Toward the end of 2011, I was reviewing my journals, thinking about the “best and worst” moments of my travels from the year. I ran across this one, which was not the worst, but certainly the most awkward and uncomfortable. This is the first of what I hope will be more travel stories I post [...]

There are so many reasons to visit Barcelona, Spain, from its gorgeous architecture and location as a port city on the Mediterranean to its museums and pretty Spanish plazas. When you start planning your trip to Barcelona, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is: What’s the best way to get around the city? [...]

Taking off Are you sick of reading about other people’s New Year’s resolutions yet? Well, don’t worry, I don’t believe in resolutions. But I do believe in planning out my travel for the year in January, because otherwise, it wouldn’t happen. After all, I’ve got to get the time off from work, coordinate my vacation [...]

‘Tis the season when thoughts start drifting toward holiday events and foods and shopping. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit the Christmas Markets in Europe? Wonder no more. Today’s guest blogger, Andrea, describes Manchester’s Christmas Markets (in the UK) for us. Living in Manchester, something has to make up for [...]

If you visit Madrid, Plaza de Cibeles (metro: Banco de Espana) should be a stop on your itinerary. It is by far the prettiest and most interesting intersection I found in Madrid. It is located at the intersection of Calle de Alcala, Paseo del Prado, and Paseo de Recoletos. There, you will see the Fountain [...]

I don’t know about you, but to me, the word “cafeteria” conjures up images of self-serve steam pans, hard, brown plastic trays, and globs of unappealing food doled out in an institutional setting. In Spain, “cafeteria” is synonymous with “cafe.” Cafeteria Europa is a restaurant that happens to be attached to a hotel, Hotel Europa. [...]

Should you learn the native language before traveling to a foreign country? This is a question that plagues many travelers. I know many people around the world speak English, so you can get by without knowing a country’s language, but I feel guilty if they have to accommodate me by speaking what is to them [...]

Here’s a sight I never thought I’d see: An Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid, Spain. Not in a museum, just sitting on a hilltop in Parque del Oeste. How did an Egyptian temple come to be here? As is often the case in these situations, it was a gift from Egypt to Spain. [...]