Viva Barcelona!

A friend of mine just published an article about Barcelona and with the sun pouring into my own office this morning it's hard not to daydream a bit about that beautiful Mediterranean city. Sure, it's a city of thieves. (OK, not everyone's a thief of course, but everyone that goes there comes home with a pick pocket story!)  It's also one of the most beautiful and architecurally unique places in Europe. In the world!  The whole city is like it came from the imagination of the incredible Catalan designer, Antoine Gaudi. Oh, right -- it did!

Central Barcelona is like... Paris, but in a kinda melted dali-esque art deco kinda way.  These photos don't do it justice -- you should go!

I got lucky and found myself in a great little hotel around the corner from Casa Batllo (left) a really over-the-top Gaudi house in a posh Rodeo Drive type shopping area (right). (Yes, the Spanish love chic, colourful clothes!)

This is me in the neighbourhood where I found myself (while supposedly attending a business conference at Porto Olimpico)

La Ramblas is a busy, colourful boulevard running through the best parts of the city. Walk from one end to the other! Have some sangria and paella! (I'll have to write a whole article on the food in Barcelona sometime -- for now I just have one word: TAPAS!

Porto Olimpico is a modern tourist area built for the Olympics awhile back, now a big conference area.Excellent place to get your pocket picked  ;)  Lots of hip patio bars along the beach.














Have YOU been to Barcelona? What did you think? And tips for travellers?! Please comment below...

Don't You Hate That Feeling?

So, I was in England for three weeks, but I've been back for three and a half weeks now. I hate that feeling -- that a once anticipated trip is now history, a folder in a picture album. Especially since I don't have my next trip planned!

I have a few possibilities in mind. What about you? I find that you have to visualize a journey happening for awhile before the pieces all fall into place and suddenly you're in a fascinating new place having a travel adventure.

I'm thinking Malta. Been there twice and love it. Lots of beautiful old architecture -- interesting mix of European and African culture. And lucky me, I have a lot of wonderful friends there -- just saw many of them in London. Which is why I'm thinking Malta. We'll see. If business takes me to England I might just do it. Get a little flat, work from there for a few months. Visualize!

Last summer I was traveling in Europe while Vancouver, my home, was basking in a long hot, dry summer. Apparently I missed a great summer at home while I was in London, Prague and Salzburg. So what am I thinking planning a few months in Malta?!

Right. I'm not planning. I'm waiting to see how the story unfolds.

If you've got an interesting trip coming together please tell me about it in the comment box below!