Heading to Spain!

{Madrid’s Gran Vía}

I’ve mentioned a few times in the past several months that my husband, Fabian and I are planning to go to Spain in celebration of my 30th birthday. We will be heading there this Friday and we couldn’t be more excited about it! We will be spending time in the Castile and Leon region of Spain, splitting our time between the gorgeous medieval town of Salamanca and the bustling metropolis of Madrid. My first trip to Spain a few years ago was actually to these two cities and I couldn’t be more excited about sharing the sharp contrast between Salamanca and Madrid with Fabian, who has experienced the Catalán side of Spain when we visited Barcelona last summer. Visiting Salamanca is like stepping back into time, with its beautiful, old, limestone buildings and its rich history. Madrid is a fast-moving city that never sleeps—a little like New York with a Spanish accent. It’s also one of the most beautiful cities I’ve visited—elegant with lush greenspaces throughout.

{Salamanca’s Stunning Plaza Mayor}

We are really looking forward to some time to get away from it all. I’ve visited most of the noteworthy museums and sights in the region and we’ll probably do a few on this trip, but we really want the focus this time around to be on the culture, food, and people. I’ve read design*sponge’s Madrid Travel Guide along with Rick Steve’s Guidebook, but I would appreciate any tips or recommendations you might have. The best tips always come from friends! ¡Mil gracias!