We soaked up the sun and ate our weight in tapas!
I'd saved Seville for last, the way you save the best bite for the end. Big mistake: within my first hour in the Alcázar gardens, I knew I should have started there. The orange trees were in bloom, the air smelled sweet and heady, and Yuuki settled onto the edge of a fountain like he'd lived there his whole life. I swear, he watched the tourists stroll by with such calm disdain that I burst out laughing.
In Granada, I wanted to see the Alhambra like everyone else. Except I'd missed the online booking, and the day's tickets were sold out by 9 a.m. So I spent the afternoon at the Mirador San Nicolás, gazing at it from the hillside across the way, with a glass of mint tea from a street vendor. And honestly, maybe it was better that way: the late afternoon light on the red towers, Yuuki chasing pigeons between my feet, and a view like nothing else. Take it from me: sometimes the plans that fall apart make the best memories.
I'd pictured Barcelona as loud and packed. It is, sure, but La Boqueria market at opening time, when the lights still shimmer on the wet stalls, is a whole different story. I tried three kinds of ham I never would have ordered on my own, on the advice of a vendor who chatted with Yuuki like he was any other customer. My cat sniffed politely and turned his head away. I'm not sure he was impressed. He's more of a fish guy.
My Spanish Getaway
Flamenco in Triana
I didn't know how to dance flamenco. And I still don't! But when a group started playing on the banks of the Guadalquivir one evening, I watched for a good ten minutes, then dropped my bag on the ground and went for it. The people around me clapped and cheered, someone shouted something in Spanish that I didn't catch at all, and Yuuki yawned at the exact moment I pulled off my best move. I'll do it again anytime you like, just say the word!
Pintxos in Bilbao
The idea behind a pintxos bar is simple: you walk in, you order a drink, and you point at whatever catches your eye on the counter. Except when there are forty-five different tapas lined up in front of you, the idea gets a whole lot less simple. I spent three minutes dithering under the bartender's impatient stare. Yuuki, on the other hand, planted his paw on an octopus without a moment's hesitation. He clearly had way more experience than I did.
Sagrada Família
Everyone had told me it was impressive. Everyone was right. When you step inside the Sagrada Família at dusk and the light from the stained glass starts settling on every surface in blue, orange and purple, you simply stop talking. You just tilt your head back and look up. Yuuki did exactly the same, then took a careful step back, as if that ceiling might come crashing down on him at any moment. Honestly, I understood him completely. Book the evening slot, trust me on this one.
꼭 해봐야 할 것 ♡
