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A Week in Spain

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Places I visited: Barcelona and Madrid 

 

I peeled open my eyes, blinded by the penetrating sun seeping through the windows of my Airbnb. My head was throbbing, my mouth felt like a desert, and I was completely discombobulated. The clock read 1:14 p.m.

Traumatic hangover? Nope. Just severe jet lag.

It was my first morning in Barcelona.

Travel companions en route to Barcelona 

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B A R C E L O N A

After 15 hours of travel, two layovers and one metro ride, I arrived in Barcelona – the first leg of my European summer venture! My four-night stay was located in a spacious penthouse apartment with two outdoor terraces overlooking a residential area of the city. Niko, Carina (Niko’s older sister) and I were travel partners for the week, and the first two things we did in Barcelona were 1) nap and 2) check out the nearest supermarket.

Niko’s and my favorite thing to do when we arrive in a new city is go to the grocery store. We are like little kids in a candy shop as we scan the aisles for goodies. The markets in Spain are some of our favorites because you can walk in with 2 euros in your pocket and walk out with a full bag of food and drinks.

4 interesting facts about supermarkets in Spain

  1. Milk and eggs are not refrigerated
  2. Individual store-brand beer cans sometimes sell for less than 25 cents
  3. Bottles of wine sometimes sell for less than 1 euro
  4. You have to pay for plastic bags

When Niko and I aren’t cooking at our Airbnb, we opt for eateries with outdoor seating or hole-in-the-wall places. During this trip, we rarely ate a full meal anywhere. Instead, we’d graze on a few small plates and then continue walking until stumbling upon another restaurant or cafe that caught our eye. This way, we were able to try a large variation of places, foods and drinks!

The culture of eating out in Spain is unlike anything I’ve experienced. Restaurant tables are filled at all hours, every day of the week. I don’t know when or how the people of Spain get any work done, but I’m envious of their lifestyle.

Niko and I were sometimes the only customers not having an alcoholic beverage at 10 a.m. But who can blame the Spaniards? Beer is cheaper than water here!

Salud!

5 foods and drinks you must try in Spain

  1. Tinto de verano – Classic wine-based beverage mixed with carbonated lemonade. Tinto is similar to Sangria, which you also must try while in Spain.
  2. Tapas – While most people think of tapas in the U.S. as appetizers, tapas in Spain are an entire cuisine and way of life. One of the classics is tortilla española (Spanish omelette), which is served on or with tapas. There is a wide variety of types, so you can always find something that suits your palate.
  3. Jamón serrano – Dry-cured ham that tastes a lot like Prosciutto, but even better! You can get an entire pack for under 2 euros at a grocery store.
  4. Clara – Super light and refreshing drink that is one part beer and one part lemon soda. It’s the perfect day drink, especially after long days of walking.
  5. Paella – Traditional Spanish cuisine consisting of rice, spices and either veggies or meat (chicken, seafood, duck, etc.), or a combination of both. To be honest, paella is not my personal favorite but I think I’d be chastised if I didn’t tell you to at least try this dish. Most people love it!

Simple food prep in the Airbnb. Our go-to meal: baguette topped with jamón, gouda, tomatoes, olive oil and vinegar

During our travels, Niko and I always glance through TripAdvisor’s recommendations for the top-rated attractions and restaurants, but we prefer to create our own adventure by finding hidden gems in the nooks and crannies of big cities.

Upon arriving in Barcelona, Niko, Carina and I first checked off all of the major sites, such as Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, etc. From there, we mapped our own expedition route and wound up finding all sorts of obscure city treasures off the beaten path.

We also got to spend one evening with my best friend, Nalini, and her two brothers! It was our first night and their last night in Europe, and we celebrated with a big paella dinner and a nighttime stroll through downtown. It was a huge highlight for me getting to spend time with Nalini because we’re both moving far away from Chapel Hill soon (she’s off to Botswana for the Peace Corps!).

Barcelona is essentially an intricate maze of narrow streets lined with shops, cafes, restaurants and apartments. The balconies of the apartments faced the streets and many were decorated with billowing plants and flower pots.

Each time we turned a corner, we hit a new leg of the maze.

I always looked forward to coming home at the end of a long day of walking in Barcelona. Niko, Carina and I spent a lot of quality time on the terrace drinking tinto and cervezas while watching the sunset. We also enjoyed home-cooked brunches and downtime spent reading and writing.

Spanish-style brunch on our terrace – kiwis, figs, cucumbers, jamón, cheese, bread, eggs, smoothies, fruit juice, tea and coffee

My Top Recommendations for 3 Days in Barcelona

  1. Teatre Grec Garden – I was most impressed by this sprawling rose garden filled with vibrant, blooming vegetation and a stunning open-air Greek theater (hence the name). The garden is situated on a hill, so it offers beautiful views of the city.
  2. 100 Montaditos – This is quite possibly the greatest restaurant on Earth, in my humble opinion. 🙂 There are 100 different sandwich options served on mini baguettes for only 1 – 1.50 euros each. On certain days, everything on the menu is 1 euro. I rarely leave without ingesting at least five sandwiches.
  3. Park Guell – While it’s a no-brainer to visit this park during your time in Barcelona, I highly recommend exploring the park in its entirety. Niko, Carina and I did this accidentally (we kept getting lost – the park is huge!) and we were amazed by how many cool sights there were. You can still take the classic picture at Gaudi’s famous mosaic bench, but make sure to hike around as well.

Views from the Teatre Grec Garden

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M A D R I D

On a Saturday afternoon, Niko and I arrived in Madrid after a speedy flight (Carina jetted off to Malta to stay with some friends). Our Airbnb host welcomed us into his charming studio apartment, which was not much larger than a dorm room. The walls were covered in cartoon and comic book artwork, which gave the small space a lot of character.

Madrid is one of the most romantic, regal and relatively quiet cities I’ve ever visited. The capital of Spain is steeped in history dating back to the ninth century, and the entire city has an old town feel.

While we were there, the temps reached 100°F! We had to constantly visit markets to load up on jugs of water.

Niko and I made the “mistake” of over-ordering at several restaurants because we assumed the cheap prices meant small portions. Five euros for steak tostadas? Must mean a microscopic piece of bread with a tiny slab of meat…let’s get four of them! 

We probably furthered the notorious stereotype of Americans always overeating, but we couldn’t pass up the extensive lists of delicious and inexpensive food.

One of my favorite moments in Madrid was the walk home on our first night. The sun had dropped and the street lamps cast a warm glow on the royal palace, which lit up the entire central area. Nearby, a local harpist thrummed away, creating an whimsical melody that had me in a trance. Niko and I listened to several songs, dropped a coin in the harpist’s box, and meandered back to our tiny studio.

Top Recommendations for 3 Days in Madrid

  1. Tour of the Madrid Royal Palace – I spent over an hour marveling at the home of Spain’s royal family. The opulent palace features exquisite ceilings, elaborate rooms and lots of neoclassical decor and artwork. Niko turned to me at one point and said, “It’s overwhelming trying to take this all in. There’s so much to look at!” I was tickled by one room being described as, “Where the king performed the ceremony of getting dressed” aka his massive closet.
  2. Retiro Park – You could get lost in this park for hours. I wish I could’ve spent even more time hanging out at Retiro – having a picnic, reading, writing, walking, etc. Each section of the park has a different feel to it, from massive, gurgling fountains surrounded by gravel walkways and kiosks, to large plots of grass in the sun that transition into thick forests of shady trees.
  3. Martina Cocina cafe – This was my favorite Madrid brunch spot, and one of the places where Niko and I way over-ordered, but had no regrets. Every single item was delicious, and you can get your own personal pot of tea!

Madrid Royal Palace (Niko was entranced 🙂 )

Next stop: Southern France! 

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Lover of traveling, running, hiking, bargain hunting, Tillamook cheese and hazy IPAs.