Two Girls’ Itinerary for Traversing Spain
Tiyash Mukherjee
As you decide to embark on your journey to Spain, the second highest visited place in the world, it is an absolute delight for people of any age group. Spain is a land of vibrant colours, humour, culture, and a delightful environment which will keep you wanting for more. Surrounded with beaches, beautiful architecture, parks, and delicious food, it is the perfect spot for a relaxed yet adventurous getaway.
In this blog, I shall elucidate my journey through Spain. If you are an adventure junkie, you are in for a treat.
As we began planning our trip, we felt extremely overwhelmed by the detailed process. After days of tedious research and a successful trip later, I am confident enough to explicate and navigate you on your visit to Spain.
When you begin with your VISA process, it is customary to start a month or two early and it is also important to book your hotels and flight tickets before-hand. Get ready for a tedious procedure, unless you choose us and let us help you curate your journey.
Barcelona
We initiated our trip in Barcelona, a vibrant and joyous city, offering a beautiful concoction of sea, hill, serenity as well as an extricate nightlife. Our first encounter with a Spanish gentleman was at 3am, who was our hotel manager. What surprised us was how jubilant and vigorous he was, which almost made our exhaustion evanesce. One disadvantage in Spain is that, usually, the restaurants do not serve food at all times and have specific hours, which was a disadvantage for us a lot of times. Uber Eats, Deliveroo, etc usually deliver food however, they do not provide their services if you stay far from the city centre, and close after midnight.
The next morning, we went to the beach and always remember to take a towel if you want to sit around on the sand. If you are going any time before summer sets in, which starts in May, make sure to carry a thin jacket.
After we sunbathed for a while, we decided to visit the La Sagrada Familia, a church which has been under construction for almost 200 years. On reaching there, we realised unfortunately there were no tickets left for the day. Another point to note, always book your tickets to monuments way before hand, except for the Stadiums, which can be booked a day or two prior to your visit.
Never hesitate to go and try the local cuisine or the local drinks, as they are usually one of the best things you will be tasting. They make sure to add spices therefore the food is tasteful and aromatic, a necessity for the Indian crowd.
Buses are a good way to go but walking to places, which are not as far, is surely a better experience. The architectures, people and the lively music on the streets will definitely fill your heart. As we discovered Spain, we came across a variety of beautiful parks and ice creams parlours, there is nothing more fulfilling than just sitting and experiencing this beautiful city with a gelato in your hand.
As the days started going by, we made some friends and planned a dinner at a rooftop restaurant, which by the way, is a must try. Barcelona’s skyline is an absolute delight and should not be missed. For a better exposure, you can also get a ride on the ropeway, and visit the Montserrat Range for a day trip. It is fairly easy to get there via train and it is one of the finest day trips you can take. Eventually, our adventures that were lined up for the trip, began. We went for Scuba Diving, an important factor to note is, unless you have done Scuba Diving before, it is necessary for you to check the water and estimate your comfort. It is a splendid activity and the underwater dive was fascinating for me as a first timer.
-Costa Brava (Barcelona)
Next, we went to Costa Brava for a delightful kayaking and snorkelling experience. The cold water is alluring, but beware of starfishes. There is a good amount of hassle but your experience is definitely worth the hassle.
On our last night in Barcelona, we walked around the city until 12 am, enjoying the bustling city’s charms as we proceeded to visit other destinations.
Zaragoza, Valencia and Malaga
We made stops at these locations for a better revelation, but truthfully our main excuse would be, we did not want to travel for long hours. Our visit to Zaragoza, Valencia and Malaga, the lesser-known cities, were small and precise. If you are looking for a silent stay, with less crowd and serene beaches, these are absolutely for you. They are filled with monuments which leave you in awe. They all close down sooner and the streets become deserted by 8pm, and there is a language barrier there as most people do not understand English. Patience and perseverance are the key here.
But since we were looking for the thrill, we decided to have a longer stay in Madrid and Seville.
Madrid
In Madrid, we started exploring the city and its beautiful architecture. As the capital, it holds the highest standards, therefore, the paella you try there or the churros, will never disappoint. Try to stay in the city centre, for a better and easy commute.
We tried the Paella the day we reached Madrid and it was absolutely delicious. After some rest, we went to visit the El Retiro Park and Real Jardín Botánico. We came across a beautiful Crystal Palace nestled beside a lake in the El Retiro Park, which a sight to behold. As we stayed right in the centre of the city, there were a varied number of restaurants in sight.
The next day rolled in and we decided to explore the Royal Palace of Madrid, Temple of Debod; along with that the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the long wait in the lines led us to the startling history of this wonderful land. Another addiction that we culminated in Madrid were their churros and their wonderful sandwiches which would vitalise us for the day.
One night we came across a bar where Flamenco Performances were being held, and I would recommend everyone to see it. We were lucky enough to be able to speak to a waitress who told us how it had its roots in Kathak, the Indian dance form. There are several things to explore in Madrid and be ready to walk around; that is the best way to explore the beautiful capital.
Seville
We had saved our special treat, for our last few days, in Seville. Since, we visited in April, we got to be a part of the Feria de Abril, where you get to experience the Spanish culture closely. No matter how well you dress, remember that you will still be underdressed. The women as well as the men dress up in their fanciest traditional outfits and arrive at the Feria in their horse-drawn carriages. A must-visit after the Feria would be the Plaza de Espana, and if you are a fan of Star Wars, you are bound to spend a few hours in there. The ethereal beauty that this place holds, is exquisite.
Always make sure to check the opening times as well as the ticket availability before you decide to visit as there are several times when they keep the monuments closed.
Finally, we decided to go Skydiving in Seville after all the chaotic festivities of the Feria were over. Now, it is important to remember that if you want to go Skydiving on your own, you need training for about a week to a minimum of 3/4 days. Our Dive was extremely special to me, it was like a song, which started with a terrible beat and ended in tranquil tones. The fear turns into a beautiful flight, I felt like a free bird. The view was incredible and I was filled with nothing but pure joy.
After a hectic trip, we stumbled upon the Aire, an ancient bath, offering luxurious relaxation which energizes you for your upcoming hustles.
With that, we only engaged in simple and calming escapades through the city, which included a calm day at the beach, simple dinner nearby and ordering-in good food while we enjoyed the rest of the night watching movies.
Where did we stay?
We were staying in hotels. If you want to stay in the city centre in a good hotel, make sure you have a big budget, otherwise you can choose to stay far from the centre at good hotels for a cheap price.
How did we travel around?
We usually used trains to travel from city-to-city. And inside the cities, we would use Ubers, buses and walk around to reach the destinations.
Food and Drinks we enjoyed
The local cuisine was divine, offered a range of foods. Must try: Paella, Tapas (snacks), Churros, Tacos from Taco Bell, Gelato, Lemon Fanta, Sangria, Tinto de Verano and Aperol Spritz.
Things to Remember
Make sure to beware of pick-pocketers, book your tickets well in advance, keep some snacks handy at all times and enjoy every moment
Book now! Let Barganza Travel curate your journey, for a hassle-free and effortless experience.
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