Quarantine has me reminiscing on my past travels, like backpacking in the Grand Canyon and various night sky adventures. I realize that I'd been so focused on planning the next big trip that I neglect to truly appreciate the one I just returned from.
I am grateful for this time in quarantine because it's allowing me to revisit, relive, and share with you some really incredible past adventures.
The one I'm about to share is incredibly special to me because it was my first time leaving the country and I did it solo!
Book the trip & worry about the credit card charge later.
It was Cyber Monday 2017. I had just received my first credit card - ever - and was in the early stages of healing after a very bad break up. I wanted to travel somewhere and give myself something to look forward to. So I made the impulsive decision to book a trip to Barcelona for March 2018.
BAM. A $1200 charge to my credit card. I told myself I would worry about it later.
I didn't share my upcoming travel plans with anyone. Part of me felt like it wasn't really going to happen. I just couldn't imagine it because I had never left the country before. I mean, I've been to Mexico, but does that really count?
This was full-blown solo female travel shit. The kind of stuff I see in Instagram photos and travel blogs. I had been following a few influencers that lived an adventure lifestyle while kicking it solo. I really admired their courage because I was not at a place in my life where I felt comfortable on my own.
The first person I told was my sister. Ironically, she was traveling to Barcelona to run the Barcelona Marathon a couple weeks before I was set to fly out. I asked her to not tell our parents because I planned on letting them know a couple days before. The reason for the short notice was because I knew they would be worried. I never traveled to another country before. But not going was not an option. I was 27 and ready to do this.
Sarah gave me tips and advice on places to visit and where to go. When I told my parents I was going to Spain, they weren't happy, and asked me to cancel.
It was dangerous. It was irresponsible. I was going to get robbed. Yaddah, yaddah...
The timing couldn't have been better.
In March 2018, right before my trip, I decided to end a social media contract with a difficult client. I knew I had a lot of travel coming up (by this time I had Havasupai permits for April) and wanted to leave the world of contracting for something more stable with health benefits. Terminating my #1 source of income without a backup was scary but it was also very freeing.
At the time of booking the trip, I imagined I'd bring my laptop and do some work from the hotel or some cafes. However, once I was there, work was the absolute last thing on my mind. But - the fact I was spending and not bringing in money was definitely lingering.
My parents did a great job reminding me of that too 😂
So, I was balling on a tight budget but I was going to make it happen. I didn't book or plan anything beyond finding a hotel.
I would figure it out once I got there.
Five full days in Barcelona.
The hotel I booked was amazing. It was within my budget and perfectly located. I was walking distance to so many restaurants, bars, shopping districts, museums, architecture, and iconic tourist spots. The Hotel Constanza was perfect for a solo traveler. Clean, comfortable bed, beautiful bathroom, friendly service, a restaurant next-door, and delicious breakfast.
I spent the first full day walking around the city and made a friend with a girl staying at a hostel nearby. We walked around the Gothic Quarter and explored some of the shops and restaurants on La Rambla. I researched of some of the spots I wanted to visit. Even though I was trying not to spend money, I booked tickets for the following day. You only live once right? YOLO.
The streets of Barcelona were colorful and lively. Families enjoying meals together, couples walking hand in hand, artists, musicians, and every now and then a drunken tourist. (In Barcelona, it's not unusual to order a bottle of wine with your lunch). The locals were incredibly friendly and I had lots of conversations with them - as well as other travelers - throughout my wandering.
The city is known for its unusual architecture by Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi. I didn't get the chance to visit Casa Battlo (pictured above) but I did get to explore Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia. It gave me Dali vibes.
Park Guell
I went to Park Guell as soon as it opened at 8 am. It was packed. The colorful mosaic buildings overlooking Barcelona felt like something out of Alice in Wonderland. The park was built by Gaudi with the intention of creating a lavish Utopian housing development but that never happened. Gaudi actually moved into one of the building/houses from 1906-1926. It's now called the Gaudi House Museum. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
La Sagrada Familia
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gaudi's is La Sagrada Familia. His unfinished masterpiece.
Work on the cathedral began in 1882. It is projected to be completed in 2026... yeah, nearly a century after the architect's death. Despite it being incomplete, La Sagrada Familia is a stunning and iconic monument that you absolutely cannot go to Barcelona without visiting.
Inside the cathedral is even more awe-inspiring. Depending on the time of day, and the position of the sun, bright colors from its stained glass windows reflect off the floor, walls and ceilings.
Personally, I couldn't handle more than maybe 40 minutes inside the cathedral. It was just too packed. I also knew I had another day of exploring ahead of me and still needed to figure out transportation logistics, so I made it an early night.
In Barcelona, you will walk mostly everywhere. Bring comfortable shoes. However there are some parts like, Park Guell and Montserrat, that will require a mode of transportation.
Montserrat
Do you watch Ancient Aliens? Because this place is mentioned quite often in some of the earlier seasons. Here is an excerpt explaining Montserrat's paranormal phenomenon:
Montserrat is a mountain near Barcelona, Spain that’s long been regarded a sacred and magical place. In 880, it was said that a light floated down the mountains for six Saturdays in a row. When a search party headed by a bishop went to investigate, they found that the light fell on a previously undiscovered cave. Inside the cave, completely intact, was a statue of the Virgin Mary allegedly made in 50 AD. The statue soon attracted pilgrims and monks, and a monastery was eventually established in the mountain. Nicknamed “The Black Madonna,” the figure is venerated as the patron saint of Catalonia.
I'm not a religious person, or a UFO conspiracy theorist, but I do like paranormal places. I also really love being outside and desperately needed some time in nature. So, I learned how to navigate Barcelona's transportation system and got myself on the train going to Montserrat.
I was warned about pickpockets on the subway and at the train station. I can honestly say I didn't experience or see any of this behavior happening but I made sure to keep my valuables in my sight.
I took a cable car up to the mountain and went straight for the hiking trails. Completely avoiding the monastery. Had it been another day, I would have explored inside but it was Easter, and again, it was super packed. I wanted some solitude.
The mountains in Catalonia are not like the mountains in California. These were oddly shaped like potatoes. Some say it looks like the mountain rage is serrated, hence the name MontSERRAT.
However, I prefer to think of them as potatoes.
Nothing strange happened here for me... except I did see a woman in stilettos - which wouldn't have been strange had we not been on a hiking trail.
Cosmo Caixa
On my last day in Barcelona I walked 3 miles to the Cosmo Caixa science museum. I could have taken public transportation, or a cab, but I wanted to explore the city one more time. Walk the streets, hear the city sounds, enjoy the sunshine, and be grateful for such an incredible trip.
On my walk I saw two girls walking a yellow Labrador. Immediately I thought of Juno and my heart longed a little bit for home. I was loving my time in Spain but I terribly missed my dog. Normally, Juno accompanies me on all of my solo outings but this time I had to board her at a kennel.
I ran up to the girls and asked if I could pet their dog. They were very happy to let me do so. I felt comfortable in Barcelona walking the streets and talking to strangers. Moreso than I ever did in the United States. Whereas I have to have my wits about me while walking around in my own neighborhood of Venice, CA, in Barcelona I felt like a free spirit.
The science museum was HUGE. I was not ready for its many floors and exhibits. Instantly, I regretted walking to the museum because my time was cut short. I had only a couple of hours before they closed, so I made the most of it by exploring the parts that interested me the most. First, SPAAAAAAAACE (I missed all the planetarium showings), and then the flooded forest.
The flooded forest was my favorite part but I admit I didn't really get to explore much of the museum. I think I saw maybe 1/5 of it all.
I reserved about 20 minutes to buy some souvenirs at the gift shop. Leave it to me to not buy any souvenirs the entire trip except at the science museum (#nerdlife).
Before I knew it, it was time to go back to the United States
I couldn't sleep the night before my flights back to California. The journey from Barcelona to my layover in London, and then on to the final flight to LA felt like it would take 19 years.
I was exhausted but excited to see Juno and grateful I had such a wonderful experience traveling abroad for my first time. It was a lot to process, which is probably why it's taken me 2 years to finally write this blog post. And even though I finally shared my journey, and this post already feels super long, there are so many parts I didn't share in here.
If there is anything I want anyone to get from this post, it's that solo travel in another country, especially as a woman, is awesome as fuck. Andddd that it's okay to look back on old memories, or past adventures, and relive them.
Looking back 2 years later & my travel trips.
Now, let's bring it back to present day - April 2020.
I am quarantined inside my apartment. About to leave for the first time today to go on a run where I will have to wear a face mask.
There is a global pandemic taking place and no one is traveling right now. Should I really be sharing my travel tips? Is it relevant? I still think so.
I do believe there will be a day in the future where we will travel again. Maybe not now, or this summer, but if we maintain social distancing, I do believe we will beat coronavirus.
I used to look back on this trip to Spain and wonder why I stopped after Barcelona. Why I didn't spontaneously book another trip or go on another international adventure. My mind was already focused on the next big trip. However, there was still so much I had yet to process with this one...
Right after I got back from Spain, I was already embarking on another adventure - backpacking to Havasupai. It's like I didn't have time to breathe. As quickly as I returned from my first international trip, I was immersed in the beautiful landscapes of Utah and then the Grand Canyon.
I am grateful for this time to look back and relive these amazing memories. It's also giving me the opportunity to plan and think about where I want to go next.
My personal Barcelona travel tips for solo travelers:
Stay at a hotel and not a hostel. I know I will get some shit for this but I really think I had a much better time in Barcelona because I had privacy when I needed it. Instead of sleeping in a room full of randoms and taking showers with flip flops on, hoping someone doesn't walk in, I had my very own room and bathroom. It was also super clean and I felt safe leaving my valuables behind. The money and peace of mind is worth it.
Pay for the continental breakfast at your hotel. It may not be as scrumptious or insta-ready as a meal from a local restaurant or cafe, but it will save you money. I only ate out once per day, usually at night. Instead of spending money on bakery items, coffees, and expensive meals, I saved some of the muffins, bananas, yogurts, and hardboiled eggs from the dining room.
Bring a power adapter. I didn't realize until I was already in Spain and in needed of a charge for my phone that the outlets didn't support my charger. Thankfully, I found a USB port on the back of the television, but otherwise I would have been screwed. I had no idea different countries had differently sized and shaped power outlets!
Learn how to take public transportation. There is an app that I used to figure out when buses were coming and where they could take me too. I also grabbed a map from my hotel and kept it with me at all times. At first, navigating public transportation seems overwhelming, but you get the hang of it when its literally your lifeline for getting places safely.
Book all Gaudi tours. You can walk up to the museums and architecture throughout the city but you need tickets to go inside. I suggest buying these online and in advance, the earlier in the day the better.
Wear a crossbody bag. If you're a chick, or even a dude, get a crossbody bag to take with you while you travel. I believe this is why I didn't get pickpocketed or have anything stolen. I kept everything right in front of my body, literally, strapped to me.
Act like a local. There were a couple evenings I found myself walking back to the hotel on empty streets. If I had to pass by some shady looking characters, which I did, I made sure to look up, walk confidently, and not have my phone out. You don't want to look like a tourist. You want to look like a local who knows exactly where they are going.
Bring an external battery pack. Always bring extra juice! My phone was losing juice FAST at Montserrat. It drained my extra battery too. Thankfully, the train had charging outlets next to the seats, so I was able to charge my phone, but it's very important to always have a back up. I didn't expect to be away from my hotel for so long that day.
Know that shops close on Sunday and take siesta's daily. Be mindful of the times you are planning to eat and/or go shopping. Restaurants and shops close daily between 1-5 PM for a couple of hours. Most places, besides restaurants and souvenir shops, are closed on Sunday. There's still plenty to do (especially after living through the Corona Times) but just plan accordingly.
Don't be afraid to do your own thing. Part of what makes traveling so much fun is the people you meet but it's important to follow your own lead. I had the most fun in Barcelona when I was exploring parts of the city on my own! I loved being able to take my time, deciding where I want to go next, and not having to worry about another person. I think this is why I enjoy solo travel so much.
It's awesome being in control of your own adventure.
Scary at first, of course, but once you begin to trust yourself it will come to you like second nature. You will find that you can create incredible experiences for yourself, on your own, without having to rely on another person for approval, guidance, or support. It doesn't mean you reject anyones offers to help you along your adventure - just know that you don't need it. There's a difference.
Thank you for allowing me to revisit these old memories and share with you the lessons I learned. I will be doing this over the course of the quarantine in no particular order. It's just time that I share these experiences with you all. They were some of the most profound and impactful experiences in my 30 years of life.
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