There is no country I love so much as Spain. Of course, God Bless America and all that, but Spain posses a certain magic that appeals deeply to the eater, thinker, napper and explorer in me.

It wasn’t love at first sight, though. It took me a good month to get comfortable living in Madrid the first time I studied abroad - the experience was just too new and unsettling to appreciated immediately. But once I adapted, I fell head over heels. Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba, Segoiva, Salamanca, Cuenca - I could list dozens of cities, towns and villages that cemented my love for this country. And Barcelona has been no exception.

Today was a little less magical, as I spent most of it in bed in the hostel, with a migraine. Thankfully, the day is not lost, as most of the world will still be awake (eating! drinking! playing!) for the next seven or eight hours. By the way, the staff at Hostal Goya was ridiculously kind about the whole thing (Do you want something? Are you cold? Maybe another blanket for your bed?). So if you’re ever looking for a place to crash in Barcelona - I couldn’t have better things to say about this one. (Thanks, Amber!)

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing tips, photos and stories about what’s to love in Barcelona. If you’ve got food or site seeing recommendations, drop ‘em in the comments box. I’m here through Sunday.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 | general