Category: Spain

Watching The Sunrise At Cap De Creus Spain
I hadn’t liked Spain that much after getting robbed in Barcelona, but a second trip there changed everything for me. I’m now passionately in love with this country. My first reason for falling in love with Spain? The landscape of Costa Brava, most notably Cap De Creus Spain.

Not many things can motivate me enough to wake up at the ungodly hour of 5:30 AM, but having the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of watching the sunrise over the Mediterranean is certainly one of them.

Watching The Sunrise At Cap De Creus Spain

So one past Sunday morning sans make-up (rare) and a bit hungover (not so rare), I made the journey from Cadaqués along with Richard from Charming Villas to where the Pyrenees mountains disappear dramatically into the sea at Cap de Creus, a nature reserve and the most Eastern part of Spain.

When we left it was cold, dark, and windy. The lonely drive along the long winding mountain road was eerie and the only sign of life was the lighthouse beaconing in the distance. And weirdly, we saw these mysterious men dressed in military fatigues headed down into the coves towards the water carrying loads of equipment. Being a longtime fan of the X-Files, you can only begin to imagine the conspiracy theories that I began to conjure up in my head.

Richard and I waited shivering for sunrise to arrive. Then ever so slowly, the first early rays of morning light appeared on the horizon and nature revealed herself in all her miraculous glory.

The combination of the sun, moon, sea, mountains, brilliant bursts of color, and the feeling like you’re standing at the edge of the earth makes this the most perfect place to watch your very first sunrise. As you stare at the natural wonder, you soon begin to understand why this landscape proved so inspiring to Salvador Dali who made his home in nearby Cadaqués.

So if you need a reason to head to Spain (as if you don’t have a long list of them already), then this should be one of them as Cap de Creus is said to be one of the very best beaches in Costa Brava.

Have you been to Cap De Creus, Spain? We recommend heading there for a beautiful sunrise like this.

Location

Good To Know

1) Get more information on the park and surrounding area by visiting CapCreus Online.

2) Find something fun to do in Cadaqués with Get Your Guide.

4) If you love Europe as much as my readers do, check out some of my top blog posts.
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*Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour through any of these links, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
October 14, 2025
Photos Of Adorable Dogs In Costa Brava, Spain
I’m not really a dog person and like cats way better. My darling Persian cat Izzy passed away early in 2021, and I’ve since welcomed two brilliant new fellows into my home, a mustached gentleman named Burt Reynolds and an orange devil named Dominick DeLuise. So whenever I travel, I seek out all things cats as well, like when I visited a cat shelter on a boat in Amsterdam or when I met cats in the Roman Coliseum.

Then I spent time in Costa Brava and hung out with a bunch of dogs. Despite my initial resistance, those canines won my heart and now I find myself wanting to someday get a loyal and faithful companion of my own. I dream of a peaceful retirement somewhere warm, by the sea, in a beautiful villa with a big yard, filled with some furry companions.

How did this new love for dogs develop? I blame it on the cutest dog ever, Pequita (pictured above).

Photos Of Adorable Dogs In Costa Brava, Spain

Pequita

Arriving at Mas Perafita, a winery in Cadaqués (where I later witnessed a beautiful sunrise) our group was greeted by four very excited and happy dogs. All but one ran to meet us at our vehicles. Pequita excited too, stayed back looking like she wished she could join. She hesitantly stepped forward and it was then I saw that she had a limp, which we later found out resulted from a car accident. I walked up to her instead and as I started to pet her, she leaned against me and sweetly extended her injured paw.

This was the defining moment when I fell in love and started plotting complicated kidnapping scenarios that would bring her to Berlin with me.

So meet Pequita and understand why my love for her runs so deep. Just look at her face!

These are Pequita’s cute friends who we played fetch with using rocks and pine cones. Who needs a tennis ball when you have the resources of Mother Nature?

As I watched the dogs frolic about, I couldn’t help but be delighted to get a glimpse of their lifestyle in the Spanish countryside. They spend their days outdoors playing, sleeping, and enjoying the affection of the winery’s visitors against the beautiful landscape of the Pyrenees. This is the way all animals (and even people) should live.

A couple of days later when our group was celebrating the Catalonian Calçotada tradition at a farm not far from Besalú, we again had more dogs to keep us company.

I spied this guy snoozing in the grass. He didn’t even make an effort to greet any of us so I made my way over to him. Pequita turned me into a dog stalker! Creepy, right?

We then had two German shepherds follow us for a walk to a nearby river. When we got there, the German Sheppard pictured in the below photo astounded us by wading deep into the water, digging up a giant rock, and carrying it with her as she followed us back to the farm.

This goes to show – sometimes when you travel, it’s the unexpected or simple things that impact you the most and for me, it was the dogs of Costa Brava.

What do you think of the dogs in Costa Brava? Have you ever had such a moment of unexpected joy when you’re traveling? Tell us about it in the comments.

Good To Know

1) Find a place to stay while you’re in Costa Brava.
Booking.com
2) Make your time in Costa Brava even more memorable and book a guided tour experience.

3) If you love Europe as much as we do here at this blog, give some of our top posts a read for further inspiration.
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- Why You Should Visit Varese Ligure, Italy – Visit Varese Ligure to see one of Italy’s best-preserved Medieval communities, sample pesto-flavored pasta made from scratch, & more.
*Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour or hotel, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
September 28, 2023
First Impressions Of Barcelona In Pictures
Of all the cities I’ve visited in Europe, I liked Barcelona the least. Finally, a place that I didn’t fall absolutely in love with. As a birthday gift to myself (you know I’ll find any excuse to travel more), I planned a trip to this hot and sexy city to get my very first taste of Spain.

Admittedly, I did have some fun like when I took part in a wine tasting with some other Canadians, randomly stumbled across a quirky flea market, and finally broke my tapas virginity. But then I was stripped of my wallet, keys to my flat at home in Berlin, and well … my dignity. I’d always figured myself a “street smart” traveler taking appropriate precautions and then suddenly, in less than 30 seconds I was stripped of some of my most precious valuables. I came away not liking Barcelona at all, with its nimble and clever pick-pocketing thieves.

I realize now that I was wrong to let that unfortunate experience cloud my judgment. I learned some valuable lessons from that event and hopefully will never find myself under similar circumstances. Returning years later for a holiday in Costa Brava, I gave finally the city a second chance.

First Impressions Of Barcelona In Pictures

I spent a lovely 24 hours there, having lunch at the 5-star Hotel Arts, and later a tapas dinner with Jade from Vagabond 3. The next day I even went shopping at Europe’s largest Sephora which was akin to me having a religious experience when I stocked up on my favourite Makeup Forever supplies.

I came to see that Barcelona has a certain allure that lulls one back. Notable tourist attractions aside, there’s another side to the city that attracts me even more. And that’s the normal everyday life experienced by locals. Walking through the streets I couldn’t help but snap photo after photo.

What do you think about our photos of the less touristed side of Barcelona? Have you been to this fantastic city? Drop us your best tips in the comments below.

Good To Know

1) If you need somewhere to stay while you’re visiting Barcelona, look no further than booking.com for hotels, hostels, private apartments, and more.
Booking.com
2) Make your time in Barcelona even better and take a tour through the city. Check out options with Get Your Guide.

3) For all of the European travel inspiration you’ll ever need, check out some of our other popular posts:
- An Extreme Staircase, The Montagne De Bueren In Liège – Montagne De Bueren is one of the world’s most “extreme” staircases. With a 30% incline and 374 steps, scaling this staircase is no easy feat.
- Photos Of Adorable Dogs In Costa Brava, Spain – Travel isn’t just about visiting tourist attractions, it’s about slowing down and appreciating things like the dogs in Costa Brava, Spain.
- Why You Need To Visit Porto Venere, Italy – Get a feel for one of Italy’s little-known seaside towns on the Eastern Riviera, Porto Venere. Find out where to eat, sightsee, and taste local wines.
*Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour or hotel, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
September 25, 2023
The Biggest Flea Market In Barcelona Is Encants Vells Market
As it was my first time in Barcelona, I really wanted to take in some of Gaudi’s architecture so naturally, the first place I wanted to visit was the Sagrada Familia. When I left my hostel that morning, I decided that I’d walk there. It was a hot, sunny day and I wanted to enjoy every moment of the beautiful weather that had avoided visiting Berlin this past summer. Not in any hurry, I slowly made my way toward the cathedral, taking pictures and stopping to look at anything that appeared interesting like a couple of hole-in-the-wall art galleries.

A short while into my walk, I stumbled upon the Encants Vells market completely by accident. I thought, why not take a look? I’m glad I did, as it turned out to be a rather fun and unique experience.

The Biggest Flea Market In Barcelona Is Encants Vells Market

Turns out that the Encants Vells market is the largest flea market in Barcelona and is one of the oldest markets in all of Europe – actually dating back to the 14th century. The market currently spans 15,000 square meters and receives 100,000 visitors weekly.

The greatest thing about this flea market is the bizarre assortment of things being sold. As I entered the market, I came across toilets, bras, and even underwear for sale.

As you can guess by now, the market is mostly full of junk. In addition to bras, underwear, and old toilets, you can pick up creepy-looking dolls, glass figurines, shoes, old books … and pretty much anything, really.

If you’re patient and willing to sort through the piles of stuff, you’re sure to find some “special treasures”.

You’ll see other tourists at the flea market but you’ll also see lots of locals too. It’s fun to spend an hour or so here, looking at the junk and watching people attempting to bargain with vendors.

Do you like visiting flea markets like Encants Vells Market? Do you have any other shopping recommendations for Barcelona? Tell us about it in the comments.

Location

Good To Know

1) Due to the popularity of the market, petty criminals like to hang out there so they can pickpocket tourists. Keep this in mind and don’t let your guard down for even one second. The thieves in Barcelona are professional and I should know, as my wallet was stolen from my purse without me even realizing what’d happened. Several people from my hostel were robbed as well. So be careful whether you’re at this market or anywhere else in the city.

2) The flea market is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

3) Book a place to stay while you’re on vacation in Barcelona.
Booking.com
4) Have even more fun in Barcelona and book a guided tour.

5) If you love Spain as much as I do, take a look at some of my other blog posts:
- Eating At Tapas 24 In Barcelona Spain – My first visit to Spain had me sampling tapas for the very first time ever at Tapas 24 in Barcelona. Read about my experience.
- First Impressions Of Barcelona In Pictures – My first impressions of Barcelona in pictures, highlights the less touristed and quiet side of the Spanish city.
- Watching The Sunrise At Cap De Creus Spain – If you’re like me and dream of watching a Mediterranean sunrise, Cap de Creus Spain is the perfect place to do so.
* Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour or hotel, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
August 10, 2023
Eating At Tapas 24 In Barcelona Spain
I’ve actually eaten tapas before, but only in Toronto and Berlin. As such, I didn’t really think any of those times could be counted as an “authentic” experience. No matter how much you’d like to convince yourself, nothing is ever better than the real thing.

To truly experience regional cuisine at its very best, you need to go to the source. So in order to lose my “tapas virginity”, I needed to head to Spain. Along came September, as well as my birthday, so I made my way to Barcelona for a week.

Thanks to suggestions from awesome people online, I decided that my first tapas outing would be at Tapas 24.

Eating At Tapas 24 In Barcelona Spain

When I arrived, the place was jammed packed and the hostess informed me that a wait for a table may be up to an hour. I shyly admitted that I was by myself. Instead of the usual look of surprise, she said “Lucky you, we have a spot at the bar.”

Settling in, my first order of business was to order a glass of wine and decide what I was going to eat. To my delight, the menu items were written on a cute little chalkboard. Since my comprehension of the Spanish language doesn’t extend much beyond the basics (like hola and hasta mañana) to the slightly more sophisticated (una cerveza, por favor), I required the help of my waiter in translating the details of the menu.

What did I end up ordering? A strange combination of food to say in the least. But if you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you’re already aware that I’m weird. My only vegetarian dish was aubergines dipped in honey and lemon. Absolutely freaking delicious!

Then I had some Korean chicken wings. I’m not sure how this qualifies as a tapas item, but it’d been a long time since I’d had either Korean food or chicken wings and I couldn’t resist trying it out. Awesome was the fact that the bones had already been removed and I could eat chicken wings like a “real lady”, using my knife and fork. The wings were pretty darn good, but I’d expected them to be much spicier.

Lastly was a deep-fried rabbit! Yep, I went there – I’ve eaten horse meat before so this wasn’t a stretch. Gnawing on piece after piece of rabbit wasn’t easy though. Unlike the chicken wings, there was no way to be dainty or elegant. I was a trooper and made it through, much as if I were eating a messy döner kebab in front of the guy on our first date. The rabbit was disappointingly bland, saved only slightly by the tasty dipping sauce.

For the amount of money I paid to eat at Tapas 24 in Barcelona, I’d have expected the food to have tasted so much much better. If anything, I now have another excuse to return to Spain in order to make up for this bad first-time encounter with tapas. I should have known better right? The first time is never that good.

Have you been to Tapas 24 in Barcelona? Do you have any other suggestions about where to eat in Barcelona?

Location

Good To Know

1) If you need somewhere to stay while you’re in Barcelona, check out options with booking.com.
Booking.com
2) Looking for something to do in Barcelona? Go on a guided tour.

3) If you like travelling in Europe as much as I do, give some of my other articles a read:
- Journey To Middle Earth At The Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland – Go deep underground on a journey to “Middle Earth” to see the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, which includes a cathedral made entirely of salt.
- Some Exciting Things To Do in Edirne Turkey – Why visit Edirne? A magnificent mosque, Ottoman cuisine, a rare Jewish synagogue, & more. Read this guide of things to do in Edirne Turkey.
- Visit Burano Italy: A Guide About What To Do & Where To Eat/Sleep – Visit Burano Italy – let this photo-filled guide be your inspiration about what to do and where to eat/sleep on this dreamy Italian island.
*Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour or hotel, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.
June 27, 2023