A view of the ancient aqueducts in Segovia, Spain, taken from an angled perspective on a cloudy day. The stone arches stretch across the image, with overcast skies in the background.

June 18th, 2024 - Day 3 (Bit Rough, Historic, & Very Rainy + Wet):

After one fabulous day of walking and exploring around central Madrid the day before, we decided to take a new approach with a day trip to a nearby iconic landmark in central Spain.

To be honest, everything was a bit of a blunder that day. My dad wanted to see either Toledo or Segovia but couldn’t decide which one he wanted to visit most. And with only one day for a road trip, we wanted to focus on one destination and everything it truly had to offer.

With that in mind, we all got ready, ate breakfast, and jumped in our rental car, heading toward Toledo—about an hour’s drive southwest of Madrid. The drive was entertaining, offering a look at a new side of Spain’s suburbs along the way, which made the drive even better.

Once we got to Toledo, though, there were some moments of confusion about what everyone wanted to do. So, after parking and walking around a few streets in the medieval town, we decided it didn’t have the kind of “content” we were hoping to see or explore to the extent that would satisfy everyone in the family. So, we decided to change course and head to Segovia to better suit everyone’s interests and make the most of the remaining hours of the day.

🏛️ First Up - Historic Segovia

Segovia is about an hour and 10-minute drive from Madrid, but since we were already in Toledo, it became an hour and 45-minute drive north to the Roman-Gothic–style city. The drive was beautiful, with more mountains, foliage, and twisty, summit-style roads that reminded me more of Switzerland than Spain. I was also amazed at how stunning this area was, brimming with natural beauty and cozy mountain towns as we passed through.

Once we made it to Segovia, we were starving and found a little bakery called Grainer, located in the main plaza area by the aqueduct. From this bakery, we grabbed some quick cheese/spinach and ham/cheese sandwiches for lunch. Nothing too special, but it was food.

The bakery was petit, so we took our sandwiches and water bottles outside to a small round table on the cobblestone, pedestrian-only street open area. The weather was starting to turn gray, cloudy, and cooler, but it was still a pleasant environment for a quick outdoor lunch.

Segovia is a city in Spain full of Roman aqueducts, a medieval castle fortress perched on the edge of a massive cliff, a Gothic-spired cathedral, and cobblestone streets winding through the enchanting city.

After our quick lunch, we started our exploring as we walked along the immersive Roman aqueduct, up some stone stairs, and into the city toward the iconic Gothic cathedral near the heart of the area. You do have to pay to enter both the Cathedral de Segovia and the Alcázar de Segovia, but depending on the season, your age, etc., the cost ranges from €11–13 (or $12–16 USD). This makes the stop relatively budget-friendly for the opportunity to see two impressive structures full of historical value, stunning views, and an experience that feels like your stepping right into the past.

I will say—the day we visited Segovia, it was cold! Traveling north from Madrid on a stormy, windy day left us underdressed for the weather and unprepared for a rainstorm. Plus, we had expected to spend the day in Toledo, southwest of Madrid, not heading north where it was noticeably cooler.

By the time we walked back to the Cathedral de Segovia, we were shivering, and it had started to drizzle. Sadly, the cathedral wasn’t much warmer, being a structure made entirely of stone, so we made a relatively quick pass through each room, the courtyard, and the assembly hall. It was beautiful, and there’s a lot of artwork to admire along the way, showcasing pieces of Spanish history.

A stone and moss-covered walkway in Segovia, Spain, featuring warm, tan-colored stones arranged in a traditional Spanish style. The path is framed by greenery and natural moss, evoking a rustic and timeless atmosphere.

🌧️ The Castle, Lots Of Rain, & Tickets

After about an hour exploring the cathedral, we decided to head to the Alcázar de Segovia (the castle of Segovia) while we had a slight break in the rain. Since we were on foot, we walked—it was only about 10 minutes from the cathedral to the castle. The walk wasn’t too bad, just a little cold.

The castle itself was amazing. We bought our tickets at the small building on the left-hand side as you're facing the castle. The employees were helpful, answering all our questions and giving us a great tip: purchase tickets not only for the castle but also for the tower. I highly recommend this, because the views from the tower are truly stunning and well worth the extra effort.

Once we had our tickets, we ran across the courtyard to the drawbridge and into the castle, just as the rain started pouring down again. Inside, we began at the main entrance, where steel armor was displayed in an honorable manner. From there, we moved into the gathering rooms and halls, richly decorated with golden mosaics on the ceilings, heavily inspired by the Moors who occupied Spain from around 700 to 1500 AD. We also explored the scenic covered walkways, which showed off the incredible height of the castle built dramatically into the cliff for protection. Each room was unique—dark, but richly detailed.

The narrow, framed-in windows along the castle’s walkways gave us the perfect spot to sit and watch the rain pour down from the saturated sky. We then visited a small chapel area before moving into the central stone courtyard, where most visitors hugged the covered edges of the space to avoid getting wet from the rain splashing down in the open center.

A view of rain falling from the castle’s covered walkway lookouts in Segovia, Spain. The stone arches frame the scene, with droplets of rain visible as they cascade down the stone walls.

🪜 A Steep Climb & More Rain

The castle isn’t overly large, so after we finished exploring the main areas, we browsed the gift shop while waiting for the next on-the-hour tower tour, which was included in our ticket we had intentionally purchased. We were tempted to buy umbrellas, but they were outrageously overpriced, so instead, we wandered through the nearby art rooms next to the shop while we waited.

Finally, once our wait was over—and we felt like we couldn’t shiver any more—we gathered with a small group for the tower tour, led by a simple castle guide. For the tower, you’re led into a roped-off area, then up a staircase into the “attic” parts of the castle. These upper levels would have been used by soldiers during the castle’s golden era to keep watch, defend, and protect the fortress from invading enemies.

This area was the best part of the castle, in my opinion. The lookouts offered the most incredible views—naturally, since the soldiers needed the best vantage points to watch for any trouble. I especially loved the steep spiral stairway that led to the roof, the highest point of the castle.

The climb is steep, so it might not be suitable for all visitors. Keep this in mind if someone in your group has mobility issues or disabilities—the tower tour may not be ideal and might not be worth purchasing. But even without it, simply visiting the castle on its own is still a wonderful experience and I would recommend making time for it.

The worst part of our tower visit, though, was that it was pouring rain! As you can imagine, the rooftop is not covered, and anyone who stepped out was soaked within seconds. Still, rain or not, the views and photos from the roof are incredible—all from about 100 feet up! (So, if you’re afraid of heights, you might want to skip the tower tour too 😊)

A panoramic view of the Segovia Cathedral from the castle, with the towering spires of the cathedral rising prominently against a clear sky.

☔ Castle Time & Off to Madrid

After visiting the tower and finishing our exploration of the castle, the rain continued to pour. So, my parents decided to leave us behind in the castle and make the wet journey back to the car, stopping along the way to grab some umbrellas.

While my parents were going to get the car, me and my sister waited in the castle, we found the art room with a stone window seat that overlooked the steep cliff below, with green trees covering the valley floor. It was the perfect spot to sit, watch the rain, and search for dinner spots back in Madrid on Google Maps.

When my parents finally got the car and pulled up back to the castle area, they texted us, and my little sister and I rushed across the drawbridge and into the car. Thankfully, the rain had lightened a bit by then, but I was still grateful to be in a warm car.

Segovia isn’t always rainy—but with our luck, it was. If you plan to visit, I highly recommend checking the weather before leaving your hotel or rental. A jacket would’ve gone a long way for us on this rainy day! So, planning before hand can help you can explore this Roman, Gothic, and ancient city in comfort and allow you to take your time enjoying all it has to offer.

After our very rainy but exciting day exploring Segovia, we made the hour-long drive back to Madrid. The drive was beautiful—everything was coated in shiny raindrops that glistened in the evening sunlight. Northern Spain in June is so green, and it made the drive breathtaking and relaxing, especially from the warmth of the car.

A family selfie at dinner at Bel Mondo in Madrid, Spain.

🍝 Dinner in Madrid: Bel Mondo

Once we got back into Madrid, we headed to a place called Bel Mondo, located in the Salamanca district. It’s an Italian restaurant with a bit of a unique vibe. The food was good, and the upstairs atmosphere was lively, but the restaurant had some unusual concepts that made it a little unexpected.

Here’s what we ordered:

MAMMARCHERITA – Pizza with San Marzano DOP tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, and fresh basil.
IL GRANDE CESAR – Grilled romaine lettuce, breaded and fried chicken, red cabbage, arugula, homemade Caesar dressing, 22-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and garlicky croutons.
MAFALDINE AL TARTUFO – Fresh mafaldine pasta with seasonal black truffle, mushrooms, and creamy tartufo sauce—incomparable.
TAGLIOLINI AL LIMONE – Handmade tagliolini with a creamy Parmigiano Reggiano sauce and a touch of lemon zest.
Bottled Spanish spring water for the table.

We kept our dinner simple with two pastas, a large pizza, and a salad. It was already 8:30 p.m. (20:30) by the time we were seated, so we went with a lighter order. It ended up being just enough food!

The restaurant was buzzing with people, making it very busy. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated, but the longest wait was for the food to arrive after we placed our order with our waiter. While we waited, we tried to plan the next day’s adventures. By then, all we really wanted was to go home, take warm showers, change into clean, dry clothes, and—no surprise—go straight to bed!

Once our food came, we enjoyed it. The pizza was a delicious Neapolitan-style take on the classic margherita—it was a tasty bite with basil, cheese, and tomatoes that had a perfect balance. The Caesar salad stood out with its garlicky croutons, grilled romaine, and aged Parmigiano Reggiano. The pastas were definitely the highlight—both handmade and they both melted-in-your-mouth. They paired perfectly with creamy sauces and fresh ingredients that aided the noodles as the star.

Overall, the food was yummy, though not the best we’ve had in Spain. We also didn’t love the loud, party-like atmosphere of the restaurant, so it’s not a place we’re rushing to return to on our next trip to Madrid. 😊

After dinner, we walked back to our car, which we had parked a few blocks away in a garage. From there, we drove home, got ready for bed, and crashed pretty quickly! What an adventurous, cold, and crazy day.

A piece of art featuring a blue frog in Madrid, Spain.

June 19th, 2024 - Day 4 (Market, Exploring, Shopping, & Cooking):

Like any good trip, you should leave one whole day to explore and shop without too much planned. With that kind of freedom to go, go, go, you’ll be amazed at the memories you can create and things you will explore. So, that’s what we did for our last full day in Madrid, Spain.

We woke up early, got ready, and loaded up the car. We drove back to the neighborhood of Salamanca, Madrid. This area was over a 30-minute walk from our rental, so we drove and found a parking spot near our destination. We did have to pay for parking, but it saved us a lot of time!

Parking in the middle of the day in this high-end, busy neighborhood made it a bit difficult. We drove around for about 20 minutes without any luck before finding a parking garage a couple of streets away from where we wanted to be. We parked the car, took a garage ticket, and left on foot for the Mercado de la Paz.

🛒 Exploring - Mercado de la Paz

Mercado de la Paz is an indoor market that has been around since 1882. It features fresh produce, a large selection of fish, sauces, noodles, pastries, breads, meats, cheeses, etc. This market is better for those looking for individual ingredients to cook and make fresh, delicious food with, rather than a market with prepared dishes to eat on the spot.

We wanted to visit this market in hopes of finding fresh ingredients to make something delicious at the Airbnb apartment for our last night in Madrid. We were in luck with so many items to choose from. After scouring the entire market, going up and down each row, we decided to make a red and white sauce pasta dish with a load of fresh fruit, unique cheeses, olive oil, and bread.

With this in mind, we collected a bag of homemade pasta from Italy, a bottle of red sauce from Italy, dried herbs from Spain to add to our sauce, two aged cheeses from Switzerland and Italy to shave on top, a range of fruits from Spain to slice up, Arbequina olive oil from Spain, and a loaf of fresh bread from the local bakery to dip in the buttery olive oil.

I absolutely love fresh markets and sometimes wish I lived closer to one, where I could shop every day for local products that support the community and encourage a more sustainable, clean lifestyle. It truly is a wonderful idea!

🍰 Sweet Stop: Salt in Cake

After we purchased all the ingredients and spent a little more time browsing everything the market had to offer, we headed back to the car to drop off the groceries before heading toward a place called Salt in Cake for my little sister.

Salt in Cake is a dessert shop that features a range of flavored sweet rolls. My sister loves a good, fluffy cinnamon/sweet roll and wanted to give this place a try for a mid-morning snack. It was about a 15-minute walk from the market, but we got to see more of the small streets and alleyways of Madrid along the way which is always a bonus.

Like I said earlier, I’m not a huge cinnamon roll fan. First, they’re not great for you. Second, they tend to be overly sweet. And third, they often make you feel sick after eating them. But the rest of the family wanted to try one, and I’m always up for making sure everyone gets to try what they want when we travel - that’s called being a good family member.

Here’s what they ordered:

Mom – Mixed Berry Sweet Roll
Dad – Pistachio Sweet Roll
Little Sister – Biscoff Sweet Roll

After tasting their sweet rolls, they thought the flavors were unique, but the rolls were a little too sweet, a bit dry, and not overly flavorful. They still thought it was a fun stop, but the rolls were large, so they couldn’t finish the whole thing—making this a treat better for sharing than for individual indulgence. 😊

🫒 La Comunal: Olive Oil

After the quick snack stop, we headed towards La Comunal, a small family-owned store offering a range of olive oils from all over Spain. Olive oil is one of those cooking ingredients that provides heart-healthy fats compared to butter and other less healthy sources. It’s also full of antioxidants—preserved through cold-press harvesting methods—that help prevent cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. I love both the flavor and the health benefits this natural ingredient offers.

My family eats a ton of olive oil in general, so we wanted to find an olive oil shop in Spain before we left and bring home a couple of bottles to use in our cooking. I definitely prefer olive oil over butter in almost everything I make 😊 So, we were all super excited!

🛍️ Salamanca Shopping

After examining a variety of olive oils, each pressed from different selections of olives from around Spain, we purchased four bottles and took them back to the car (to keep them out of the light and in a cooler spot—important for preserving olive oil longer). After the car drop, we headed to another Zara and Zara Home for some more shopping in Salamanca, Madrid.

After browsing Zara and their clothing, we crossed the street to Zara Home to check out the dishes and kitchenware—especially things my little sister loves for her food photography. In general, I think Zara Home is a wonderful extension of their main clothing brand. I just wish they had a store located in the United States... but, maybe someday!

I know that was a very vague description of our Zara shopping trip, but it was simply just a lot of looking around, trying on, and shopping.

After hauling a couple bags of purchases to the car, we loaded everything up and drove back to our Airbnb apartment rental. It was about 4:00 p.m. (16:00) when we parked and took the elevator up to our penthouse apartment. We decided to make an early dinner to satisfy our hunger after a very off-schedule day of eating, but well worth everything we got to do and see.

🌆 Dinner & Last Minute Shopping

Dinner was a herby tomato-based pasta with orecchiette noodles, topped with a mix of shredded cheeses, served with sliced fruit, olive oil, and fresh bread on the side. It was delicious and fresh, and it felt so special to enjoy one last night on our covered outdoor dining patio.

We laughed, ate, and talked about everything we had explored so far in Paris and Madrid! It truly felt like a blessing to be able to travel to Europe and experience even a sliver of the amazing world we live in. It makes you appreciate being home, but also opens your eyes to how people live just a little differently. Our differences are what make the world amazing and exciting.

I will say—we didn’t plan this—but after dinner we decided to check out what the other Zara on Gran Vía had to offer one last time. So, we set off on foot and walked about five minutes to Gran Vía for some more shopping.

It was a bit of a stormy night, but it turned out to be beautiful—no rain, just stunning cloud cover. We shopped until about 9:00 p.m. (21:00) before heading back to get ready for bed. I was just so glad we had the chance to enjoy a full, unplanned day in Madrid. That freedom really gave us space to explore, shop, and create wonderful family memories together.

A view from the window of a flight between Madrid (MAD) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), captured in the middle of the day.

June 20th, 2024 - Day 5 (26 Hours of Travel):

I can’t believe it’s the end of our 10-day summer trip to Europe (France + Spain). It feels like we left the States a long time ago, but at the same time, the whole trip flew by in the blink of an eye and was a blast.

I bet you all know the feeling well: at the end of a trip, you're sad to go home, but also ready to sleep in your own bed and enjoy the comforts of your own home/ space.

That’s how I felt - excited about heading home for the summer, and a little dread about the 9½-hour flight just to Dallas, Texas, followed by another 2½-hour flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. But I’m starting to learn how to find joy in long flights—because if you can endure them, you get to visit some of the coolest places in the world.

🌅 The Early Morning Advantage

For our last morning in Madrid, we got ready and we headed out for one last trip into the city to find two extra suitcases to pack the extra olive oil, clothes, and home goods we’d picked up throughout our trip. It was a perfect outing—we grabbed some postcards along the way and found the suitcases we needed before we had to checkout of our Airbnb rental.

Pro tip: One thing I’ve learned during my time in France, Spain, Italy, and Malta is the value of waking up early and getting into the city just as the sun starts to rise. The timing brings fewer crowds and a more relaxed atmosphere to meander through whatever area you're exploring. It makes viewing and experiencing the iconic aspects of any European city so much more enjoyable without all the extra people.

Our last morning in Madrid continued to prove this to be true. With fewer crowds, we had a greater capacity to experience the city with a clear and vivid awareness. The empty streets became a beautiful backdrop for us to fully enjoy the colors, designs, and beauty of the city. I also think morning lighting is especially stunning—the way it brings out the warm colors in the stone buildings, that many southern European cities are built with, is my favorite part.

Needless to say, we enjoyed our final few hours in Madrid before heading back to our Airbnb rental. Where we packed up our extra suitcases, loaded all our belongings into the car, and drove to the Madrid International Airport (MAD). Where we after dropped off our rental car with Alamo and went through security leading us straight to the the main international terminal.

Our flight was scheduled to take off at 4:00 p.m. (16:00), so we checked our bags, cleared security, and grabbed some snacks before 3:00 p.m. (15:00), giving us enough time to board and get comfortable before takeoff for Dallas, Texas.

A family selfie taken in our seats on an Iberia flight before takeoff from Madrid (MAD) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW).

✈️ The Flight

Once we were on the plane and waiting to take off, we had a bit of a chaotic moment—our plane’s engine had to be pried open manually. It wouldn’t open on its own, so we sat on the tarmac while a team of airport workers tried to open it by hand using long arm tools. About an hour later, everything was opened and worked enough to be cleared for the air, and we finally took off for our 9½-hour flight from MAD to DFW (Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport).

During the first hour of our flight, we were served our first meal: a feta, pesto, and pepper pasta with a quinoa, cucumber, and tomato salad. It came with a small bottle of water and a piece of bread on the side. Honestly, it was the best meal I’ve ever had on an international flight—so good job, Iberia! Plane food isn’t usually anything special, but this one actually at least tasted good enough to eat.

Well we flew, we passed the time watching movies, reading books, eating snacks, and looking out the window. My sister and I sat next to each other, and since neither of us was very tired, we found ways to keep ourselves busy while watching the clock slowly count down to our landing in Dallas.

A pasta dinner served on an Iberia flight from Madrid (MAD) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), featuring red pepper, zucchini, and pesto.

🍴 Food & The End

During the flight, we passed the time watching movies, reading books, eating snacks, and looking out the window. My sister and I sat next to each other, and since neither of us was very tired, we found ways to keep ourselves busy while watching the clock slowly count down to our landing in Dallas.

Towards the end of the flight (about 90 minutes till we landed) - the second meal was served on our flight, and it was a rather questionable-looking sandwich that most people didn’t even touch. We decided to skip it and waited until we landed in Dallas to grab Einstein Bros. Bagels in Terminal E for dinner again. My mom, dad, and little sister got their classic egg and cheese sandwiches, while I had a veggie bagel sandwich that was super yummy.

The bagels definitely beat the sketchy sandwiches on the plane, and we were all happy to have something more familiar before boarding our final 2½-hour flight from DFW to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

The flight from Texas to Utah went by quickly, mostly because we were all exhausted and ended up sleeping from takeoff to touchdown. After our quick rest, being back in Utah felt awesome. So, we headed out to grab our checked bags from the carousel, then went to the parking lot, picked up our car, and drove home.

It was surreal being back home after 10 (pretty much 11) days and finally sleeping in my own bed again—it felt amazing escpecially being home the that first night. I think we were awake for about 26 hours on June 20th, 2024, which made for a strange and exhausting day. Sleep never feels so good after travel, right?!

I honestly can’t wait for our next trip and adventure! Paris and Madrid were both incredible places to experience and explore with my family. Wherever we go next, I know it’ll be another unforgettable time—and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

Explore - Madrid, Spain Part 1

Madrid, Spain - Part 2