Spain

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Trip start
July 7, 2024
Spain Traveler
1
Day 179: Barcelona
July 7, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F
Following festival fun at 3 am, we agreed that we would treat Barcelona Sunday like the Spaniards do: eating, lounging, and more eating. We slept in until 10am and didn’t get out the door until 12pm. Started our day with a delicious tapas brunch and walked around the Arc de Triomf. Coffee was necessary after Mary took two sleeping pills to sleep through Saturday night at the hostel.

Blessed with the perfect temperature to explore the city: 75 degrees. We walked from Plaça de Catalunya to the Gothic Quarter, passing the Barcelona Cathedral on the way. Next, we moved to Barceloneta beach, watched the waves, and ate paella with local drink Vermut. After, we bussed to the Basílica de la Sagrada Família which has been in construction since 1882. Construction has taken so long that both the designer and the designer’s son have died before it could be completed. One side looked new while the other looked like melted candle wax.

Our final stop was the National Museum of Art to enjoy the sunset and city views. We grabbed fantastic tapas and Catalan local paella for dinner and got to bed early for our excursion to Monserrat tomorrow.

Restaurants:
Casa Ràfols
Bodega Ibèria
Santa Ana

Food:
DIY Tomato & Garlic
Stuffed Pardon Pepper & Cod
Burrattatina
Ham Croquettes
Seafood Paella
Chorizo Sautéd in Red Wine
Potatas Bravas
Fideuà Paella
Cava Wine

Spots:
Plaça de Catalunya
Cathedral of Barcelona
Arc de Triomf
Barceloneta Beach
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Plaça de Espanya
Museu Nacional d'Art de CatalunyaRead more
Traveler Looks like a fun area!
7/11/24Reply
TravelerI hope you guys figured out how to make some of the food!!
7/11/24Reply
5 likes
Spain Traveler
Day 180: Monserrat
July 8, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
Very busy day fitting in Monserrat and Mercat de la Boqueria. Monserrat is a mountain range part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range and housed the Benedictine abbey and Santa Maria de Montserrat.

There is a combined ticket deal for a train ride to the mountains, cable car up, entry into the Basilica and Tomb of the Virgin, and the funiculars across the peaks. We enjoyed the quiet of the mountain side and the intricate details along the Basilica walls. There is also 12 km worth of hiking trails; we only walked along the Sant Jeroni summit.

We rushed back to Barcelona to grab food at the Mercat de la Boqueria before training 6 hours to Seville.

Food:
Ceviche
Iberica Ham
Empanadas
FruitRead more
TravelerCountry Club Plaza KC was built to be a twin sister to Seville
7/11/24Reply
4 likes
Spain Traveler
Day 181: Sevilla
July 9, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
Originally we intended to visit Madrid, but prices were a lot like Barcelona. Davis and Iris recommended Sevilla in the south. The town is land locked and in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula; this means temperatures of 100+ the next few days. We behaved accordingly and took inspiration from the local culture.

Started the day with delicious tapas and gazpacho at Patanchón Bar de Tapas. Walked around Centro, San Bartolomé, and Barrio de Santa Cruz. Took an afternoon siesta and emerged for the Spain vs France game around 8pm. The bars were packed so we found a venue with outdoor seating and monitors. No seats were available so we picked up beer from a convenience store. Two slightly drunk Brits (Sam and Collette) pulled up next to us and couldn’t decide on ordering a drink. Mary informed them that they could grab something from the bar and Collette ran off. Sam warned us that we were “in it now” because Collette will make new friends everywhere.

Eventually a table opened up, we snatched it, and Collette and Sam joined us for paella, sangria, and the futbol match. Sam was unfortunately going through a divorce, but her good friend Collette dragged her to Sevilla to raise her spirits and they were having the time of their lives. Great time with new friends and Spain brought it home!

Restaurants:
Patanchón Bar de Tapas
La Sacristía Tapas
Levies Cafe Bar

Food:
Gazpacho
Fried Iberico Pork
Fried Camabert Cheese
Pork Sautéed in Whisky
Fish Salad
Olives
Seafood PaellaRead more
4 likes
Spain Traveler
Day 182: Ronda
July 10, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 95 °F
Rented a car to explore south Spain (plus air conditioning).

Ronda is a mountaintop city over El Tajo gorge, which separates the city’s circa-15th-century new town from its old town, dating to Arab and Roman rule. Puente Nuevo is the famous stone bridge built across the gorge to connect the two towns.

We walked around the city, explored the bridge, and visited La Casa del Rey Moro which contained an old water mine! The best part was the mine was built from a natural limestone cave and fresh spring water; while looking at the water, we saw a crawfish just like Missouri!!!

To cool down, we drank cool red wine made in the region and enjoyed more tapas.

Restaurant:
Toro Tapas Ronda

Food:
Roasted Pepper Salad
Spanish Oxtail
Iberico Ham
Ham Sandwhiches

Spots:
Ronda
El Tajo de Ronda
La Casa del Rey Moro
Puente Viejo
Puerta de la Cijara
Puerta de AlmocábarRead more
4 likes
Spain Traveler
1
Day 183: El Caminito Del Rey
July 11, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F
Fun day planned yet nature had different ideas. The day before we relaxed in Ronda to prepare for a 7 KM hike on the El Caminito Del Rey. El Caminito del Rey is a walkway along Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge. It has been described as the "world's most dangerous walkway” after 5 deaths in the 2000’s

Sadly, the weather was too hot at 103 and we arrived too late. Even though we had permits and tickets, the National Park closed it 1 hour before we arrived for the heat advisory. To make up for it, we drove around Paraje Mesa de Villaverde.

We actually saw hikers finishing the trail and walked past them in El Chorro. Everyone looked burnt and dehydrated so we know the park staff made the right call. There was also a dam and it appeared that they were strategically storing water at higher levels than usual to overcompensate for the draught.

We didn’t spend too much time outside; it was so very hot and even with 6 liters of water, we could feel ourselves wearing out. It was still nice to drive around the area and through the Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de Líjar Algodonales.

When we returned the car, Mary saw three street puppies and called to them. They ran over ASAP and she gave them good scratches and pleaded to bring the little black one home. Kieran said no of course 😡

Spots:
El Caminito Del Rey
Tajo de la Encantada Dam
Skull Rock
Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema
Sierra de Líjar AlgodonalesRead more
Traveler So cute!
7/21/24Reply
3 likes

Trip end
July 13, 2024

Day 179: Barcelona

Day 180: Monserrat

Day 181: Sevilla

Day 182: Ronda

Day 183: El Caminito Del Rey