Deltebre Catalunya and the local culture of the Catalan people Recently on an excursion throughout Spain, I visited the Deltebre region of southern Catalunya. There I met an interestingly similar culture, which was in some ways like southwest Louisiana to me. Here is a video that I made about this trip. It includes footage from local dancing rituals, cooking, fishing, …

A Cup of Tea Can Change Your Life The other day I stopped at a local café to have a tea. I had been frequenting this café for a few days and somewhat befriended the owner. A young Turkish man not much older than myself. He is a hard-worker and a very knowledgeable individual, speaking nearly 6 languages. On this …

Rubboards, Zydeco Beats and Louisiana Flair The Heart and Soul of the Cajun Culture In my travels, I have been amazed by the fact that so many people know about Louisiana music. Before leaving home, I never knew the impact that the music had on different people from around the world. Typically, people know mostly of Louisiana Jazz music and …

Couchsurfing: Is it legit? An overview, some tragic stories, happy moments, and my experiences with it When asking such a general question with such a large organization, it becomes difficult to answer such a question. Truthfully, Couchsurfing, like other forms of social media, has the propensity to attract an array of people both good and bad. There are inevitably some …

New Video Remembering España A highlight from my recent trip around Spain, plus a look at some not so well-known aspects of Spanish culture. Be sure to check out Delta del Ebre also! I used some new tips in this video. Thanks to a friend who is a professional in making videos. He  gave me some editing tips for improving …

Hello readers! I would just like to personally take this opportunity to thank you all for being so supportive in my journey to create this travel blog and website. The last few months have been really exciting for me as a blogger. I have received many new followers and readers, and it is great to have you all on board! …

Aragon, España A road trip to me is always one of the greatest signs of freedom. Road trips are a great way to explore any place as you get to make more stops and detours than you would with any regular bus or train route. In fact, sometimes it is necessary to have a car to make it to some …

Learning about Aragon A stay in Zaragoza, Aragon’s primate city Nestled between Spain’s northern coastal region Basque country and the infamous Catalunya, is a region called Aragon. The name Aragon, commonly associated in pop culture with fictional tales such as the Lord of the Rings, is a region of superior significance to Spain and its establishment as a sovereign nation. …

Barcelona: How to explore like a local Insider tips Barcelona: From free WiFi to partying like a local Barcelona is one of my favorite European cities. It is one of the most visited cities in Europe for a reason, but I think that most people never find its true beauty. The majority of Barcelona’s tourists come looking for one of …

More than just tourism Learning the land from a Master in Deltebre La Cava The delta for the Ebro river is a region of southern Catalunya, which is of significant economic, cultural, and traditional importance to the Catalan people. The local folklore and musical traditions trace their roots back hundreds of years to many of the historical tales of the …

Kayak Catalunya For my final destination in Catalunya I recently visited the city of Deltebre in southern Catalunya. Deltebre is a word that derives its name from the words delta and l’ebre. Delta meaning exactly that, the delta of a river, and l’ebre being the Catalan name for the river Ebro. The Ebro river runs from northern Spain to Deltebre where …

Un pueblo de La Ruta del Ferro, Alberg Ruta del Ferro, El Monestario, y Count Arnau Sant Joan de les Abadesses Sant Joan es un pueblo que está muy cerca de la ciudad Ripoll. Hay cuentos que dicen que Sant Joan es un nucleo de las origéns de la cultura Catalana.  El monasterio en Sant Joan es un de las …

Wild Horses, Vacas, and True Beauty Recounting Valle de Nùria Spain and the highest hostel in Europe When I think of reasons to get off the beaten path in Spain I can think of few more places to recommend than the Valle de Nuria in Catalunya. Nùria is one of those places that mesmerizes you with its beauty. Everywhere you look nature …

Learning about Girona I have passed through Girona a few times in the past as it is a popular airport for people on their way to Barcelona. Even though I have heard good things about it, I never got the opportunity to actually visit the city until now. Getting to know Girona has been pleasant as I really had no …

Excursion in Costa Brava: Kayaking and Snorkeling in Costa Brava Llança (Catalunya) In the past when I have visited Spain and Catalunya, I have always wanted to go on a nature excursion. Recently while traveling in Catalunya, I decided to head up to a small coastal town called Llança to fulfill this desire. Llança, as I found, is a peaceful little town …

Llança Espanya A good spot for resting After completing my quick but dense pass through Barcelona, I have now moved on to my first new city in Catalunya. Llança is officially the first city outside of Barcelona in Catalunya that I have visited. The culture and language of Catalunya is very interesting to me and I look forward to seeing …

Checking out different Barcelona Hostels I first arrived in Barcelona just a few days ago. It is a city that I hold to a very high esteem as I have so many fond memories in. During the summer, there is no Mediterranean city I’d rather visit. People come from all over Europe, and the world for that matter, to visit …

O Barcelona Everytime I come to Barcelona there is something new to see. That is one of the reasons that I love this city so much. There is an energy about this city that you cannot find in every city. Barcelona is a very artistic city in the heart of the region of Catalunya. It has an ability to appeal …

What is Benicássim like? When I first heard about Benicássim, I like most outsiders thought it to be a strange fitting name to be so close to Valencia. In fact, I did not know about the city until a friend sent me a link about a huge music festival there called FIB. Benicássim turned out to be a surprising little …

Good Memories Are challenging to repeat As a traveler, we are often left reflecting on the memories of the many places that we have been or the variety of people that we have met. The good times, the tired times, the incredible even, but one never knows what it will be like to return to a city especially after leaving …

Valencia, España O Espanya, diria jo. I am currently wrapping up my tour through Valencia. It seems that even though I just entered the region that I am already exiting it. I have seen so many wonderful places as they seem to be endless in Spain. Every region offers similar Spanish culture, yet distinctly different regional tendencies and in some …

Reflecting on the Big Blog Exchange As part of the Big Blog Exchange project, I was asked to put together a Manifesto of my experiences. So I thought that a nice way to piece together this article would be to do a bit of a reflection and recounting of my Exchange period. I was sent to Spain as an exchange …

Remembering Andalucia A few highlights plus a look at the organization that hosted me Continuing in my current tour of Spain with REAJ, I have finally arrived in the Community of Valencia. Reflecting over my last few weeks, my thoughts instantly drive me to some great experiences all over the beautiful region of Andalucia, also known as Al Andalus. Andalucia …

Moraira Spain I just left the city of Moraira yesterday. Moraira is a Spanish coastal city that is slightly of the traditional path. It is located in the region of Valencia, just outside the city of Teulada. Moraira is a popular destination for ex-pats (mainly English, German, & Russian) who have played a major part in the construction of the …

Alhambra الحمراء Deriving its name from an Arabic word, meaning “the red“, Granada’s Alhambra is a mystic beauty of an Arabian palace. The palace is situated on a hill, which overlooks the city. Alhambra’s name comes from the reddish tint that is clearly visible on the stones that were used to build the palace. Its perfection in everything from architecture …

Murcia Spain A Few Thoughts on Murcia Spain and Quick Guide One of the nice things about staying in Spain for two months is the fact that I get to visit some places that are not normally visited. In fact, that is one of the interesting things about staying in any country longer. People typically go to a country with …

All-terrain Travel Shoe An unsponsored review of Merrell’s Chameleon 4 Stretch Shoe and why I have chosen them as my current travel shoe. Plus, a few tips on how to choose your pair of travel shoes. I have been a big fan of Merrell’s shoe products for a while now. I have not used any of their other products yet, …

Spanish Hospitality A special thanks to the Spanish As many of you know, I am from the south. Traditionally, the southern states of the U.S. are known for their hospitality and warm-minded attitude towards others. This is especially true my home state of Louisiana. Seriously, if you thought chivalry and manners were dead, you clearly haven’t made your way down …

How to improve your Spanish What I am doing, and will do… steps to improve your Spanish When I first returned from Europe years ago, I was frustrated by communication, or lack thereof. I was near embarrassed by inability to communicate in another language, and so I set off on a mission. A mission to learn Spanish.  Upon returning home, …

In the Mind of the Maker A Louisiana Documentary in the making   Update: In the Mind of the Maker film is now available on Amazon.   Quick Background: Charles Richard, a Louisiana native, is currently spearheading the production of a film called In the Mind of the Maker. The film follows an 84 year old Cajun man named Edward Couvillier …

Why I like Hostels They aren’t anything like Hollywood… I’m a hosteler for life. A few years back, I got introduced to the hosteling system from my first trip abroad. I was told by everyone how shady they were and asked if I would even make it out alive. Well, I survived, and did so with a new found respect …

The Hagia Sophia A True Masterpiece in the center of the world If you have never had the opportunity to visit the Hagia Sofia, I certainly recommend you doing so. Turkey’s Hagia Sofia, is a true marvel of the times, and a jewel of the ancients. I would describe it as Turkey’s Taj Mahal, but you wouldn’t guess by looking …

Best things to see in Toledo Spain …and a quick guide to Toledo with tips from a local. Recently, I visited Toledo on my current tour around España. Toledo was one of the places that I didn’t get to spend too much time in, but it was still quite enjoyable. It is a place with a rich history, nice scenery …

Don’t Pass Up A Challenge It might be worth it. There is something to be said about the good things in life. Really, if you’ve ever wondered about why you enjoy things so much better when they do not come so easily, then it is definitely because the harder you work for something the better the reward. I was reminded …

Unique Ways to See the World And Examples of People Who Are Doing Them Since the beginning of time people have traversed this beautiful earth we live on. They’ve found new places, discovered the great unknowns, and met interesting people with motivations ranging from religion to riches to exploration for the sake of exploration. We’ve all heard of the great …

To my readers: This is a guide for Sara Rodriguez who will be my exchange partner for Hostelling International’s BigBlogExchange. Starting on Friday (June 7th), we will be simultaneously embarking on a new adventure to each other’s country. Sara, who is from Spain, will be visiting the United States (Boston, LA, and San Francisco). I will be visiting Spain. I …

BigBlogExchange Begins Friday! What Louisiana story would be more complete without the inclusion of me with some alligator shenanigans? Today I am going to tell you a story that I just couldn’t make up. Seriously, this is true. Well, Friday is the big day. I will be beginning my new adventure with Hostelling International’s BigBlogExchange and flying off to Madrid, …

Summer in Louisiana I think that we can officially say, summer has arrived in Louisiana. School is out, the temperature is heating up, skies are blue, and fun times are awaiting. Being such a diverse state, Louisiana is full of activities for all seasons. Summer is no exception. It might not be the festival season, or football season, but summertime …

Home is where the what is? Travelers are fortunate to see some amazing things in the world, and then return carrying those experiences with them forever. Most travelers, even long-term travelers, will likely return home at some point even if it is just for some time. As they return home, they are inevitably equipped with a new prism and outlook …

Asking for directions abroad Which way is it? Running around backpacker-style is a great way to see the world. Often times, you leave with little plans and leave most up for adventure. Inevitably at some point, you are going to have to ask for directions of some kind. Whether it is for guidance to some famous landmark or some back …

Air Transat Review A flight review This past summer, I missed my flight on the way home from Europe (semi-intentionally, but that is another story).  I was supposed to take a flight from Dublin, but instead I flew from Lisbon.  Strange, but there is a method to the madness.  I was actually in Spain at the time.  Since I missed …

The Dunes of the Sahara Along time ago, I read about the journey of a shepherd boy. The boy had forever sought something in his life. What the boy sought was something that had been ever so vividly depicted in his nightly dreams. It was strange and foreign, yet still warm and welcoming. The boy set out one day leaving …

Flavors from India A limitless yet waste-less dinner (This article is part of the International at home series) Recently, I was invited to a lunch gathering for India food cooked traditionally. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but not only because the food and company were great. I also enjoyed the experience because I learned about a different style of eating. As we …

Louisiana’s “Big 5” We have all heard of the big 5 from Africa.  You know how it goes, in Africa you HAVE TO SEE: an African elephant, black rhinoceros, cape buffalo, lion, and leopard.  Did you know that Louisiana has a big 5 also? I bet you didn’t.  In fact, Louisiana has a big 5 that are an integral part of …

Reasons to be a Backpacker Over the past 40-50 years, being a backpacker has become a global trademark of a sort. The backpack has rapidly become a universal and unmistakable symbol for someone who is out to explore what the world has to offer. Backpackers come in many shapes, sizes, colors, nationalities, and creeds. People generally go backpacking for different …