Sketches of Spain
The previous week has been the best week of this year! I was on vacation for the last eight days in Spain. Nine months in waiting paid off more than I ever expected.
But this week almost didn’t happen. I had it in mind to travel again since I landed at LGA from Chicago last Labor Day. Then I had to choose a destination. It would be the perfect 30th birthday gift. I had decided to go back to Europe as it was three years since the first time in Paris and London. The final candidates were Rome, Madrid and Amsterdam. I didn’t want to go to without my dad as he speaks Italian and that’s a place he’s always wanted to go to. Amsterdam was out as it might be a little too drug heavy for my taste. Madrid was the last city standing.
I had brought the idea up to my sister and she suggested group travel as I was going alone. I did ask her but she couldn’t go due to school and I didn’t want to choose between parents and/or friends . The morning of February 22nd, I went on Gate 1 Travel’s website and with much anxiety booked my flight to Madrid. I was terrified to tell my parents as I’ve never done anything like this before and knew I was face questions about this decision. Three months later I made the last payment and told my parents. To my shock, they were happy with me traveling.
As the summer and fall rolled on, the anticipation began to build up. I threw myself into Spain by getting lost in James Michener’s “Iberia”. His book of travel around Spain further bolstered my choice of destination. I couldn’t stop thinking or talking about the trip. At the two month mark the first sign that the trip was happening came in the arrival of the travel documents.
Flash forward to last Sunday evening. Everything was packed and I was ready to fly to Madrid. The trip would cover Madrid, Granada and Seville. Just after 5:30PM , I was in the air and arrived after 6AM CET on Monday. There was a private transfer waiting to take me to the hotel Agumar. After a restless and turbulent flight, the trip had begun.
But there was a hitch in my plans to get as much out of the first day. I was the first one to arrive but I did so too early to check in. I was frustrated at that moment, and then I got a letter from the tour manager saying we had to be back at six. But things would turn as our tour manager Judith introduced herself. I was able to get into my room and hit the ground running. The first stop was to the Reina Sofia museum. One of the big attractions on my list for Spain was to see Picasso’s “Guernica”. I would get lost before getting to the museum and staring at the masterpiece in awe. My second stop left me in awe for another reason. I visited the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home to Real Madrid. I explored the entire stadium and felt as if I was in football heaven. After spending the afternoon in Puerta del Sol, it was time to meet the rest of the group. Over sangria and wine we introduced ourselves and the schedule was broken down.
The trip would start in earnest on Tuesday. A city tour by bus would stop at the Royal Palace before heading to the Prado museum. This museum is the biggest art collection in the country. The showpiece is Diego Velazquez and his painting, “Las Meninas” (The Maids of Honor). The afternoon had the option of going to the monastery El Escorial but I chose to stay and sightsee. I went on both routes of the city sightseeing bus and made it to the Thyssen museum before closing to see the Much exhibition , minus his masterpiece, “The Scream”.
We would say goodbye to Madrid until later in the week on Wednesday. The tour rolled into Toledo and it’s medieval city in a cold fog. The streets are narrow, winding and quaint as we walked through the Jewish Quarter. Granada would be our last stop for the day. There was an offer to attend a gypsy flamenco show that night. I thought about going but later declined in a move regretted ever since.
Before leaving Granada, there was one more stop to go. In the form of a visit to the Alhambra, a twelfth century city within the city. The fortress was the home to the last king of the moors before Christians would reconquer Spain. On this day, the leaves would lend complement the rust colored marvels. We would be on our way to Seville that evening. And after spirited first group dinner, a group of us went bar hopping. At the second bar, the bartender was doing trick shots that involved fire and suction. I still don’t know what’s in those shots.
The next day would begin with a bus and walking tour of the city. We’d begin in the Plaza de Espana,walked into the old town and end in the cathedral where Christopher Columbus is buried. That night would bring the second optional attraction, a flamenco show. The show got off to a shaky start but gradually got more and more spellbinding thanks to the dance, singers and guitarists on stage. I would join up with a group of six people for dinner at the restaurant San Marco and it was a beautiful night for it after a eighty degree day in November.
As the weekend began, we were on the road to Córdoba. A few of the group didn’t get on the bus. For reasons ranging to staying in Seville to heading back to Madrid ahead of that night’s Real Madrid & Barcelona game, El Clasico. The cold reality of the trip ending came in the form of the departure transfer instructions. There was one last walking tour from the Mesquita of Córdoba through the Jewish quarter. We would make it to Madrid in time for the second half of the game. I dropped my bag in my room and hauled ass to the hotel bar to see a 4-0Barcelona win before our last night together at a tapas restaurant that used to be the late Dutchess of Alba’s palace. As the bus drove through the city, one of the weeks mysteries was solved. Judith mentioned that she’s a singer and in singing a Sephardic song, gave a transcendent moment to the week.
Alas, all good things come to an end. In the early hours of this morning, I was the first to fly home. But in the Madrid sunrise, I felt a major sense of accomplishment in taking this trip. At least this week, I was warm and opening. I had such a great time with the forty people in the group and I hope everyone has a safe trip home. I come back to New York in a rare state of peace and contentment on cloud nine.
I have one tiny regret. I had the chance to take the ten day trip and finish in Barcelona. I didn’t do that and I’ve been regretting it everyday since. At some point next year, that will be my next stop.
It bears repeating, I had a great week on vacation in Spain! It wouldn’t have been as smooth without our tour manager, the lovely and indomitable Judith, our bus driver, Miguel Angel and the guides Paloma, Amor, Elena, Pristina and Maria. Thank you for making this week the best one this year and for an experience I’ll never forget.
