Ah I love Spain. I’ve only been to Madrid and Barcelona so far so wanted to explore more of the country. On a weekend trip we went to Valencia for some sun, sand and sangria! The proximity to the beach, delicious local paella and charming main town made this the perfect getaway. Although it is the third largest city in Spain, it had a very different feel than Madrid and Barcelona, much more slow paced and more laid back. I loved Valencia. The instant warmth of the sun and feeling of coming to a place that enjoys life so openly is amazing. One of the first things we saw as we were trying to find our hotel were families having water fights in the streets to cool down. So fun.

The weekend was spent exploring the old town, eating tapas, drinking sangria, wandering around the promenade, strolls on the beach… on repeat! A nice relaxing getaway. As I see more destinations and am getting more into a mode of experiencing the life and getting a feel for the place, it does mean I don’t see all of the main attractions each time. Which is actually completely ok for me now. A few years ago I would’ve been frustrated not to see and check off every single thing on the tourist list, but I think travel has made me appreciate more of the little things instead of always sticking to an itinerary. Having said that, next time I do want to see the park that goes through the middle of the city, the main market (it was closed on the day we went) and the City of Arts and Sciences.