease (an immune disorder that affects the digestive system and requires a strict gluten-free diet). I want to share my struggles and triumphs traveling with food restrictions and help others do the same and enjoy a life of adventure.
Everyone knows there are some classically assumed stereotypes about Spaniards: they eat dinner at the crack of midnight, they stay out late, party often, etc. However these stereotypes (be they true or not) are just the tip of the iceberg.
When in Barcelona, the average traveler enjoys a non-stop tapas buffet with slices of bread, fried calamari, croquetas, croissants, and just about every other gluten-based product found in the Mediterranean. But what if you are traveling to this culinary mecca of a country on a much more restricted diet?
Barcelona may be known as the 'City of Gaudí' but Antoni Gaudí is not the only modernist architect who left a significant impression on this Mediterranean cultural hub. Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923) was both a contemporary and teacher of Gaudí, and a renowned architect in his own right.
If you're looking for a unique shopping experience, Barcelona has no shortage of markets to choose from - but none are quite like the Palo Alto Market. Tucked away in the quiet residential area of Poblenou, this unremarkable block comes alive once a month and plays host to local artists, food trucks, musicians, and other artisans.
Katherine Tolley The origins of the now ubiquitous churros con chocolate may still be up for debate, but there's no arguing with the fact that this is one of the most delicious food and drink pairings (if you can even call the thick, hot chocolate a 'drink') in Spain.
Katherine Tolley This fall marks the 47th annual Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona, which features both locally and world famous jazz musicians and groups such as Diana Krall, Txarango, Chucho Valdés, and Chick Corea - to name just a few.
Whether it's art, science, history, or Spanish culture in general that excites you, Barcelona has a museum for it. While the maze of streets and the complexity of public transportation are enough to intimidate even the most intrepid of tourists, this list can alleviate your stress when choosing between the dozens of museums in the city.