Spain
Did you know that Spain was one of the most visited countries in the world? In 2017, it recorded 80+ million visitors which marked the
fifth consecutive year of record-beating numbers. After spending 2+ weeks on this self-drive itinerary, I understood why – the sights were amazing, food
was great, weather was super, people were lovely!
At-A-Glance
It was the perfect weather to do a self-drive around Spain and we covered the big cities like Barcelona and Madrid, to the little towns like Segovia and Rondo. With two little Beans in our arms, the locals greeted us with smiles and chatter – we couldn’t make out what they were saying most of the times, but it was undoubtedly full of love. Can’t wait to re-visit Spain with our smallest Bean this time.
Main Highlights
Segovia: Still getting over jet lag, we took a drive in the early morning to check out Segovia – the typical highlights were its Alcázar and we were amazed by the town’s architectural marvel, Acueducto Romano.
Madrid: One of two bustling cities of Spain, we embarked on a walking tour – started at Puerta del Sol (the very centre of Madrid) and covered all of the city highlights!
Toledo: High on a hill and surrounded on three sides by the deep gorge of the Tagus River, Toledo is a beautiful sight as we drove towards it from the bottom. This old city’s narrow streets throws us back in history and it is no wonder it has been listed by UNESCO as one of its cultural wonders.
Cordoba: Slight detour into Cordoba to visit the Mesquita – this site was originally a Roman temple, then a Visigothic church, before the Umayyad Moors built the Mezquita. It stands as one of the principal mosque of western Islam and is one of the largest in the world!
Seville: We stayed at Hotel Alfonso XIII – a highlight in itself! Seville was a beautiful city and the walking tour took us around to appreciate the culture and history that it offers. One of the beautiful spots was Plaza de España which was casted as the backdrop in Game of Thrones
Ronda: Sitting above a deep ravine and around it is lush greenery and flowing waters, we were mesmerized by Ronda and its sights. Adding to its colour was a weekend festival (bullfights and all) that we soaked in when we got there.
Valencia: Valencia is one of the most beautiful old Spanish cities – we visited its Old Town that is full of narrow streets to its new Oceanarium that is located on a modern looking site called the City of Arts and Sciences!
Montserrat: Montserrat is atop a tranquil mountain and is unbelievably beautiful. Home to Benedictine Monks, we spotted beautiful interior decorations and the train up the mountain (we parked at the bottom of the hill) provided great views of the Monastery
Barcelona: Of course we couldn’t miss the city’s highlights like La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter – but what was the most memorable thing for us was the wait at a tapas and cava bar El Xampanyet for a meal we can’t forget (with two little Beans in tow!)
Photo Reel
Unreal moment as the mid-sun hit the windows:
Alone in the Mezquita and hundreds of years of history
Overnight:
After a long day roaming the streets, little
Beans collapsed in bed at the Hotel Alfonso XIII