Brenna Without Borders

Last year at this time, I was drinking wine and eating tapas all over Spain. I wasn’t ready to travel alone, so I asked my life-long friend, Katie, to come with me. I had done some research on travel companies, but didn’t want to end up on a bus tour with people several years older than me. After much research, I found a company called Intrepid. They plan young adult trips all over the world.  Sole travelers, who want a little more structure and interaction on their trip can sign up. These trips are for travelers ages 18 -30 from all over the world. We bought our own airfare and the rest was planned by the company. It’s affordable too! Intrepid operates on ethical and budget-friendly travel. They booked our hostels and all  in-country transportation. This made travel days a breeze. We just had to show up on time, and our guide would get us from point A to B. We also were able to plan our own day and meet up with the group when we wanted. It was the perfect mixture or structured and flexible that worked great for my travel style.

You can learn more about Intrepid here. 

We found a great flight deal on American Airlines for a $550 round trip. On our flight we received two meals and snacks, plus unlimited movies.  Also, on international flights, you can ask for a glass of wine and it’s complimentary. It was wonderful!

Madrid 

Day 1.  We checked into our hostel in the afternoon. After we were settled, we took a walk around to get acclimated with the city and check out some sites. We just happened upon Retiro Park, which is huge, so we walked around there for some time. That evening we went up to Temple De Debod for sunset. It was super crowded and we had a hard time finding a seat, but the sunset was amazing. I would definitely recommend getting a bottle of wine and having a little picnic up there for the sunset. 

Day 2. Katie and I went to the Museo de Prado first thing in the morning to receive a timed ticket. If you love art, this is supposed to be world renown. I honestly do not know too much about art, but I found it very enjoyable to walk around and look at the different paintings. If you want to do this, give yourself a few hours, the Prado is home to a collection of over 20,000 works of art. That afternoon, we went back to Retiro Park for lunch and rented row boats to take around the small lake in the middle of the park. 

That afternoon we went to Chocolatería San Ginés for famous churros and chocolate. These churros were as heavenly as they sound. You wait in line, order (in spanish or half spanish, half sign language if you’re me) your fresh off the fryer churros and a coffee cup full to the brim of hot liquid chocolate. This became one of my favorite places in Madrid, we visited twice in our three days there. 

That evening at the hostel we met our tour guide and the three other members of our group.  Our guide, Lucha, the most fabulous Spanish woman I’ve ever seen, took us on a walking tour of Madrid. She explained history and local ways.  On our tour we ate Calamari sandwiches at Bar La Ideal write off of the Plaza Mayor (a gorgeous plaza that is well known in the city). 

Day 3: Katie had done some research on a flea market called El Rastro Flea Market.  The market went on for miles. Tiny booths on both sides of the street, around a corner and down a hill. It was very crowded. In these types of situations, be very careful of pickpocketing.  Be sure to keep your bag in front of you, with a hand over it at all times. Katie and I both found gifts for our family and keepsakes for ourselves at the market.  I felt that shopping here was a bit different than the souvenir shops around all the tourist attractions. The market is only open on sundays until 3pm, so if this is something on your “must” list, be sure to schedule accordingly!

That afternoon Katie and I bought some groceries and went back to Retiro Park ( I know we were obsessed) for a picnic.  It was easy to find a shaded quiet place to sit and relax in the huge park! After our picnic we checked out the San Miguel Market.  This market is a must-see for food lovers and attraction for all those looking to sample the best of Spanish cuisine. 

Logrono 

 Day 4: We spent one day in Logrono.  We went on a “wine crawl” sampling pinchos wherever we went. (Pinchos are what northern spain calls tapas). Logrono’s most famous pincho is a stack of mushrooms with a shrimp on top.  Absolutely delicious.  We ended the day with a tour of the Ontanon winery.  

San Sebastian 

Day 5: We left logrono early the next day and took a bus through the winding, spanish hills to the beautiful coastal town of San Sebastian. A small town, we took a walking tour to get acquainted with the area. We ate more pinchos and drank more wine, a common part of spanish tradition that I was quickly getting used to. That afternoon our small travel group laid on the La concha beach.  We rested and people watched, all while taking in the beautiful blue water with boats of all sizes speckling the coast.  

That evening just before sunset, we climbed the hill to a statue of Jesus that stands on the hill over the city. There is a paved path, making it a luxurious “hike”, but it is pretty steep and you will be huffing and puffing by the time you reach the top. The view is amazing and well worth the walk. If you go at sunset, be very careful coming down, because it does get dark quick!

Day 6: On our last day in San Sebastian, Katie and I had a full schedule. We left our hostel early in the morning and got a coffee and a pastry on our way to start our day. We waited in line to purchase a ticket for a funicular ride up Monte Igueldo. Monte Igueldo is another large mountain in San Sebastian, across the bay from the Jesus statue.  A funicular is a carriage that carries passengers up and down the mountain. We have two of these in Pittsburgh, but we call them inclines! The views from the top are incredible. Additionally there is an amusement park and a hotel at the top that make the journey up to the top 100% worth it.  

After our adventure up the mountain, Katie and I grabbed a quick lunch by the beach and did some sunbathing. That afternoon we bought a ticket for a fairy tour to Santa Clara Island that sits off the coast of San Sebastian. On the island we were able to go swimming, climb to the top, and down the other side. Once again, the views did not disappoint and it’s such a tourist attraction that the paths are easy to navigate. 

Barcelona 

Day 7: Our final day was spent in Barcelona. Let me preface this by saying that one day is not enough time to see Barcelona. I needed to fly home a day early to get to my cousin’s wedding. Lucha recommended that we do a hop on hop off tour of the city to give us the opportunity to see as many sites as possible.  Katie and I had bought timed tickets well before we left for our trip to visit La sagrada familia. To enter, your shoulders must be covered, so be mindful of this when visiting. We paid for the audio tour and received a headset to wear while walking around. This temple has been in the process of being built for 135 years. It is the work of Antoni Guadi, an architect famous throughout Barcelona and Spain and general. Everything about this temple is extraordinary. The adjective, large, does not do it justice. It was almost impossible for me to capture a picture of the entire building in one frame. 

After our Sagrada tour, we literally hopped on to the Hop on hop off bus. I believe we paid 20 euro for a map and the entire tour. We saw several landmarks on our tour, but we rode until we got to Park Guell.  Located on top of a hill, Park Guell is another work of Antoni Guadi. Once a private estate, turned public park, you will have a wonderful time, wandering around, taking colorful festive pictures, and taking in the views of Barcelona and the sea. 

We finished off our time in Spain with our Intrepid travel group.  We feasted on piaya and tapas, paired with a glorious red spanish wine. To “end” the night in true Barcelona fashion, we went dancing. 11pm turned into 1am and 1am turned into 5am. Wearing a bright red dress, surrounded by strangers that had become friends, singing Queen at the top of my lungs – this moment was one of those serendipitous moments. You look back, you remember if vividly, THAT is what living life to the fullest is for me. 

Have you traveled to Spain? What were some of your favorite places to see and things to do?