Barcelona Archives - Wander-Lust

08 Apr 2019

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Eat My Trip is the Instagram foodie dream of Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 8, 2019 With No Comments

Welcome in the wonder world of cotton candy clouds, unicorn smoothie bowls and pink lattes in skull cups. Eat My Trip is the place sweet dreams are made and after reading this article you surely won’t disagree. If somebody knows how a good dream should look, taste and feel like, it’s Genia Sukhacheva, the founder of Eat My Trip. She dreamed big and worked hard to make her dream reality: in the summer of 2018 she opened the doors to this second dimension restaurant in Eixample, Barcelona.

The new unicorn on the block
Eat My Trip literally takes you on a trip to another dimension, but the name has more to it. The menu is inspired by Genia’s trip around the world before she started the restaurant. You can find your favourite classics on the menu levelled-up with an exotic twist. For example, eggs benedict with curry sauce inspired by Thailand, French toast with a cloud of passion fruit infused cotton candy and pancakes Mexican style with guacamole, black beans and corn. Big plus: they only use organic and ecological ingredients and have many vegan options on their menu.

Eat My Trip is a great place for breakfast and brunch

So how does it taste?
The menu offers options for every type of hunger and healthiness level. I love what Genia did with the savoury dishes, offering the classics but with a travel inspired touch. The combinations are great (curry sauce + eggs benefict = winning), unfortunately the exotic touch was fairly modest in the dishes we tried. Because it’s such a great idea, it could be exploited a bit more in my opinion.
On the sweet side of life, Eat My Trip is writing history. Genia managed to create one-of-a-kind sugar rush dishes that are as good for the eye as for the mouth. The presentation forces people passing by to stop and stare and will make you feel bad for even wanting to eat it. Honestly. I had to be stopped taking photo’s of my plate because it was already turning cold.

Everything on the menu is beautifully presented, but for the absolute wow-effect you should at least order the Tostada Francesa (vg). A soft brioche soaked in cream of passion fruit, house made marshmallows and a cloud of peach infused cotton candy. Top it off with a blue Matcha or Barbie latte and a “wow-face” is guaranteed. If you’re not convinced yet, take a look at their Instagram account and start the drooling in 3,2,1…

Feeling the pressure from bikini season around the corner? No worries, Eat My trip offers healthy dishes as well, for example smoothie bowls and veggie dishes. But I have to put out a warning; you probably get seduced by the mouth-watering cakes at the counter anyways.

Who doesn’t want to drink out of a skull cup and eat French toast with a freaking sugar cloud on it?

The atmosphere
The restaurant looks as creative as the dishes, which isn’t a surprise when you realise that Genia also build the whole interior herself (Girl, what can’t you do?!). The restaurant has a homey feeling; blue walls, floral mural prints and surf-hut-like wooden chairs and floor. The chalkboard above the counter exposes all the food goodness and the restaurant is full with “Alice in Wonderland style” accessories to keep you busy while waiting for your order. Although the decorations of the dishes are complex and extraordinary, the overall vibe in the restaurant is super easy going.
We visited on a Saturday and it wasn’t hard to find a table, which is quite unique in Barcelona. However, I have the feeling this is going the change soon once Barcelona’s tourists guides pick up on this little piece of sugar heaven.

My verdict: Definitely a must visit if you either live in Barcelona or just on a city trip. The food is a guaranty for a fun afternoon; taste-wise and because of colour explosions and original combinations. I very much respect what Genia has created and creativity like this should be rewarded (by a visit from you).

P.S.: The blue tables outside are great for soaking up the midday sun and Instagram worthy food pictures (just saying).

Eat My Trip
Carrer del Consell de Cent,378
Website / Instagram

Love,

Eva

*Eva is one of our guest bloggers from Amsterdam. She’s a city girl who only leaves her heels at home when wearing a backpack. Living by the urge to be where she’s not, to explore, experience, fall and get up. You can follow her on Instagram.

12 Dec 2018

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Oud & Opnieuw is going International!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On December 12, 2018 With No Comments

If you watched a few Instagram stories today, you cannot have missed it. The party of the year: Oud & Opnieuw. Haven’t heard of it? Here’s a little introduction;

It’s better than New Years Eve

How it all started
Oud & Opnieuw is a initiative from Buutvrij for Life, a creative agency based in Amsterdam. They started the idea 10 years ago and I was lucky to be a part of it from the early years on. It started out as a party for friends and their friends. One big family. Well, the family grew bigger and bigger, and 10 years later, Oud & Opnieuw has become THE party of the year and fills up the entire Paradiso.

3, 2, 1 Happy New Year!
The formula works like this; Doors open at 8pm and from then on, the clock will count down each hour, giving you the ultimate Happy New Year experience complete with poppin’ champagne bottles, “oliebollen” and smoking machine’s. The best DJ’s play, and champagne (or Martini prosecco in this case) is in overload. You want to be there basically. That said, getting a ticket isn’t the easiest thing in the world.

© Marty Marn Photography

Tickets are as rare as an unicorn
There are only 2 ways to get a ticket. 1. You are invited by an Oud & Opnieuw Ambassador. 2. You get a code from one of the lucky invitees (who will be your best friend for the next year). Use the code wisely because it is only valid for 24 hours before it’s passed on. Upon entrance you will get a plastic champagne glass attached to a ribbon, that you can hang around your neck. Refills all night!

Don’t waste the champagne! © mazho.com / MAZHO Photography

Oud en Opnieuw last night in Paradiso

It will be the first step in Oud & Opnieuw going global, celebrating NYE several times on one night, in different city’s all over the world

Going International
If you missed last night and you can’t wait for next year, you might be in luck if you live, or visit Barcelona this month. Oud & Opnieuw is going to be celebrated there on the 19th of December. A girl named Laurha, who is currently living in Barcelona, emailed Buutvrij for Life a few months ago and told them; Hi, you don’t know me, but I love your party, and I would love to organize this in Barcelona. They said yes, and so here we are, Oud & Opnieuw is going international. It will be the first step in Oud & Opnieuw going global, celebrating NYE several times on one night, in different city’s all over the world”. Co-founder Reuben says; “The plan is to find more Laurha’s, and empower them in their own way. They can start small like we used to be. A unique party from friends for friends”.

The Barcelona party is going to be:
Date: 19th of December
Time: from 8pm till 4am
Locations: To be announced later in the week..
8 x FREE BUBBLES/PROSECCO OF MARTINI + 8 x CONFETTI + 8 X CHURROS OR OLIEBOLLEN + 8 X GRAPES & 8 TIMES A COUNTDOWN AS IF IT’S NYE – ON REPEAT. Because the event is only meant for FRIENDS AND FRIENDS OF FRIENDS, they don’t have a ticket link online. Only our ambassadors have tickets.

For more info about this once in a lifetime party; check the Facebook Event or stalk Laurha 😉

Good luck!

Elke

Header photo by © mazho.com / MAZHO Photography

14 Aug 2017

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The Wanderlust Barcelona Guide!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On August 14, 2017 With 2 Comments

Barcelona is one of those cities that you keep coming back to. As much as we both love exploring new places, this Spanish delight keeps pulling us back every 2 years or so. It might has something to do with the fact that Barcelona has a wonderful beach combined with a vibrant nightlife that includes one of the best cuisines in Europe. We booked a weekend away and checked out the newest and best spots so you can relax and enjoy your citytrip. Here’s our Wanderlust Barcelona Guide!

Hotel Retrome

Where to stay
But the one thing we really liked is the diversity of destinations and type of accommodations they put on offer. Our hotel was a retro style boutique hotel named Retrome in the lovely area Eixample, close to pretty much everything including the beach. Even though we arrived during high season, the area we stayed in was peaceful yet full of local cafe’s and restaurants. The reception knew our names which made it feel very personal. Something you don’t see everyday. But let’s be real, they already had us when they offered us a free glass of cava ;-). The whole trip was just so well organized. All we did was book and go. And that’s pretty much all you want to do when you’re enjoying a weekend away right?

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
It’s one of the first things that comes to mind when you arrive. Food. Food. And more food. Barcelona is a city with many “hotspots” and these are our favorite ones!

» Lulu’s, It’s a tiny cafe in El Born where you can eat healthy. There are a few tables outside and they serve Iced Matcha Latte’s!
» Nomads coffee, we passed this hipster coffee house by chance and grabbed a coffee to go. They take it serious, so expect a real tasty cup! nomadcoffee.es
» Brunch & Cake, Hotspot number one at the moment. They serve well known dishes in a very special way. Go for the Blue Acai Bowl, Green Bagel and try one of their juices! if you need to wait for a seat (chances are, you will) grab a lovely coffee at De La Crem right across the street. cupcakesbarcelona.com
» The Green Spot, brand new in Barcelona and already one of the best veggie spots in town. It doesn’t matter whether you are a vegetarian or not, the pretty dishes will make your mouth water. Prices are a bit higher than usual. encompaniadelobos.com
» Flax & Kale, not new but still hot, you need to check it out if you are around. Get your phones out, because this is Instagram worthy food! 80{8b669be72a7f340f9ef2d6d852585cd40ddf0e79ccf763f3ea93c1234c3d888b} of the food they serve is plant based and their slogan is Eat Better, Be Happier, Live Longer. Well, that never hurt anyone, right? teresacarles.com
» Tropico, for the best juices in Barcelona! Inspired by tropical destinations, this hotspot is something you cannot miss out on. tropicobcn.com
» The Surf House, next to the beach you can find this popular joint. The food is healthy, tasty and pretty. The vibe is just like you can imagine from a place like this. Book activities such as paddle surf , beach workouts and surfing of course. Also keep an eye out for their mobile food truck that you will find around Barcelona. surfhousebarcelona.com
» Blai Tonight It’s not big, it might be a bit too popular but we still think you should try it. Blai tonight is located in the Poble Sec area and has been voted as one of the top 10 places to go when it comes to your value for money. Their famous Pinchos only cost €1,50 and if you do it well, you can eat for only 10 euro per person including your drink! Facebook

From left to right: Lulu’s, The Surf House, Brunch & Cake and Nomad Coffee

COCKTAILS & DANCE
Barcelona offers a great nightlife. As a first time visitor you may run to the Las Ramblas but we would advise you to avoid this tourist trap and visit some other places where the cocktails are also flowing and the atmosphere is great.

» Champagneria, the name might ring a bell, Cava galore! Facebook
» The Mint, They say some of the best Mojito’s are made here..That’s enough right?! Facebook
» Yurbban, this hotel has a cool rooftop with one of the best views in Barcelona. You can only use the pool if you are a guest but you are welcome to enjoy a few drinks during the day or night. yurbban.com
» Jamboree, if you like jazz, this is your club! masimas.com
» Zero KM, combine dinner with drinks and stay until they close. They serve tapas with a twist and the food can be described at high end.
» La Terazza, this club and bar is tucked away in the Olympic village, so you must know that it’s there. This outdoor club hosts parties and plays good music until the early hours. laterrrazza.com
» Elrow, If you feel like a real crazy party with confetti, attributes and costumes, you must visit an El Row party. Originated from Barcelona, this infamous techno club is now making waves all over the world with parties in Amsterdam, Dubai and New York. Some of the best DJ’s play at the club and during the summer months there are several events so keep an eye out on the website. elrow.es

The rooftop of the Yurbban hotel

EXTRA TIPS
» Rent a bicycle we can’t say this enough. Really, it’s the best way to see the city. We got ours for 15 euro per 24 hours bit there are many options throughout the city where you can rent one.
» Visit Bunkers del Carmel aka “Bunkers” for the best viewing point. A friend tipped us about this old bunker build on a hill back in the 30’s. Not everybody knows about this special place and it’s worth seeing the sunrise or sunset if you have the time.
» Talk to the locals, we always do this and this trip was no exception. It brought us to a cool graffiti skate park!

Cycling had to be a part of our wanderlust Barcelona guide

Cycling through the Parc de les Tres Xemeneies

I don’t think we need to convince you to go to Barcelona but maybe we have convinced you to go back, yet again. To book our trip and stay in the same retro hotel, check www.travelbird.nl! For more inspiration and to get a chance to get featured, follow @TravelBird on Instagram!

Love,

Wander-Lust

*We collaborated with TravelBird for this article

More tips about other Spanish destinations? Check our Spain section!

12 Jun 2017

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10 X Child Friendly Hotspots in Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On June 12, 2017 With No Comments

The summer is getting closer and it’s the perfect time to go out of your house and sit down in a nice café for a brunch or “merienda”. If you are a parent and want a café where you can easily get in with your stroller and enjoy an amazing coffee and at the same time let your baby have a great time; we have the perfect places for you! It is easy to fall into routines and always go to the same places, doing the same things. Let’s switch things up for the summer! Here are 10 child friendly hotspots in Barcelona curated by The Nannyline.

Parc de la Ciutadella
Passeig de Picasso, 21
Near Arc de Triomf we find the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella, “the central park of Barcelona”. This 17 hectare big park is filled with fun, exciting things that the kids will love! We find a little café next to a majestic fountain. Right next to the café you can take a 30 min row boat ride in a little lake. The park also has a greenhouse, The Umbracle, filled with tropical plants. Moreover, probably the most exciting for the kids: The Zoo! Parc de la Ciutadella is nevertheless the ground for Zoo of Barcelona. Perfect place for your nanny to bring your kiddo. Test your kids animal knowledge outside the children’s books! In the zoo you will meet hippos, flamingos , monkeys and much more. Parc de la Ciutadella is undoubtedly a park you can spend countless hours in. This is the place for both expats, tourists and locals to hang and enjoy the amazing city of Barcelona.

CosmoCaixa Barcelona
Carrer d’Isaac Newton, 26
Too hot outside and in need of air conditioning? Explore the wonders of science in CosmoCaixa’s Science Museum! Your nanny and kid will definitely be entertained by this museum placed in northern Barcelona, Sant Gervasi. Boost your kid’s curiosity and creativity and explore the different interactive workshops and activities! They have a recreation of an Amazonian rain-forest (Flooded Forest “Bosc inundat”), a planetarium taking you on a journey through space and time, and a creative space with experiments and games suitable for kids from 7 years and older. They also have workshops like ¡Toca-Toca! and Clik, where you are not only allowed, but supposed to touch, play and interact with different things.

Beach
Build sandcastles, maybe play a little football and take a refreshing dip in the water: the beach is one of the best things of Barcelona. A big city with an accessible beach; can it be any better? You can take your nanny with you to the beach so you can relax for a bit and let the nanny babysit the kids. Here are some suggestions for beaches where you, your child and nanny can go:

Sant Miquel and Sant Sebastià
Near hotel W we find these two beaches. Great for kids because the water is shallow.
Nova Mar Bella
A bit more quiet with space for a picnic and there is a playground nearby.
Ocata beach
A bit outside of Barcelona heading north we find Ocata beach. A big, wide beach with white sand. Perfect if you have the time and ability to go outside the city.

Aquarium
Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, Website
Barcelona’s aquarium “ L’Aquàrium de Barcelona” will bring you on an fascinating underwater experience. Prepare to meet lots of different little and big sea friends. You have the guided Discover the L’Aquàrium’s secrets tour where they talk about how the aquarium works and how they take care of their fishes. A fun experience with lots of fun, new facts. You and your babysitter can of course also decide your own tour strolling around as you like. Barcelona’s aquarium also offers a clue game, handicraft workshop and a Q&A with the carers while they feed the fishes.

Parc del Laberint d’Horta
Passeig dels Castanyers, 1
Play in the maze of Parc del Laberint d’Horta! Barcelona’s oldest park located in Sant Andreu is the perfect place to spend a weekend or an afternoon. The green garden is filled with small squares, mythological sculptures, flower beds and a waterfall has a truly enchanted feeling to it, great for exploring! Have a picnic, get lost in the maze and discover all the different corners and places of this beautiful park.

Pudding coffee shop
Avinguda Diagonal, 515
Open hours: Mon – Sun 9.30 – 21.30
The wonderful coffee shop Pudding will make anyone fall for it’s charm . Beside the brunches, sweets and good food they offer they also have a special kid’s club. The club can both help you fix an awesome birthday for your child or provide you with a babysitting service. Located at Carrer de Pau Claris near Urquinaona metro station this coffee shop is a must when you are in Barcelona!

Pudding Coffee Shop

Parc Turó de Can Mates
Carrer de Josep Irla, 50
This park , located in Sant Cugat del Valles is a lovely playground to bring the kids to. Parc Turó de Can Mates has four different zones: a flat green area with some trees and an outdoor gym, one area with long and fun slides, a climbing frame and a big sandbox. The park is easily accessible and has a good parking lot. Ask your nanny to take your kids here for the afternoon and let them explore the different areas of the park. Play in the sand, slide down the slides and climb the climbing frame!

Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens
Ctra. de Miramar, 50-58
Open hours: Mon – Sun 10.00 – 19.00
Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens is a botanical garden at the foot of Montjuïc. Here can your child explore over 800 different sorts of plants. The garden was actually built as an outdoor classroom for students of Escuela de Jardinería de Barcelona but is now open for the public. Take this opportunity to teach your kids about nature while looking at this rather unusual garden. Make sure to not stick yourself on the cactus spines!

Baby Deli
Avinguda Pau Casals, 6
Open hours: Monday – Saturday 10:15-14:30 and 16:30-19:45
Baby Deli is a combined store and café. With a sophisticated interior design Baby Deli welcomes us with a warm feeling. This is the perfect place for the whole family. They sell baby food, amazing coffee, toys and clothes. While parents can enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe some snacks, the kids are free to play with a variety of books and toys. It is located close to Francesc Macià and has a nice park just one minute walking distance away. Definitely a new favorite place for the summer!

Family Room Café
Carrer Joan Gamper, 13
Open hours: Tuesday, Wednesday 09:00-21:00, Thursday, Friday 09:00-00:00, Saturday 10:00-00:00 Sunday 12:00-20:00
Vergós 55. Open hours: Tuesday – Friday 08:30-21:00, Saturday 09:30-21:00
Family Room Café is based on the idea of being “a place for families”. They offers healthy food and a cozy atmosphere on two locations; one in Les Corts and one in Sarrià. The café is spacious and light with nordic inspired interior design. The dried flowers in vases on the wooden tables gives the café a fresh, organic feeling. They have a playground for the kids in both cafés. In Les Corts they have cute wooden houses, toys, a little kitchen and a wooden horse. The Sarría café just opened about two weeks ago and offers a whole floor just for the kids! This is a place where you want to sit down for a couple of hours, eat brunch, drink coffee, relax while the kids have a whole room full of things they can enjoy. A must-see during the summer!

Family Room Café, Les Corts

Love,

The Nannyline

*The Nannyline is an international agency with highly educated, experienced and enthusiastic nannies based in Barcelona. Find out more at www.nanny-line.com

12 Dec 2016

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11 tips for a City Trip to Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On December 12, 2016 With No Comments

Oh how we love Barcelona! The city that has a beach and some of the best food cultures in Europe! We’ve written a few articles about this vibrant city but we’ve never actually given you a small city guide which will make your stay even better. (we hope!). Enjoy our 11 tips for a city trip to Barcelona!

FOOD
Let’s start with some amazing food spots because one of the things you want to do when you find yourself in Barcelona, is eating. A lot. Besides the traditional Tapas and Paella, there are more restaurants and cafes to make you wild.

Surfhouse Barcelona The perfect spot for the kids of Barcelona. The food is healthy, tasty and pretty. The vibe is just like you can imagine from a place like this. It may feel like you’re in California for a minute because of the surfers vibe. Book activities such as paddle surf , beach workouts and surfing of course. Also keep an eye out for their mobile food truck that you will find around Barcelona. www.surfhousebarcelona.com
Blai Tonight It’s not big, it might be a bit too popular but we still think you should try it. Blai tonight is located in the Poble Sec area and has been voted as one of the top 10 places to go when it comes to your value for money. Their famous Pinchos only cost €1,50 and if you do it well, you can eat for only 10 euro per person including your drink! Facebook
Trópico Just check out their Instagram account and your mouth will begin to water. Inspired by tropical destinations, this hotspot is something you cannot miss out on. www.tropicobcn.com
Candendê Breakfast and Brunch for champions! They prepare your eggs in the best way possible and they serve some killer pancakes and bagels. www.candende.com
Flax & Kale We know this isn’t new but we needed to add it on the list. Get your phones out because every dish is Instagramable! (is that even a word?) 80{8b669be72a7f340f9ef2d6d852585cd40ddf0e79ccf763f3ea93c1234c3d888b} of the food they serve is plant based and their slogan is Eat Better, Be Happier, Live Longer. Well, that never hurt anyone, right? www.teresacarles.com

Pretty food at the Surfhouse Barcelona Source

Still popular and not without reason. Flax & Kale Source

DRINKS & DANCE
After some good food Barcelona offers a great nightlife. As a first time visitor you may run to the Las Ramblas but we would advise you to avoid this tourist area and visit some other places where the cocktails and atmosphere are great.

El Row If you feel like a real crazy party with confetti, attributes and costumes, you must visit an El Row party. Originated from Barcelona, this infamous techno club is now making waves all over the world with parties in Amsterdam, Dubai and New York. Some of the best DJ’s play at the club and during the summer months there are several events so keep an eye out on the website. www.elrow.es
La Terrrazza This club and bar is tucked away in the Olympic village, so you must know that it’s there. This outdoor club hosts parties and plays good music until the early hours. www.laterrrazza.com
Dry Martini Cocktail Bar This is one of the most famous cocktail bars in Barcelona if not in the world. It first opened back in 1971 and was famous for their dry martini’s. They now serve exiting and innovating drinks you should try out! You can find bars in Europe, USA and Asia. www.drymartiniorg.com
Pulitzer Hotel Rooftop or Grand Hotel Skybar It’s hard to make a choice between these two because one is cozy and tropical (Pulitzer) and the other (The Grand Hotel) has an infinity pool. Both are great for evening drinks! www.hotelpulitzer.es / www.grandhotelcentral.com
Makamaka Also great for food but maybe even better for cocktails! Ironically a couple of Dutch guys were involved in this project back in 2012. It’s where the locals and travelers meet. Start sipping on the cocktails early before heading into town! www.makamaka.es

Summer parties at La Terrrazza Source

The Skybar at The Grand Hotel Source

STAY
There are many good options in Barcelona but we love El Born. This little Barcelona maze is a barrio perfectly located near the beach, the center of the city and Parc de la Ciutadella. Its filled with bars, little shops and locals.

AB Apartment Barcelona If you’re looking for a place to stay, this is the website you want to look at. Full with apartments in all different shapes and sizes throughout the city, it’s perfect for a city break or holiday period. It’s the home from home and all apartments include a kitchen, allowing you to prepare your very own home-cooked meals, or even try some Mediterranean inspired dishes! Bonus: when you book here you’ll also get great discounts on many top attractions and activities throughout the city. www.apartmentbarcelona.com

One of the AB Apartments in Barcelona

We hope these tips for a city trip to Barcelona will make your stay even more enjoyable!

Love,

Wander-Lust

*We’ve collaborated with AB Apartment Barcelona for this article.

07 Sep 2016

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A Barcelona Love Affair

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On September 7, 2016 With No Comments

Not many people know I have a secret long distance love affair. I was 13 when we met, way too young to understand raw beauty. We spend one day together but there was not really a spark. Three years later we bumped into each other again and got a little touchy feely over the course of 6 days. I thought about you a lot, visited once more. But it wasn’t until 2 summers ago that we actually connected, when I finally got the courage to go see you alone. Whenever I feel down or happy, have a few days off or when its my birthday, there is only one I want to run to. Barcelona and I, we have a special thing going on. As strongly as I feel for her, she is too amazing to claim her for myself. So here it is, a partial disclosure on our affair, so you can have one for yourself as well.

Get to know her, and get to know her well.

1. Go solo
It might seem a bit scary and a bit crazy, but in my opinion, Barcelona is best explored when one is not bothered by anyone but the companionship of the city itself. Wander through the barrios at your own pace, grab a cup of coffee in the morning to do some people watching and get over the fear to dine alone (trust me, it took me some time as well). Get absolutely lost by yourself and enjoy it to the fullest.

2. El Born
If you took the plunge to go alone, make sure to book your stay in El Born. This little Barcelona maze is a barrio perfectly located near the beach, the centre of the city and parc de la ciutadella. Its filled with bars, little shops and laundry lines. Also it has a lest touristy feel then very popular Barri Gotic (also very pretty, but a bit more crowded with cruise line tourists).

3. Ride or die
Maybe this should have been the first on the list: rent a ff-ing bike! The city is equipped with nice bike lanes (and if not, there is always the sidewalk) and a bike gives you all the freedom you need. Pretend to be a local when you effortlessly cruise the beach promenade all the way to the north (where you see a different, more modern side of BCN). The wind in your hair and the city under your pedals. In only one day I saw all the beaches, made a trip around the Sagrada Familia and ended up at the olympic village (go here, it is super impressive with the best views over the city) without a hassle in the world. Also in the hot summers, the little breeze you feel when on your bike will be very welcome.

I got my bike at ‘ Ride or Die’ in El Born. Super friendly bike lovers with well kept bikes and very reasonable prices (10 euro for a day, including a map and a lock). They offer tours as well.

Ride or Die
c/ Pescateria, 2 BARCELONA
www.rideordie.es

4. Beach bum
A city with a beach, must be heaven! The beaches are crowded during summer, but perfect for a quick cool down and an evening stroll. Or what I used to do: go there early in the morning and grab a coffee at one of the beach cabana’s. You get an overpriced coffee, but the quiet beach view with the sun on your skin is worth it all!

Have your early morning coffee at the beach

Now about that quick cool down, when you are alone you might not feel comfy leaving your bag unsupervised on the beach when you dive in. Which is a normal feeling since the speakers on the beach keep repeating not to leave your stuff alone. Here’s what you do: you’re alone, you don’t need much space so walk down the waterline and find a spot between the sunlovers on the first row. Being this close to the water you can easily dive in and float around a bit with your face towards your bag. Keep your head cool! After dipping in, your stomach might need some food. Head for Surf House or Habana Barcelona. At Surf House the staff can be a bit rude (they think they are really cool) but their menu will make your mouth water. Think laid back variations on classic food. The menu el dia at Habana Barcelona is true value for your money. Also, I eat the best Caesar salad ever here!

Surf House
Carrer l’Almirall Aixada, 22, 08003 Barcelona
www.surfhousebarcelona.com

Habana Barcelona
Passeig Joan de Borbó, 74, 08039 Barcelona
www.habanabarcelona.com

5. Drink cava, eat tapas and do it here!
Plenty of cava bars and tapas joints. But I made my best memories at Can Paixano, a crowded and little dodgy cava bar. Tourists mixed up with the locals and cava for 1,20 per glass. Great place to make some new (Spanish) friends! Fill up on the booze and then head for El Xampanyet to feast on tapas. It’s always busy at this place and for good reason. The lights are awful, the food amazing. Oh and did I mention the staff runs around with bottles of cava to fill up whenever your glass is empty?

Can Paixano
Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 7, 08003 Barcelona

El Xampanyet
Carrer de Montcada, 22, 08003 Barcelona

6. If there is one tourist thing to do…
I think Parc Guell is overpriced. I’ve never seen the magic fountains. I have yet to visit one of Gaudi’s houses or pay to get my picture taken with one of the living statues. The tourist highlights of Barcelona never really got my attention. But please do visit the Sagrada Familia. And do please buy a ticket to go inside. It took my breath away. Several times. The truest piece of art I have ever experienced. Be smart: buy your tickets online since that means no waiting with all the Chinese people standing in line outside.

7. Hit the roof
A sucker for rooftop bars like me? Every night after eight ‘o clock, the Grand Central Hotel allows non-guest at their rooftop bar. You do pay 6 euro’s for a beer, but that includes a bowl of crisps and a stunning poolside view. Come early and it’s still pretty quiet, the perfect moment to think about how happy you are to spend time in the best city in the world.

Grand Central Hotel
Via Laietana, 30, 08003 Barcelona

So, yes, you should stroll along La Rambla, watch people at place Catalunya and eat tapas. Of course you have to shop the Spanish clothing valhalla’s and drink Sangria. I don’t have to tell you that. But now you also have ammunition to explore the city a bit different. I have tons of tips more, but they’ll remain a secret for now. Get your own affair!

Love,

Jill

*Jill is one of our guest bloggers living in Amsterdam where she works as a content manager for a digital agency. She’s Crazy about traveling and has spend her studies in New Zealand . You can read a new article from Jill in every 3rd week of the month!

Wanna have 5 reasons why you should live in Barcelona? Check this out!

23 Feb 2016

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7 beautiful wall paintings around the world

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On February 23, 2016 With No Comments

Sarah and I have been in a lot of cities and places around the world and one of the things we love to photograph are wall paintings.
Here are some of the best wall paintings we have come across:

Penang, Malaysia
These wall paintings took Sarah’s breath away when she visited Penang this winter. You can expect a blogpost about this amazing town in March!

The most beautiful wall paintings in Penang, Malaysia

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We live in Amsterdam and our town has a lot of street art. I went on a street art tour and discovered the stories and meaning about these wall paintings.

Left: From street artist at Icy & Soy. Right: A beautiful painting of travels at sea

Rome, Italy
When I visited Rome I walked around one of the most local neighborhoods called Trastevere and I found this beautiful wall painting.

Barcelona, Spain
When I visited Barcelona last summer, I stayed in a secluded area where the locals live. It was near the end of the beach and I found a wall full of street art. I loved this particular one of the famous Biggie “ready to die”album cover.

London, England
Because I lived in London for 7 years, I had the privilege to live amongst the real Banksy wall paintings in the Camden Town Area. One of his most famous works was just around the corner of where I lived!

Brussels, Belgium
When Sarah goes to Brussels for her work, she never has time to wander around but last month she consciously took some time off and walked around the streets before heading to bed. She found this cool wall painting and we featured it on our Instagram.

Brussels is full of surprises..

Berlin, Germany
We love ourselfs a little provocative art and Berlin is just the place for that. Sarah came across this piece in East Berlin.

Where in the world is your favorite wall art piece?

Love,

Elke

*All pictures are courtesy of Wander-Lust except the Banksy Photographs

31 Aug 2015

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Top 5 reasons why you should live in Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On August 31, 2015 With 2 Comments

Europe has a lot of amazing cities but Barcelona seems to attract a lot of foreigners that try to build a life over here. And we can’t argue with them. It’s one of the cities I could live. Why?
I give you 5 reasons why you should live in Barcelona.

1. Helloooo, there’s a beach!

Beachlife. There’s a sweet word that everybody loves.
Barcelona has a long stretched version of 4km and it’s a good one. There are plenty of beachbars, people walking around to give you drinks or massages and it’s so near the city that you can easily tan for a few hours after work or during your lunch break. This way you kind of feel like you’re on a holiday even though you’re working. Love it!

2. Free bicycle rides

Viu Bicing bicycles lined up, waiting for a ride

When I stayed in Barcelona 2 weeks ago, I stayed in an Airbnb and the host gave me their bicycle card for the period of my stay. This card gave me access to all the Viu Bicing bicycles in town.
How does it work? In order to use this card, you are in need of a membership. For this you need a home address. (This is why you never see tourist on these bikes -except for me of course ;-))
Swipe the card at one of the many Bicing stations and it unlocks one of the bikes ready for use. You get up to 5 min to test the bike to see if it works alright for you. After that you can cycle up to 30 minutes for free with 0,70 cents per 30 minutes after that. With so many docking stations around the city, it’s not hard to find another station to lock it again. Swipe your card on the station and you’re done.
This way you help to eliminate climate pollution, traffic noise and traffic congestion. Awesome!

3. Catalans have awesome celebrations

Incredible. The decorated streets of Gracia

They have carnival in February, Festival de Sant Medir de Gràcia in March and San Jordi in March but the month June is the cherry on the cake when it comes to festivals.
Apart from Sonar Music Festival (I’ve been there twice!) they celebrate Corpus Christi. will be held in June with parades of giant and carnival figures with big heads.
Then they also have the Festival Grec. The series begins in June, reaches its peak in July and goes on into August. The Grec offers a wide range of cultural events, from theatre of dance music and cinema events under the open sky. The one I would love to see is Holy Sant Joan, which is celebrated with campfires and fireworks and fire-crackers in all streets.
In August they also have Festa Major de Gràcia. I was lucky enough to be in Barcelona during this period and I enjoyed the beautiful decorated street in the area Gracia.
hundreds of people go on the street to enjoy concerts, food and open bars until 4 in the morning. This festival last 6 days.

4. The food

I can get used to this system!

If you know Barcelona, you know that there’s good food. Tapas heaven.
And the fact that you can eat different spanish bites for only €1,50 per item makes it even better!
They are called Pinchos. The main difference to tapas is that the bread and other ingredients are held together by small skewers, which is actually what pincho means in English. You grab a plate, pick what you want and save the sticks. After you’ve finished, the waiter counts your skewers and calculates your price. I never had such a wonderful dinner for only 10 euro’s (including a drink!) at Blai Tonight.
The best area to eat Pinchos is Poble Sec.

5. Culture & History

Awesome Street Art in Barcelona

Barcelona has a unique historic culture and you can find it all over the city. Beautiful churches, landmarks and museums full of it.
Take a day to explore. The city offers a feast of sculptures, paintings, mosaics, impressive architecture and fashion. Museums dedicated to Picasso, Miro, Tapies and Dali. And let’s also not forget about Gaudí.

Are you convinced yet?

Love,

Elke

18 Aug 2015

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Festival report » DGTL Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On August 18, 2015 With No Comments

I flew to Barcelona last weekend to enjoy tapas and some sunshine but I also flew over to report about DGTL Festival.
We’ve mentioned DGTL in our festival guide before and we are a big fan. With so many incredible international DJ’s on speed dail it came as no surprise that the Dutch organisation decided to bring this festival abroad and try it out in Barcelona.
A lot of Dutch festival guru’s flew over to Barcelona just for DGTL, so that must mean something right?

I was extremely curious if they would live up to my expectations.

Impressive art instalations

Day 1.
The organisation picked the perfect location. Parc de forum is situated near the beach and has the industrial feel to it that suits the festival seemlessly.
I knew that it would be smaller then the Dutch edition but with 3 stages (Digital, Stereo & Phono) it didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. With views over the beach and the sun shining in people’s faces, the crowd felt optimistic and ignored the rainy weather forecast.

A small market with local brands brought a true festival vibe along with a massage table for the ones who needed it most. The food area, where you could choose between burgers and thai food, looked cute with the food trucks lined up next to the Redbull bar.

Food trucks are also hot in Barca!

The Stereo stage was a 2 day jumping fest

Agoria was one of my favourites

You got to give it to the DJ booker/programmer because he did a hell of a job getting these big names together. At the Digital stage you could dance to Agoria, Ame (both amazing!) with an explosive closing set from Maceo Plex.

At DGTL they work with a new system where you get a wristband that includes a chip where you can add cash on. This way you won’t loose your coins and the service is quicker.
It’s also sustainable and that’s also one of the reasons I love this festival.
Sustainability plays a big role at DGTL. They are setting a great example for other festivals out there by trying to find alternatives and solutions by for example recycling and re-using plastic.
For more info about their projects, check their Revolution page.

Day 2.
The clouds that were hiding in the mountains, unfortunatley made their way into Barcelona and it rained non stop from 5pm to 11pm. Surprisingly, this didn’t stop the crowd from dancing. A colorful sea of poncho’s was a result and they enjoyed the sounds of David August (who played an amazing live set) john Talabot and closings from Adam Beyer and Dixon.

The nice thing about getting backstage is that I could watch the crowd go crazy everytime the beat dropped. Priceless.

What a sight..

The production did a great job and I saw that this was a real team effort.
This Dutch family makes me feel proud to say that they have really set DGTL on the map here in Barcelona. The question is now…what country is next..?

Love,

Elke