Unpacking Spain

 Mom and I ventured to Spain for our much-anticipated international trip in October. After our adventures in Paris two years ago, we knew our jet-setting was only just beginning. 

We used my 40th birthday as an excuse and booked a tour of Barcelona and Madrid. Mom suggested that we arrive two days early to adjust to the time change, and those turned out to be my two favorite days of the entire trip.

We loved our Barcelona hotel. It was right in the middle of everything. Shopping was literally right outside the hotel doors, and there was always a street musician performing. Our first two days in Spain was spent exploring, shopping, and eating on our own, and I was so proud of our ability to navigate the city!

The Mercat de la Boqueria was picture perfect with fresh seafood, produce, olives, and sweets. We continued to visit almost daily while we were still in Barcelona.

Maggie requested Spanish candy, so I loaded up for all three kids at the market.

Spain quickly turned into a food tour. We tried several Rick Steves' recommended spots and were very adventurous with ordering new items without really knowing what would arrive. My favorite spot was a little restaurant that offered open faced sandwiches and wine. You picked whatever you wanted from the counter, and the waiter tallied your check based on how many toothpicks were on your plate. Everything we tried was scrumptious!

The second evening of our trip included meeting up with our tour group. It consisted of about 25 people from all over the United States and even a couple from Canada. The group always gets a kick out of how much Mom and I pack for the trip. Most travelers with Rick Steves arrive with a carry-on suitcase and backpack. We travel with the intention of changing multiple times a day. I even brough seven pairs of school and went home with two more from shopping in Spain. :)

The biggest architectural highlight in Barcelona was the Sagrada Familia. Our tour group made it easy to get tickets because it typically sells out daily. It was gorgeous and so rich in history.

After a walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood, Mom and I grabbed lunch. One cannot possible visit Spain without eating paella, and it did not disappoint!

Next we gave into a siesta at the hotel. One thing we had to get used to was the fact that people in Spain do not go out to dinner until 8pm at the earliest. Mom suggested we make reservations at a fancier restaurant on the water, and despite my awful directional sense causing us to walk all over the entire city to find it, we made it on time. Jay and I have always insisted that hole-in-the-wall restaurants beat out any more upscale spot when traveling, and our theory proved to be true. The atmosphere was beautiful, but it was not our best meal. The company was the best part.

The emphasis on food continued when our tour group went to the same restaurant for another evening that Mom and I had already enjoyed on our own. We loved it the first time when we met the family owned staff, so we were happy to see them again. Most of our group dinners included an assortment of tapas. It made it easy to try a lot of different selections. Our favorites included olive oil fried green peppers and Catalon tomato bread.

One of the biggest surprises in Barcelona was Gaudi's Park Guell. It was mentioned as a bus stop prior to our train to Madrid, but it was so expansive and beautiful. It blew my mind that so much went into the creation of the development, but no one actually moved there.

Even though it was cold, I had to document dipping my toes into the Mediterranean Sea before heading inland to Madrid.

The transportation of our luggage down the streets of Barcelona to the train was comical. Mom and I looked like clowns lugging our enormous suitcases, but men in our tour group took pity on us and helped.

Madrid has a huge emphasis on art. Our first day included a tour of the Royal Palace. We did not visit all 2,000+ rooms, but the ones were saw were breathtaking. I felt right at home and questioned why I was born in to the wrong family.

Our evening consisted of a traditional Flamenco performance. Mom and I did not really know what to expect, but it was one of the most memorable parts of the trip. At the end, the dancers let us know that the entire performance was improvised, and they had never worked together prior to that evening!

Art museums filled our next day with trips to the Reina Sofia and the Prado. I studied art history in college, so it was surreal to stand in front of so many masterpieces I had only seen in books and slide shows. Photography was frowned upon in the Prado, but I took my chances.

We found the yummiest Mexican restaurant near the Prado. At this point Mom and I had our fill of tapas and started to branch out to other cuisines.

Our final day in Spain offered a day trip to Toledo. To be honest we were pretty exhausted from traveling by now and questioned skipping the experience, but we knew we may not have the opportunity again, so we pushed through it. The weather had turned cold, and Toledo turned out not to be much of a highlight on our trip. Our negative attitudes probably played into it, but the city was packed full of tourists and less authentic than our other tours. Although the scenery was beautiful from the outside looking in, we both agreed that Toledo was overrated. 

Our trip to Spain was absolutely unforgettable, but my favorite part was having 11 uninterrupted days with my mom. I loved our endless conversations, constant laughing, and taking in a new culture with her by my side. I would not trade this trip for anything, and I will continue to replay all our memories for the rest of my life. Thank you, Mom, for the trip of a lifetime!