Held over four days every September, as summer turns to autumn, La Mercè celebrates Barcelona’s patron saint and is unquestionably the city’s largest and most…
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Driftwood Journals Posts
Here are my favourite beaches on the Gower peninsula and some insider advice on where to park, eat & drink nearby – plus tips on dog-friendly beaches & accommodation in the Gower (hotels, B&Bs, pubs & campsites).
Leave a CommentPaulina has lived in Spain for over 5 years and fell in love with the food, architecture and year-round sunshine of Tenerife. Here she shares her insider tips, with advice on the very best things to do, see, eat and drink in eternal sunshine of Tenerife.
Leave a CommentWe’d been to Sarah’s parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. We’d eaten too much cake. I’d been drinking red wine. The sun was setting.
Leave a CommentEverything you need to know about getting your essential Australian eVisa before you go!
Leave a CommentFrom the colossal Cité du Vin to the UNESCO listed Vieux Bordeaux (Old Bordeaux), here are the most essential things to do, see, eat and drink in the magnifique French metropolis of Bordeaux.
Leave a CommentAs one of the most remote and difficult beaches to get to on the Gower peninsula in south Wales, Pwlldu Bay is the place to escape to for ‘Famous Five’ style fun and frolics.
Continue ReadingWalking to Pwlldu Bay (Wales Coast Path) ~ The Gower Peninsula’s Most Secluded Beach
1 Comment I spent the weekend (8-9 August, 2020) with my old – roughly the same age as me – manual focus Canon 50mm f/1.8 on my…
6 CommentsAs if we needed another excuse to crack open a few cold ones, it’s International Beer Day (held on the first Friday of August each…
Leave a CommentMisadventure in Thailand, 2002. It was a crippling cramp that came from nowhere. I doubled over with the pain but my friends weren’t sympathetic to my…
4 CommentsI interviewed Margaux from Mosaic Flowers in Barcelona to find out how she uses her creativity “to make people’s hearts smile”.
Leave a CommentJoni from ExpatsinBarcelona.com shares his top tips on moving to Barcelona and creating the life of your dreams!
Leave a CommentFind out about Welsh Wine Week and discover 8 beautiful Welsh wines to sip yourself! #welshwineweek
Leave a CommentLet me introduce you to the beautiful new world of Welsh wine. Yes, really! Wine from Wales! Wales in the UK!
Leave a CommentSomething’s changed. I’ve changed, the world’s changed, this blog has changed.
4 CommentsJournal entry from 2016. Gloucester, England. Jack’s face was tanned and etched with thick purple scars that cracked their way up his face and over…
Leave a CommentA poem by Ben Holbrook dedicated to the beautiful pubs of South Wales’ glorious Gower Peninsula.
Leave a CommentIt was 10.45am when I woke up to Barcelona’s brilliant winter sun glaring through the huge doors and windows that opened onto my terrace. Normally…
Leave a CommentI was always at my happiest up in Barcelona’s Collserola mountains. I felt at peace, like I belonged, that I was free to be me.…
Leave a Comment“It often felt like only cool beer could relieve me from the heat.”
Leave a CommentEver imagined what it would be like to live in Barcelona and hustle a living as a travel blogger? This is an entry taken from my actual diary. Written in 2016, about a year or two after starting my career as a travel blogger in Barcelona, it sets the tone and, I think, hints at the challenges I faced while living off my wits.
Leave a Comment‘Surrender’ explores the internal battles many of us have fought during the Coronavirus lockdown, while hinting at the juxtaposition of countless lives being devastated against a backdrop of spring in full bloom.
Leave a CommentI asked the Spotted by Locals Barcelona team to share 5 of favourite secret spots in Barcelona.
Leave a CommentLocated on Barcelona’s ritzy Passeig de Gràcia, La Pedrera (aka Casa Milà) is one of the most famous Modernista buildings in Barcelona, if not the world. Here’s everything you need to know.
Leave a CommentA few months back, before COVID-19 forced us all into lockdown, I was hired to photograph and film the team from Devour Tours during their…
2 CommentsFrom Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, experience the best of Israel on your first visit (a one-week guide).
Leave a CommentRegardless of your religious beliefs (or lack there of), a visit to this fascinating city is a must for all open-minded travellers in search of deeper experiences.
Leave a CommentFrom exploring Georgian mansions on the Royal Crescent to sipping cider at a local pub, here are the best things to do in Bath, England.
Leave a CommentWith its Georgian charm, characterful rooms and Michelin-starred restaurant, this 4-star boutique delivers the most civilised stay in Bath.
Leave a CommentI asked my fellow pub-loving travel blogger friends for their top tips on the best boozers in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England! Here are the results!
1 CommentIn this gastro guide, local experts from Arara Tours share their tips on how to eat your way around Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, in the region of South Caucasus.
5 CommentsDiscover the best family-friendly “barrios” in Barcelona, based on things like convenience, location, public transport, general safety and access to family-friendly facilities.
Leave a CommentSeville is bursting with great tapas bars, culture and historic sites, and if you’re savvy about your spending, you can do it all on a tiny budget.
Leave a CommentFrom surfing to hiking, sleeping to eating, here’s your essential guide to one of the best beach/surf/camping destinations in the UK.
2 CommentsFrom the pyrotechnics of Las Fallas in sunny Valencia to the crazy ‘Tomatina’ tomato-throwing festival in the tiny town of Buñol, here are the best festivals and cultural celebrations in Spain for every month of the year.
Leave a CommentTucked away in the heart of Barcelona’s glitzy Eixample barrio, Hotel Alma Barcelona is a grand deluxe 5-star design hotel and a soulful home from home.
Leave a CommentMy personal recommendations on the best flamenco and Catalan rumba shows in Barcelona!
Leave a CommentFor those seeking an authentic slice of London life, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist traps littered around the capital’s centre, New Cross is fast becoming one of the hottest places to be.
Leave a CommentMore and more travellers from the UK (and beyond) are waking up to what Switzerland has to offer – here are seven useful tips to help you make the most of your Swiss adventure!
Leave a CommentLight Breaks Where No Sun Shines (Poem by Dylan Thomas, Visuals by Ben Holbrook) Light breaks where no sun shines; Where no sea runs, the…
Leave a CommentThinking of taking a cruise? If so, here are 100 bucket list travel experiences you should start planning today! I think a lot of people…
Leave a CommentDisfrutar is easily my favourite ‘fancy’ restaurant in Barcelona.
Leave a CommentTravelling with just one carry-on bag will help you save money, time, and even the world… Here you will find my personal minimalist travel packing…
Leave a CommentA haven from the chaos of contemporary culture, Gliffaes Country House Hotel is the rural retreat you’ve been dreaming of.
Recover, reset and revel in the only 4-star hotel in Wales’ glorious Brecon Beacons.
How do you feel about travelling in your own country? I left Wales almost 11 years ago (to move to Barcelona and then London –…
Leave a CommentLjubljana is Slovenia’s sensationally charming and green capital city and offers instant immersion into this blessed nation’s unique culture – here are the essential things to do and see, along with advice on where to eat, drink and sleep.
Leave a CommentI’ve collaborated with UK recipe box home delivery service HelloFresh to share this quick, easy and extremely healthy vegetarian paella recipe that even the abuelos of Valencia would be proud of!
Leave a CommentYou’d be gravely mistaken to overlook this little jewel of a city in Italy’s gastro-centric Emilia Romagna region.
Leave a CommentHere’s my beginner’s guide to New York City, complete with advice on essential things to do (and not to do), and a few pointers on where to eat and sleep.
2 CommentsDo as the Parisians of the Belle Époque did and escape to the charming little fishing village of Étretat in Normandy for sun, sea and bonhomie. Discover the best things to see and do, as well as advice on where to eat and sleep.
Leave a CommentMy summer in Asturias, northern Spain ~ in 90+ photos and video.
3 CommentsEvery August, the street parties of Barcelona’s Festa Major de Sants offer an authentic insight into modern-day life in the Catalan capital.
Leave a CommentDiscover the best things to do in Marseille and find out what makes this atypical French city so compelling – in just 2 days!
Leave a CommentThis little rural-house-cum-bar had been my beacon for the last three hours I’d been hiking and huffing my way through the rural landscapes of Piloña in Asturias, northern Spain. This wasn’t the greeting I’d anticipated.
Leave a CommentTaking over the space that once housed the fabled Roca MOO, Mr Porter is an atypical chop house and an equally indulgent space to meet…
Leave a CommentCradled by a series of lush mountain ranges, forests and valleys, Piloña is the perfect rural basecamp from which to explore the “Natural Paradise” of…
Leave a CommentWhether you’re in need of a post-fiesta brunch, an evening feast with friends or a place to meet for drinks, GiGi Von Tapas is the sort of place you’ll want filed away in your mental Roladex of Barcelona restaurants.
Leave a CommentFrom tips on where to eat in the city nicknamed “La Grassa” (The Fat One) to advice on what see between meals, this is your guide to the very best things to do in Bologna.
Leave a CommentWhether you’re visiting for a lazy weekend or an adventurous hiking/ski holiday in the nearby Dolomites, here are the best things to see and do in the Alpine oasis of Trento, Italy.
Leave a CommentWith small groups, friendly guides and an admirable approach to responsible tourism, Buena Vista Bike Tours in Barcelona is a prime example of how all tour companies should be run.
Leave a CommentEssential tips on what to see and do in the seductively archaic city of Naples, as well as a few pointers on exploring the nearby beauty spots.
Leave a CommentA journey round my apartment in Gijón, Asturias (northern Spain) – with video.
4 CommentsIf you like to travel slow, eat copious amounts of seafood and skip the crowds, a trip to Sète (from Barcelona or pretty much anywhere in France) really should be on your itinerary.
2 Comments… a more simple way of life in ‘Green Spain’.
Leave a CommentApril 23rd in Barcelona is all about celebrating love, literature and Catalonia’s dragon-slaying patron saint. Here’s how and where to do it!
Leave a CommentA hotel I can confidently recommend to anyone looking for a little romance and luxury within walking distance of Barcelona’s best bits.
Leave a CommentWhen air travel is not only about getting somewhere, but about escaping everywhere.
Leave a CommentOne of the highlights of my time is Israel was bouncing around the dusty Negev Desert on Adam Sela’s four-wheel-drive tour.
Leave a CommentAs the largest of Spain’s blissful Balearic Islands, Mallorca is a distillation of all that makes Mediterranean life so alluring.
Leave a CommentI’ve always been something of an idealist. When I moved to Barcelona, it was all about living ‘the good life on the Mediterranean’. I was…
Leave a Comment‘Carnaval’ is to Spain as Halloween is to the US and UK. A chance to get dressed up as a monster or your favourite super…
Leave a CommentLittle glimpses of the daily grind. Magic in the mundane. The joy of outside perspective.
Leave a CommentWhen I think of Wales, I think of home. I think of my friends and family… my sunburned youth. Of endless days at the beach, chasing waves and girls. Summers spent in soggy tents and cars without air conditioning.
2 CommentsLife in Asturias is less about sophisticated urban living and more about connecting with nature and the ‘Costa Verde’. To see why, all you need…
Leave a CommentMy guide to the very best things to do in Jordan – everything from Petra and Amman to the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum desert.
2 CommentsNuzzled away deep in the south of France, just outside the region of Provence and only 10 km from the Mediterranean Sea, Montpellier is undeniably one of the most charming cities in Europe.
6 CommentsDear friends, family and fellow drifters, I have some personal news that I wanted to share with you, a sort of quick life update…
42 CommentsFallen in love with Barcelona? Want to invest in something special to take home and remind you of your time in the Catalan capita? I’m…
Leave a CommentI’ve been back home in España for a week now and have loved getting stuck back into my writing and photography. I feel so lucky…
1 CommentOne day in Madrid – with a camera.
1 CommentFrom island escapes and city breaks in Spain, France and Italy to cultural crusades in Jordan, these are the places I recommend visiting in 2019 (based on my experiences in 2018).
Leave a CommentWondering where to go skiing/snowboarding in Switzerland? Fancy learning to ski in the Swiss Alps? Wengen could be the perfect place for you…
Leave a CommentI’ve been home in Wales for the last week or so, catching up with old friends and family. Drinking endless pints of Guinness and Gower…
Leave a CommentJust two hours away from Barcelona, or an hour from Tarragona, the Delta de l’Ebre natural park offers a rejuvenating escape for those times when you feel the urge to cut ties with the modern world and reconnect with Mother Nature.
Leave a CommentIf you’re looking at hip boutiques in the centre of Barcelona and want something a little bit more progressive, you’ll struggle to find anywhere that competes with this new trailblazer.
Leave a CommentMy personal and somewhat overly-sentimental guide to the best things to do in Seville.
11 CommentsJust a short stroll away from Gaudí’s emblematic Sagrada Familia, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau is one of the most spectacular examples of Catalan modernism in Barcelona. A must for all architecture lovers.
1 CommentCommissioned by business magnate Manuel Vicens, Casa Vicens was the first house Antoni Gaudí ever designed and is credited for inspiring the Catalan Modernisme architectural movement.
Leave a CommentThe most essential things to do, see, eat and drink in the beautifully well-worn Portuguese metropolis of Porto.
1 CommentJust arrived in Madrid? Then head straight to the handsome main square of Plaza Mayor! Hop from tapas bar to tapas bar, watch the street performers and take part in Madrid’s endless cultural events. You have arrived.
Leave a CommentTips on Formentera’s best beaches, restaurants, hotels and must-see landmarks – an essential one-day guide for people heading over on the ferry from Ibiza.
Leave a CommentCelebrate Barcelona’s creative culinary community at All Those – one of Barcelona’s original pop-up foodie markets.
Leave a CommentMy favourite things to do in Galicia in northern Spain, from tips on exploring Santiago de Compostela to hunting out the region’s best vineyards, beaches, palaces and seafood restaurants.
Leave a CommentIt’s easy to feel powerless and disheartened in these infuriating moments, but remember that the law is on your side. And there are companies out there that exist purely to help you get the compensation you deserve.
3 CommentsThe secret’s out! The perfect beach town for family fun and romantic getaways – near Seville, Jerez and the the best of southern Spain.
5 CommentsBarcelona’s street parties are legendary but the Festa Major de Gràcia (held every August) is the biggest and the best. A photo journal.
Leave a CommentPhoto Journal: The anarchic ’diables’ (devils) of Catalunya and their explosive ‘correfocs’ (fire runs) are immensely important features of Catalan culture.
4 CommentsThere’s a reason why Dalí signed his work as ‘Gala Salvador Dalí’. Many reasons, in fact…
Leave a CommentThere are so many fascinating architectural designs and stories to uncover in Barcelona – Rafael Gómez-Moriana shares some of the very best on FLC’s Barcelona Architecture Tour.
Leave a CommentAn escape from the sticky July heat and maddening crowds of Barcelona.
2 CommentsEnjoy live jazz, Catalan cava and romantic city views from the rooftop of one of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous buildings.
Leave a CommentFrom dusty old bodegas where you can pour your plonk straight from the barrel to trendy wine bars specialising in natural and organic wines from the local vineyards of Catalonia – this is where to tip a few vinos back in Barcelona!
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