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Once upon a time people used to keep diaries. And then hide them away, and make sure that no one ever read them. Which was kind of pointless really. These days, thanks to the joys of (not so) modern technology, people are much more inclined to write blogs than a journal, fearlessly publishing them on the www. and willingly share their tips, knowledge, insight and stories with strangers around the world…

Undoubtedly one of the 21st Century’s most democratic tools, blogs not only give a voice to everyday people but they can also be a very handy, and entertaining, source of information.

´¡³ÙÌýÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ Life we’ve taken the time to compile a short list of our favourite ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ blogs and photoblogs (as well as many on other regions of Spain) and we hope you enjoy reading them as much as we do.

Blogs about ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥

One of our favourite local bloggers, Jessica grew up in California but decided to ditch the LA vibes for a more European lifestyle. She shares loads of great tips on fiestas and things to do, as well as reporting on her travels in the rest of Spain and Europe. In fact, we love her work so much we often invite her to contribute to ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ Life! Check our her guides on making the most of September, things to do on a budget and ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥’s best brunch spots.

Referencing Orwell’s classic opus on Catalonia is a great way to get us onside with what you’re doing, and Rob Dobson’s blog is one of the best and longest running in ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥. His series of ‘Perfect Days’, in which he invites residents of all creeds and colours to share their perfect fantasy 24 hours in the city, are particularly fun as they open up some new insider perspectives and tips that even seasoned Barcelonins might have missed.

A relatively new kid on the block, author Dan has covered an incredible amount in a short time, making his blog one of the de facto go to resources for planning any trip to ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥. Any first time visitor to the city will be able to gleam plenty of gems from his Things To Do, Where to Stay and Where to Eat sections, whilst locals will enjoy his Excursions section which reveals some lesser known day trip options around Catalonia. A talented photographer, all his posts feature stunning site-wide photos, whilst is full of moody black and white cityscapes.

Explore ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ through the lens of Carlos Lorenzo with this fantastic photo blog, which has been chronicling the city since way back in 2006 and still going strong. All of the photos are annotated providing context and insight to the arresting array of images.

A blog/online travel magazine that covers all manner of exciting city destinations, including of course . News, trends, culture, nightlife are all covered and don’t miss their flagship  published by their team of experienced, local travel writers.

Looking for some intelligent analysis of the latest events on and off the hallowed Camp Nou turf? Then this appropriately titled fanzine makes for essential reading. Not only is BFB beautifully laid out, but the articles by a small team of expert contributors look a lot deeper than your average sporting dispatches helping you to, in their own words, foster a better sense of community and greater understanding about the beautiful game we all love so much.

A superb resource chartering not only the natural world of ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ and it’s environs, but with plenty of cultural, heritage and history thrown in (the editor is a Spanish Civil War buff and tour guide). Contributor Lucy Brzoska has her own  within the site.

One of ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥’s largest apartment providers, AB Apartment ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ share their considerable local expertise on their website’s blog, advising travellers on everything from food and drink to local festivals. Naturally, if you haven’t found your accommodation yet, these are also your go-to guys for help and tips. Click on the title link to check it out.

It might sound like an online guide for self-diagnosing embarrassing sexual problems, but The Bad Rash is in fact an informed blog about politics, culture and society in Catalonia – with the odd festival review thrown in. Irreverent and addictive, The Bad Rash is one itch you won’t regret scratching.

The English version of the Catalan blog, , George is part Swedish, part Catalan and brought up in England. He brings his reflections on Catalan politics, nationalism and independence to the general public. If you ever wondered what Catalonia’s beef is with Madrid, here’s your reading material!

Here’s a little something for our German readers, so that they can enjoy some advice and stories in their native language… Laura Lee-Lehmann is an active travel blogger based here in ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥, with a big section all about her new Catalan home, all in deutsch.

The clue’s in the name, but if you haven’t guessed yet Drink ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ is an entertaining and accurate attempt by three ex-pats to chronicle the ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ bar, dining and nightlife scene… good clean(ish) fun.

A sharp look at the often baffling world of politics and social issues in Catalonia and Spain, by an  living in Vilafranca del Penedès.

Si quieres el perro, acepta las pulgas. If you want the dog, accept the fleas, is the motto of this blogger… and a highly appropriate one bearing in mind that she lives in ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥’s most ‘fruity’ district, Raval (where the good, bad and the ugly take place in equal measure!). A highly entertaining and streetwise look at BCN.

Sadly the amiable author of this blog no longer lives in ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥ and so you won’t find any updates or wistful musings of late. However much of the great articles on here are timeless and so check the tags on the right hand side to unveil plenty of juicy content.

Blogs about Spain

Bored of reading about ÐÂÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Ö±²¥? Well we can forgive you for wanting a change at least… try delving into these recommended blogs about other regions of Spain.

Learn about both Spain and the Spanish language with expert Laura Garrido Eslava. Free daily video lessons, mp3 courses, live online classes, Spanish recipes, city guides and culture features.

Penniless in the capital? Or simply an events junkie? Cheap in Madrid is a very handy blog listing a wide variety of free and/or cheap concerts, festivals, exhibitions and things to do almost every day of the week. Lots of great inspiration and you can keep up with them on .

One of the longest-running diaries we’ve discovered about life in Spain, Erik Rasmussen moved to the picturesque town of Colindres in Cantabria in 2005 and has been keeping his blog since 2006. Family life, everyday observations and photography feature strongly.

The ‘Travelling Tortoise’ dispenses lots of advice about life as an expat in the Spanish capital of Madrid, including plenty of travel tips to other great destinations, recipes for traditional Spanish dishes – and fantastic photos.