Planning the Trip

Around Christmas of 2023, I found myself in a transitional period. I had just graduated with my undergraduate degree, wrapped up my internship, and experienced some major changes in my personal life. I wasn’t entirely sure what my next steps would be, but I was ready for something new.

With limited funds and strong desire for a change of pace and scenery, I decided to book a trip. I figured it would be a great chance to visit some friends from my study abroad days and explore a new place. After some thought, I settled on a two-week trip to Spain to tour the country and reconnect with myself and friends.

The plan was to fly into Barcelona, take a train to Valencia, then Madrid with a day trip to Toledo, followed by a train to Seville, a flight to Mallorca, and finally return to Barcelona. My friend Antonis from Greece would be traveling with me from Barcelona through Valencia and stay until the first day in Madrid. After that, I’d continue the rest of the trip solo.

Barcelona

The moment I stepped off the plane, I was full of energy, ready to explore Barcelona and reconnect with my friend Antonis. It had been just under a year since we’d last seen each other in Prague, and I couldn’t wait to catch up.

I arrived a bit early at our Airbnb near Playa de Bogatell, which gave me a chance to walk around and gather my thoughts before the trip officially began. Standing by the open ocean, I took a moment to admire the view and let my mind wander, soaking in the excitement of the experiences I was about to have over the next couple of weeks.

Once Antonis arrived, we spent the day walking around and catching up. A lot had changed since the last time we saw each other, so we spent that time filling each other in.

I was most looking forward to seeing the La Sagrada Familia. Construction for the church began in the 1880s and has been ongoing since. When I was studying in Prague, I took a class on European Architecture, so it was cool to take what I learned in class and see it in real life. I’ve never seen a building with this level of detail in my life!

At the time, I was also training for the Newport, RI Marathon, which made exploring Barcelona even more rewarding. Every day I would make an effort to run on new streets and see new parts of the city, as my goal was to cover as much as possible and experience everything.

I'll admit I’m not much of a night-out person, but Antonis is a lover of DJs and the club scene, so I agreed to go out (also, Barcelona is known for its nightlife). It was a little bit underwhelming, if I’m being honest! We went to Shoko. The crowd, music, and scene weren’t anything I would recommend to someone else. Antonis agreed, so at least it wasn’t just me! I’ll chalk it up to a bad night.

Now, off to Valencia!

Valencia

Getting to Valencia didn’t quite go as planned. We arrived at the Barcelona train station just two minutes late and had to watch the train leave without us. The new tickets cost us 2x the originals, but we eventually made our way to Valencia only a few hours late.

Antonis had a Romanian friend from university who was living in Valencia. He was kind enough to pick us up from the train station and even grilled meats for us at his home. It was interesting to step into the household of a Romanian family living in Spain and learn about their unique mix of cultures and traditions. I had a conversation with his friend’s father about life in the United States, as he’d never met anyone from the U.S. before and only knew about it through movies and the news.

Since we weren’t staying in Valencia for very long, we decided to prioritize two things: watching a fútbol match and trying the famous Valencian paella.

Back home, I live near Gillette Stadium, where the New England Revolution play. I’d been to a game there before, but it ended in a 0-0 draw in a mostly empty stadium. Needless to say, I was excited to see how the Europeans do it—and they do it way better.

The hardcore fans, known as the Otras, chanted and yelled for the entire match. The stadium was packed, and the energy was electric. It was an atmosphere unlike anything I’d ever experienced, most comparable to a lively college football game back in the U.S.

Now, off to Madrid!

Seafood Paella at the Marina Beach Club Restaurant

Madrid

This was the part of the trip I was most excited about. A big reason for traveling to Spain was to visit my friend Carlota in Madrid, someone we had studied abroad with in Prague.

She picked us up from the train station and immediately brought us to her home, where many of her family members had gathered to meet us and say hello. Her father prepared a delicious paella, and we spent the evening drinking wine, talking, and enjoying the lively atmosphere. It was so much fun meeting her family and sharing that time with them. I even tried my best to speak Spanish, though I wasn’t very good, and quickly we had to switch back to English!

Antonis is a huge Real Madrid fan, so Carlota went out of her way to find us tickets to the game that night. The Real Madrid stadium was awesome—state-of-the-art with an incredible atmosphere. The crowd was electric, and the team lived up to the hype, winning the game easily. ¡Hala Madrid!

Now, off to Toledo for a day trip!

Toledo

Antonis left early the first morning after we arrived in Madrid, leaving me to travel solo for the remainder of the trip. Having traveled alone a lot during my semester abroad, I felt confident and ready to take on the adventure.

My plan for the day was to take a day trip to Toledo, about 30 minutes south of Madrid, and then return in the evening to go for a run and dinner with my friend Paulina from UMass, who was studying abroad in Madrid at the time.

Toledo will forever be one of my most memorable destinations. One of the joys of solo travel is the freedom to do exactly what you want, and my approach to exploring embodies the spirit of a flâneur—a French term for wandering aimlessly while covering as much ground as possible.

As soon as I got off the train, I made a beeline straight to the castle. From there, I let myself roam from one stunning spot to the next for the next five hours.

I explored beautiful chapels, crossed ancient bridges, admired towering castles, strolled along the river path, and even ran into the Mayor of Toledo for a brief conversation.

Now, back to Madrid!

Back in Madrid

Almost immediately after getting off the train, I met up with my friend Paulina for a run. Paulina and I were close friends at UMass and had spent countless hours running together, so I was excited to see her get a tour of the city. She took me on an 8-mile run through Madrid, showing me her favorite streets and some of the city's best sights. Later that evening, we went out for a nice dinner and spent the night hopping between cocktail bars, catching up on everything since we’d last seen each other.

The following days, I continued exploring Madrid on my own, walking through the city and soaking in everything it had to offer. I also had the chance to spend more time with Paulina and Carlota, enjoying sunsets at Retiro Park and great conversations. Those moments made my time in Madrid truly special.

Now, off to Seville!

Seville

Right after settling into my Airbnb, I went out for a run to explore the city. There was a beautiful bike path along the water that I spent most of the run exploring.

For dinner, I went to a local restaurant, followed by a long walk through the quieter streets of the city. Between all the running and walking, I was easily averaging 40,000–50,000 steps a day, which is insane but pretty typical for me when traveling—I’m not one to relax much on trips.

The next day, I continued exploring and taking everything in. At one point, I joined a Frenchman living in Seville for an outdoor workout, which was a fun and unexpected way to connect. That night, I had tickets to see Mercedes Cañas, a young Spanish singer whose music I’d been listening to leading up to the trip.

The concert was small, with maybe 100 people in attendance—all girls around my age. While that might sound ideal to some, the catch was they were all Spanish speakers, and my Spanish was, well, pretty much nonexistent. Regardless, I loved the performance and was even able to have a short conversation with her afterward.

After the show, I headed to a few bars, where I chatted with locals and took in the nightlife. The night flew by, and before I knew it, it was 5 a.m.—just in time to catch my 6 a.m. flight to Mallorca. It was a whirlwind ending to my time in Seville, but one I’ll never forget.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is famous for its beaches, but since it was March, it was a bit too cold to swim. On the flight in, I noticed how mountainous the island was, which inspired me to spend the final leg of my trip hiking.

I arrived early in the morning, completely wiped out from staying up all night before my flight. After catching up on some rest at the Airbnb, I spent the day settling in and taking a peaceful walk along the beach near me. The roads were empty, and the stillness of the island made for a relaxing introduction to Palma.

The next day, I rented a car and drove about an hour to hike up to Castell d'Alaró, an old castle perched on top of a mountain. On the way up, I came across a sheep tangled in a wire fence. With the help of some other hikers, we carefully freed the sheep, which was a small but rewarding moment of teamwork and kindness.

The hike itself was popular, and it was great to be surrounded by so many Spaniards enjoying the beautiful day. When I reached the top, the castle—though mostly ruins—offered incredible views of the island.

Pathway leading up to the Castel de Alaro

That night, I planned a 10-mile hike about an hour’s drive away. Some German tourists on AllTrails described it as “enjoyable and moderate,” so I decided to give it a try. The drive, however, was terrifying—steep switchbacks on unrailed mountain roads, with bikers crowding both sides.

After I parked, I was much more relaxed. I was totally alone on the hike, which was a little nerve-racking as the first miles were deep in the forest. Eventually the forest opened up, revealing stunning views as I climbed toward the summit. I had lunch at the peak, chatting with some Italian hikers before continuing.

The descent quickly became the most challenging part. A mile-long stretch of bouldering along a steep cliffside pushed me far out of my comfort zone, especially when I encountered a group of mountain goats blocking the narrow path. With no choice but to detour off-trail, I carefully avoided them and went on.

When I finished the hike the feeling of accomplishment was amazing. I was exhausted and felt ready to make my return back home

Now, off to Boston!

Heading Home

Before I knew it, the trip was over. I had explored and partied in Barcelona, enjoyed paella and fútbol in Valencia, reunited with friends and family in Madrid, wandered through the medieval streets of Toledo, experienced a concert and Seville's charm, and immersed myself in the natural beauty of Mallorca.

This journey was exactly what I needed to refresh my perspective and energize me for the next steps in life. The travel map canvas I have hanging in my bedroom represents every extraordinary memory this adventure gave me. It serves as a constant reminder to go out and live the life I am fortunate to have.

Cheers to new and old friends, unforgettable adventures, and exploring this incredible planet.

— Nathan, Founder of Map Craft

Note: All photos are original. Please reach out if you're interested in using any.

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A TOUR AROUND SPAIN