A Spanish Summer
Spanish tapas, flamenco, siestas. Spain is a country with rich history, culture and cuisine from the moment you enter. Furthermore, each region of Spain will offer you something a little different. A new interpretation of beauty, a different palette of delicious, a new backdrop to fall in love with.
Sevilla
One of the main cities of Andalucia, the southern region of Spain, and one of my favorites in Spain, this city is buzzing with life and beauty. The weather of a pre-Autumnal Sevilla is ever so inviting. The sunny warm days and the cooler comfortable nights are absolutely perfect. There are some "musts" when visiting Sevilla, and I'm not typically a fan of tourist suggested "musts." The Giralda is one of them. The Giralda is a church, that once was a mosque, that apparently houses the remains of historic navigator Christopher Colombus. The size of the church is on par with St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican and has lots of interesting history behind it. Other places to see include the Santa Cruz neighborhood, the Alcazar de Sevilla, Plaza de Espana, and the wooden mushroom, the supposed largest wooden structure in the world.
The nightlife in Sevilla is as bountiful as it's history. A great place where locals start the night is the Plaza de Hercules, and from there the night can continue into the the bright hours of the morning if you'd wish. If you're a solo traveler looking for people to explore the city with or a group of friends to experience the nightlife, consider checking into one of the Oasis Hostels. You'll be sure to find a young and eager crowd. Oasis Palace, one of the Oasis Hostels in Sevilla, has a pool on the terrace, which is a popular hangout on hot summer days.
photo via Oasis Palace
Oasis Palace also partners with a really cool company for free walking tours that are worth taking. Be sure to look for Sara, a spunky and entertaining tour guide from Italy who loves Sevilla. She'll make the city make more sense and inspire you do dive in deeper. She'll also point out some really helpful tips for skipping the long line of the Giralda, and you won't get in trouble for doing it!
As for places to eat, try 2 de Mayo"for traditional Andalucian cuisine and Al-Ajibe for a non-traditional experience.
Granada
Not too far from Sevilla, lies the smaller city of Granada. Famous for it's "free tapas" and the amazing Alhambra.
I wasn't too impressed with the city itself, but would still recommend a visit. Granada would make a good full day trip. An early morning visit to the extremely impressive Alhambra (make sure to book your ticket in advance, depending on the season, you may manage buying it the day before), an afternoon of exploring the city and shopping and a night of the famous tapas bars that will give you free tapas just for buying a drink and relaxing in their bar - seems like the perfect reason to visit.
If you would like to stay the night, there are a few hostel options including Polaroid SIesta Hostel. While I was thrown off by their "add-ons" approach, (for just 2 euros extra we will give you a lock, and for 3 more euros you can rent a towel), I had a pleasant stay at this clean and nice hostel. I just wish they would charge you a few Euros more and offer everything for "free."
Valencia
Valencia is the city which the Valencia region is named after. It's an interesting, alternative leaning, coastal city on the Mediterranean. It's the birth place of the Paella Valenciana, a delicious rice, meat and vegetable dish worth eating multiple times while in Spain.
Valencia boasts the ultra modern Olympic City, a stretch of futuristic looking buildings sure to impress. But what I found the most impressive were the pockets of artistic expression on the aging walls of Valencian buildings. Valencia also has a well trafficked greenway that runs along the river that's worth leisurely enjoying and basking in the perfect autumnal weather.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a magical city. There's an energy about Barcelona that separates it from many other cities in Western Europe. The flamboyance of Spanish Architectural genius, Antonio Gaudi, dots the city in marvelous ways. Barcelona seems like it has it all too. The beach, the city, beautiful architecture, amazing nightlife, great food, cool shops… really the list goes on.
If you're not paying complete attention, you could likely pass some of Gaudi's magnificent work without noticing it. A few of his popular works are sandwiched in between normal looking apartments and offices. Gaudi was truly far ahead of his time and an exquisitely interesting individual. In fact, while Gaudi was alive many did not appreciate his modern style, sometimes the sad truths of being an artist. Gaudi's casa Batllo, la Pedrera, Sagrada Familia, and Park Guell are crowd favorites that are worth marveling at.
photo via utrip.com
Outside of Gaudi, it's easy to get lost in the richness of cool neighborhoods like Las Ramblas, Raval District, Montjuic and the Born and Gothic Quarters. Saturday in Parque Citadelle will surely make you fall in love with the personality of the Barcelonians/Catalonians. With locals loving life, enjoying the company of others, music, nature or their art, the diversity is truly something you only find in the best of cities.
The bumper seasons, spring and autumn, are the most comfortable times to visit. You'll enjoy nearly perfect weather coupled with less crowds. Early to mid-September may even be the best time, with temperatures still good enough for a swim in the Mediterranean and the thick crowds dwindling in number.
photo via barcelona.com
With a plethora of traditional and non-traditional cuisine options, you won't have nearly enough time to brush the surface on the most noteworthy. Some favorites for traditional meals include Citrus and La Flauta.
There are also a myriad of reasonably priced accommodation options in Barcelona. Tailor's Hostel, the Equity Point Hostels and Black Swan Hostel are all great options in their own right.
Tailor's Hostel is one of my favorite in Barcelona. The vibe, the staff, and the look of the hostel are all amazing. Entering the hostel you are immediately welcomed by the eclectic tailor-inspired décor (hence the name) and the friendly staff. You immediately get the sense that you're in the company of friends. Lucas, the self proclaimed "sexy receptionist," and he does deserve that title, greets you with the perfect amount of hospitality. His smiles are genuine and he immediately makes you feel like your at a good friend's house. He's passionate about Barcelona and it shows.
photo via Tailor's Hostel
The staff at Tailor's Hostel actually want to get to know you. They'll play billiards with you, talk about music, make free sangria for guests and invite you to join them at their favorite local bars. If you're not interested in partaking in those activities, they won't pester you to join. It's a sort of "join if you wish, but completely cool if you don't" type of vibe. What more could you ask for?
Equity Point Centric is right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. With streets lined with Gaudi's lampposts and benches, you feel like you and Barcelona are one. Nestled in a pocket of the city where hotels charge 300-400 euros a night, you'll find a great price paired with decent quality here. Sometime's it feels great being in the heart of the city!
photo via Equity Point Centric
The hostel has a bar and terrace that offer cool rooftop views of the neighborhood. And with about 400 beds in this hostel, you're sure to finds some friends from all over the world.
Black Swan Hostel is a fairly new hostel. The design is a cool modern simplistic look. The bathroom seemed to have been an after thought, with stalls that are about 3 inches too small and hand driers that don't work. But other than that, it has a pretty cool vibe and offers guest a number of activities to participate in throughout the week, including a karaoke night.
photo via Black Swan Hostel
Enjoy your Spanish summer, fall in love with the cities that so many have fallen in love with. You will surely see why!