My Barcelona Travel Guide. Amazing Architecture, Tapas, Bike Rides, Cocktail Bars, and a Side Trip to Girona

        

Barcelona is one of the busiest cities in Europe. The crowds can get absolutely insane on weekends, especially around the major tourist attractions. But if you visit during the fall and explore during the week, you can avoid a lot of the crowds. There is so much to see and do in Barcelona. The architecture is incredible, the food is fantastic, and the nightlife is some of the best in Europe. It’s an awesome city for exploring on foot or by bicycle. Flights from LAX to Barcelona are often around $500-600 roundtrip in the fall.

 
Incredible Architecture and Museums

One of my favorite attractions in Barcelona is the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, which is one of the best art museums in the world. The building itself is absolutely spectacular and arguably one of the most beautiful buildings housing an art museum in Europe. It sits high above the city on Montjuïc, with incredible views looking back toward Barcelona. Even if you're not a huge art museum fan, this is a place you should visit just to see the architecture and surrounding grounds.

Another attraction you can't miss is the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. The church is unlike anything else in Europe, with its massive towers and bizarre architectural details designed by Antoni Gaudí. The $30 admission tickets are insanely overpriced, but it's something you have to experience at least once. Pony up the dough and do it once. The interior is just as impresive as the exterior.

I also highly recommend making the climb up to Montjuïc Castle. The fortress sits on a hill overlooking Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. The views are fantastic, and it's a great place to escape the busiest parts of the city. You can spend a good portion of the day exploring Montjuïc, visiting the museum, walking through the gardens, and checking out the castle. If you only had one day in Barcelona, these are the three things I would do.

Rent a Bike and Explore Barcelona

One of the best things we did in Barcelona was rent bicycles and explore the city. We spent time cruising through the narrow streets of the El Born neighborhood on a weekday when it wasn't too crowded. This is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Barcelona. You can also ride six miles along the coast on a dedicated bike route, passing beaches, restaurants, marinas, and beautiful Mediterranean scenery. I highly recommend renting bikes for at least half a day.

Amazing Tapas and Some of the Best Cocktail Bars in Europe

Barcelona has some incredible restaurants, but one of my favorite things to do was just wander around and try tapas at different places. Instead of sitting down for one big dinner, we would stop at several restaurants and order a few small dishes before moving on to the next place. My favorite tapas experience was at El Pintxo de Petritxol. They had the best variety of pintxos and tapas that I found anywhere in Barcelona, and everything was being made fresh. There were so many great choices that I just kept ordering more food until I could barely walk out of that place.

Barcelona also has some of the best cocktail bars I've visited in Europe. Creps al Born Cocktails and Creperie might actually be my favorite cocktail bar in all of Europe. The cocktails were incredible, the food was fantastic, and the atmosphere was really lively every night. It's located in the heart of El Born, which is already one of the best neighborhoods in Barcelona for restaurants and nightlife. We went back 3 times in 3 nights for a cocktail.

Take a Side Trip to Girona. One of the Best Small Cities in Spain

If you only have time for one side trip from Barcelona, I highly recommend visiting Girona. It's an incredible medieval city that's just a short train ride from Barcelona. The old town is filled with narrow stone streets, beautiful architecture, restaurants, and bars. It almost feels like a miniature version of Barcelona. If you've watched Game of Thrones, you'll probably recognize quite a few locations around Girona. They filmed a ton of scenes here, including locations used for King's Landing and Braavos. One of the most impressive attractions is the Girona Cathedral, which has a massive staircase leading up to the entrance. Admission was only about $8 when we visited, making it a better bargain compared with some of Barcelona's major attractions.

Girona is also a popular destination for cycling. There are some fantastic cycling routes through the surrounding countryside, including routes that will take you all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. It's a great place to start a longer bicycle ride if you want to get out of the city and explore more of Catalonia.

One of my favorite things about Girona was just walking around and exploring the old town. There are some excellent cocktail bars, beautiful plazas, medieval buildings, and plenty of interesting streets to get lost in. The city is compact enough that you can explore most of the major attractions on foot. I actually recommend spending a night in Girona rather than just visiting for a few hours. You can check out the restaurants and cocktail bars at night, especially on a weekend when the city has a great atmosphere. It's also a smart way to plan your trip. Spend your weekdays in Barcelona when the crowds are more manageable, then head to Girona for a weekend night instead of fighting the enormous weekend crowds in Barcelona.

How Much Time Should You Spend in Barcelona?

I recommend at least three or four full days in Barcelona, especially if you want to visit the major attractions, spend time at the museums, explore the neighborhoods, and rent bicycles. If you're planning a trip in the fall, I would try to schedule Barcelona during the week and add an overnight in Girona. The two cities make a fantastic combination. Barcelona has the big attractions, spectacular architecture, beaches, and incredible nightlife, while Girona offers a smaller medieval city that's just as enjoyable to explore. There is an inexpensive high speed rail with tickets for around 10 euros each way that connects Barcelona to Girona and you can make the trip in under an hour. 

 

Arc de Triomf Barcelona Spain

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona Cathedral

Girona Spain

Basílica de la Sagrada Família

Mercat de la Boqueria

Montjuïc Castle

Magic Fountain Barcelona Spain

Gothic Quarter, Barcelona Spain

Casa Planells in Barcelona Spain

The Best of Barcelona Map

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Rome, Italy: Why It's the Best City for Your First Trip to Europe

     

Pantheon in Rome

When someone asks me, "Where should I go for my first trip to Europe?", I always tell them to go to Rome. Yes, it's crowded, but it's a city that lives up to expectations in every way. You can wander through Rome for hours without an agenda and be blown away by what you’ll discover around every corner. People will wait in line for hours to see the Sistine Chapel, but you can wander into dozens of Cathedrals and churches in Rome for free and see incredible paintings, sculptures, and architecture without waiting in line. You really need at least 4-5 full days just to see the main attractions, and even then, you'll barely scratch the surface.

Rome has thousands of restaurants, and the food is one of the best parts of visiting. Google reviews have really leveled the playing field for tourists looking for a great meal without feeling overwhelmed. You're never more than 50 feet from somewhere good to eat, and it's easy to avoid the tourist traps by looking at reviews. We didn’t sit down for every meal. One thing I noticed was how many locals were eating sandwiches for lunch, so that's what we started doing. Another tip is to stop inside grocery stores to buy bottled water, sodas, and snacks. You'll pay a fraction of what the corner stores charge.

Exploring Ancient Rome: The Colosseum and Roman Forum

The Colosseum and Roman Forum are two attractions you absolutely have to see. We actually skipped going inside the Colosseum and just walked around the exterior, which is impressive enough on its own. The line can get insane and you’ll waste half a day standing around. Instead, we spent our time exploring the Roman Forum, and I would highly recommend it. I walked straight into the Forum with my ticket and there were less than 100 people on the street. Plan on spending at least 2 hours at the Forum. You can buy tickets online to skip the line and get a guaranteed entry time.

 
The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Rome's Churches

A great way to spend a day in Rome is just walking through the historic center. Start around the Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings, and work your way toward the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. There are beautiful piazzas, fountains, restaurants, and churches everywhere you look. One church you shouldn't miss is Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, which has an incredible painted ceiling that creates the illusion of a massive dome. Another favorite is San Luigi dei Francesi, where you can see three original Caravaggio paintings inside the Contarelli Chapel. Both churches are free. This is what makes Rome so amazing. Some of the greatest artwork in the world is sitting inside churches that you can walk into right off the street, without paying museum admission or waiting in a huge line.

Trastevere, the Tiber River, and Rome's Best Neighborhoods

One of my favorite neighborhoods in Rome is Trastevere, located across the Tiber River from the historic center. It's filled with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful old buildings, outdoor restaurants, bars, and beautiful little squares. It's a great place to explore during the day, but I especially recommend coming back in the evening when the restaurants and nightlife get going. Make sure to visit the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, one of Rome's oldest churches, with beautiful golden mosaics inside. Another area I really enjoyed was around Ponte Palatino, where you can walk along the Tiber River and see some beautiful historic bridges, the nearby Tiber Island, and ancient ruins along the riverbanks. Rome is an incredibly walkable city, and exploring these neighborhoods without a strict itinerary was one of my favorite things about the trip.

Biking the Appian Way and the Park of the Aqueducts

One experience I highly recommend is renting a bicycle and getting outside the crowded city center. You can find bike rentals for around $15 a day and explore the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), one of the oldest roads in the Roman Empire. You'll ride along ancient stone roads, past Roman tombs, ruins, and beautiful countryside that feels completely different from central Rome. Another place you absolutely shouldn't miss is the Park of the Aqueducts (Parco degli Acquedotti). This enormous park has miles of open space and trails running alongside massive ancient Roman aqueducts.You can ride your bike right through the park. It's one of the most memorable things we did in Rome, and surprisingly, there were very few tourists compared to the major attractions downtown. I'd recommend setting aside most of a day to explore the Appian Way and the aqueduct park, especially if you enjoy biking, history, and getting away from the crowds.

Getting to Rome

If you're flying to Rome from LAX, I recommend looking for flights in September and October. I've had great luck finding roundtrip tickets from Los Angeles to Rome for around $500–600 during the fall. September and October are also great months to visit Italy because the weather is generally comfortable for walking around, and you can avoid some of the intense summer heat. I usually start looking for flights about six months in advance and compare prices between several airlines. I've flown with Iberia, Swiss, Lufthansa, and British Airways and have had good experiences with all of them. One way to do it is to fly into Rome and out of Venice. You can hit Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona and Venice for a perfect 2 week trip.

Roman Forum

Roman Colliseum

Park of the Aqueducts

Ponte Palatino

Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain

The Vatican

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10 Christmas Gifts under $30 for Manly Men

If any of my ex-girlfriends had bought me a Dremel and a hatchet for Christmas instead of socks, I would probably be married.  I hate nearly every "gift idea" list on the internet, so I decided to post my own personal Amazon wish list in hopes that someone on the web will read it and buy a stun-gun for that special guy in their life. I've never been to a party in my life where a stun-gun wouldn't have made it more fun. And I don't care what anyone says about the frisbee on my list. A frisbee is a manly gift and I stand by that. 

Sriracha Rooster Tee

14.99 from ThinkGeek

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1258/

Vipertek Mini Stun Gun

10.99 Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FP5SHGO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=34R0MNNA4Q3IA&coliid=I2CATP5ITAMX13

Hatchet by Fiskars

$25.97 Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YTO7E/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=34R0MNNA4Q3IA&coliid=I3D33K92GX2PX2

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Devil's Bridge Arch. Sedona Arizona

Devil' Arch Sedona Arizona

The Devil's Bridge is a 50+ foot natural arch located in Sedona Arizona. You can actually stand on top of it by climbing a rock staircase built into the side on the mountain. The Devil's Bridge Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Sedona and a lot of the information about this hike on the internet is wrong. The official Forest Service website incorrectly lists the hike as only 1.5 miles round-trip. In actuality, the hike is 5 miles round-trip.  I thought I would do  post about it to clear up some of the confusion about this hike. 

The parking area listed on the Forest Service website, and many other websites, is only accessible if you have a 4 wheel vehicle with a high ground clearance. There are several tour groups in town that will shuttle you by Jeep to the closer trail-head for a fee, but most people will have to use the ‘overflow’ parking area for the Devil’s Bridge further down the road. The hike from this trail-head is at least 5 miles round-trip.

 Having just finished this hike last week, it’s obvious that a lot of people are getting bad information about this hike online. We saw several groups of people hiking with little or no water. The Devil’s Bridge Trail also has several forks and many people seemed lost or confused because they expected the arch to be closer. The trail runs snakes downhill from the parking lot through a forest of green high-desert shrubs and small trees. Its crosses through several dry creek beds and forks several times at marked crossings. The last half mile of the trail heads uphill towards the the arch until you reach a set of rock stairs carved into the mountain. At the top of the stairs, you can cross over from the mountain onto the top of the arch.

Directions: From Sedona, Take 89a and make a right onto Dry Creek Road. In 2 miles, turn right onto Vultee Arch Road. Vultee Arch Road is unpaved. Follow Vultee Arch Road for approximately 1 mile until you see signs for the Devil’s Bridge Trail-head parking Area. The Devil’s Bridge trail-head is marked and starts in the overflow parking lot. The trail forks several times at signed intersections and is approximately 5 miles round-trip. 

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Pennsylvania teacher vanishes in California wilderness

Read about it here:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/24/popular-pennsylvania-teacher-vanishes-in-california-wilderness/

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An Allergic Reaction on Old Rag Mountain

On top of Old Rag Mountain

In 2009, I was 4 miles into a hike up the infamous Old Rag Mountain in Virginia when my throat started closing up and my eyes swelled shut.  I have extreme food allergies to all nuts, beans, peas and especially soybean.  I had eaten a sandwich from an unfamiliar restaurant at lunch that day, something I rarely do for obvious reasons, and I had put myself into a very dangerous situation. My food allergies cause anaphylaxis, which is essentially a series of symptoms like severe itching, eyes swelling up, throat closure and severe stomach pains usually followed by explosive unholy diarrhea.  So there I was, incapacitated on the side of a mountain, propped up against a rock, rummaging through my backpack for my medicine. Most people with severe allergies carry a shot of epinephrine, but I’ve always preferred liquid Benadryl.  All I had in my backpack was Benadryl in pill form which takes longer to kick in than the liquid. I popped 3 pills and sat quietly for a half hour while my reaction ran its course.

My food allergies are exercise induced. If I eat something I’m allergic to and chill out on the couch, I almost never have a reaction. I try to stay as still and as calm as possible to minimize the effects of the reaction.  A cold bath seems to help me too. If there had been a stream on the mountain, I probably would have sat in it to lower my body temperature. This particular reaction turned out to be relatively mild. My hives were mostly confined to my hands and head, my breathing was never overly constricted, and I could see out of both eyes.  After a half hour, I drank a liter of water in one sip, slung my pack over shoulders, stood up, and headed for the summit. 75mg of Benadryl has the unfortunate side effect of sapping all the strength from your body. When I reached the summit, I took a 90 minute nap in a shady spot behind a big-ass rock. After my nap, I easily managed the final 6 miles of the hike and thankfully avoided any earth-shaking bowel movements.

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Cactus Eaters. How I lost My Mind and Almost Found Myself on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cactus Eaters Dan white

I just finished Catus Eaters by first-time author Dan White. It was one of the best things I've read all year. Cactus Eaters is a dark comedy about a guy who goes hiking with his girlfriend on the Pacific Crest Trail and all the mishaps they ecounter along the way. This is really a novel about man vs nature, where nature kicks man's ass for most of the story. The Amazon reviews are mostly favorable, but I got a kick out of reading the negative responses from readers who thought Dan was a narcissistic asshole. I can just see those West Coast hippies at their LGBT book club ranting about gender inequality and male privilege and it cracks me up. If you plan on hiking the PCT, you may want to read this book first. Perhaps it will knock some sense into you.

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Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is less than a two hour drive from Orange County California. The park offers backcountry camping, rock climbing and bouldering, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking trails, mountaineering, stargazing, a desert oasis and numerous abandoned mines to explore (if you’re brave enough, or stupid enough.. depending on how you look at it). The official Joshua Tree website actually offers several maps with the locations of the mines mapped out.

My preferred route is to enter the park through the Oasis Visitor Center in Twenty Nine Palms.  As you’re driving, you might notice that Twenty Nines Palms Highway looks oddly familiar. That’s because it’s been in literally hundreds of movies, television shows and commercials.  The entrance fee to the park is 15$ for 7-day vehicle permit, or 30$ for an annual vehicle pass.

Don’t forget to bring your camera and a tripod to take some pictures of the stars.  That park is far enough from civilization that you’ll be able to see the Milky Way.

If you only had one day to explore Joshua Tree, I would advise hitting Keys View, Barker Dam, Skull Rock, Cap Rock, Jumbo Rocks, Arch Rock, and Indian Cove. Campsites fill up quickly on weekends during the peak season in the summer. I recommend visiting in the

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Mountain Biking in Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Santiago Oaks Regional Park is located in Orange California. It has some excellent trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The park is located in the heart of Orange County, but it feels surprisingly remote once you get into the canyon and up into the hills. There are several easy trails that follow the creek, and a few that go straight up the mountain. The reward of riding down is worth the effort getting up. The trails are wide, fast, and well maintained. This is easily one of the best areas in Orange County for mountain biking. Here is a map of the trails.

Santiago Oaks Regional Park Trail Map

This is just a short mountain biking video I shot in Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange California. I mounted the camera on my helmet because it was insanely shaky when I try to mount it on the handlebar.

Mountain Biking in Santiago Oaks Regional Park from john fakor on Vimeo.

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