Planning for Rome and Barcelona

Help! It’s been ten years since I’ve been in Europe

Ok, I have a story.

Back up to 2009. I was teaching English in Madrid for a summer. After an evening out, my friends helped me find and board a bus that would allegedly take me home. It was late at night and eventually I was the only passenger on the bus. After driving for some time the driver swiftly pulled over the vehicle and declared this was the last stop. My Spanish was poor (I take full responsibility for this), the driver’s English was nonexistent (he has no responsibility to know English), and I gathered that he wanted me to wait outside at the bus stop where a bench was located until the bus route began again.

I sat on the bench for a while, feeling defeated, wondering as maybe others do too— does this s*** happen to anyone else? To make matters worse, my cellphone was (repeatedly at that point in my life) out of minutes.

Later, the compassionate driver exited the bus and came to my side to tell me I would likely get robbed and should wait on the bus instead. The driver then lit a cigarette and chain-smoked through what I imagine were stories, or he was possibly berating me for my lack of Spanish. Or maybe even my ignorance which got me (and now him) into the situation.

If I remember correctly the story ends with a friend picking me up from the stationary bus. I block this epic night of public transportation from my memory.

When we are planning our travels — transportation within the destination tends to be overlooked. I’d like to consider this so that public transportation doesn’t land me in a tricky situation such as the one told above.

Reflecting on my bus journey, I have learned a few things about travel, transportation, and communication. Some things have changed since my last time in Europe (thanks to the technology gods for unlimited minutes on my 2023 version of a cellular telephone) — regardless, ohhh, I am rusty. I leave for Spain and Italy in less than a week.

Madrid

First stop. I will be returning to Madrid after 14 years away with my partner. We’ll start in Madrid, then take the train to meet some of his family in Barcelona for a wedding. We will then continue on to Rome as a group of six.

I am the only person in our group who has previously been to Europe. This is an important detail in my travel planning.

I am most concerned about 1) navigating the airports, train stations, and public transportation systems and 2) building alone time into the trip.

I research. I plan. Especially the getting there. You can read more on that here. I have been in too many sketchy situations to allow myself to not be informed.

Once I arrive—I anticipate the organic flow of travel to take effect. This is why we venture out in the first place, why travelers travel.

Sometimes tickets are sold out at events or museums, we stumble upon festivals, we meet new friends in line for the theatre or beside us in the subway, restaurants are closed and we find even better spots down the way — it all works out in the end. I believe this.

As my trip to Europe approaches, I find myself planning for peace of mind. Then — come what may!

It’s been a while, travel suggestions are more than welcome. I happen to be happily anticipating advice.

This is what we’re thinking thus far:

1. My partner is first-generation Mexican American and he happens to like soccer. I have been to a soccer game while working as a flight attendant (Kaiserslautern vs Wolfsburg) and it was exactly a wild time. We have tickets for a Real Madrid/Almería game.
2. There are two friends I keep loose touch with in Madrid. After all these years — I am planning on seeing them again.
3. El Retiro, I haven’t been to the Crystal Palace yet. El Rastro if we have time.
4. I have fond memories of Paella, I must have Paella at some point. U.S. versions of Paella do not do the dish justice. I’d also like to catch a Flamenco show. Maybe while eating Paella.
5. We have reservations at a rooftop restaurant.

I plan to walk as much as possible. Thankfully — I no longer anticipate a situation where I will need to take the bus home at o’ dark thirty.

Barcelona

I have gotten spurts of adrenaline months, weeks, days prior to traveling. I frantically search Medium articles (Rocco Pendola with this one and Catherine Dunn with this), Pinterest pieces, and enthusiastically coerce every acquaintance who has been overseas within the last 5 years to brainstorm with me. My friends on Marco Polo have probably considered deactivating their accounts by now.

I’ve done this before. I’ve been to 30+ countries. Why do I feel … stressed!

I have a couple thoughts…

First, as a flight attendant — my travel was always booked by someone else. Crew Scheduling booked our hotels and flights, sent us all the info via email, no fuss, no money paid by me.

Second, we were often traveling with our crew or a few of our crew members. As a collective, we found ways to navigate foreign airports and train stations quite effectively. Shuttles were waiting for us at our destination with signs reading our names or airline — a complete privilege.

Third, the more I know what I want my experience to look like — how I want to feel while traveling — the more I overthink. There is a fine line between too much and not enough planning.

I have been to Manhattan 10+ times and have never seen the Statue of Liberty from the ground, I lived in Chicago for two years before someone visiting me wanted to see “The Bean,” I have no interest in Mount Rushmore. Maybe it’s where I am in life, in travel — “must sees” are losing my attention.

With that said, I am working through my ideas for Barcelona.

This is what’s on the docket for now:

1. We’re staying at a villa 30 minutes out of the city for some of the trip. This is where the small wedding will be held. We plan to make it to the beach in Sitges and maybe travel to a few wineries.
2. My partner and I have reservations to hike Monserrat.
3. Reservations for Sagrada Familia and Leche el Tigre.

Rome

My friend Molly was recently in Rome and described the city as NYC on crack…

Someone please tell me otherwise!

Rome has been the most difficult for me to plan. Playing Roman Holiday on repeat for days is getting me nowhere.

I will say, I am planning on being pleasantly surprised.

Fellow Globetrotters writers have described Rome as a favorite travel destination. I believe this! And that Rome and Barcelona can become beloved cities of mine.

This is how I imagine my time in Rome to be:

1. Explore the Trastevere neighborhood. Stop for coffee…or wine…read, take a few photos.
2. Walk, walk, walk. Piazza Navona at sunrise is my thought, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain as early or late as possible to avoid massive crowds, strolling by the Parthenon and Colosseum at some point.
3. Friends have suggested a few gardens and the Monument of Vittoria Emanuele at sunset. Reservations made for Trattoria Vecchia Roma later.

As you have witnessed, planning my European trip has me wondering…how does one plan travel? What are a few universal truths we have learned along the way worth sharing? Or at least, commonalities for many.

What can I do to create a little peace within myself, knowing that I am making the most of my travel situation?

As a North American — Travel abroad is expensive and my vacation time is far from plentiful. I plan to soak up every minute of my time in Spain and Italy.

Everyone has their internal itineraries, their list of musts, their travel styles, and I am committed to sorting this out — in this chapter of my life, how do I plan travel?