Hi, I’m Joe Banez

— Traveler, listener, artist, wine explorer, bike-backpacker, and lifelong sports enthusiast — and always a student of the road…

For over two decades, I’ve called Barcelona home. It’s a city that allowed me to blend in naturally, evolve at my own rhythm, and let life unfold — both outward into Europe and inward toward the self. Barcelona adopted me, yet I kept looking beyond, always drawn to what else might be out there.

The experiences I’ve gathered, the languages I’ve learned, and the comfort I’ve found in uncertainty have all shaped who I am today. They’ve added layers to my Filipino heritage, my American openness and pragmatism, and infused everything with the soul of the Mediterranean. But the journey isn’t over. There are still places to explore, relationships to deepen, and new parts of myself to uncover. I have more to offer — and I’m not broken.

My path hasn’t followed a straight line. I’ve biked the Camino de Santiago, walked stretches of it on foot, and wandered through lesser-known corners of Spain and Europe — guided not by itineraries, but by an inner pull. A love for nature, culture, people, and the unexpected. Over time, this way of moving through the world became more than travel — it became part of my bloodstream.

There have been moments of doubt. I’ve asked myself, “Why not settle down? Why not choose the safer, more predictable path?” But something inside won’t let me. I have to live according to my nature.

This path — free, uncertain, and deeply connected — is mine.
And now, I invite you to walk part of it with me.

Because when we travel with intention, we come home to ourselves.