Barcelona + Ibiza, Spain

BARCELONA // Within hours of stepping off the overnight train into town, Barcelona shot up the list of my favorite cities in the world. It’s easy to spend whole days here “wandering without purpose”, as our bartender in El Raval said it, finding your way from Barri Gòtic to El Born down to the gentle waters at Barceloneta. The narrow streets are dotted with the most incredible tapas bars and local boutiques, all leading to the big thoroughfare of La Rambla and open market at Boqueria. This entire city is kissed by the magic of Gaudí, Dalí, Picasso, Miró – the art, architecture, clothes – everything is vibrant and alive in Barcelona.

IBIZA // Sprinkled with white-washed taquerías and discotheques, Ibiza was a sun-drenched paradise. We ate dinner at a little spot by the water, Bodega, every night – fresh seaweed, cod fritters, prawns, patatas bravas – listening to DJ sets and drinking Mahou and Hierbas as the sun set over the roof of the two-thousand-year-old sleepy village of Dalt Vila. A place so old is still so alive with life, from the music to the bars to the sandy beaches, lapped by little waves that pull you right into the just-right water. Heaven is a place on earth, just off the coast of Spain in the Balearic Islands. I have the tan to prove it!
Before Spain, we traveled to Paris. Since this trip (and my original post of smart and stylish travel tips), I’ve put together an extensive guide to traveling lighter – it includes detailed steps and a printable packing list template.