The Girl Who Goes

independent, intentional travel

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Auxiliares de Conversacion Guide – Madrid 2019 (Part I)

spain flag

I’m about halfway into my “summer break” here in the U.S., but the start of the school year in Spain is fast approaching. It’s crazy to think: one year ago at this time, I was a week away from the big move to Madrid. With nowhere to live and no idea what I was really getting myself into, I couldn’t be happier with how my first year turned out.

But it got me thinking about the newest round of auxiliares who are starting to arrive in Spain right about now. Especially in the big cities, it’s crucial to get a head start on the apartment hunt before the droves of university students start moving in. So I thought I could put together a little “survival guide” for new auxiliares. [Read more…]

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Day Trip: Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain

If you go from Madrid to El Escorial, you’ll be rewarded with this view

During my first visit to Spain in 2016, San Lorenzo de El Escorial was one of my three day trips from Madrid. (Segovia and Toledo were the other ones.) If you’re interested in Spanish or European history — history that certainly goes back further than the United States’ 200-something years — San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a good place to visit. It’s also the starting point for the journey to the Valle de los Caídos, or Valley of the Fallen, if you’re planning to make that trip independent of a tour group.

Learn everything you need to know about this popular — if slightly underrated — day trip. Here’s how to get from Madrid to El Escorial. [Read more…]

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Day Trip: Madrid to Segovia, Spain

Segovia Cathedral

Segovia Cathedral crowning the city

I actually can’t believe I hadn’t written this post yet! The first time I visited Madrid — back in 2016 — Segovia was my first day trip I took out of the capital. I’d learned about this impressive city during one of my college Spanish classes, and I knew I had to see it for myself. Once I moved here in the fall, it was again the first day trip I took. I couldn’t wait to see it again. When Matt came to visit, I took him. And I’m planning to bring some of my future visitors there as well!

Along with Toledo, Segovia is actually one of the fastest and easiest day trips from Madrid. So if you want to plan your own trip from Madrid to Segovia, here’s everything you need to know! [Read more…]

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7 Best Things To See in Madrid, Spain

best things to see in madrid - puerta del sol

Puerta del Sol at puesta de sol (sunset)

In the first nine months that I lived in Madrid, I had my fair share of visitors. First was Carson and Natalie, then Matt, then Morgan, then Matt again! After all that, I felt like I had a formula down when it came to knowing all the best things to see in Madrid. I knew exactly where to take my tourists so that they had the opportunity to really experience the city.

So I put it all together into a list. Some of these are “duh” items; some of them are just my personal opinion of things that make Madrid special and interesting. This list also is great for anyone planning a visit to Madrid, even if you’re not showing tourists around!

Here are the seven best things to see in Madrid.
[Read more…]

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5 Things to Know Before Visiting Palma de Mallorca

Passeig del Born / Paseo del Borne

After almost 8 months of living in Spain, I’ve finally taken my first trip off the mainland. (Yes — in case you didn’t know, Spain has lots of islands!) During Semana Santa, or Holy Week, my friend Morgan came to visit and we went to Valencia and Palma de Mallorca. Palma is the largest city on Spain’s largest island, Mallorca, also known as “Majorca” in English.

We spent about two full days there, and even though I’ve visited 10+ other cities in Spain, Palma was very different than anywhere else I’ve been. Here are some important things to know if you’re planning a visit yourself! [Read more…]

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ALSA Bus Review: My Trip from Madrid to Granada, Spain

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For better or for worse, Spain’s ALSA buses are a topic I’m all-too familiar with. Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:15pm, I would board a big green ALSA bus from Buitrago del Lozoya, where I worked, to get back to Madrid, where I lived. Occasionally I had to catch the 6:45am bus to work — but I don’t like to think about that because it was truly the stuff of nightmares.

Anyway, I don’t know what ALSA stands for, but I do know that it’s the largest Spanish bus company for more long-haul trips. So when I went to Granada for the weekend with my friends, that’s what we used. Here’s how the experience stacked up. [Read more…]

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Side Trip: Madrid to Salamanca, Spain

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A view of New Cathedral in Salamanca

When my friends invite me to do something, I try to say “yes” as much as I can. You Only Spain Once. (Maybe.) Anyway, my friends Sarah and Ellie decided to plan a trip from Madrid to Salamanca. With the high-speed train, it was easy enough to do as a day trip — no need to book a place to stay for the night — so when they invited me, I said yes.

Here’s everything you need to know to plan your own trip to Salamanca, whether you go for the day or the weekend. [Read more…]

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Side Trip: Madrid to Zaragoza, Spain

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Plan your own trip from Madrid to Zaragoza and you’ll be rewarded with this view.

Since I didn’t go home to the U.S. for the holidays this year, I was lucky enough to spend Christmas in Sardinia and have visitors in Spain for New Years! One of my best friends from college, Carson, and his wife Natalie came to spend a few days with me in Madrid on their European holiday vacation. After starting their trip in Paris, they took a bus to Madrid, before continuing on to Barcelona by train. Along the way, they decided to go from Madrid to Zaragoza, which is about halfway to Barcelona.

Since I’d never been to Zaragoza before, I went along with them for a day trip. I’m so glad I did! Here’s everything you’ll need to know if you want to plan your own trip from Madrid to Zaragoza. [Read more…]

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Why Christmas Lasts Longer in Spain

Part of the Cabalgata de Reyes parade

As I sit down to start writing this, it’s nearly a week into January 2019. I’m in my favorite coffee shop with a café con leche (of course) and a ham and cheese croissant (yum). And Christmas music is blasting overhead. Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Last Christmas, Little Drummer Boy – the English classics – as well as Spanish favorites like El Burrito Sabanero, which I’ve only just managed to get out of my head after listening to my third-grade class practice it for weeks. [Read more…]