Fast Facts

Coming soon- my Barcelona post on what exactly Nicole and I did! For now, here are some quick tips on how to spend your time in Barcelona!

WHERE TO STAY:

• St Christopher’s Inn Barcelona– My sister and I loved our experience with St. Christopher’s in Paris, so we decided to stay with them in Barcelona as well. By booking directly through their website, you get free breakfast and 25% off food and drinks!

THINGS TO DO/PLACES TO SEE IN Barcelona:

• The Paella Club Cooking Class – The first day in Barcelona, the weather called for rain. Nicole and I would not let it ruin our trip, so we signed up for a paella cooking class, and it ended up being our favorite part of our trip. The staff was so much fun, and we loved that we had our own individual cooking station. We heard a rumor that they are looking to open a D.C. location. You can be sure I will be one of their first customers!
• Palau de la Música Catalana – Wow. Just wow. This place is beautiful. It is definitely worth the admission. Words cannot describe how beautiful this location is. I would recommend signing up for an early self-guided tour, so that you can take pictures without fighting other tourists for the best shot.
• La Sagrada Familia – Again, words cannot describe. This place is incredible, and learning the work that has gone into (and is still going into) building this place was so cool to hear. Again, worth the admission price.
• Wander around La Rambla – Okay, this is tourist central, but still cool to walk around. I wouldn’t recommend eating here, but if you have some time before dinner one night, definitely take a stroll along this street.
• Arc de Triomf – This is a great place to go when you need a break. Directly behind the Arc, there is a cute little park. Nicole and I stopped here to sit and talk, while enjoying the sunshine.
• Mercado de La Boqueria – I love food markets, so I knew I wanted to go here. I recommend trying one of the fresh smoothies! Prices tend to be higher on the stands closer to the entrance, so make sure you walk in for better prices!

FOOD/DRINKS:

First things first- Drink sangria. I don’t care where you eat, just make sure to order some yummy sangria with your tapas.

• Carabela Café – Yummmm. This place is great for outdoor seating. They also have fair prices, and damn good burritos. Nicole and I wanted to eat here twice, but unfortunately we didn’t have the time.
• The Paella Club – They are worth mentioning twice in this post. Not only do you get the awesome experience of cooking your own paella, but you get food, drinks and dessert. This was definitely the best meal we had in Barcelona.
• Bunsen – I ate here when I was in Dublin, and was so excited to see they had a location in Barcelona! Yes, we understand that we were two American girls, in Barcelona, eating cheeseburgers. Cliché or not, those burgers were delicious.
• La Pepita – This place is great for Tapas. The hard part will be deciding which tapas to get!
• DeLaCrem – This place earned it’s name. They are definitely the Crème de la Crème of ice cream shops. Nicole and I went here twice, it was so good!
• Alsur Café Llúria –  This place is right across the street from Palau de la Música Catalana, so I recommend heading there after your morning tour. If you are like Nicole and me, you will leave here ready to lay down, so you might not want to plan anything after you are done eating.
• El Árbol Brunch – This was another great brunch spot. They have amazing smoothies, so make sure you get one with your meal!
• Flaherty’s Irish Pub Barcelona – Nicole and I have a tradition of visiting an Irish Pub in every new country/city. This one was so much fun. They have a photo booth, so make sure you snap a picture with your friends before you leave!

IF YOU HAVE TIME TO LEAVE THE CITY CENTER:

• Telefèric de Montjuïc – Ride a cable car to the Montjuïc Castle and enjoy a great view of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Tibidabo Amusement Park –  Go here and ride the Ferris wheel for an awesome view of the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then make sure you go to the top of the church. Nicole and I went here and watched the sunset while talking about life. It was my favorite memory from our trip.
• Park Güell – I have mixed feelings adding this to the list. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I found Park Güell to be underwhelming to say the least. Those cute pictures you see on Pinterest is all you get. One colorful bench with hundreds of people fighting to snap a pic. Definitely not worth it (to me).

TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE AIRPORT:

• AEROBÚS – The AEROBÚS connects the Barcelona airport with the center center. It runs every 5 minutes and takes about 35 minutes to travel to/from the airport.

Berlin Fast Facts

While living in Berlin, I tried to explore as much as possible. Here are some of my favorite places, and things to do.

Quick Eats

• Dolores – I love Berlin, but I have to say it- their Mexican food is terrible. That being said, when I have a craving for Mexican (which is basically always), Dolores is always a good spot to grab a burrito.
• Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap – Most locals will tell you this is a touristy spot, but it is still worth trying. Just make sure you get there early- the line can get pretty long.
• Burgermeister  – One of my friends recommended this spot to me. They make a great burger. Their original location is under the U-bahn in an old toilet (which is super cool). I would definitely try the original location if you can!
• Takumi NINE Sapporo – If you are in the mood for Ramen, this spot is great. This is my go-to place when I am craving some hot soup.

Dinner

• 12 Apostoli – My family took me here when I first moved in with them. The pizza is good, just make sure you bring money with you- they are a cash only restaurant!
• Markthalle Neun – I love food markets, and this place never disappoints (except when they are closed on Sundays!). You can be sure to find tons of yummy food options.

Sunday Activities

• Mauerpark – This is literally the best place to spend your Sunday (weather dependent). They have a flea market, food trucks, beer gardens, and open-air karaoke. Honestly this is a MUST if you’re in Berlin on a Sunday.
• East Side Gallery – This is not limited to a Sunday activity, however, since most shops are closed on Sundays, this is a great time to walk the East Side Gallery (and of course snap some pics).
• Sony Center – Potsdamer Platz – When the weather is not so great (hello winter in Berlin) I love going to see new movies. The CineStar in the Sony Center plays movies in English, so you don’t have to miss out on the openings of your favorite movies (like when you are living in Berlin for the release of Avengers: Endgame).
• RAW Flohmarkt – Honestly, flea markets are my Sunday go-to. Who doesn’t love finding great European fashion for ridiculously cheap prices? RAW is also next to a lot of cool bars and beer gardens. You could spend the day shopping (or selling) and then treat yourself to a drink in a cool bar.
• Tempelhof Airport/Tempelhofer Feld – This is an old airport that is no longer active. You can do a tour of the airport or head to the field for a picnic or a bike ride…or if you are like me, bring your roller-blades and skate along the runway. They also have mini-golf and different areas for sports or grilling.
• Zoo Berlin – Being an Au Pair, I spent many afternoons with the kids at the zoo. This is a great place to spend a sunny day. They also have a great playground, so if you are traveling with little ones, they can take a brake from walking around.
• Karl’s  – I would say this is a strawberry field, but it is so much more than that. It’s a strawberry world. Name literally anything, and they probably have it in strawberry flavor/scent. They have restaurants, play areas, go-karts, horses, and a giant slide (that to be honest, I don’t know who had more fun on- me or the kids). It is also free to get in, so it’s possible to spend the afternoon there without spending any money (which you know I love).

Breakfast

• Coffee Drink Your Monkey – This is a great coffee shop for working on your computer (plenty of space inside) or meeting new friends (they have a ton of cute tables outside). If you’re looking for a coffee and a light breakfast, this is a great spot.
• Café au Lait – This is a cute little breakfast spot in Charlottenburg. A great spot for catching up with friends.
• Rose Garden Berlin – This place is absolutely adorable. I would recommend going here for brunch, so you can order a cocktail with your breakfast.

Beer Gardens

• Café am Neuen See (CANS) – This is one of the first beer gardens I went to with my family. They have a restaurant with pretty good pizza. They also are right on the water, and have cute twinkly lights (can you say adorable date spot?). If you want to sound like a local, call it CANS (thanks Jessi & Max for keeping me hip).
• Prater – This is right by Mauerpark, so feel free to stop by here after shopping at the flea market.
• Schleusenkrug – This place is a bit smaller, but they have a small play area for kids. I would recommend this place if you are not a fan of larger/more crowded beer gardens.

Night Out

• Clärchens Ballroom – This old ballroom is now a nightclub and restaurant. I went there with my family for dinner and dancing, and it was a great night out.
• Irish Pub (Europa-Center) – It is probably not a good sign when they bar tenders know your name, but how many bars can you say feel like home? This is the oldest Irish Pub in Berlin. They imported all their decor from Ireland, so you get an authentic feel when you are there. They also have live music every night, which is what brought me to them. I have spent more night than I can count singing, dancing, and of course drinking with my friends and family.
• Klunkerkranich – This place has a great view of the city. You do have to pay to get in, but if you are a sucker for sunsets, then it will totally be worth it.
• Birgit & Beer – This club is so cool. I love the old carnival vibe that they have outside. They also offer different rooms with different music to cater to many musical preferences.
• Bohnengold – This is a small, hole-in-the-wall type bar. They have movie theater seats and video games. You could probably find many bars like this in Berlin, but this is one I loved.
• Dead Chicken Alley – This is not really a bar. It’s an alley full of graffiti, restaurants, bars and a movie theater. Definitely worth a visit while you’re in Berlin…unless you don’t like the hipster vibe, then it’s probably not for you.

Museums

• Museum für Naturkunde – Nerd moment: The Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin (The Natural History Museum) has one of the three most complete T. Rex skeletons in the world (Tristan)! The museum also exhibits many other skeletons in its Dinosaur Hall and an interesting collection of preserved animals (included some extinct species). If you have some free time in Berlin, I definitely recommend adding this museum to your list!⠀⠀
•  Pergamon Museum – This museum literally has buildings inside of it. Really, like full buildings. Maybe I am just a nerd, but I thought it was so cool. They also have a lot of Islamic art that I thought was so beautiful.

Day Trips 

• Treptower Park – This park is located along the Spree, and a great place to walk around on a sunny afternoon.
• Potsdam – Sanssouci Palace is beautiful. If you have time to take a day trip to Potsdam, it is worth adding it to your itinerary.

 

I am always adding new places, so make sure you check back to see more recommendations for Berlin!

I moved to Germany for one year to be an Au Pair in Berlin in March 2019. One of the biggest reasons I chose the Au Pair option to live abroad was so that I could truly experience the culture by living with a German family (Parents: Jessi & Max, Kids: Nicki & Ella). As I talked about in my 5 Ways to Travel on a Budget post, there are a few options I was looking into when I decided I wanted to live abroad for the year. Ultimately, I am so glad that I chose to be an Au Pair. I could go on forever talking about why this was the right decision for me, but I will save us all some time, and just hit on some of the highlights:

1. Cultural Immersion
   • One thing I did not know about Berlin before moving here was how many expats I would meet. I have met friends from all over the world (like really…Hungary, Holland, South Africa, Australia, USA, Scotland, Ukraine). Honestly, if I was not living with Jessi and Max, I think it would have been totally possible to live in Berlin for the year and have friends from everywhere except Germany. When I see the people my friends hangout with, they are also expats from all over the world. While it is super cool to have such a diverse network of friends, I would have been really upset with myself if, at the end of my year in Berlin, I did not get to experience German culture. Living with Jessi and Max, I had people to tell me about events, festivals, and places that I needed to be a part of while I was here. They also gave me tips on how to avoid looking like a tourist (like how long my Dirndl should be or how to properly hold a beer at Oktoberfest). Finally, as you all know, I love exploring new cultures through food and drinks. Living with a German family meant that I was able to eat more German food than I would have been able to on my own. Aside from the actual food, I was able to learn to appreciate a German breakfast. Not just what we ate for breakfast (seriously though, Americans are missing out…breakfast is a true meal, not just pancakes and a yogurt), but also the experience of being together. In Germany, sitting down for breakfast is a special time to be together, and can be a two-hour event. While Jessi and Max will tell you, I am not a big breakfast person, and am not the best at sitting down for too long before wanting to clear the table, this is something that I would love to do with my family one day.
2. Learning German
   • When I was in school, I took the bare minimum requirements for my foreign language. Now that I am older, this is something I definitely regret, so I knew when I moved abroad I wanted to move to a non-English speaking country. Learning a new language is definitely something I have struggled with. Not only the language, but putting in the time outside of class practicing that language. As an Au Pair, I was forced to practice my German with Nicki and Ella. On top of that, I had access to two people who could clarify things that did not make sense to me or correct me when I wasn’t pronouncing things correctly. A lot of my classmates would talk about how lucky I was that I had people in my daily life to practice my German with. I also think this served as a motivation to keep up with my German courses. If I had been living on my own, it would have been so easy to quit when the courses were too hard (which, to be honest, I thought about A LOT). I was lucky to have a family to constantly reassure me that I was getting better, and encourage me to keep up with my courses (who also threatened to only speak to me in German if I quit).
3. Less Stress
   • As I mentioned, there are so many expats living in Berlin. This causes a major issue as it relates to housing. There are more people looking for housing than there are apartments in the city. This is true for people with money, who can afford to pay more. I can only imagine the stress I would have gone through trying to find a place to live for the year (all before even moving here and knowing the different neighborhoods). I also would have had to find a job that would have allowed me to sign a one-year contract (many of my friends living abroad are on two-year contracts and would be penalized for leaving early). I know me, and I know that I would not have been able to do two years away from home. The biggest stress relief was having someone else to help me with the visa process. I honestly do not think I would have been able to have such a stress-free visa application if it wasn’t for Jessi’s help.
4. My Second Family
   • The biggest benefit of going the Au Pair route is the family I gained. Jessi, Max, Nicki, and Ella helped Berlin feel like home. I am not going to pretend that moving abroad is all sunshine and butterflies. It’s not. It can be really hard. Especially in the beginning when you are alone in a new place, missing family, and have no friends. If I was not living with people who really cared about me, I think it would have taken a lot longer to adjust. I should clarify that some Au Pairs are working with families who do not have interest in them becoming part of the family, but that has not been my experience. Jessi and Max wanted someone who would become a part of their family, who they could maintain contact with, even after they are gone. After my year in Germany, I know that I have a second family and a second place to call my home forever.

In my time in Germany, I tried to make the most of my experience by exploring as much as possible. To see some of my favorite things to do in Berlin, check out my Berlin Fast Facts.