I recently went on a beautiful, four day trip to Madrid and, of course, I will provide pictures, but first I want to dish out some advice on how to go about planning a trip:
- Make an Itinerary
As a natural planner, making itineraries is fun for me, butI know this is not the case for everyone. The easiest way to begin your itinerary is to plan by section: travel, transportation, accommodation, activities, dining and entertainment. You can begin ordering your itinerary chronologically after you’ve figured out exactly how you will spend your time. Start off by asking yourself questions like these: What are the things you really enjoy? pots you can’t miss? Once you’ve found the spots that fulfill whatever tourism desire you have, you can move onto food! Are you going to a place with traditional eats that you must try? Are eating times different from what you’re used to? Try to cover your bases so you feel that you are prepared for anything, from flight delays to COVID mishaps – your itinerary will provide you with some peace of mind as you come across whatever your adventure may bring!
- Research the Local Culture
In conjunction with your itinerary, it is wise to look into where the locals hang out, or even just cultural differences between your hometown and your destination. Is there a time difference? Where do the locals frequent? Are there different neighborhoods devoted to different things, like a literary quarter or a street with great shops? Of course the must hit places are valuable, for that’s the reason they are usually considered must sees, but don’t lose sight of the local attractions because that’s where you will find the true culture of your destination — and after all, isn’t that the reason to travel? To meet, connect with, and learn about new people.
- Travel with People You Love
This one is huge for me. I have taken a limited amount of trips with friends because most have been with my family members. Needless to say, I have traveled with people that I thought I knew and people that I definitely do know. Your travel partner is important and can make or break your vacation — even if your travel partner is yourself. A good travel partner, or group, works dynamically and is someone with whom you can just enjoy their time, whether speaking or in silence. A good travel partner is one who compliments your personality, because living with another person really is the telltale sign of how compatible you are. You and your travel partner do not need to necessarily like the same things, and want to spend every minute together — in fact it is best if both of these things are not true. Traveling with those who are not like this is difficult because not only will it change your relationship forever, but it could perhaps taint your memory of your special destination.
- Strive for Imperfection
The biggest lesson I learned on my most recent trip is that no matter how much you plan, and no matter how prepared you may feel, things will not go according to plan. There are so many things that are out of your control, in daily life of course, but especially when traveling. My strongest recommendation for anyone traveling, whether it be to another state or another country, is to try your best to be adaptable and flexible. Coming from someone who tries to plan everything, this I know, can be incredibly difficult because it can be upsetting and emotional. I urge you to try though because otherwise you will spend far too much time being upset during what could potentially be a wonderful trip — which brings me to my next point.
- Live In the Moment
Traveling is a gift; it is a pleasure, and should be appreciated and thus lived! I got upset in Madrid because there were so many things that did not go my way and it seemed as though bad circumstances were just adding up. I wanted so badly to not be upset about it, and to not be behaving as I was because I know it was unenjoyable for my traveling partner, and also just did not make me feel good about myself. It can also be challenging when you feel as though you have wasted money and time, and that perhaps the trip was not worth the money. But if I had that mindset that nothing will be worth it, I would never do anything in my life. I am learning everyday, and from this experience, that I would rather try and have things go awry than never attempt to do anything with my life at all. Because the truth is, Madrid was amazing! I traveled to a new beautiful city with a close friend, with whom I have now bonded over all these wonderful and unexpected experiences — and now have all these memories and our connection has grown. So please, at least try to live in the moment and be present — everyday!
Now for the photographs!
A local tapas bar, highly recommended on every sight and a genuine Madrid dining experience!
The Royal Palace of Madrid, on a day with “hazardous air quality” and thus this yellow toned hue.
Puerta de Sol, a plaza and large tourist attraction – also on a day with “hazardous air quality.”
Parque del Retiro, a huge and gorgeous European park near the Prado Museum with so much greenery!
Puerta de Sol at night! Kind of like Times Square in New York, but of course, prettier.