Spain Crashing: Part 1
“Yeah, I’m planning a solo trip to Spain next May for two weeks- I really want to just see the world and visit where our family is from. Do you have any recommendations?” My brother asked over a whisky one cold February night in San Mateo.
“Well when should we be there?” I countered, jokingly-but-not-that-jokingly.
And that is the story of how we invited ourselves to Martin’s solo-but-not-that-solo trip to Europe. Two of his good friends would join him for his first week in Madrid and Valencia, then us and my sister Irene would join in for a week from Barcelona, San Sebastian, Asturias, and Madrid.
Fast forward a few months and Juliette and I were on a plane to NYC for a two-night stop before flying across the Atlantic Ocean. Spain had not been a part of our initial 2019 travel plan but we were thrilled at the semi-spontaneity and chance to visit some of our favorite memories while mixing it up with new travel companions and a few new places to visit.
Having been to NYC several times already, we decided to really live it up as tourists this time; staying right in the heart of Times Square. But upon arriving late on a Friday night, we were shocked to learn that NYC is NOT ACTUALLY The City that Never Sleeps as it so claims; Times Square at 11:00pm was practically deserted. Tickled to stumble upon a New York secret, we did not let this slow our momentum: attending a broadway show (Dear Evan Hanson), snagging some Cronuts® at the Dominique Ansel Bakery, and visiting with some of our good friends. Irene would join on day two and then the three of us would fly to Barcelona.
“How do we feel about our bets?” we asked each other in the lobby of the Barcelona H10 Cubik hotel. There were conflicting opinions about whether Martin would actually make it on time to our reunion point, having traveled solo from Valencia after presumably a night of partying. But minutes after we checked in, Martin arrived through the sliding front doors with his backpack! We had selected this hotel due to some fond memories and excellent service we had the first time we stayed in Barcelona. It is boutique in nature and in excellent striking distance for the beach and metro to the rest of the city.
Our overall time in Barcelona was short and very different than our first visit. That said we enjoyed some great sibling catch-up time walking through the gothic quarter and to the beach, and then a good half-day just the two of us walking around the Castell de Montjuic, Olympic park, and Placa d’España while the siblings spent time at must-visit sites: La Sagrada Familia and Gaudi’s Park Guell.
One notable highlight was getting a taste of what would come ahead in San Sebastian with some Pinxtos and Cider at Taverna Irati, just off the famous Las Ramblas avenue.
The only “miss” during this time in Barcelona was having to travel on without visiting our favorite hole in the wall for xurros con xocolate, Xurreria Laietana! But no harm no foul. There would be plenty of delicious food to eat ahead in the Basque country and Asturias!
-GP