Go Backpacking

Adventure Travel Blog

Spain

Friday Flashback: Madrid

By

Spain’s capital of Madrid was my last stop on a whirlwind trip through western Europe. The Prado (museum) houses a large number of masterpieces, and I recognized quite a few from my days of studying art history in college.  It’s now one of my favorite museums, along with the Musee d’Orsay in Paris (impressionists) and […]

Friday Flashback: Barcelona!

By

Visiting Europe on my ’round the world trip, I was trying to catch up with some popular spots I missed my first time around back in 1998.  Switzerland was one, and Spain was the other. Barcelona kept me busy with Gaudi’s buildings and Picasso’s art.  The beaches were almost empty, however I found plenty of […]

More Travel Tales by Emily Callagan

By

You remember Emily Callaghan, right?  She wrote the most popular article on Go Backpacking last month, entitled “The Importance of Hooking Up Abroad.” Since so many people enjoyed her writing, we thought it was time to share a little more of it.  The following excerpts are from her stories on Drexel’s blog, The Smart Set. […]

Quimet and Quimet – Barcelona’s Best Tapas

By

So I’m lounging on my couch after two late nights of partying in Medellin, waiting to be picked up by some new friends to spend the night at a finca (country house) for the first time, when Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations comes on the TV.  It’s an episode on Spain, and the second segment is […]

Final Thoughts – Brussels, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Spain

By

My return to Europe 10 years after my first backpacking trip there was a blast. No Visas, no currency exchanges, no need to show evidence of onward travel. The hospitality of my friends and couchsurfing hosts was amazing. I have definitely learned how to treat my future guests in the right way. Cathedrals, royal palaces, […]

Plaza del Sol, Royal Palace, And La Latina

By

I slept late again, and struck out on a mission for cash and Colombia guidebook (in English). I tried at least four local banks, all of which denied my request for a cash advance against my credit card. One gentleman did point me in the right direction, toward Plaza del Sol, the city’s commercial and […]

Couchsurfing And The Prado Masterworks

By

I arrived in Madrid after a tiring 8 hour bus ride. We stopped every 2 hours for toilets and food though. Snow covered the ground 2 hours outside Madrid. I took the metro to meet Yair, my couchsurfing host in Madrid. As we chatted, he effortlessly cooked up a great ravioli dinner. When not playing […]