Carlsbad Teen Recounts European Adventure- Part 2 Spain

After regretfully having to leave our new home in Portugal, ’s European tour group boarded the bus in hopes of having even more fun in our next country – Spain! Throughout the two week stay in Europe we spent much of our time on a charter bus where we constantly annoyed our other passengers with obnoxious Justin Bieber and Journey tributes. But the most entertainment for us came at hourly our rest stops where we discovered and fell in love with European ice cream bars called Magnums. We constantly marveled over the multitude of flavors such as caramel and white chocolate which often times made the eight hour bus trips much more manageable. We spent the first night in Spain along the Costa del Sol – a beachfront resort region lined with restaurants and bars frequented by locals and tourists.

The next morning we woke nervous but excited to cross into Morocco! Prior to leaving for our excursion into Africa, we were warned by our tour directors of the potential danger being a tourist would bring as well as the necessary precautions to take in order to avoid the infamous pick pockets. After spending two hours on a luxurious yet crowded ferry, we reached Morocco and met our local guide. His English was excellent and it was apparent that he knew exactly how to treat American tourists. It was obvious that our tensions were high as we drove through an entirely different continent that held stereotypes similar to opinions about people and affairs in the Middle East. Our local guide immediately put all of our nervous feelings at ease as he put to rest any misconceptions we had regarding Moroccan politics and culture. He assured us we would be surprised at the welcoming and friendly country of Morocco. We traveled to the city of Tetouan, a historically rich area with Moorish and Berber influence, and I was automatically transported to a different universe. Although I was surrounded by fellow travelers and kept safe by two local guides following the group, I felt like I was in a scene from the movie Slumdog Millionaire. We were led through a twisting medina of local vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, elaborate jewelry and saris. Not once, even in the midst of chaos and screams, did I feel in danger. The locals were eager to practice their English and looked in awe at a group of American girls. Throughout the day we also visited traditional rug and spice markets where owners showcased beautifully handmade carpets and products such as Moroccan oil that does wonders for the hair and is popular in the states. As the day closed I felt entranced and grateful to have experienced the culture and lifestyle of the Moroccan people.

We spent the next two days traveling north to reach our last Spanish destination in Barcelona. Along the way we visited Granada, the last bastion of Moorish rule in Spain and one of the eight provinces in the region of Andalusia. We visited one of the most famous locations in Spain, the Alhambra, which was constructed as fortress for the Muslim sultans in the fourteenth century. The architecture of the area was something I had never seen before with richly decorated mosaic walls, open air windows, and intricately designed arches. The Alhambra was also the meeting place between Queen Isabella and Christopher Columbus as they discussed his plans to travel to India. The shopping in Granada fulfilled our retail therapy as we happily forked over our Euros to have a taste of European fashion from stores such as Zara, Blanco, Bershka, and Mango.

Our transfer to Valencia the next day allowed us to see a traditional Spanish market with fresh seafood and deliciously sweet horchata (a sweet milk drink that was much different  from the horchata at my favorite Mexican joint , but equally yummy)! The city center of Valencia was extremely charming with beautiful buildings and its cathedral which many believe holds the Holy Grail, the cup used by Christ during the last supper. That night our constant search for Wi-Fi was fulfilled as the hotel lobby supplied us with a much needed connect to Facebook. We were finally reunited with social networking and it was great to reach out to my friends and family and give them an update of the great time I was having.

The following morning we departed to Barcelona, the destination I had anticipated most! We began the day with a guided sightseeing tour via bus that began at the very avant-garde La Sagrada Familia, a breathtaking temple designed by Antoni Gaudi that resembles a spiraling drip sand castle on one side and a geometric tribute to biblical stories on the other. Although the temple is still under construction (the building began in 1882), the sight was something I had never imagined seeing before and I couldn’t help but stand there for ten minutes with my jaw open. I was under a trance as I looked at Gaudi’s architecture and was even more excited to visit the Parque Guell – a World Heritage Site also designed by Gaudi. The Parque Guell’s architectural style completely differed from the La Sagrada Familia but was equally as beautiful with whimsical mosaic fountains and statues.

We spent the rest of our stay in Barcelona in the downtown city center – an area comparable with the hustle and bustle of New York City surrounded by Spanish architecture. We just couldn’t get enough of Gaudi’s designs, so after exploring the designer stores and local vendors we ventured on the subway to reach Casa Mila, an apartment building designed by Gaudi. The building had a roof top balcony which resembled a scene from Dr. Seuss’s Whoville and a classically designed apartment with 19th century style interiors. We spent our last night in Barcelona at an evening of traditional Flamenco dancing. Our whole group fell in love with the passionate and dramatic style of dance performed so effortlessly. All the girls especially enjoyed when the male dancer (the definition of tall, dark, and handsome) came onstage! That night we swooned over our new found love, the Flamenco dancer, and discussed how excited we were to travel to our next destination – France!