“Everything that can be imagined is real.”
– Picasso
Spain is an obvious destination for anyone who learned Spanish in school. While more drawn to the Spanish of Latin America, I found myself living out my love for Spanish and Europe in Mallorca as an au pair for 3 months. Spain is a beautiful country with so much to offer. I had my ideas of Spain that made me a little hesitant to visit, but I was completely wrong. Each region has its own culture and language, making them very distinct from each other. Mallorca isn’t anything like I imagined Spain to be. It was better which is why it would be my first suggestion to anyone looking to visit Spain. It is very touristy among Europeans, but it is really hard to find fellow Americans there which makes it that much more fun! Check out my posts for suggestions for my island, Mallorca, and my thoughts on Barcelona and Madrid!
Need to Know
Facts
- Nickname: “La Piel de Toro” or “La Roja”
- Language Spoken: Spanish, Regional Dialects
- Capital City: Madrid
- Population: 48.81 million
- Currency: The Euro
Travel Recommendations
- Airport: Depends on destination, usually the biggest city in the region
- When to Visit: Fall or Spring
- Getting Around: Bus or Train, both available in Mallorca and the continental cities
Can’t Miss Destinations
- La Sagrada Familia
- Parque Infantil Montaña de Principe Pío in Madrid (in the evening)
- Soller, Mallorca
Music
(I know it is called Latin, but that is because a good portion of music in Spanish comes from Latin America, but they listen to it in Spain as well. Plus there are some Spanish artists on here.)
Posts
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Introduction to Au Pairing: My Experience in Mallorca
I am going to set the scene: I am sitting on a beach in the September heat. I was eating a baguette with serrano ham that I had bought at the shop across the road. Everyone around me is speaking German, but I am entranced by my book. I had taken the bus to the…
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48 hours in Madrid: This is España
Tapas! Sangria! Churros! Musíca! And Plaza Mayor! This is Madrid, the heart of Spain! I will always advocate for the sub cultures of any place, for instance, the United States also speaks Spanish, Irish culture is more than anglicized Dublin, Mexico has its indigenous languages, and Spain is also Catalan, Mallorcan, Basque, Galician, and so…
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48 hours in Barcelona: Witnessing Catalonia
Let’s rewind to nearly two years back to the Fall of 2023. I was an au pair in Mallorca, which you should definitely check out some of my Mallorca content because Mallorca is an island not many Americans consider when going to Spain. After, about a month there I had my first weekend trip planned…
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Palma de Mallorca: What To Do In My Favorite Spanish City
I am so excited to introduce you to one of the most underrated cities in Spain. When Americans go to Spain, they go to Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and maybe Valencia and Granada. Mallorca isn’t really on our radars. The Europeans that do come to Mallorca usually are nature lovers biking through the mountains or enjoying…
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What to Eat in Mallorca
Mallorcan food! Yeah I didn’t know what it was at first either. I was actually in shock over the food in Spain because my whole life Europe has always been the place of fluffy bread, perfect desserts, and delicious meats. That is not to say Spain didn’t have these things, but it was not like…
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Mallorca: The Best Outside of Palma
So you are graduating college and have no idea what you are going to do next? You have wanted to live abroad again after studying for a semester in Ireland. This is the time obviously. Maybe you’ll teach english abroad or go to grad school! But then one of your friends is going to Madrid…
The Journal of Wanderlust 