My love affair with Spain started last year when I stayed there for a month. It has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Without question, Spain occupies a special place in my heart and I plan on going back and exploring more of it someday. Fortunately,I was able to travel around the country and visit different regions, from Madrid to Andalusia, Catalonia and Balearic Islands.
Ibiza
During the off-season, Ibiza was quiet and “tamed”. Plus the fact that I stayed in Talamanca made it more of a relaxing getaway. There were no tourists in sight. Every restaurant was filled with locals. The best part was my beachfront hotel. It was the perfect place for soul-searching and wandering. I’ve exchanged some hellos with a few people but most pretty much kept to themselves. I did go to a neighborhood eatery but was a little intimidated. It was crowded and everyone looked at me as soon as I walked in. Nobody spoke English but I did enjoy a bit of small talk with some of the locals, using whatever little Spanish I have up my sleeves. It was the perfect getaway break after a two-week whirlwind adventure on the peninsula.
Seville
Seville had to be the most romantic city in Spain. Its laid back lifestyle and old world appeal definitely made the city that way. As soon as I got there, I automatically wanted to try their own version of sangria and regional tapas. I love the architecture in Seville and walking around Plaze de España. It was like walking back in time. But don’t be fooled, Seville may feel very traditional during the day but come night time, the atmosphere changes. The night life was insanely fun!
Salamanca
There’s something appealing about college towns. The guaranteed diversity of people is my favorite reason. You get to meet people from all over the world, and not just the students. It includes professors, and tourists alike.
As it turned out, the unlikely spot that I liked the most was this little tapas bar inside Salamanca’s train station. I spent a lot of time hanging out at this joint since they had wifi and I was able to do some blogging. Not to mention they served tapas!
Málaga
Picasso’s city has it all. Historical ruins, beautiful churches, small town feels, art and the modern lifestyle. I personally prefer the small town feel of Plaza de la Merced, where I stayed but it was nice to know that only across town is Malaga’s upbeat Costa del Sol. Or as I referred to it – Malaga’s Miami. If you miss the beach night life scene, you can always venture out to this side of town.
Barcelona
Ah, the big city. Barcelona is the biggest and busiest city in Spain. It’s definitely fun getting in the middle of it all with your fellow travelers. You will never run out of things to do or be bored. From daytime to night time, Barcelona has plenty to offer.
Madrid
Saved the best for last. Madrid is my favorite city in Spain. I apologize if I started to sound redundant in every Spain post. I just can’t help but gush about how I fell in love with Madrid. I’m not going to elaborate why I love this city again. You can look up my Madrid posts and find out. Instead, here are some of my favorite photos and hopefully they will be enough to show how Madrid stole my heart.
I cannot wait to go back and explore more of this beautiful country! I am looking forward to the next chapter of this love affair. No matter how different each city was, one thing remained the same…this single girl had the time of her life!
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Jen is a Chicago-based traveler and creative. She is a full-time development & communications executive specializing in non-profit organizations. Originally from the East Coast, she created The Jetsetter as a place to share her travel stories and photos with friends and family. Now, it is a place for adventurers and dreamers. Its purpose is to inspire and encourage busy professionals to see the world and achieve a better work-life balance.
I live in Spain at the moment and I struggle to see the country the way you do! I think living somewhere is different to just travelling around. It’s a beautiful country, no doubt, but it doesn’t hold the same fascination that Australia and New Zealand did when I lived there. Each to their own I guess!
Beautiful! I am glad that you were able to slow down and spend a month in Spain, it (and you) deserve it!