• Marc Scheulin
  • 1 Planet 1 Bag
  • Marc Scheulin
  • 1 Planet 1 Bag

Spain Freestyle with Marc

Marc being a solo nomad in Spain for 3 weeks.
First week at a resort teaching English
2nd week in Madrid
Last week in Valencia
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  • Trip start
    June 11, 2026

    Train to Madrid

    June 11 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    8:30 high speed train from Barcelona to Madrid. Top speed is almost 200 mph!
    Struggle with the Madrid metro to get to the hotel to drop off my luggage.
    Quick 25 minute walk to get to the volunteer welcome reception at 1:30. I walk avoiding the metro! I arrived just in time!
    Wonderful reception for 12 volunteers. Including a spanish dance. See video.

    After the reception, I got back onto the metro to explore Madrid more slowly. Several pics of fun things I encountered are included.
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  • La Alberca, a walk to town

    June 16 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    The town is a short 20 minute walk. Its small, population only about 1,000. It has been a Spanish historicall site since 1940, protecting the provincial architecture. However, the town is most famous for the town pig!

    In La Alberca there is a tradition of having a pig loose in the streets that is fed by the neighbours. The pig, named "San Anton", is blessed on June 13, and released onto the town's streets. On January 17, the feast day of San Antonio, the pig is raffled off at the doors of the church.

    Very nice side trip and change of routine. We all celebrated by eating pig for lunch!
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  • 15 student, 15 volunteers

    June 19 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    A wonderful poem about a week at an English emersion program.
    Written by: Luis, a student.

    Fifteen Spaniards, fifteen from abroad,
    Thirty different stories on the same new road.
    From every corner of the world we came,
    Different accents, but the goal was the same.

    Seven days speaking English all the time,
    Making mistakes, but feeling just fine.
    No Spanish words, no place to hide,
    We learned together, side by side.

    Jorge, Carmen, Alan too,
    Always finding something new to do.
    “Don’t be late!” was the golden rule,
    Running to activities, trying to look cool!

    Hey! This is Pueblo Inglés tonight,
    Talking all day, partying all night.
    Raise your voice, let the good times roll,
    One week, one language, one beating soul.

    Hey! In the mountains, wild and free,
    Thirty voices making memories.
    We came as strangers from everywhere,
    Now we’re a family breathing the same air.

    Games and challenges from morning to night,
    Every conversation making English feel right.
    Bernardo smiling, always aware,
    Serving great food and taking good care.

    Surrounded by nature, under open skies,
    Green all around us and stars in our eyes.
    So many activities, hardly time to rest,
    But when the music started, we gave it our best.

    Every morning, right on time,
    Even after dancing past midnight.
    Tired faces, coffee in hand,
    Ready for whatever the leaders had planned.

    Hey! This is Pueblo Inglés tonight,
    Talking all day, partying all night.
    Raise your voice, let the good times roll,
    One week, one language, one beating soul.

    Hey! In the mountains, wild and free,
    Thirty voices making memories.
    We came as strangers from everywhere,
    Now we’re a family breathing the same air.

    Halfway through, we hit the road,
    On an excursion, off we go!
    Laughing together, mile after mile,
    Taking a thousand pictures with a smile.

    Then the final night arrived too fast,
    One massive party to make it last.
    We sang, we danced, we owned the floor,
    Wishing we could stay one week more!

    Hey! This is Pueblo Inglés tonight,
    Talking all day, partying all night.
    Raise your voice, let the good times roll,
    One week, one language, one beating soul.

    Hey! From the first hello to the last goodbye,
    We found our courage beneath the open sky.
    Thirty people, one unforgettable ride,
    Pueblo Inglés will stay inside!

    Fifteen and fifteen, from all around,
    One week together, one perfect sound.
    We came to speak, we learned to live—
    Pueblo Inglés gave more than words could give.
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  • Prado National Art Museum

    June 21 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    The Prado is huge! It is famous for its collections of "classical" paintings and sculptures. I am not a big art fan, but Madrid is having a heat wave outside. So i decided these air conditioned galleries would be a nice escape. Plus, I might learn some culture and art appreciation at the same time.
    Here are the few works I found interesting.

    Yes, the quality, and huge size of many paintings earned them a place of honor in any ballroom or reception hall. For me, I desired to get back outside to a sidewalk cafe after just a couple hours. So much for getting me some culture!
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  • Arts and Science Park

    June 30 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 88 °F

    Valencia drained a river channel then over about the last 30 years constructed a huge arts and science campus with 5 huge buildings all with amazing architecture and all surrounded by reflective pools. Plus 2 incredible bridges crossing the river flood plane plus a large aquarium and wildlife complex with another dozen structures next door.

    The other buildings are art galleries, concert halls, exhibit space and lots of open parks.

    I only went into the Science building.
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  • Saved from the Fire!

    June 30 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F

    300+ bonfires light up on March 19th ever year in Valencia to welcome springtime. The neighborhood or community group builds monuments called "FALLES" to sacrifice to the fire. Most are caricatures of life or troubles from that year.

    Starting in 1935, only one monument was given a pardon and saved from the fire "Induct del foc" in Spanish.
    This museum preserves and presents the one, of over 300, monuments that is saved that year.
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  • Zombie Airport

    July 2 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    Lesson Learned: Beware of a discount airline at a "Nearby" airport.
    I'm flying from Valencia to Manchester. While looking for a good price I clicked "Included nearby airports" Up popped a great price at this airport nearby Valencia; so i booked it; no refunds!
    2 days before the flight I started planning my transport to this nearby airport . No trains, no bus, only option was a 90 minute taxi at over 100 euros.
    So, I cut the taxi to to minutes, 50 euros by taking a train to the end of the line at a closer town. Train ride was 90 minutes.
    When i finally get to the airport, my 7pm flight is the only flight today. There are almost no people. No people in the security line and no passengers in the shops. Passport control opens one hour before take off. Only 2 security people. Again no lines.

    Last thing i noticed while pulling away from the terminal, all the other planes around the terminal have had their jet engines removed. None would be taking off anytime soon.
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    Trip end
    July 2, 2026