About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 April 2013 11:55 PM | 17 Comments -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
11 March 2013 11:55 PM | 33 Comments -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
12 November 2012 8:10 PM | 23 Comments -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
16 April 2012 11:55 PM | 47 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
As Seen In:
spain Archive
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Exploring the Medieval Village of Peratallada, Spain
Posted on April 21, 2013 | 4 CommentsI’ve had the good fortune of exploring Spain’s beautiful Costa Brava and Girona regions a couple of times, thanks to the kind invitation of Costa Brava Tourism. Both regions are tucked into the homey area known as Catalonia. This part of Spain has everything from... -
Boats in Port Along Spain’s Costa Brava
Posted on April 15, 2013 | No Comments -
Five Foods to Avoid in Spain
Posted on February 6, 2013 | 38 CommentsToday I’m thrilled to share a guest post by the travel blogger Liz Carlson. Drawing on her time living in Spain, she shares with us today her top tips for eating in Spain. Liz Carlson called Spain home for three years, always on the hunt... -
Rocky Coastline in Cap de Creus Natural Park, Spain
Posted on January 28, 2013 | No Comments -
Sunset at Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, Spain
Posted on January 20, 2013 | 1 Comment -
Colorful Views Along the River in Girona, Spain
Posted on January 7, 2013 | No Comments -
My Favorite Foodie Destination of 2012
Posted on December 23, 2012 | 8 CommentsI’ve said it a million times and I’ll probably keep repeating it until I die, but food is arguably the most important aspect of the travel experience. We all have to eat, so it’s immediately relatable to everyone and the sense memories created tend to... -
Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park in Spain
Posted on December 12, 2012 | No Comments -
Walking the Medieval Streets of Peratallada, Spain
Posted on November 26, 2012 | 2 Comments -
Ivy Covered Walks of Santa Clotilde’s Botanical Gardens in Lloret de Mar, Spain
Posted on November 19, 2012 | 1 Comment -
Hot Air Balloon In the Clouds Over Spain’s Pyrenees
Posted on November 13, 2012 | 2 Comments -
Spanish For Gin and Tonic is…
Posted on November 8, 2012 | 2 CommentsI’m not normally a big fan of hard liquor; beer and wine are usually fine with me. And if I were to ever have hard liquor, I can guarantee you that it wouldn’t be a gin and tonic. That drink seems relegated to an older... -
42 Things I Love About the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees in Spain
Posted on November 6, 2012 | 12 Comments1. Learning how to make aioli the RIGHT way 2. Visit to Llívia, the only Catalan town surrounded by France 3. Eating dinner inside a volcano in Olot 4. Delicious and succulent ham, all the time and everywhere 5. Skiing at La Molina high in... -
Dali Inspired Graffiti in Girona, Spain
Posted on November 5, 2012 | 1 Comment -
Five of the Least Scary Places in the World
Posted on October 30, 2012 | 8 CommentsThe leaves have turned, there’s a chill in the air and smells of apple pie and fresh cider have filled the kitchens of millions. Fall is here and with it the favorite holiday of many, Halloween. In the past I’ve written about fun places to... -
Funky Pirelli Chair at the Salvadore Dali House in Port Lligat, Spain
Posted on October 30, 2012 | No Comments -
How to Get Fat in Spain
Posted on October 21, 2012 | 8 CommentsUsually when I travel the amount of walking, hiking and biking I do more than offsets any extra calories I get from, oh I don’t know, chocolate croissants and the like. I also tend to eat food that’s fresher than I do at home where... -
Eiffel Bridge in Girona, Spain
Posted on October 17, 2012 | No Comments -
Rocks and Waves: Finding Dali’s Natural Inspiration in Spain
Posted on October 16, 2012 | 1 CommentDali was a strange man. A quick glance through the Spanish surrealist’s major works proves that right away. But he was also a passionate man and sought inspiration in the world around him, especially the natural world. One of the most important points of influence... -
Mushrooming in Spain
Posted on October 9, 2012 | 1 CommentThe Spanish take hunting for mushrooms seriously, very seriously. Finding the perfect edible fungi is a well-honed skill and the best places to hunt for the ‘shrooms are secrets often passed down through families. There’s even a reality TV show, The Mushroom Hunter, that follows... -
iPhoneography in the Pyrenees
Posted on October 2, 2012 | 6 CommentsIn just the last few years camera technology in mobile phones has grown exponentially, with the iPhone leading the way. (At least in my humble opinion) Add to the quality of photos sharing platforms like Instagram, and you have a new social movement of sharing... -
Dramatic Beauty in the Village of El Mallol in the Spanish Pyrenees
Posted on September 26, 2012 | No Comments -
Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, Port de la Selva Spain
Posted on September 24, 2012 | No Comments -
Five Foodie Reasons To Visit Spain’s Costa Brava
Posted on September 19, 2012 | 6 CommentsMillions of people travel to Spain’s Costa Brava and Girona for a multitude of reasons. Rich history, relaxing on the beach and warm hospitality. But if food isn’t one of the main reasons to visit Costa Brava, it should be. There are countless amazing dishes... -
Down the Rabbit Hole in Gaudi’s Park Guell in Barcelona
Posted on September 12, 2012 | 8 CommentsIf you ever visit Barcelona there’s one thing you can’t miss; the city-wide obsession with the early 20th century architect Gaudi. Opinions on this great master’s work are varied, from hatred to passionate love. Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about his work but... -
Boats at Sunset in the Coastal Town of Palamos, Costa Brava, Spain
Posted on September 3, 2012 | No Comments -
Endless Cava Cellar in Costa Brava, Spain
Posted on August 12, 2012 | 2 CommentsCava Cellar in Costa Brava, Spain -
Five Reasons to Visit Costa Brava Spain
Posted on August 7, 2012 | 8 Comments1. Beauty – Sure, most people know that the Costa Brava region is pretty, but it’s more than just nice beaches. My first exposure to the region was in Barcelona; a giant metroplex but one that manages to retain its traditional character and beauty. Much... -
Mastering the Art of Porron Drinking in Spain
Posted on August 1, 2012 | 4 CommentsI was full, not an unusual feeling in the Costa Brava. Our hosts had once again plied us with copious amounts of wine and scrumptious food and I felt like it was time for a nap. But that was not to be; instead we were... -
Discovering True Hospitality at a Fishing Hut in Costa Brava, Spain
Posted on July 19, 2012 | 7 CommentsI ate a lot in Spain, I think it’s a regulation or something that visitors be inundated with a cornucopia of delicious foods at all times of day. I was on a culinary blog trip to the Costa Brava region of Spain, along the country’s... -
Along the Riverbanks in Girona, Spain
Posted on July 15, 2012 | No CommentsRiverbanks in Girona, Spain -
Photo Tour of a 17 Course Lunch at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain
Posted on July 10, 2012 | 13 CommentsLast week I wrote about my afternoon with the best chef in the world, Ferran Adria. What I didn’t mention was that on the same blog trip to Costa Brava I was also fortunate enough to eat at what is technically the 2nd best restaurant... -
Learning from a Culinary Master – An Afternoon with Ferran Adria
Posted on July 4, 2012 | 8 CommentsI felt bad, I didn’t know who he was at first. The announcement that we would meet the top chef in the world came on the first day of a blog trip to the Costa Brava region of Spain and while everyone else erupted in... -
Beautiful or Grotesque – Stumbling Upon Gaudi in Barcelona
Posted on June 24, 2012 | 12 CommentsI’m not an art critic, I wouldn’t even say that I particularly care for art. I’m not completely boorish though, there are some artists I like and I do indeed have many works, originals and reproductions hanging with reverence in my home. But architecture, that’s... -
Learning How to Make Real Aioli in Spain
Posted on June 18, 2012 | 12 CommentsWhen I was first asked to take part in a culinary tour of the Costa Brava in Spain, I thought they had the wrong guy. I’m a notorious picky eater and seafood is off my menu completely. I knew I’d enjoy myself, but I wanted... -
Costa Brava in Five Senses
Posted on June 11, 2012 | 5 CommentsA lot of people have tried to describe Spain’s Costa Brava in a variety of ways. As I sat down to give an overview of the region, I could only think of how my senses were set on fire every day with new stimuli;... -
Power of Travel: How Spain Changed Everything
Posted on June 4, 2012 | 15 CommentsThe last couple of weeks have been an odd combination of incredible shock after losing my job and simultaneous joy as I explored parts of France and Spain. My time in France was solitary, journeying through the southwest part of the country on a personal... -
Idyllic Coastal Village of Llafranc, Costa Brava Spain
Posted on June 1, 2012 | 3 CommentsLlafranc, Costa Brava Spain -
Traditional Catalan Food and Wine in Costa Brava, Spain
Posted on May 29, 2012 | 7 CommentsCosta Brava, Spain -
Church in Gaudi’s Surreal Park Güell in Barcelona
Posted on May 28, 2012 | 2 CommentsPark Guell Barcelona -
New Adventure: Follow As I Discover Costa Brava, Spain
Posted on May 26, 2012 | 5 CommentsI’m writing this as I zoom around South West France by train, partway through my great French escape. While I have sincerely loved exploring new areas in France this week, I also can’t help but think about the grand adventure on the horizon for me... -
Strolling Through the Calle del Arenal, Madrid, Spain
Posted on March 27, 2012 | 5 CommentsCalle del Arenal, Madrid, Spain -
Travel Spotlight – Palacio Real and Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, Spain
Posted on June 13, 2011 | 4 CommentsMadrid is one of those cities where I wish I had weeks to spend, instead of just days. It was my first time in Spain and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I experienced was simply amazing, and I can’t wait to see more... -
Interactive Travel Guide – What to do in Madrid
Posted on March 31, 2011 | 2 CommentsI recently I started a new series on LandLopers, the Interactive Travel Guide. The idea is to highlight one city or country every week and then get the best recommendations from you all. By the end of the week, we hopefully will have created the... -
Top Five Lunches From Around the World
Posted on January 30, 2011 | 19 CommentsFood and eating are integral aspects of any trip, more so in certain areas of the world. There are few cultural indicators as important as what the people who live there decide to eat on a daily basis. Throughout my travels, I have had some... -
Hidden Landmarks
Posted on November 30, 2010 | 1 CommentI was walking around Washington, DC the other day, en route to a meeting and jabbering on my phone while trying not to get run over, when I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I have walked past this spot hundreds of... -
Thankful Travel
Posted on November 25, 2010 | 1 CommentAs I sit here on Thanksgiving eve, watching loved ones snooze on the couch in front of a roaring fire, I find myself waxing poetic and thinking back on the past year. Thanksgiving is a great holiday not only for the opportunity to commune with... -
Travel Photo – Plaza Mayor, Madrid Spain
Posted on July 12, 2010 | 5 CommentsPlaza Mayor -
Travel Photos – Madrid Street Scenes and Architecture
Posted on June 4, 2010 | 1 Comment -
Exploring the Madrid Railroad Museum
Posted on May 30, 2010 | 3 CommentsUsually when we travel, we make it a point to check out what the recommendations are for people with kids. We don’t have kids, but the activities are usually a lot of fun, suitable for anyone and cheap. That’s how we found out about...
