In English we have a saying – the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But here in Badalona, you might say it’s through the ears.

Pont del Petroli, Badalona. This place is so perfect, I feel like showing you this photo is tantamount to bragging, I live in paradise.

Attempting to speak Catalan is the best way I’ve found to win smiles from vendors in the shops near my apartment. As I step into the street on a cloudless Saturday, I juggle new phrases for breakfast foods, but I find that the sound of the train rushing by on its way to Barcelona sends these precariously held sounds flying from my brain. No pasa nada – I consult my notebook as I walk toward the market. Read the rest of this article…