Author Profile: Catherine Gaa
Sunshine and Siestas
Cat Gaa left the skyscrapers of her native Chicago to teach English among the olive groves of southern Spain. After nine years and a Spanish husband, she works in higher ed in Madrid but still considers herself sevillamericana.
Tapa Thursdays: the Best Ice Cream Shops in Seville
There’s no shortage of heladerías in the Andalusian capital, and the golosa in me loves that I could walk into any convenience store, tobacco stand or restaurant and find a popsicle or drumstick. As the kid who ate ice cream for breakfast in high school, however, not just anything will... view more
Museums in Madrid: What to See
Madrid is a city of museums – there are nearly 50 of them, ranging from historical to whimsical. Once you’ve hit the big three, there are loads of lesser-known museums that are well worth the... view more
Five Things to Do in Madrid with Kids
It’s no secret that Madrid is one of my favorite cities to visit – I love the energy, the options and the closest a Spanish city can come to my native Chicago. But it can get overwhelming as a capital city (and one of the largest in Europe!), and even more so for... view more
13 Free Things to Do in Seville
While Seville won’t burn a hole in your pocket with its reasonable prices for accommodation, food and entertainment, it still has a load of free or low-cost activities while visiting the metropolis where flamenco echoes through... view more
The Best of the Andalusian Capital
And after eight years as a sevillamericana – September 13th is my eight Spaniversary! – I think I can call myself a Seville expert. In a city as rancio as this one, two years as a guiri resident means you know the city like the back of your hand – or at least the back bar of... view more
Where to Eat in Barcelona
To say that Barcelona (as a city) underwhelms me is an understatement. And its food? Ugh, I don’t even want to go there. In my half a dozen previous trips to Catalonia, a place renowned for being avant garde – in food and otherwise – I’d never really had a decent food... view more
Visiting Seville: Alternatives to the Tourist Beat
I found myself revisiting places not listed in guidebooks (or at least buried in reviews) and breathing in a different sort of Seville. As the unofficial city symbol, the Giralda stands high above... view more
Eating Coruna: the City's Best Restaurants
Galician food makes my heart flutter – the piping hot pimientos del padrón, raxo smothered in roquefort sauce, fresh-caught shellfish displayed in every window of every bar on every... view more
What to Do in Alcala de Henares: the City of Cervantes
The Spain of my pre-Sevilla had one leading protagonist: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Spain’s most famous author is best known for his chronicle of Spanish knighthood, Don Quijote, Man of La Mancha, and he penned the book while living in Valladolid over 400 years... view more