This one feels like the episode where the move really hits us—in the best way.

After a little break, we’re back with something different: friends visiting us in Barcelona. Ryan and Antoinette (plus their daughter Aubrey—one of Amalia’s best friends) came over from the Bay Area, and we got to experience the city through fresh eyes again… while also sprinting straight into a four-day detour to Vienna’s Christmas markets because apparently we enjoy making travel logistics as intense as possible.

What we cover in Episode 9

1) The “power through” travel strategy (and why it worked)

Because winter means no direct SFO → Barcelona flights, our friends routed through Miami—then landed in Barca, had a quick reset, and we immediately turned around for Austria. The surprising part: powering through actually helped them flip to Europe time fast.

2) Vienna Christmas markets: magical, cold, and dangerously snackable

We hit multiple markets across the city—each with a totally different vibe: huge ones with skating rinks, palace backdrops, cozy alley markets, and everything in between. The running theme? Everything felt “fresh.” Hot donuts, giant pretzels, and the kind of holiday atmosphere that makes you forget you’re on your third pastry of the day.

3) The metro ticket mistake that almost got Ryan “arrested” (twice)

Vienna’s transit system is smooth… unless you don’t realize you have to stamp your ticket in the little blue validation box. We got checked by a wall of yellow vests doing ticket inspections, tried our best “confused tourist” routine, and then Ryan somehow got checked again while hunting for the elusive blue box like it was an escape room challenge.

4) The real cost of holiday markets (and why it was still worth it)

Yes, some souvenirs felt pricey (ornaments, nutcrackers, etc.). But we also talk about the difference between “tourist pricing” and the fact that a lot of what you’re buying is genuinely handcrafted—and honestly, part of it is paying for the memory of being there.

5) Back in Barcelona: seeing the city through your friends’ eyes

We hit the Gothic Quarter, Gràcia, and the beach—plus some nightlife and Gaudí. And it’s wild how having friends here makes us fall in love with Barcelona all over again—you notice details you stopped seeing once daily life took over.

6) The food quality gap (including… Five Guys?!?)

We get into what visitors notice immediately: food feels cheaper and higher quality, even at places you’d never expect. The shocker of the episode: Five Guys in Barcelona somehow tasted better than Five Guys back home (we said what we said).

7) Kids’ POV: freedom + friendship

Aubrey and Amalia jump in to talk about what it’s like being 11 in Barcelona, visiting best friends, and having more independence walking around than they’d have back in the U.S.

Practical takeaways (stuff you’ll actually use)

• If you’re going to Vienna: validate/stamp your metro tickets (the blue box is not optional).
• Christmas markets: go earlier than you think—it gets packed, and it’s dark surprisingly early anyway.
• Hotels in Austria: list the correct number of guests when booking—apparently it’s a legal requirement.
• Visiting Barcelona during the holidays: expect some rainy days, but the city still delivers—especially the lights, walkability, and neighborhoods that all feel distinct.

Visuals we’ll add to the post

• Photos of each Vienna market (Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn, Stephansplatz, etc.) + the “mug” souvenir situation
• Barcelona lights in the Gothic Quarter + Gràcia street scenes
• A beach shot from Gavà Mar (and the “we could retire here” moment)

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like w

Soccer wins, Sunday blues, and the seven changes we’re making to fall back in love with life abroad.

We’ve officially entered the “trough of disillusionment.”

That magical phrase every expat hears about but hopes won’t apply to them. Turns out—it does.

This week, we’re talking about what happens after the honeymoon. When the novelty fades, the logistics pile up, and the question “how long are we staying?” starts sounding less hypothetical.

But first, big news:

After weeks of checking Spain’s football federation site hourly, Sara finally saw the word “Approved.”

Amalia can now officially play for her Barcelona team. There were tears (Sara’s), relief (mine), and a collective lifting of the dark cloud that had hovered over our weekends.

With that, we started asking ourselves—what else can we do to make life here better?

I actually made a list. Seven things, to be exact:

1. Amalia’s soccer approval. Check. ✅
2. Hire a driver. Because spending four hours in traffic to soccer practice isn’t romantic.
3. Reclaim our terrace. We’re adding a netted play area so the kids can actually use it.
4. Get organized. Enter the Skylight Calendar, our new family command center.
5. Find a finca. Somewhere an hour outside the city, for weekend escapes.
6. Maybe (maybe) get a dog. Jury’s still out.
7. Travel more. Because part of moving abroad is remembering to explore it.

We also get into some real talk:

• How living in a big city changes the way you experience time.
• Sara’s Sunday struggles (everything’s closed—and she’s not over it).
• The not-so-warm warmth of Catalonian service culture.
• And why no one here cuts their pizza slices for you. (Still a mystery.)

There’s also some joy sprinkled in—paddle matches with new friends, morning rides on my new Brompton bike, discovering an incredible Ecuadorian hole-in-the-wall (El Nano), and the best Indian food we’ve found in Barcelona (Shanti—highly recommend).

Somewhere in between, home started meaning two places at once.

San Francisco felt like home when I visited. But so does Barcelona. And maybe that’s the point—home isn’t one address anymore, it’s a balance between them.

We’re learning that expat life isn’t an escape. It’s just a different kind of living—with its own rhythms, challenges, and tiny joys.

🎧 Listen to Episode 7 of Bay to Barca:

“The Honeymoon’s Over” — now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Every great family story needs a sibling to stir the pot—and this week, it’s my sister Ritu’s turn in Barcelona.

She arrived with equal parts curiosity and chaos, ready to explore the city we now call home. Within days she’d covered more of Barcelona on foot than we had in ten weeks. From the labyrinthine alleys of the Gothic Quarter to lazy afternoons in Turó Park, she gave us fresh eyes on our adopted city—and a reminder that sometimes you need a visitor to help you see what’s right in front of you.

Her verdict? Barcelona is absurdly clean, shockingly safe, and unfairly filled with good-looking people. Also, if you’re “socio-economically blessed,” you’ll do just fine here.

We covered it all:

• 🧼 Clean streets & kind strangers: Ritu was amazed by how respectful people are on public transport—offering seats to parents and elders.
• 💸 The myth of cheap Spain: Groceries and coffee? Cheap. Manicures and tattoos? Apparently, luxury experiences.
• 🏰 Tourist tips: Book your Sagrada Familia tickets way in advance—trust us, we learned the hard way.
• 🐶 Dogs everywhere: Dog-friendly everything, but apparently, “don’t pet the dogs.”
• 💬 Cultural quirks: Catalonians are humble, efficient (ish), and quietly kind.
• 🏍️ And yes… my scooter got stolen. (Pro tip: Don’t have financial tragedy when your sister is visiting.)

We also talked about the kids—how shockingly well they’ve adapted. Amalia’s off at her first sleepover, Milan’s already on the pitch, and our youngest, Savana, has charmed everyone in sight.

And somewhere between the laughter, police calls, and late-night gelato, we found a little more rhythm in this life abroad.

The episode ends with a debate about the name Tapas & Therapy. Sara thinks we should change it to Bay to Barcelona. My sister insists. Sara agrees. I protest. (Democracy in action, apparently.)

So—help us decide.

Do we stay Tapas & Therapy… or embrace Bay to Barcelona? Drop your vote in the comments.

Either way, we’re keeping the tapas.

And, apparently, renting a new scooter.