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Ruben Arribas

About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.

13 Things Tourists Always Get Wrong in Barcelona (And How to Fix Them)

Barcelona, a city bursting with vibrant culture and history, awaits your exploration. However, to truly enjoy your journey, it’s important to know the common mistakes tourists make in Barcelona. This guide will equip you with essential tips to navigate these pitfalls, ensuring your vacation is memorable and seamless. Additional Reading: – Things to Know Before …

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7 Hidden Swiss Towns That Are Even More Beautiful Than the Famous Ones

Our guide on the most Beautiful Towns In Switzerland for your next trip. Switzerland is known for its picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and vibrant cities. While popular destinations like Zurich, Geneva, and Lucerne draw many tourists, there are numerous lesser-known towns that offer stunning beauty and unique experiences. Here are some of the most beautiful …

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Why the Balkans Swear by Köfte: The Meatball Recipe That Unites a Region (and Outsiders Don’t Understand)

Köfte is one of Turkey’s most beloved culinary exports, a dish that transcends regional variations to embody the flavors of Turkish cuisine. Essentially Turkish meatballs, Köfte is made from ground meat—often lamb, beef, or a combination thereof—mixed with herbs, spices, and sometimes with onions and garlic. This versatile dish can be found grilled, fried, baked, …

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Our Actual Spanish Family Budget — 3 People, €1,800/Month

Morning starts at the market. Greens, tomatoes, eggs, bread. €24 for a week of basics and a paper bag that still smells like oranges. Rent is the anchor. €850 for a two-bedroom near a primary school and a tram stop. Sun in the living room by nine. Lunch is predictable. School meals run about €120 …

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Why Portuguese Leave Fish in the Sun (and Why It Shocks American Tourists)

And what it reveals about preservation, culinary rhythm, and how one culture trusts the elements while the other fears them In the U.S., if fish is left out for more than a few minutes—let alone under direct sun—it’s seen as unsafe, even dangerous. Food safety messaging has been drilled into the culture for decades: refrigerate …

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Europeans Exercise to Live, Americans Buy Outfits to Instagram

Walk a European river path on a weekday and you see movement dressed like ordinary life. Office trousers with running shoes. A grandmother in a windbreaker, counting benches as intervals. Kids in school PE kits pedaling home. Nobody has a matching set. The gear is simple, the ritual is daily, and the reason is not …

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Italy’s Flakiest Dessert: How to Make Authentic Sfogliatella Like a Neapolitan Baker

If there’s one pastry that captures the spirit and indulgence of Southern Italy, it’s the Sfogliatella. With its crisp, shell-like layers and aromatic ricotta filling, this Neapolitan treat is both a culinary marvel and a labor of love. Its name, which means “little leaf” in Italian, perfectly describes the paper-thin folds of dough that make …

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Portuguese Rice with Seafood: The Coastal Comfort Dish You’ll Crave Again and Again

Our guide on how to make Portuguese rice with seafood is for you to try at home. Portuguese Rice with Seafood (Arroz de Marisco) is a comforting, flavorful dish that combines the rich flavors of the sea with a hearty, tomato-based rice. It’s similar to Spanish paella but typically more brothy and served in a …

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Why Decathlon’s €30 Gear Dominates Europe While Americans Overspend

On a Saturday morning in a coastal town, a family walks into a blue-and-white warehouse and leaves twenty minutes later with everything needed for a hike and a swim. A €29.99 backpack, €11 swim shirts, a €6 water bottle, a pair of €12 sandals, and a mask-and-snorkel set that does not scare the Visa bill. …

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Forget Paella—Fideuà Is the Spanish Seafood Dish You’ll Crave

When people think of Spanish cuisine, paella usually steals the spotlight. But in coastal Valencia and Catalonia, locals often crave something just as flavorful but a little different—fideuà. This traditional dish swaps rice for short, thin noodles cooked in rich seafood broth, resulting in a savory, slightly chewy pasta packed with ocean flavors. Fideuà is …

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Why Italians Gasp at These Food Combos Americans Love (And What You Should Know Before Ordering)

And What It Reveals About Taste, Timing, and the Invisible Rules of the Italian Table There’s something deeply American about piling it all onto one plate.Pasta next to salad. Meat and cheese on everything. Garlic bread, sauce, and chicken — all in the same bite.It’s efficient. It’s satisfying. It feels like abundance. But in Italy, …

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The Quality of Life Rankings Americans Don’t See — We Live #3, They Live #19

A bakery window fogs from warm bread. On the clinic door, today’s hours sit under a small line that reads no payment at point of care. In the real estate window, ordinary two-bed flats near the tram are priced to be lived in. Nothing here asks you to be lucky. It asks you to be …

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