APRIL 2026
From London rain to Spanish sun — tapas, tiles & late-night adventures
Route order is still TBD — London could bookend the trip or come first. We’ll figure it out!
Loading up the car, playlist queued, snacks acquired — the adventure starts on I-41
Check into the hotel near O'Hare, decompress, maybe grab deep dish because when in Chicago
Triple-check passports, lay out travel outfits, pretend we didn't overpack
The classic 'are we going to miss our flight' adrenaline rush
Duty-free browsing, overpriced airport food, playlist curation for the flight
Crossing the Atlantic — bad movies, worse sleep, maximum excitement
Bleary-eyed but buzzing — we're in ENGLAND
Drop bags, splash water on face, convince ourselves we're not jet-lagged
The initiation — finding a proper chippy and eating our feelings
Golden hour along the river, Tower Bridge glowing, very main character coded
Mandatory tourist photo, no negotiation — we're doing the full cliché
The kind of place where you spend too much on cheese and don't regret it
Pinkies up, obviously — we're doing this properly
Soho, Covent Garden, or wherever our feet take us
Crossing the iconic bridge, pretending we live here and this is just our morning walk
Choosing our vibe — edgy markets or pastel houses, maybe both
Finding a cozy pub, ordering a proper Sunday roast, toasting to Spain tomorrow
Arriving in Barcelona and immediately hitting the most iconic street
Patatas bravas, croquetas, and whatever else catches our eye — the initiation begins
Soaking in the energy, getting lost on purpose — London grey to Barcelona gold
📋 BOOKING ALERT: Sagrada Familia tickets sell out fast — book 2-3 months ahead!
Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece — the ceiling alone is worth the trip
Mosaic everything, city views, and the obligatory salamander photo
Finding the perfect terrace with views of the illuminated Sagrada
Morning beach walk or full beach mode depending on the weather gods
The most photogenic market in existence — fresh juice mandatory
Narrow medieval streets, hidden plazas, and way too many cute shops
Castle, gardens, panoramic views of the whole city spread out below
The trendy quarter — boutiques, galleries, and the Picasso Museum nearby
Multiple stops, multiple patatas bravas — this is research, not gluttony
Watching Spain unfold through the window — olive groves, mountains, golden fields
Arriving in Granada and wandering the old Moorish quarter as the sun sets
Mint tea in a Moroccan-style tea house — we're not in Barcelona anymore
⚠️ BOOKING ALERT: Alhambra tickets sell out MONTHS ahead — book the second dates are confirmed!
The whole reason Granada exists on every travel list — Nasrid Palaces are *chef's kiss*
The palace gardens — fountains, roses, and the most peaceful vibes imaginable
Mirador de San Nicolás at golden hour — Alhambra glowing against the Sierra Nevada
More mint tea, more winding streets — getting lost on purpose in the best way
Authentic Sacromonte flamenco in a cave venue — goosebumps guaranteed
Granada is famous for free tapas with every drink — yes, free. We're eating our way through
Short ride through rolling Andalusian countryside — coffee in hand
Arriving just in time for the most dramatically beautiful plaza you'll ever see
First taste of Seville's streets — orange trees everywhere, the air smells amazing
A royal palace that makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale — Game of Thrones was filmed here
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world — climb the Giralda tower for city views
Crossing the bridge to the flamenco heartland — ceramic shops, tapas bars, real Seville
Morning stroll along the river — golden light, old bridges, perfect people-watching
Learning the history and art of flamenco — maybe catching a live performance
Finding the perfect Seville rooftop bar — watching the sun set over the cathedral
High-speed rail through Spain — watching the landscape shift from Andalusia to Castilla
Dropping bags, freshening up, getting our Madrid bearings
Madrid's Broadway lit up at night — architecture, neon, and pure city energy
World-class art museum — Velázquez, Goya, and three hours that feel like twenty minutes
Rowboats on the lake, Crystal Palace, pretending we live here
Guernica in person — Picasso's masterpiece hits different when you're standing in front of it
Madrid's main drag — Zara flagship, architecture, people-watching from cafés
The most beautiful food market in Madrid — tapas, wine, and everything in between
Finding the perfect rooftop with city views — Madrid at night from above
The only acceptable way to start the last full day — chocolate so thick you could stand a spoon in it
One more wander through the streets, soaking it all in, buying last-minute souvenirs
The big last dinner — somewhere special, raising a glass to 20 days of magic
The saddest part of any trip — but at least we have 20 days of memories
One last movie marathon, replaying highlights, probably crying a little
Chicago to Appleton one more time — exhausted, happy, already looking at flights back