Meet the Team

Charles is originally from Portland, Oregon and an Oregon State Univ. graduate, where he met his wife and Spanish Trails co-founder, Tracy. He moved to Catalunya, Spain in 1998 and resides in Girona with Tracy, their three boys and multiple pets. He has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to exploring and sharing his passion and knowledge for the region of Catalunya as a guide for Spanish Trails and as the Director of ALBA Study Abroad Barcelona (Portland State University/University of Washington).

Tracy is originally from Anchorage, Alaska. She resides in Girona with her husband, Charles, and their three boys. Having moved to Catalunya, Spain in 2003 under subtle, yet not-so-subtle, coercion by Charles, she is passionate about the Catalan culture and is genuinely honored to design peoples’ holiday here in Catalunya. As busy as she is with their three children, she has become the contact and point of reference for many companies and countless agents around the globe.

Half Italian, half Brazilian, and entirely energetic, Filippo loves to share his enthusiasm for Barcelona with all who visit the city. Raised in several parts of Spain, he has spent the majority of his time in Barcelona since 2005, with a long interlude living and sailing in the Balearic Islands in the middle. Having earned degrees in Philology and Spanish Literature, and a Master in Management of Cultural Heritage, Filippo has wide international professional experience. For the past four years he has been guiding tours all over Catalonia. In love with the sea, the forests, the mountains, he also has a passion for history and… people! Filippo loves to learn more about the world by exchanging information, experiences and outlooks with others. He splits his time between being “in action” with travelers and working behind the scenes helping with the management of the company.

Isabel was born and raised in the northwest of Portugal, surrounded by the sea and the mountains, and developed a strong attachment to nature, great weather and delicious food. After a fair amount of time spent visiting and living in different European cities, Barcelona became her new home.

Isabel now combines her background in Communication, Journalism and Multimedia with her passion for the Travel sector. When she’s not traveling around herself, she’s helping you plan the most exciting and memorable experiences in Spain!

Besides traveling, Isabel loves live music, stand-up comedy, wine, books and podcasts. She also likes to think of herself as a star in-house DJ, while she daily imposes her playlists to her patient colleagues in the office.

Born and raised in Uruguay, Alfonsina has always dreamed about living abroad and seeing the world. After not-so-much consideration and just following a gut feeling, she landed in Barcelona and fell in love with the city and its surroundings.

Having worked in customer service, communications and advertising before, she will go above and beyond to provide the best support while you plan your trip, and give you the most genuine recommendations for you to have the experience of a lifetime!

Alfonsina loves the beach, being in nature, making international friends and sharing parts of her culture wherever she goes.

Craig Markarian (Hopedale, Massachusetts) is American, Armenian, Catalán, and Spanish – all in one! After earning his degree in architecture and fine arts at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Craig made one of the boldest moves of his life by leaving the U.S. to reside in Barcelona a few years before the ‘92 Olympics, and has made the city his home ever since. An architect, artist, designer, illustrator, and vintage collector, Craig has designed and built several structures and projects in and outside the city. An avid cook and athlete, Craig has lived in Barcelona for more than 25 years, and has worked as a local tour guide since 2012. Craig’s love of travel and adventure has taken him to 18 different countries, including a month-long immersion trip to Cambodia. His love and passion for experiencing the rich, cultural fabric that shapes the life and history of Catalunya is contagious! He looks forward to sharing it with you!

Mariela was born in Argentina, moved to Italy at the age of 12, did college in Australia, and then returned to Italy where she graduated at the university of Rome “La Sapienza” in cultural and linguistic mediation in 2011. For Mariela, it was love at first sight with this special city and she has lived in Barcelona since 2014 with her dog Pongo. Because of her different roots – Argentinian, Slovenian, Italian, and German – she is a very curious person, and loves to discover new places and cultures. She is passionate about food, traveling and exploring the world through palate. Mariela loves the simplicity of things and connecting with people from different parts of the world to share her love for Barcelona and Catalunya with others.

Made in Italy, modified and updated in Germany, England and Canada. Leading tours for decades (merciless statement).
When not cracking jokes or buzzing around between work and father duties, you can find him snuggled up at home trying to cook very spicy meals or riding his bicycle, aka his personal therapist and emotional support. Passionate about languages, history, anthropology and dry humor. Just don’t expect him to be responsible for any eye-rolls or groan that follow.

Raised among the vineyards of La Rioja region, this north-Iberian explorer left his peaceful valley with a tourism degree and lot of curiosity in his backpack. After travelling and living in three continents and starting a self-taught career in world history, anthropology and languages, he arrived Barcelona city 5 years ago to get a master’s degree in Cultural and Natural Heritage Management. Jose Luis defines himself as a gastronomad, a life-apprentice and a synthesizer of the huge heritage of Mediterranean cultures, always ready for a gastronomy tasting or a long night talk with a good wine on the table!

Paris is where Anthony grew up, studied, worked, and discovered his passions for guiding, the environment, history, and sports. His love for skiing then led him to the French Alps, and later to Andorra and the Pyrenees—always chasing the sun, olive oil, and the thrill of adventure. Eventually, he found his way to Barcelona, the perfect blend of everything he loves: geography, history, culture, outdoor sports, and, of course, gastronomy.

Originally, Anthony planned to become a geographer, but his curiosity had other ideas. Today, you’ll find him tearing down mountain bike trails, paddling along the coast in a kayak, exploring local markets, or speeding past on the ski slopes. Having traveled to 25 countries, he’s always on the lookout for his next great adventure—both on the road and at the table.

Abby was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. While she will always be a Buckeye at heart, she has been grateful to call Barcelona home for the past two years. She has a big sweet tooth, so she’s always on the lookout for the best treats in the city. When she’s not exploring new cafés, you can probably find her at a concert. One of her favorite things is sharing her passion for this amazing city with visitors. Her goal is to help make your time in Barcelona unforgettable!

Anthony Garner was born in Hereford, England, and from a very early age grew up in a small village near Reading, Berkshire, where his father worked as a hotel and restaurant manager. After leaving art college in Reading, his professional career took him on a colourful and creative path, starting out as a copywriter at a London advertising agency, later travelling throughout the US, and eventually moving to Barcelona, where he worked as an illustrator and political cartoonist for Spanish and Catalan newspapers, magazines, TV, and book publishers. He also worked as a live event caricaturist.

Anthony organizes art workshops for children of all ages and participates in creative projects as part of the Global Studies programme at Vic University. For over two years, he has worked as a tour guide, specialising in wine tours to wineries in Penedès, Priorat, and Empordà.

When he’s not roaming around Catalan vineyards, Anthony is likely working on his latest artistic project or planning his next adventure, always in search of the perfect blend of wine, gastronomy, travel, and culture.