4 days in Spain and 4 things to do 

My husband planned a blissful weekend getaway to Spain, the plan was impromptu and with our super busy work schedules and the daily grind of work, the day crept up on us with very little planning done.

So how many of us have been in that situation? You plan a trip and you know you are going but you wait till the 11th hour to figure out what you will do there and where you will stay.

We found ourselves in that predicament but wanted to make this spontaneous trip the most it could be.  I realized that what makes a trip memorable isn’t the number of sites you fit into a day, how many tours you go on, how many pictures you take, or how many places you have meals at but rather the unique experiences and moments you have.

So, if you have to ask what are the 4 top experiences to have when you are in Spain (and not crazy experiences where you have to jump off a plane or swim to your death – no no, this is doable for any person, young or old, big or small, brave or scared), I would recommend:

1. Laugh with old friends

I managed to get my best friend from college who lives in Geneva to visit me and my husband while we were in Spain. We spent 2 days in Barcelona together and it was great. We shared an exotic meal of tapas and sangrias reminiscing about good times from college, and learning how we had grown up since then. We walked to the Sagrada Familia and looked in awe at Gaudi’s masterpieces scattered all over the city, and made our way through the Gothic quarter {We tried the Free walking tours, they were great – shout out to Luke for being an amazing tour guide!), all the while laughing and enjoying each others company {despite the aching feet!}. Plan your next trip and coordinate with a good friend you haven’t seen for years, the experience is far more than a 1000 Instagram pictures.

2. Take a stroll through the past

We spent two days in the historic city of Toledo. Toledo is a UNESCO world heritage site and everything there is set in 14th century and earlier. Cobble stones and old buildings. The core city is small enough that you can explore it by walking, there is no need to catch a train or hop on the subway. You can get lost in the intricate stone paved roads and go from a church, to a roman ruin and end up a cute cafe or bar and take a break over some yummy tapas. Check out the El Greco paintings if you are an art buff {my favourite was the Burial of the Count of Orgaz}. And girls who like shopping, the Zara there is a lot cheaper than in the states and has a lot more variety, plus you can get a tax refund at the airport. Win win!

3. Eat like a local

The people of Catalan and the Spaniards are all about their late dinners. All the good places to eat liven up and the lines go up to 30 minutes or more right around 10:30 pm (crazy right?) – for all you North Americans it’s a perfect way to adjust with the jet lag and feel the warm lively experience of dinner and drinks during the wee hours of the night. My recommendations in Barcelona are: Cuidad Cundal and El Nacional {swanky with a lively upbeat environment, girls don’t be shy about wearing heels here!}

 

4. Watch the sunset with a significant other

The highlight of my trip with my husband was walking to the bridge Puente de Alcantara and taking in the views of Toledo as the sun set before us, we walked backed to the city’s center through their historic paths all the while catching beautiful glimpses of the sun setting on this historically rich and inspiring city. A perfect end to a lovely trip.

 

 

The High Close: Spain is a beautiful country, rich in history and culture. The people are warm and friendly. I would go back there in a heart beat. Go there yourself and make your own unforgettable memories.

Check out more pictures of the trip on my instagram page @thehighclose

Travel hacking tips; My husband was able to get this round trip in under $350 per person with a small stopover in Amsterdam. He is an avid follower of thepointsguy and if you see an option to take a spontaneous flight, do it! Plus you can change your mind since it gives you 24 hours to cancel!

Please let me know what you thought of this post and message me if you have any specific questions!