Growing up, I had a best friend. We did everything together, from sleepovers and movie nights, to getting lost in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. But in first grade, she left me. She and her family moved to Spain. That wasn’t a problem, though. That just gave us an excuse to go there.
My dad had a couple cities on his list that we were to visit: Toledo, Segovia, Madrid, and her city, Valencia. First, we visited Toledo, a rather large city located on a hill with a castle, Alcázar de Toledo, overlooking the town. The castle houses a military museum, which we got to explore. My dad, being an avid churchgoer, had to visit Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo, a 13th century Gothic cathedral. It was magnificent both inside and out.
From Toledo, we made our way to Segovia, known for having an aqueduct running through the city center as well as another palace and Gothic cathedral. We were to stay in a castle nearby, but when we got there, we found out that there was only room for three and not four. Me, being the smallest, had to get creative with my sleeping arrangements. There was a bathtub in the middle of the bathroom, right below a glass window that led up to the tower. I placed some towels into the tub and called it my bed for the night. I think I slept at most an hour that night. Luckily, we had to drive to Valencia the next day, so I was able to sleep before I met up with my friend.
Valencia is a port located on the Mediterranean Sea. We arrived to sun and pleasant 70-degree weather. I reunited with my best friend and spent the next few days sleeping at their place, making up for all of the time we were apart. Her family took me to a zoo where we ate Dippin’ Dots and watched a dolphin show, followed by a paella lunch on the beach in La Pepica, the same restaurant where Earnest Hemingway ate during his time in Spain. The ocean water was very tempting, so afterwards, my friend and I decided to go for a swim. We got about belly-button deep until we realized that the water was way too cold to swim in. Maybe next time.
Our final stop was Madrid. We only had one full day to do as much exploring as possible. The city is full of history, culture, and beauty. My family made sure to spend some time at the Prado Museum, containing all kinds of European art, most important being Goya’s paintings. We passed by the Royal Palace and strolled through Buen Retiro Park and Plaza Mayor. Before we knew it, the day came to a close. Even though we saw a decent amount, Madrid and all of Spain still has so much more to offer. I guess I’ll have to come back there sometime.
I loved reading about your travels in Spain. I personally have been out of the country a few times, but it was only to countries like Canada that do not necessarily have the architecture and style of Spain. The photos along with your descriptions really encouraged me to look more into exploring the country and after reading your blog post I have added it to my bucket list. Spain looks like a beautiful country and from my assumptions, it seems like a country that you could spend months in and still miss out on hundreds of amazing and unique cultural experiences.
I explored some of the websites linked in the blog and I think that the place that I would like to go the most is Buen Retiro park. As someone who enjoys nature, I would love to experience the greenery of Spain and see some of the unique gardens and plants it has to offer. The photos of the boats also seemed like a unique experience and a peaceful time out of the hustle and bustle of the city. On top of all this, it still offered the culture of Spain’s architecture and landscaping. Overall, Spain seems like a great place for exploring, finding the perfect photo opportunity, and learning more about history and culture.