Day 5: Pigeons Beware: Our Madrid Survival Guide

 Nov 15, 2024

We caught our early morning train to Madrid—8:25 AM sharp. Miraculously, we made it, despite me being deeply, persistently nauseous. We found our seat numbers and settled in, blissfully unaware that we were in the completely wrong car. Turns out Spanish trains are a little more specific than we were prepared for—cars are numbered. We had to hop off and scramble back on to the correct car, which was more stress than my queasy stomach needed before 9 AM.

We dropped our bags at the hotel, but our room wasn’t ready yet. I was starving and nauseous, which is a truly cursed combo. We set off to find breakfast. My stomach kept flipping on the walk, making every step a delicate negotiation. The first restaurant was full, so we wandered on. Eventually, I managed a few bites of scrambled eggs and toast before declaring myself unfit for public life again.

We headed to a nearby park to regroup. Evan sat on a bench while I laid down across it with my head in his lap, eyes closed, breathing deeply and pretending not to be a liability. While I was trying to keep my breakfast down, Evan entertained himself by watching the locals casually kick pigeons that got too close. I’m honestly grateful I missed that part. Ever since however, “go kick a pigeon” has become our go-to phrase for when we need a little comic relief.

Once check-in time hit, we made our way back to the hotel, where I immediately got into bed. Thank goodness I wasn’t actively sick at that point—the room was tiny, and the bathroom somehow even tinier. Since I still needed something bland, Evan managed to order two bowls of plain white rice from a restaurant 45 minutes across the city. Apparently, Madrid doesn’t believe in rice. Who knew? He also ordered shawarma for himself, and both deliveries arrived within five minutes of each other. The hotel concierge gave him some very suspicious looks as he went down (this creepy ass hallway!!) not one but two separate times to collect them. 

Later that night, in a desperate attempt to feel like humans again, we played a few rounds of Go Fish—and discovered, to our horror, that we grew up with completely different rules. This shocking revelation sparked an ongoing household debate: whose version is correct? The jury is still out.

We closed out the evening with—you guessed it—more Netflix. Just two world travelers… one trying not to puke and one pretending this is exactly the trip he’d hoped for.

Day 4: Netflix, Crackers, and a Saint Named Evan

 Nov 14, 2024

We were supposed to see La Sagrada Familia on Day 4, but after the Night of Regret™ (see: Day 3’s bathroom-bound horror), there was simply no way. I spent the entire day horizontal—too weak to stand, too nauseous to move, and flipping from Arctic tundra to furnace-level heat. A real treat.

Sweet Evan, who could’ve spent the day sightseeing, chose instead to keep me company in our very dim, very not-Gaudí-themed hotel room. I eventually convinced him to get some fresh air, which he used not for joy or tapas, but to pick up crackers (my gourmet meal of the day) and return with the exact earrings I’d paused to admire in a Gothic Quarter storefront the day before. Honestly? Too good for this world.

I managed to eat two and a half crackers. A feast. The rest of the day was a blur of naps and Netflix—no cathedrals, but still technically a cultural experience.

Barcelona, Day 3: Brunch, Flamenco, and the Brutal Betrayal of Spanish Buffets

 November 13, 2024

We started our third day in Barcelona with the most millennial breakfast possible: avocado toast. But, in my defense, the place was really cute. We were at Billy Brunch Headquarters, crammed into the tiniest table you've ever seen—on a propped up platform against the wall—next to a boisterous group of Brits having the time of their lives. Honestly, if you didn’t hear the phrase “cheeky pint” at least once, were you even at brunch?

From there, we wandered through the Gothic Quarter for a bit of shopping. Cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, the occasional whiff of incense and leather—it felt like we were strolling through a medieval Pinterest board.

Our main event of the evening was a flamenco show at Tablao Cordobés right on La Rambla. We’d booked the dinner + show option, which came with a buffet. I approached it with my usual strategy: try a little bit of everything and hope my stomach is feeling cooperative. (Foreshadowing.)

We somehow landed front row seats for the performance—close enough to see the sweat fly off the dancers as they pounded the stage with impossible precision. The male dancer was especially intense. He looked like he was either expressing centuries of Andalusian soul or trying to stomp out a kitchen fire. Either way, mesmerizing.

After the show, we tried out a bar called Three Cats, which had been recommended by one of my 'My Buddy’s' regulars. It was fine. The vibe was kind of sleepy, so we nursed a drink, gave it a respectful nod, and moved on.

Naturally, we returned to La Flauta—the restaurant from Night One that we loved so much—for a nightcap snack: jamón ibérico and patatas bravas. Perfect way to end the night… right?

Wrong.

About fifteen minutes later, I turned to Evan and said, very calmly and very seriously, “I need to go home. Now.”

What followed was seven hours of horror. I’ll spare you the gory details (you’re welcome), but let’s just say I became intimately familiar with the bathroom floor tiles. 

Evan, poor guy, had never witnessed food poisoning in the wild and kept asking if he needed to rush me to a Spanish hospital. (Bless him.) Fortunately—or unfortunately—I’ve had food poisoning multiple times, so I knew exactly what it was. Still didn’t make it suck any less.

So yeah, Day 3 ended not with a bang, but a barf.

Barcelona Day 2: Oysters, Rainstorms, and Pooping Figurines

 Nov 12, 2024

Kicking Off with a Walking Tour

We kicked off our first full day in Barcelona with a 10:30am walking tour—and thank goodness we did, because our guide brought us to some of the most jaw-dropping spots in the city.

Gaudí’s Dream House: Casa Batlló

One of the first stunners? Casa Batlló. This building looks like Gaudí let his imagination run wild after eating a whole wheel of funky cheese. With its colorful, scaled façade that mimics a dragon’s back and its undulating windows, it’s one of the best examples of Catalan Modernisme. Gaudí designed it in 1904, and honestly, it feels less like a house and more like a magical sea creature you could live inside. (pictured below are multiple Gaudi stops from our tour)

^^casa batllo

Winding Through the Gothic Quarter

From there, we wound through the Gothic Quarter, where ancient Roman walls blend with medieval alleyways and hip cafes. The energy is impossible to describe—like if a cathedral and a skate park had a baby and gave it a candlelit history book.

An Upside-Down Ship for Columbus

Then came the ship in the ceiling. Yes, you read that right. We stepped into the Reials Drassanes, the Royal Shipyard turned Maritime Museum, and there above us was a massive upside-down ship suspended from the ceiling—built to honor Christopher Columbus. It was a nod to his triumphant return to Barcelona after his first trip to the Americas. The space itself was atmospheric and cool in that "I might join a pirate crew now" kind of way.

Caganers: When in Doubt, Poop it Out

But the most unexpected stop on our tour? A gift shop dedicated entirely to Caganers. These are little figurines of famous people…pooping. Literally. Pants down, cheeks out, full squat. The tradition dates back to the 18th century, when locals supposedly used this tactic to keep invading soldiers out of their homes. A little front porch defecation goes a long way when you're trying to deter unwanted guests, I guess. Today, these cheeky ornaments are a staple in Catalan nativity scenes. At this shop, we found everyone from Betty Boop to Donald Trump to Obi-Wan Kenobi caught mid-poop. You're never too famous to squat, apparently.

Lunch Break: Paella-Sized Sangrias

After the tour, we headed to a paella spot our guide had recommended. It was... fine. Nothing special. The paellas were big, but honestly? The $5 sangria glasses were even bigger.

Rainstorm Detour and a Chocolate Revelation

Our walk back to the hotel took a turn when the skies opened up. We’re talking sideways rain, the kind that makes you question your life choices. We ducked into a tiny café, and that’s when we discovered drinking chocolate. Imagine the most decadent hot chocolate you’ve ever had. Now imagine it’s richer. Now imagine it’s so thick you need a spoon. We were in heaven. Barcelona could’ve flooded Noah-style outside and we wouldn’t have noticed.

Once the rain slowed to a tolerable drizzle, we made a run for it and waited out the rest of the storm at our hotel.

Dinner Adventures at Media Manga

For dinner, Evan found a few Infatuation-recommended spots and we tried our luck at Mont Bar. No dice. But they graciously led us next door to their sister restaurant, Media Manga, which turned out to be a delicious surprise. We tried a bunch of creative dishes—flavored oysters, tuna with clarified lettuce (?!), and even stingray for the first time. Neither of us loved the stingray. Texture-wise, it was giving "what if fish had anxiety" vibes. I might give it another shot someday in a smaller portion, but I’m not racing to reorder it.

Street Music and Crafty Karaoke

Post-dinner, we wandered through the Gothic Quarter again, this time under a dreamy night sky. The churches were beautifully lit, and the streets were filled with live music—outside one cathedral, a group of street musicians sang beautifully, and down a nearby corridor, three men were performing opera, their voices echoing off the stone walls. It was absolutely magical.

And because we weren’t ready to call it a night, we ended up at a bar called Craft, which had live band karaoke in the basement. We grabbed a table in the back, (next to some VERY drunk girls!) sang along with strangers, and on our way out, even met the owner—an American from Pittsburgh! 

Final Thoughts

On our walk home from Craft, we decided—naturally—that we needed to eat again. When in Rome (or, you know, Barcelona), right? I was convinced nothing would be open, so I marched into a convenience store and made Evan ask the owner if they had peanut butter. No dice. I begrudgingly settled on a box of cereal and some shelf-stable milk. Evan just shook his head, silently judging my snack decisions. But the joke was on me—right after we walked out and turned the corner, we ran straight into an open Popeyes. Guess the cereal and warm milk will have to wait.

All in all, it was an action-packed day filled with art, rain, delicious weirdness, and pooping figurines. Barcelona, you weird and wonderful gem—you’ve stolen our hearts (and maybe our digestive systems).

Champagne, Calamari, and Condoms: Our First 24 Hours in Barcelona

Mon 11 Nov 2024 - Mon 12 Nov 2024

We took off Sunday evening from Chicago with visions of tapas and Gaudí dancing in our heads. Evan used credit card points to get us into the airport lounge in Portugal during our layover, which made me feel very fancy. We sipped champagne with the confidence of people who do this all the time and raided the snack bar with the enthusiasm of people who absolutely don’t.

Thanks to the magic of time zones (and the cruel trick of overnight flights), we landed in Barcelona on Monday night, slightly disoriented but fully excited. We checked into the Axel Hotel Barcelona & Urban Spa, which we did not realize was quite as... let’s say, sex-positive... as it turned out to be. Near the front desk was a glass display case filled with penis figurines. The hotel shop offered every sex toy imaginable, and there were condoms thoughtfully placed on the nightstand. Definitely the kind of hospitality you don’t find at your average Marriott.

Our first stop was La Flauta, a cozy little tapas place near the hotel that hit the spot hard. The star of the show? Calamari fries—lightly battered, golden, crispy perfection with just a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. These were not your average chewy fried squid rings; they were elegant little seafood miracles. We shared a few more small plates and each had a glass of local wine, which was both really good and really cheap. Like, are-you-sure-this-isn’t-a-mistake cheap. (Spoiler: it wasn’t.)

After dinner, we went on what can only be described as a very long “we’re almost there” walk so Evan could see Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. It was illuminated against the night sky and genuinely cool to see—though I didn’t yet realize we’d be seeing it again later in the trip in broad daylight, when it would be even more impressive. #Foreshadowing

But the highlight of the night was still to come: The Alchemix, a gastro-cocktail bar that felt like walking into a magical forest mixed with a high-end science experiment. There was literally a tree inside. The menu featured drinks inspired from around the world, and the bartender told us he’d curated cocktails in Thailand and London before landing in Barcelona. 

We sat at the bar and chatted with the bartender and his apprentice—a sweet kid from Italy on a work visa, in Barcelona with his girlfriend—while sipping the most whimsical drinks imaginable. It was like the bartender had bottled his travels and served them in cocktail form. I ordered the Khao Tom Mad, a Thai-inspired cocktail served in a coconut with banana chips on the side. Evan got the Apollo, which came in an actual Apollo bust and was topped with what he described as “the most glorious whipped cream of his life.” No joke—he talked about that whipped cream for the rest of the trip and openly dreamed of bottling it.

By the time we wandered back to our very cheeky hotel, we were full, a little buzzed, and completely smitten with Barcelona already. We went to bed excited for the walking tour the next day. More culture, less calamari (maybe)

All Inclusive in the Dominican Republic

 July 15-20, 2024

Kristin and I found a great deal on Facebook through Monster Travel a few months back. The pitch was sit through a 2 hour time share presentation in exchange for a 5 night 6 day stay at an all inclusive resort for $350. We said HELL YEAH and started counting down the days. 

Sports Illustrated Resort Cap Cana sent a driver to pick us up from the airport. Unlike the US there was no place to wait inside the airport so into the 90 degree heat we went. Upon arrival at our destination they let us grab lunch because the buffet would soon be closing. We got drinks after because we had a 30 minute check in orientation to sit through. 

After making it to our room we unpacked and made a lap around the resort to get our bearings. Fun fact: although I'm usually directionally challenged I was the navigator throughout this trip. We always made it to dinner, the pool or the lobby with plenty of time to spare 😊

That night we had a Mexican buffet for dinner and listened to some karaoke in the lobby before heading to bed. 

The morning of day 2 was filled with 🎵  work work work work work 🎵  for both Kristin and I. She had event planning to take care of and I was trying to watch videos for my instructional design class. After, we met the girl who was doing our time share presentation for lunch. After eating with her we toured the property and then went to her office to look at plans on her computer. While Kristin and I had NO INTENTION of buying a timeshare we did enjoy the drinks the bartender was making us during the presentation. We enjoyed them so much that we actually ended up sitting at the timeshare bar post presentation to have another. The bartender had eyes for Kristin 😍 and sent us back to our room with a few tall boys for our fridge. 

We changed into our suits and headed to the pool to enjoy an hour of relaxing in the water before dinner. 

That night dinner was Italian- the eggplant parmesan was both of our favorites!! We headed to the lobby to catch the entertainment- it was a couples game show. We opted to sit at the bar and watch the soccer game that was on. 

Day 3 meant dune buggy riding both on and off road. Kristin and I took turns driving and concluded that the gas was slow to go but the brake was FAST to stop. It led to a jerky ride for us. We made 2 stops- one to learn about how mamajuana (a local liquor steeped in wine and honey) is made. While there we also learned about coffee, cacao, cinnamon and vanilla production. The best part was taste testing everything and then getting to go for a swim in the man made cave. The second stop was at a local beach where Kristin and I held an iguana and waded in the ocean waves. Once we returned to the dune buggy site we were covered in mud so we showered off and made the long trek back to our resort. While it was only advertised as a 4 hour excursion, we had been gone for 7+ hours. We weren't mad, just tuckered out. We decided to treat ourselves to a non included tapas restaurant that evening and it did not disappoint. We had a bottle of wine and quite a few small plates while we watched the sun set over the water. 

Day 4 included swimming with dolphins, stingrays and sharks. This was SUCH a cool experience and I'm so glad I got to do it. The morning started with a boat ride to the middle of the ocean where a square dock was built. The trainers gave us directions in 4 different languages (so impressive!) and then we hopped in the water. We got to lay on a boogey board while a dolphin came up behind us and pushed us through the water by our toes. We also got to hold its fin and let it pull us through the water on its back. The dolphins were smooth to the touch and incredibly gentle. It was so fun to get to swim with them. After we headed to a different section of the dock where we got snorkel gear and hopped in the water with sharks, fish and stingrays. Kristin and I even got to hold one. This was a great experience! It made it even better that it was only supposed to be 2 hours but we were gone for over 4. When we got back to the hotel I was starving so I sat at the pool bar and had a snack while Kristin did some work. It rained in the afternoon so we hunkered down and watched. After, we had an Italian dinner and of course ordered the eggplant again because it was so tasty. 

Day 5 was our first day at the beach because we had been so busy! We took full advantage and stayed for hours. While it rained for a bit Kristin and I just sat at the open air restaurant. The ocean water was delightful and I spent a lot of time wading through the waves. We decided to venture off the resort for our last night. One of the bartenders hooked us up with a ride downtown Cap Cana where we wandered around in the open air bar scene. We sat outside and had drinks, ate tacos and listened to music that was WAY too loud. 

Our last day in the Dominican was an eventful one. There was a software upgrade that disrupted flights all over the world. Kristin and I were both at the airport unsure if our flights would take off as scheduled but never fear, pizza hut was here. 😆

Fortunately, mine did. Unfortunately, Kristin's did not. She spent all day at the airport only to be bused to a hotel where she was assigned a random roommate and told she'd be picked up between 6 and 10am the next day. She got on the early morning bus but her flight continued to get delayed so she bought a 7pm flight with another airline and then was able to add her name to the standby list for all of their flights. She managed to get out around 3pm. Thank goodness because the next day she was heading to Germany to see Taylor Swift. #neveradullmoment

This vacation taught Kristin and I that we're not really all inclusive travelers. We prefer the spontaneity and excitement of moving from place to place, trying the foods unique to that area, being immersed in the local culture and planning our own adventurous outings. However, for $350 we're definitely glad we did it.