Spain
The South
Over the summer, my family and I took an adventure around a various of locations within the Southern Spain! Over two weeks, we explored Cuenca, Madrid, Granada, Frigiliana, Marbella, and we even walked over the boarder and entered the UK where we visited Gibraltar. In addition to our fulfilling and eventful adventures in Spain, we also took a ferry to the part of Spain that lies on the continent of Africa. The history, landscape, and food were all terrific! I could not keep count of how many croquettes I ate...
We stayed in rental homes and apartments in Madrid, Granada, and Marbella, and the rest of the places we went to were only day trips, but there was a lot that we did so lets get started!
Cuenca
First, we took a day trip to Cuenca! This ancient city is set up right on the mountains and is a stunning view. Check it out!
Soon, we had lunch at the Michelin recommended restaurant Casas Colgadas, which is on the mountain in one of the hanging houses. The dishes were very unique and incorporated ingredients of the Cuenca region, including a bunch of local mushrooms, herbs, and locally produced meat (like pigeon and moose).
After lunch, we took my younger brother to see the science museum Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla-La Mancha. The museum was very interactive, engaging, and went into depth about astronomy, geology, and more!
Madrid
After our day trip in Cuenca, we settled into our hotel right in Spain's central capital. We took a lovely stroll at night, bought many souvenirs, and ate some jamón. After a salty snack, we went to get a sweet treat and were very eager to have our first taste of Madrid's churros! You can find this delicious treat in almost every cafe.
What would be a trip to Madrid without trip inside its palace? The next day, we took a tour of the grand Royal Palace of Madrid. I was stunned by the intricate designs in every single hallway, ceiling, and bedroom. We even got to a take a peak at the abundance of royal armor displayed on knights and horses.
Granada
To start off our adventure in Granada, we walked up the mountain just to get a dinner view of The Alhambra. This was by far the most gorgeous view I had seen so far on the trip! I was able to eat all of the delicious food while viewing landscape and fortress. Many tourists were gathered up on the mountain for food and views as well.
The next morning, we went into The Alhambra itself. I was yet again stunned by the architecture and intricate details of the fortress. Going inside and closely observing the fortress provided a whole other experience! There were many complex designs on the walls, paintings on the ceilings, and more. We also spent a lot of time relaxing in the beautiful gardens--it was almost like we were in an oil painting with all of the colors and details.
Yet again, we ventured off to another restaurant! At Restaurante Alameda Granada, our taste buds were opened up to Granada's special cuisine. Additionally, there was an abundance of foie gras and many of the dishes included this delicacy.
Check out some of the food we ordered! There were so many options. I also absolutely adored the plating, and each dish was mouthwatering!
Frigiliana
Bonus Clip of the gorgeous Granada views!
For a quick day trip, my family and I rented a car to explore Frigiliana, the town known for its charming houses and unique landscape! All houses are covered with white and are surrounded by a cobblestone floor. Here, we did a lot of climbing, eating, and picture-taking! Check it out:
Marbella
Our final destination to conclude our Spain trip was Marbella where we stayed in a gorgeous rental home in an old town with a relaxing rooftop. Right outside of the neighborhood, many stores line up the street.
After we settled in, we walked into town where we ate some seafood (we actually had a ton of seafood in Marbella) and enjoyed the ocean views!
Last but not least, we were able to cross the border from Spain to Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. We then took a lift up to the cliff. Many ships surrounded the area, but also monkeys!
When crossing the border, I was also able to get a glimpse of a red telephone box!
Out of the many activities in Gibraltar, my favorite activity was exploring Saint Michael's Cave. In the picture to the right, this "Angel of St Michael's Cave" caught everyone's attention. Ancient Greeks believed that the cave was an entrance to the mythological underworld or the potential temple to Hercules. Thus, this cave has captivated the imagination of many. There is also a light show every few minutes, displaying the outline of the Angel and emphasizing the intricate details of the rocks that make up the cave.
