Family Vacation Journal: A Spring Break in Spain

May 26, 2019

For spring break, my family and I took a trip to Spain. I was very excited to visit a new country and learn all about Spanish culture.

We landed in Barcelona and took a short flight to Madrid. On our first day in Madrid, my family took a private walking tour of the city. Our guide, Esther, was awesome. She knew a lot about the history of Madrid and brought us to the best sights. She showed us an ancient Egyptian temple, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza Mayor and El Retiro Park. We even visited the famous Chocolateria San Gines, known for its hot chocolate. One of my favorite places in Madrid was the San Miguel market, which is right in the center of the city and has the most delicious tapas, meat, seafood, pastries and fruit.

We spent the next four days in Barcelona, where we visited several buildings by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. We took a tour of Park Guell and learned about how and why the park was built. It is a beautiful park, with views of the city and very detailed mosaic tile work all over. We also spent a day at Basilica Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s most famous creation that is still not complete.

We also visited La Pedrera and Casa Vicens (Gaudi’s former homes). These two buildings are works of art. On our last night, we watched a flamenco show. I enjoyed the live singing, dancing and guitar-playing. The food in Spain is beautiful, colorful and fresh. I could spend hours here eating the fresh seafood, jamon (ham), fruits, ice cream and tapas.