TRAVEL: November 2015

When my husband suggested we visit Spain, I said sure, why not? After all, he was the one preparing for the trip. And all I need to do was just pack and go.

And because I did not do any research prior to the visit, I thought Spain was (just) like this:

Just like how my foreign friends thought Singapore is like this:

To my surprise, throughout the trip, I was like this:

How do I even begin? Maybe I will just narrow it down to 7 reasons why this trip is THE most enjoyable one I have had so far:

1. SELF-DRIVE

When you drive on your own instead of following a tour group, you get lots of freedom. You get to go to places less explored, you get into the nooks and crannies of the towns, all at your own time and your own pace.

You get to make spontaneous decisions on the road when you pass by medieval castles, and off you are, to another discovery.

The advent of GPS should make self-drive a whole lot easier than 10 years ago. And best of all, the times when you are lost (yes, sometimes, even with GPS) are the times when you get to talk to the locals. Hola!

2. CASTLES

Maybe I have read too much Disney stories when I was young. But castles have the ability to bring me back to those childhood fantasies, or maybe... past-life memories? We never really know. But Spain has the most magnificent medieval castles and towns. Be prepared to be transported into far-away histories.

medieval castles, towns, family holidays

medieval castles, towns, holidays, self-drive

Above pic - We have no idea where we are

3. ARTS AND CULTURE

There are many museums to go to. But those that got me lost for hours in wonderland were these strange twisted creations:

arts, museum, paintings, spain, holidays

art pieces, installation art, spain, holidays

art pieces, installation art, spain, holidays, paintings

4. BEAUTIFUL, QUAINT TOWNS

Catalonia is one of my favourite towns. It resides by a beautiful sea, is quaint, beautiful, and has nice architecture that reminds me of Santorini, Greece.

catalonia, spain, sea, holidays, architecture

Other beautiful places with nice sceneries:

5. ARCHITECTURE

If you are smart, talented and capable enough to be in any occupation that you want to be, what would it be? For me, it would definitely be an architect. But it's too late since I never paid enough attention to what architecture really is when I was younger. But lo and behold! Luckily, there are these amazing, jaw dropping architectural buildings in Spain to keep me in awe of this wonderful, creative occupation.

Gaudi... what were you thinking?

Parc Qüell, Spain

Parc Qüell Spain

La Pedrera

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia, Spain, Gaudi

Casa Batlló

Casa Vicens

6. FOOD

We planned our journey starting from Catalonia and ending in Barcelona. Alas, our tastebuds were too pampered by the delicious tapas in Catalonia that when we arrived in Barcelona, we found the food too "touristy" and bland. Well, its not bland actually, just full of salt.

So the next time you plan your trip, you might wanna start off from Barcelona, so that by the time you reach the countryside, all you get is localised, delicious and authentic Spanish food.