• YEAR VISITED:
• 2024-Aranjuez, Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Yepes

Our 2024 trip to Spain (a week and a half long) revolved around the Munoz family. Their daughter, Almudena (Almu), was an exchange student in La Center during the 2022-2023 school year where she became good friends with both of my daughters. At the conclusion of the school year Almu returned to Spain, but kept in touch with both Bailey and Maddie. On multiple occasions she invited us to come visit her and her family. In July of 2024 we took her up on her offer and flew to Madrid. Her family opened their home for us to stay, taxied us around, and fed us. Hands down they are some of the most gracious and welcoming people we have ever met. On all our travels throughout the country, their home in Yepes was our home base.

The town dates back to the 16th century, the streets are extremely narrow, and the highlight to me was seeing the arched towers that predate the town.

To say that Patrick, Victoria, Alex, Jimena, and of course Almu spoiled us would be an understatement. We absolutely loved our time in Spain and 100% attribute that to the Munoz family and their willingness to show off their wonderful country.

———- ARANJUEZ, SPAIN ———-

EXPERIENCES: Aranjuez is merely fifteen minutes up the road from Yepes. We piled into both Munoz vehicles, as they were kind enough to shuttle us to the town. Once in Aranjuez we toured the Royal Palace.

This is one of a handful of official residences of the Spanish royal family. It was built in the 16th century. I got a chuckle out of the fact this extravagant palace, that includes 300 bedrooms, served as a hunting lodge. On the day we were there it was extremely hot outside. As a result we didn’t spend any more time than was absolutely necessary exploring the grounds outside.

However, we were there long enough to admire the medieval architecture and the immaculately maintained gardens. Inside, the air conditioning felt amazing, and we made our way through elaborate room after elaborate room.

You definitely felt like royalty simply by being there – each room felt fancier than the last.

RESTAURANTS: Following our palace tour, we ate lunch at Matilde Aranjuez. It was located right on the Rio Tajo within walking distance from the palace.

Our table had a beautiful view of the river and we ordered traditional Spanish dishes. We had a wonderful time sampling each dish and of course visiting with and getting to know the Munoz family.

———- BARCELONA, SPAIN ———-

EXPERIENCES: Yepes is roughly a 1-hour drive south of Madrid. However, the nearest metro station is in the nearby town of Aranjuez. As a result when we traveled to Barcelona we drove to Aranjuez, took the metro into Madrid, boarded the Eurostar, and then headed to Barcelona via high speed train. In our experience, train travel throughout Spain was extremely smooth. Stations and train cars were well kept and clean. Of course having Almu to help navigate for us, as everything was written in Spanish, sure helped.

Roughly two and a half hours after boarding in Madrid we pulled into the Barcelona Sants train station. Once in the city limits of Barcelona, we made the decision to walk nearly everywhere. Our apartment was strategically located (half mile to La Sagrada Familia, and a mile and a half to the coast) which allowed us to walk to many of the cities main attractions. While hot and muggy in the summer, we found Barcelona to be extremely walkable. La Rambla is a main thoroughfare in downtown.

Sidewalks are wide, both sides of the street are lined with trees, and there are stores and restaurants on every corner. However, be aware of your surroundings as this is advertised as a hot spot for pick pockets. Thankfully we didn’t have any issues and greatly enjoyed our time exploring this nearly 1-mile long street, but be aware nonetheless. Barcelona is famous for it’s unique architecture. While wandering La Rambla, Jill and I stumbled upon Casa Batllo. It was designed by Antonio Gaudi in the early 20th century and is widely considered one of his masterpieces.

Another one of Gaudi’s most celebrated works is Casa Mila, one of the only private residences he ever designed.

Both buildings offer multiple tour options and are considered to be some of the most iconic buildings in Spain. Exploring Barcelona on foot, as well as Madrid, provided us the opportunity to discover drinking fountains on what felt like every six to eight blocks. Some were more elaborate in design than others but all offered free and refreshing water. Jill and I both marveled at how such a simple thing cut down on so much plastic waste.

The Gothic Quarter, which dates back to medieval times roughly 2,000 years ago, is adjacent to La Rambla. Everything is built out of stone. Streets and walk ways are extremely narrow, and the buildings are absolutely beautiful.

Highlights for us were the Cathedral of Barcelona, the Bishop Street Bridge, and the Royal Square.

There is a good mix of shops (new and old) and this is a great place to find an outdoor table, order something to eat and drink, and simply soak up the atmosphere. The statue honoring Christopher Columbus is also in this area. The monument is over 120 feet tall and Columbus is pointing to the new world.

The steps of Kings Square are said to be the exact location that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella celebrated Columbus’ triumphant return from the Americas in 1493. Regardless of what you think of Christopher Columbus and what his name has come to represent, I believe most would understand my feeling of being absolutely awestruck as I stood on those historic steps.

Construction on Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, a Gaudi designed cathedral, began in 1882 and at the time of our visit was still under construction. Hands down this is one of the most unique and beautiful structures I have ever visited.

We walked around Gaudi Plaza, which surrounds the cathedral, and simply admired the one of a kind structure.

Our tour tickets were for early evening, which felt like the perfect time as the setting sun burst through the magnificent stain glassed windows.

I distinctly remember being overcome by a feeling that could only be described as transcendentalism as I stared up at the gorgeous ceilings.

Before leaving we also took the tower tour. An elevator took us to the top and then we worked our way down the narrow but massive spiral stairs.

The views of the city was absolutely breathtaking. We could not have enjoyed our time at Sagrada Familia more!

HOTEL/APARTMENT: We stayed at the Epaus Blaus Apartments, a 3-bedroom rental in downtown. We were provided a code to the front door as well as to our 4th floor room. Our accommodations were fantastic and the location was perfect.

The weekend before we arrived, we learned a reported 10,000 Barcelona residents took to the streets to protest tourism. Some were even squirting tourists with water guns. Upon asking multiple Uber drivers, waiters, and a resident as to why locals are against tourism we learned that the massive influx of foreigners is responsible for drastically driving up peoples rent. As a result, many residents are experiencing financial hardship. Again we were welcomed with open arms and were treated with nothing but respect, but the tourism industry continues to grow worldwide this is an issue to be sympathetic towards.

RESTAURANTS: Similar to Paris, Barcelona is a great city to explore on foot and simply wander into any cafe or restaurant your path crosses. No matter where you go I am confident you will find a great meal. We took a similar approach and found a place called Pepa Tomate. We all ordered dishes native to Spain and my wife and I enjoyed a sangria.

Over the course of our stay, the dishes we enjoyed the most were paella and croquettes.

Looking back I believe at least one of us ordered paella every meal we ate. The one exception came at the Hard Rock Cafe where we enjoyed a good old American hamburger and french fries. Sometimes you just have to savor the taste of home!

Following our tour of Sagrada Familia we stumbled upon a restaurant with outdoor views of the iconic cathedral. The food was only okay, but the views were unbelievable.

STADIUMS/CONCERTS/SPORTING EVENTS: When planning a trip I have gotten into the habit of taking a look at the event calendar. I always try to be aware of games, shows, or concerts when we are going to be visiting. We got lucky in Barcelona as I discovered one of my favorite bands, Pearl Jam, was on tour when we were there.

The concert was at the Palau Saint Jordi, an arena built for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Growing up I remember watching the original ‘Dream Team’ (a basketball team full of NBA All-Star’s) run away with the gold medal. As a result, I was equally excited to see the venue in person as I was for the concert itself. The weather was absolutely perfect and we were able to walk around much of the Olympic complex. If you ask me, the concert was amazing. I was rocking out, singing, and reliving my teenage years with the best of them.

If you ask my kids, “Dad they are old and I can’t understand what they are saying.” however, no matter what my daughters said I couldn’t stop smiling – what an incredible experience.

ADVENTURE(S) AND/OR NOTABLE DESTINATIONS: Simply put, I love anything and everything that has to do with travel and adventure. If opportunity and time allows I would seriously be up to traveling to every country. Along those same lines, a bucket list of mine is to at least dip my toes in each of the world’s major oceans and seas. With us being so close to the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona I made sure we took the opportunity to jump in. We booked a catamaran tour through “This is Med”.

We boarded the catamaran with roughly twenty other people. Drinks and snacks were provided and for a couple of hours the captain sailed along the Barcelona coastline.

The highlight for our family came when the staff dropped anchor and encouraged guests to go swimming. You better believe we all jumped in!

Following our afternoon Mediterranean cruise, we took an Uber to Montjuric and rode the gondola to the top.

Once at the summit we walked the grounds of the Montjuric Castle and enjoyed the amazing views of the city. This is one of the best lookouts or viewing spots anywhere in the city. The castle dates back to the 17th century.

Self guided tour tickets are available for purchase and allow you to enter the inside of the castle.

———- TOLEDO, SPAIN ———-

EXPERIENCES: Toledo, a city of just over 80,000 people, is located thirty-five minutes from Yepas. The city dates back to the year 540. It is home to Christians, Jews, and Muslims and is known as the “City of Three Cultures”. Exploring this medieval city felt like we went back in time as the buildings and narrow roads looked like something right out of a history book.

Our 1/2 day there was one of my favorite experiences of our entire trip. I couldn’t get enough of the ‘medieval feel’. Highlights were seeing the Santa Iglesia Cathedral, Alcazar de Toledo, and Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes.

Additionally, Toledo is the regional home of the famous fictional story character, Don Quixote. A statue has been erected in his honor and there are many shops that sell souvenirs celebrating Quixote.

The combination of tall buildings and extremely narrow streets made it easy to get turned around. Yet, I loved exploring this city so much I didn’t mind the feeling of being lost.

Puy du Fou Espana is a theme park designed to show off Spain’s history. There are five major shows performed at various times and locations throughout the day. Each set was extremely elaborate and all the shows were very well done – it reminded me of performances you would see at Disney Parks. At sunset, the main event occurred in a massive outdoor arena. The show, which is performed entirely in Spanish, details 1,500 years of Spanish history. While we certainly aren’t fluent in Spanish, each show was so well acted out my wife and I felt like we at least understood the main idea of each storyline. It was a really cool and unique way to be immersed in Spanish history and culture.

RESTAURANTS: We ate at Parador de Toledo for dinner. The restaurant is located on what is known as “Emperor’s Hill” and doubles as a hotel. We ate outside on the terrace overlooking the city.

The food was excellent and we made sure to order multiple Spanish dishes, but man the view is what it was all about. Eating outside, starring out over this spectacularly preserved medieval city, while enjoying awesome company made for an incredible evening.

———- MADRID, SPAIN ———-

EXPERIENCES: El Retiro Park, a three-hundred and fifty acre sanctuary, is located in downtown. On the afternoon we visited the park, temperatures were soaring. We purchased ice cream, and very much enjoyed walking the beautiful grounds, but it was hot. Walking paths were wide, trees of various sizes provided much desired shade, and everywhere you looked people were laying out and relaxing in the grass.

The park very much reminded me of Central Park in New York. We stopped for lunch at a makeshift concession stand adjacent to the lake and the Monument of Alfonso XII.

We also spent time admiring the Palacio de Cristal, which was built in 1887.

However, I was most intrigued with the Fountain of the Fallen Angel. According to Atlas Obscura, this is the only city in the world with a monument to the devil. The statue within the fountain depicts the devil being cast out of heaven. Curiously enough, the monument is exactly 666 meters above sea level.

Plaza de Mayor, and a couple blocks away Peurta de Sol are massive public squares complete with many restaurants, bars, and shops. Both squares feel like the center of downtown Madrid – and both are great places to slow down, people watch, and simply soak up the culture. Plaza de Mayor dates back to the 15th century.

Peurta de Sol means “Gate of the Sun” and is home of the new year clock.

It is also the geographical center of the city’s streets.

RESTAURANTS: Mercado de San Miquel is a market adjacent to Plaza Mayor. We had a blast wandering through food stalls, kiosks, and booths sampling various Spanish foods. Snacks that we ordered ranged from salami and crackers to various desserts.

The highlight for me was sampling an Octopus skewer (tastes like chicken).

When traveling, our one regular restaurant to visit is the Hard Rock Cafe. In Madrid, we were surprised to merely find the Rock Shop but no restaurant. This didn’t stop us from buying a souvenir or two but I’d be lying if I said we weren’t disappointed to not be able to order a hamburger as well.

Madrid is known for their many rooftop restaurants. Our last night in Spain we wanted something special and made a reservation at Restaurante Terraza Puertalsol. We had an outdoor table with a direct view of the New Year Clock, just below the iconic Tio Pepe sign. The views and the food were both excellent. The service left much to be desired, but sitting outside admiring the magnificent Puerta de Sol views more than made up for the in-attention our table received.

STADIUMS/CONCERTS/SPORTING EVENTS: We attended a Bull Fight at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. The arena holds 23,000 people and is the largest bullring in Spain. The arena dates back to the 1920’s and is a beautiful, historic, brick building.

From what we understand, the traditional season for bull fighting runs from March to October. We knew next to nothing about this spectacle, only that it is a cultural event and that it has been taking place in Spain for thousands of years. The minute we entered the stadium plaza you could immediately feel the history.

We quickly found our seats (we sat in the 2nd row) and waited with excited anticipation for the event to begin. Once it did, our excited anticipation turned to astonishment at just how violent this exhibition is. While we new there was a matador and that he had a sword, we did not know the multiple stabbings (with various spears) the bull endures prior to the matador entering the arena with the intent of ‘finishing the bull off’. As we sat through six bulls being killed and then dragged by a horse out of the arena, my emotions were torn. On one hand I fully appreciated having the opportunity to witness first hand this cultural phenomenon that has been around since the 8th century. On the other hand, it was disturbing to witness such animal cruelty in person. Looking back, I am appreciative of experiencing this time honored tradition, but would have no interest in attending in the future.

ADVENTURE(S) AND/OR NOTABLE DESTINATIONS: The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family. With over 3,000 rooms it is also the largest royal palace in Europe.

Unfortunately we weren’t able coordinate a tour of the inside, but did made sure to explore the grounds. Cathedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, or Almudena Cathedral for short, is located right next to the palace. With it being the namesake of Almu, we made sure to wander over and explore the grounds as well.

Additionally, there is an incredible view of the city on the east side of the property.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James)
• Segovia
• Tossa de Mar, Costa Brava
• Canary Islands
• Coca Castle
• Alhambra Castle, Granada
• Pamplona & Running of the Bulls
• Ibiza
• Avila