Mia Terra Blog

Packing for Your Bucket-List Voyage

Avast, ye mateys!  Before you pull out the wheeled suitcase and pack everything but the kitchen sink, take a moment to consider what you’ll truly need on that tall ship voyage-of-a-lifetime.  Packing for a trip overseas is hard enough, but you if you’re packing for a...

Spain’s Wild Coast

The fairytale town of Pals was now in our rearview mirror and, within 15 minute’s drive south, our little tour group was in the ruggedly picturesque town of Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava.  Calella, Llafranc and Tamariu are the three fishing villages that...

A Hollywood Movie Set in Spain?

As the frosty morning warmed up, we left the beautiful city of Girona and continued on to the walled medieval town of Pals with our guide, Lydia.  Located on the summit of the hill of Puig Aspre just a few miles from the Costa Brava, Pals dates back to the 9th century...

The Medieval City of Girona, Spain

On my last day in Barcelona, I headed back to the Explore Catalunya tour office for a day tour to Girona, Pals and the Costa Brava.  I’d been looking forward to seeing the Costa Brava more than anything on this trip. As on the Tarragona tour the previous day, our...

Do You Have a Travel Kit?

Packing can be a challenge, especially if you’re traveling internationally.  You always seem to forget something.  If you travel a lot, it’s a great idea to put together some specialized kits to keep ready for that next trip.  They’ll contain the little things you...

Roman Ruins of a Day

The best laid plans of mice and men don’t always come to fruition.  While I was in Barcelona, I had planned to go on a full day tour to Monserrat to visit the monastery and taste cava (Spanish sparkling wine) at a winery.  However, when I got to the Explore Catalunya...

Beauty Forged from the Fires of Struggle: Barcelona

The sights, sounds and smells of Barcelona create a rich, multi-faceted tapestry.  Cigarette and cigar smoke mix with the smoke of incense, wood fires and sometimes cannabis.  The aromas of vanilla, coffee and tapas beckon you into one of the numerous cafes,...

Picasso and His Beloved Barcelona

Pablo Picasso, the eccentric painter and sculptor known for his work in Cubism, spent his formative years in Barcelona.  Born in Malaga, Spain in 1881, Picasso moved with his family to Barcelona in 1895 at the age of fourteen.  The city had a profound effect on this...

Whimsical and Unique: Gaudi Architecture in Barcelona

Nicknamed God’s Architect, Antoni Gaudi was a creative genius inspired by nature.  His Catalan Modernism style of architecture is mainly found in Barcelona.  A devout Roman Catholic, Gaudi expressed his faith in the religious icons that permeate much of his work.  His...

Patron Saint of Barcelona

Barcelona is filled with contradictions.  Saint Jordi (St. George) the dragon slayer is the patron saint of Barcelona.  The dragon is a symbol of Barcelona, and you’ll see dragon icons and sculptures, such as this one on La Rambla, all around the city.  So,...

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