Spain: Three Stops, One Very Full Suitcase & Heart

Spain, you were a lot... In the best possible way.

I recently spent time exploring three very different places: Lanzarote, Tenerife and Barcelona. And while I came home with approximately 7,000 photos, a serious appreciation for Spanish food and wine, and absolutely no idea how my suitcase got that heavy… (blame humidity right?) I also came home already thinking about when I can go back.

Lanzarote — Mars on Earth

Lanzarote was probably the biggest surprise of the trip.

I knew there would be volcanic landscapes, but actually seeing them is something completely different. At times, it genuinely felt like I had landed on Mars.

Black volcanic rock, endless rugged landscapes, dramatic mountains and barely a tree in sight. It is wild, stark and absolutely incredible.

Palm tree sighting? Oh, pish posh; apparently that was from a bird dropping it from far, far away.

Flamingo sighting? Uh huh! In the salt fields. Apparently this is a newer thing for them, and the locals are pretty excited about it. But give those flamingos their space. They are celebrities now.

One of my favourite experiences was exploring the volcanic wineries with Lola’s Excursions. Lola was one of those people you meet while travelling who you instantly think, “Yep, I like her.” She was incredibly genuine, knowledgeable and clearly loved sharing her island with people.

And the wineries? Fascinating.

The vineyards are grown right in the volcanic landscape, with vines planted in little hollows in the black earth and protected by stone walls from the wind. It looks nothing like a traditional vineyard — and that’s exactly what makes it so cool.

Lanzarote is one of those places where you keep saying, “Wait… is this real?”

Yes. It is.

And you need to see it to believe it.

Tenerife — Above the Clouds and Around the Mountains

Tenerife gave me a completely different experience.

The weather down below was overcast and cloudy, so naturally we thought, “Well, this should be interesting.”

We drove for about 1 hour and 10 minutes toward Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain and the highest point above sea level in the Atlantic.

And then something completely unexpected happened.

We drove ABOVE the clouds.

In less than 10 minutes of driving, the temperature jumped by about 15 degrees and suddenly we were surrounded by sunshine, heat and desert-like volcanic terrain.

It was almost comical. Cloudy and cool down below. Hot, dry and sunny above.

Tenerife really does have several personalities depending on where you are. The south is warmer, drier and much more desert-like, while the north is greener, more tropical and can be misty and cloudy.

But then came the drive to Masca.

And honestly? I don't even know how to properly describe it.

We drove from the south of Tenerife, winding our way toward the north and through the mountains. The views became more and more incredible with every turn.

It was, without a doubt, the most mind-blowing drive I have ever experienced.

At one point, I actually had tears in my eyes.

Goosebumps. The kind that wouldn't go away.

You know those moments when you're looking at something and your brain is trying to process just how beautiful it is? That was this.

The winding mountain roads, the enormous cliffs, the tiny villages tucked into the landscape and those views that seemed to go on forever.

And yes, I was also thinking, “Who decided this was a perfectly reasonable road to build?”

A little terrifying.   Completely spectacular.   Absolutely worth it.

We also toured a banana farm, which was so much more interesting than I expected. I learned far more about bananas than I ever thought I needed to know… and, well... I ate one! (Not a banana eater.)

Then came a winery experience paired with making traditional Canarian mojo sauce.

Wine + local food + getting your hands dirty making something = my kind of excursion.

Barcelona — Culture Around Every Corner

And then there was Barcelona.

Barcelona is one of those cities where you can walk around for hours and constantly find something interesting.

We stayed right in the Gothic Quarter, which I absolutely loved. The location made it so easy to wander out the door and immediately be surrounded by history, architecture, little streets, shops, restaurants and people.

And then there was the Sagrada Família.

I had been looking forward to seeing it, but honestly, I wasn't prepared for it.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was ginormously beautiful.

The scale. The detail. The architecture. The light inside. Everywhere you looked there was something else to take in.

You absolutely do not have to be religious to appreciate the beauty of this masterpiece. It is art, architecture, history and imagination all rolled into one completely jaw-dropping building.

Gaudí…. Wow.  You were something. What a brilliant mind.  Every nook & cranny was strategically thought out.

We also did a semi-private rooftop paella cooking class in a Barcelona home, which was such a fun way to experience the city beyond simply being a tourist.

We watched a flamenco show, experienced the celebrations surrounding Catalonia’s National Day on September 11, and got to see just how much pride there is in Catalan culture.

Then came a full-day trip to Montserrat, where we explored the monastery and saw the Black Madonna. After experiencing Montserrat, the tour included a beautiful Catalan lunch and winery experience. Oller de Mars- Thank you.  You have built something worth sharing!

Barcelona was busy, vibrant, historic and a little bit chaotic.  I'm here for it!

So… Which Was My Favourite?

This is a tough one.

Tenerife had the dramatic landscapes, Mount Teide and that absolutely unforgettable drive to Masca.

Barcelona had the culture, architecture, food and big time energy.

But if you forced me to choose?

Lanzarote.

I would describe Lanzarote as Mars on Earth.

It was unlike anywhere I had ever been, and the volcanic landscape completely blew me away.

Spain was amazing, and I would absolutely go back. There is still so much more to explore. More islands, more cities, more food, more wine and, naturally, more wandering around saying, “What IS that?”  And personally,  that’s my favourite kind of trip.

Come home with a camera full of photos, a head full of stories and a list of places you still haven't seen yet.

Spain… I'll be back.  It might be to one of many different locations, but no question, I will be back!