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Trip Report: 2 Weeks In Spain – Solo Woman Traveler

Trip Report: 2 Weeks In Spain – Solo Woman Traveler

Old Jun 7th, 2007, 06:23 AM
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I just got back May 26
Would say leave flip flops in the room except perhaps at beach areas. The Spanish women wear stylish and good leather shoes.
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Old Jun 7th, 2007, 06:45 AM
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Thank you for posting this! I'm also a solo traveller, and will be in Spain this September.
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Old Jun 8th, 2007, 07:27 AM
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Shandirls - Well I'm going to Spain in July and I'm bringing my flip flops! I first brought flip flops to Italy several years ago, with the idea that I'd just use them at the beach or in the room. But they were so much more comfortable (for me) than my other sandals that I've brought them with me every summer since then - to Portugal, Switzerland, Scandinavia, etc. Will I be mistaken for a Madrid business woman - of course not, but I'll be cool (relatively) and comfortable. I use Teva flip flops, they are mostly black and very simple. I suppose hot pink or something might look worse. But just as the people who are only comfortable in sneaker type shoes should wear them when walking all over Europe, you can wear flip flops if you want. For dinner at a nice restaurant, something a little dressier would be better.
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Old Jun 8th, 2007, 09:45 AM
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Thanks, laartista, comfyshoes and amsdon

Mahya - Thanks for all of your great comments. I know exactly what you mean about the huge dead octopus - I had one staring directly at me from my plate one evening - a rather frightening episode.

*RE: your comment about taking the Madrid Metro to the airport. Yes, by all means, be vigilant and alert if you're going this way. I truly felt fine - all my valuables were well-hidden (and, of course, by this time I looked like Popeye with my huge biceps, so I probably scared off any would-be pickpocketers).

Re: SHOES- If you plan on walking for 10 hours a day like I did, I would say bring whatever's comfortable for you. I had two pairs of comfy shoes (in case one pair got wet, which they did when it rained in Madrid) and one pair of nice, going out shoes.

You can buy cute, comfortable shoes in Barcelona at Camper - I saw quite a few women wearing this style when I was there.

*SHOPPING: If you like to shop, see the Girls Guide to Shopping in Barcelona by Alexandra Moore (most of these shops are also in Madrid):

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...ing-guide.html

If you care about this sort of thing, she also has a section on what NOT to wear. I found her info to be pretty much up-to-date.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...a-clothes.html

Have fun!
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Old Jun 11th, 2007, 12:09 PM
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Those are fun and useful links, Magellan - thanks!
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Old Jun 11th, 2007, 12:39 PM
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Hi annabelle - Great! I'm glad you find them useful. They helped me out quite a bit, actually. Take care - M
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Old Jun 22nd, 2007, 12:16 PM
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Magellan, thanks so much for your report! I will be solo in Barcelona in Sept. and this was great info. I have traveled solo before and love it, however dining is the trickiest part for me. I try, if I can, to arrange fodorite gtg's, meet up with other travelers or friendly locals to enjoy dinners. Miss Ziegfeld if you see this, any chance you wil be in Barcelona first week of September?
JenV
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Old Aug 14th, 2007, 06:52 PM
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I was researching Barcelona and came upon this post from June...Hilarious! Magellan, I really enjoyed your solo travel diary. It was informative and also quite humorous. The Smoldering Glance, funny as we age, it is more welcoming . I am only a few years older than you, but I wouldn't mind a smoldering glance or two.
I love the part about getting your pronouns right and the hissing women. Too much!
Anyway, I am trying to plan a trip for next summer. Austria is where we will be for a little over a week. Then, I would like to go to Spain. Barcelona was my first choice. I admit the crime bothers me. It is tough to have to constantaly be on guard. We will be a couple traveling with our teen daughters and grandmother. (and possibly another older couple-aunt and uncle).
Why did you love Madrid more than Barcelona? Would Madrid be too hot in July? Do you feel crime is worse in Barcelona or the same?
Thanks for any info. I hope you see this thread!
Oh and I admire you and all the other women who posted as solo travelers. I think it is wonderful and brave.
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Old Aug 24th, 2007, 11:48 AM
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Thanks for your nice comments – I really appreciate them! To answer your questions:

WHY DID YOU LOVE MADRID MORE THAN BARCELONA? Well, you can basically chalk this one up to personal preference. I found the people in Madrid to be much friendlier for some reason. I also thought Madrid felt much more "Spanish" than Barcelona - if that makes any sense – and that’s really what I was looking for on my trip to Spain. I also felt like it was easier to meet people in Madrid, and there seemed to be a more exciting and vibrant night life there. Don’t get me wrong: Barcelona had many, many beautiful sites and I’m glad I went - and there’s nothing like being near the Mediterranean Sea! I just felt happier overall in Madrid. And, errrr... the smoldering glances from those lovely men in Madrid helped tip the scales a bit for me too.

WOULD MADRID BE TOO HOT IN JULY? That depends on what you mean by “too hot.” I really prefer hot weather, so it wouldn’t be too hot for me. If you absolutely wilt in 90-100F degree weather, then maybe July isn’t for you. If it were me, I would get up very early while it’s still cool and hit the sites. Then during the hottest part of the day, when everything shuts down, you’d be wise to just rest at that time. Then go out again later when it cools down a bit. Definitely pace yourself and don’t run around non-stop at the hottest parts of the day ( Try to be propped up in some nice air-conditioned museum or – better yet - plant yourself in front of a big welcoming pitcher of sangria and greet that baby with gusto!).

DO YOU FEEL CRIME IS WORSE IN BARCELONA OR THE SAME? I do have to admit that I saw (first-hand) and heard of far more pick-pocketing incidents in Barcelona than I did in Madrid. I don’t know why that was the case. Regardless, in both cities, I had an absolute death grip on my purse, and I only carried essential items with me.

I will tell you about one scam that I experienced Barcelona – not to scare you, but so that you can be on the look out for this sort of thing. It’s important to know it for it what it is, because it plays on people’s sense of kindness and their desire to help.

*I was walking near the Maritime Museum just off the Ramblas at around 11am. There weren’t a lot of people around, maybe a half-dozen or so: a street vendor selling stuff, a nice looking middle-aged woman who appeared to be on her way to work, and a few men lounging on the street benches.

All of a sudden, the nice-looking woman tripped on a curb and fell onto the sidewalk. I mean it when I say that she hit the ground HARD! She sat up and grabbed her arm and began to cry and wail, holding her arm as if it were broken. Several men ran over to help her up – I also ran over to help. I felt so bad for her!

I noticed that her purse was a foot away from her so I picked it up and handed it to her. She kept wailing, but as I got close to her, I realized that she was actually fine – and that there was something not quite right about the way she was crying: it was fake. I felt a very strong “warning!” feeling in my gut – and at that moment, I looked up and saw that she was making some odd eye contact with the three men around her. And they were also looking at each other in the same strange way. At that second, I just KNEW that it was a set up and that they were signaling in some way to each other – my guess is that they were poised try to pickpocket me while I was distracted helping the “injured” woman. One man started to move to my right, almost behind me.

Fortunately for me, I’d had something in the neighborhood of 17 espresso shots that morning and was able to move at the caffeine-fueled speed of light . I tightened my grip on my purse, and without a word, I turned and ran the hell out of there.

I really don’t think they were targeting ME in particular; I’m sure they would have targeted ANYONE who showed up to help. There was NOTHING menacing about these folks – they actually appeared at first to be nice, normal people – which is probably how they get away with it, as no one suspects them! I seriously doubt that there would have been any violence. They were probably just trying to get close enough to me so they could get their hands on my wallet. Later, I heard about someone at my hotel witnessing the same scam in the Ramblas area. Nice, eh?

Even after that, however, I wasn’t too worried. I would say, go and enjoy your trip! Don’t walk around in fear or allow your trip to be ruined or canceled because you think that the crime would be too bad. It’s NOT that bad. I was never afraid (just a little miffed at the gall of the attempt). It’s just that it’s best not to be too naïve or too trusting: you need to be on the alert for people who want your stuff.

If I had it to do over again, I STILL would have gone over to help that woman and checked to see that she was ok. After all, she could have truly been hurt. I’m not going to let any thieves erase my sense of decency, dammit. It’s just that next time I’ll wear my Nike’s instead of my high heels so I can practice my kick-boxing maneuvers and then run away even faster.

Go and have a fantastic time! I did!
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Old Aug 24th, 2007, 11:56 AM
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That last posting is intended for girlonthe go. And no, those thieves didn't get my wallet.
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Old Aug 24th, 2007, 01:51 PM
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Thanks Magellan 5 for posting back!

I am still trying to figure out our trip ideas. Weighing between Austria-Spain or Austria-London. (Flight costs may influence our decision.
My one daughter will have finished Spanish 3 at the high school level. That is one reason for the spain trip. Besides the fact that I have always wanted to go there.
Decisions, decisions! I am happy to be able to make these types of decisions!
Thanks again for all of your info. I will be bookmarking your trip report. It really did make me laugh out loud at some of the situations you were in!! Have a good day!
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 06:28 AM
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Super report, well written and well organized -- lots of practical information. And I admire your spirit and attitude. You're a trouper and would make a good travel writer.

I've traveled solo many times and find dining alone a challenge but do it. I often bring a book or write in my journal; I think I was mistaken for a travel writer once at a restaurant in Ireland and got super treatment. Also was invited to join others for dinner.

I was last in Spain (Madrid) more than 30 years ago and have begun thinking about Spain for a 2008 trip (after reading Laarista's report & now yours).
I received the SG from the bartender in our Madrid hotel. Actually, it was several lingering glances -- whew! His name was Paco and he said he would like to show me Madrid the next day. Sadly, I was leaving for Paris in the morning, but Paco has fed my fantasies for many years.

<<pull your hair back severely from your face, wear black, shuffle slowly when you walk, and maintain a visage of pious misery.>>

Love "pious misery.>> Keep on writing!
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 06:55 AM
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Hi Luisah - Thanks for the kudos! Well, if you do go on that trip, I hope that the stars align and that you and Paco somehow reunite in 2008 - and that you'll post a trip report when you get back telling us all about it!
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 07:34 AM
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Loved your report. I'll confess that Spain isn't high on my "hit list" don't have a reason for that.

But a comment earlier struck me: "hissing women and wonder what on earth that was about."

Envy? Jealousy? There they are in a culture that maybe doesn't encourage solo females without their duenna's chaperoning them in their day. And there you are...my little sister exploring the world. A heroine for many women too timid to give it a go.

I admire you.(And probably so did they, except they were in a pack right? Pack rules perhaps?"
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 09:19 AM
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Hi Magellan - I'm just starting to post my trip report for Spain (it's at:http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=35055217) Anyway, I loved the Santa Isabel in Toledo. What room did you stay in. I've tried re-reading your whole post but can't find it. I know someone from this forum(and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember who) stayed in the same room I did - Room 107 with the statue of Saint Isabel just outside the window. Was that you?
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 11:43 AM
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Hi Isabel - I'm posting this response here and on your thread. Saw your question about Room 107 at Santa Isabel in Toledo. No, I didn't stay in that room. I stayed up on the third floor in the room with the lovely medieval "prison bars" on the window. All I would have needed was a big old chastity belt with a nice rusty lock on it to complete the picture (oh, my!). Anyway, very nice trip report - your pictures are just lovely!

Note to SuzieCll - I really appreciate your comments! BTW: Yes, actually most of the time those hissing gals were in packs of two or four....but I just thought they were trying to create a rockin' wall of sound - you know, "hissing in stereo." Very nice effect.
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Old Aug 25th, 2007, 12:12 PM
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NB: And yes, I'm painfully aware that I've used the word "lovely" at least five times in the past 24 hours. I'm even beginning to annoy myself.
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Old Aug 27th, 2007, 04:40 AM
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Wow! Terrific report, Magellan_5.
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Old Sep 2nd, 2007, 03:02 PM
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Hi Magellan_5

What luck coming across your delightful trip report as I begin plan my 2008 solo trip to Spain. As many others on this forum have commented, your writing style is not only informative but also very entertaining.

I am in my early 50’s and discovered the joy of solo travel when I turned 50 and realized that if I was ever to see all the places in the world that I wanted to see, I had better get going. The determining factor for my choice for solo trips is an abundance of world class art and architecture, so Spain is of course a top choice.

You answered a lot of my questions in your post such as, is it better to fly or take a train between Barcelona and Madrid. I was leaning towards the train, because I love train travel and was nice to find out that the trip is only 5 hours. I have a friend who went to Barcelona and Madrid last year and he also liked Madrid much better than Barcelona but was glad he went to both. With his comments and your comments in mind, I think I will fly into Barcelona and fly out of Madrid. I had not yet determined side trips from Madrid but your comments on Toledo will be helpful.

I know that many Fodor’s posters are concerned about the crime in Spain but it is not the crime that concerns me, it is the food, and your comments on Spanish cuisine pretty much confirm my worries. I really dislike ham and fried foods. I am planning on searching out ethic restaurants in both cities to find lighter fare. I just returned from a week in Sweden and ate at some really nice Indian and Greek restaurants. We ate Swedish food on occasion but I don’t enjoy reindeer meat and herring.

Did you have any trouble with your Spanish in Barcelona? Were they able to understand you?

Again, thank you for your trip report.
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Old Sep 4th, 2007, 10:29 AM
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Thanks! Though I don't have immediate plans to go to Spain, well, maybe I do 2 years from now if I have $$$, I found your report very interesting. It's very well-written. observant, informative and insightful. Are a journalist by any chance? I shall make a copy of this for my future reference. Gracias y Adios!
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