Trip Report: 2 Weeks In Spain – Solo Woman Traveler
Sep 4th, 2007, 11:12 AM
#61
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Hi Roadlesstraveled. You are not alone in your food concerns. Dont get me wrong we love trying and eating different foods, but after a few days in Spain, walking past windows riddled with hanging cured meats and the smell of pickled olives, sardines, wafting out onto the street, was enough to send us to McDonalds and Burger King for every meal. Shameful, I know...
Perhap someone has a recommendation on great ethnic restaurants that can be found in Spain that we americans are used to. I would sure like to know for future visits. Maybe mexican?
Perhap someone has a recommendation on great ethnic restaurants that can be found in Spain that we americans are used to. I would sure like to know for future visits. Maybe mexican?
Sep 4th, 2007, 08:50 PM
#63
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I know what you mean, SUMMAGOLD, I usually enjoy trying new foods when I travel, but a good friend, who loves to take photographs, spent two weeks in Spain earlier this year and took photos of every meal he and his wife ate. After dozens of pictures of ham, sardines, squid and more ham, I was beginning to feel a little queasy. He and his wife even had photos of the “museum of ham” taken in Madrid. I will definitely seek out other types of restaurants.
Sep 5th, 2007, 03:58 AM
#66
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Hey gal,
Your post is so interesting that it makes me wanna visit Spain almost immediately! Especially the part about the make-up. Unfortunately, I'll be heading to Italy and Austria (eastern europe) for this trip...so anyway, thanks for the information!
Your post is so interesting that it makes me wanna visit Spain almost immediately! Especially the part about the make-up. Unfortunately, I'll be heading to Italy and Austria (eastern europe) for this trip...so anyway, thanks for the information!
Sep 5th, 2007, 08:18 AM
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Hi to all
I just returned from Spain after a three week odessy with my 16 year old son and husband in tow. I absoulutly loved Spain but I have to admit that some of the best times were the times I was able to "ditch" the guys and spend solo time. I am in my early 50's and had traveled solo extensively way into my 30's and even post baby. That seems to have dropped away over the years but I have to report after this trip I intend to do more. As far as personal safety I have felt more threatened while in some american cities. Someone actually followed me from the Titanic exhibit last summer while in San Francisco. Being aware is always the key!
For the folks that wrote about getting put off by constant Spanish cusine, Spending three weeks eating only resturant food of any type was wearing. My answer was to go out buy a fresh baugette, fresh fruit, cheese, olives,cake and have a picnic either in my room or in a park. Initially I went to the supermarket at Corte Ingles, but as I became more confident I went to local markets, and bakeries. Each time I ecountered all types of people and being a fairly friendly person interected with some. After a day or two people actually recognized me and treated me as a regular.
All the hotel rooms had mini bar refrigerators so I used them to my bennifit. Only one place had the nerve to suggest a charge for use of their refigerator. I said something at the front desk and they quickly backed down.
We went Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Genada, Nerja and back to Madrid.
I really don't get the hissing. I walked alone many many places, never had anything but nice interactions. I usually had my hair in a ponytail. But I must admit later in the trip(because of the heat) went for the bun, maybe that was my unknown devil chaser
I just returned from Spain after a three week odessy with my 16 year old son and husband in tow. I absoulutly loved Spain but I have to admit that some of the best times were the times I was able to "ditch" the guys and spend solo time. I am in my early 50's and had traveled solo extensively way into my 30's and even post baby. That seems to have dropped away over the years but I have to report after this trip I intend to do more. As far as personal safety I have felt more threatened while in some american cities. Someone actually followed me from the Titanic exhibit last summer while in San Francisco. Being aware is always the key!
For the folks that wrote about getting put off by constant Spanish cusine, Spending three weeks eating only resturant food of any type was wearing. My answer was to go out buy a fresh baugette, fresh fruit, cheese, olives,cake and have a picnic either in my room or in a park. Initially I went to the supermarket at Corte Ingles, but as I became more confident I went to local markets, and bakeries. Each time I ecountered all types of people and being a fairly friendly person interected with some. After a day or two people actually recognized me and treated me as a regular.
All the hotel rooms had mini bar refrigerators so I used them to my bennifit. Only one place had the nerve to suggest a charge for use of their refigerator. I said something at the front desk and they quickly backed down.
We went Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Genada, Nerja and back to Madrid.
I really don't get the hissing. I walked alone many many places, never had anything but nice interactions. I usually had my hair in a ponytail. But I must admit later in the trip(because of the heat) went for the bun, maybe that was my unknown devil chaser
Sep 5th, 2007, 09:32 AM
#68
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I loved your report and was interested in your descriptions of dress and makeup. I have travelled quite a lot in Europe and found that American women wear more makeup than almost any other! They all look like "anchor women". American women with money are usually sylishly dressed.
European women, on the other hand, wear the most simple clothes and hairsyles( with very little makeup - perhaps lip gloss and mascara) but look so elegant even in a t-shirt and pants. They go for the "less is more" look.
They never wear fleece pullovers ( you know the ones made out of recycled bottles) white sneakers or carry handbags with garish pictures of Marilyn Monroe/cute dogs/cartoons.
Also the only fat people you see in Europe are tourists!( possibly an exaggeration!)
Wear your best quality clothes possible to Europe, but keep it simple and you will not stand out.
European women, on the other hand, wear the most simple clothes and hairsyles( with very little makeup - perhaps lip gloss and mascara) but look so elegant even in a t-shirt and pants. They go for the "less is more" look.
They never wear fleece pullovers ( you know the ones made out of recycled bottles) white sneakers or carry handbags with garish pictures of Marilyn Monroe/cute dogs/cartoons.
Also the only fat people you see in Europe are tourists!( possibly an exaggeration!)
Wear your best quality clothes possible to Europe, but keep it simple and you will not stand out.
Sep 7th, 2007, 07:47 AM
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<<American women with money are usually sylishly dressed.>>
Sorry, but I disagree with this statement. Having "money" does not guarantee good taste. I've seen some of the most garish outfits and ugliest purses worn by wealthy women.
Some of the most stylishly dressed American women are the young working women who know how to spend their limited funds on simple clothes that look good on them.
I've never seen the purses described -- Marilyn Monroe? Cartoon dogs?
Sorry, but I disagree with this statement. Having "money" does not guarantee good taste. I've seen some of the most garish outfits and ugliest purses worn by wealthy women.
Some of the most stylishly dressed American women are the young working women who know how to spend their limited funds on simple clothes that look good on them.
I've never seen the purses described -- Marilyn Monroe? Cartoon dogs?
Sep 7th, 2007, 09:23 AM
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Magellan,
I enjoyed reading your detailed account of what sounds like a trip of a lifetime. You are TOO funny !
My husband and I are taking a trip to Spain and the Mediterranean for my 50th BD in Oct. First week is a cruise out of Barcelona (warnings of pick pocketers appreciated) and second on the south coast of Spain at a resort in Marbella.
My question to you is.....is it worth a train trip from Barcelona down to Marbella or would our time be better spent just getting there by plane ? We actually have a flight back to the US from Madrid....so there lies a problem in getting multi-city airfares....
Thanks for your input....
C. Neva from Texas
I enjoyed reading your detailed account of what sounds like a trip of a lifetime. You are TOO funny !
My husband and I are taking a trip to Spain and the Mediterranean for my 50th BD in Oct. First week is a cruise out of Barcelona (warnings of pick pocketers appreciated) and second on the south coast of Spain at a resort in Marbella.
My question to you is.....is it worth a train trip from Barcelona down to Marbella or would our time be better spent just getting there by plane ? We actually have a flight back to the US from Madrid....so there lies a problem in getting multi-city airfares....
Thanks for your input....
C. Neva from Texas
Sep 10th, 2007, 03:29 PM
#73
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Hi roadlesstraveled – Glad that you found the report helpful. To answer your question: No, I didn’t have any problems with my Spanish in Barcelona - almost everyone understood me. As you probably know, while everyone can speak Spanish in BCN, Catalan is more commonly spoken there. It was difficult for me to understand the Catalan, so most people just spoke Spanish or English once they saw the blank look on my face. (Note: I learned a few basic phrases in Catalan as well out of respect for the culture, and most people responded well to the fact that I was at least trying to make some effort). Many, many people spoke English in BCN and Madrid– so much so, that I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to speak Spanish as much as possible.
Just a note about the food: the real reason I had a problem with the food was because at the beginning of my trip, I insisted on eating out in restaurants almost every night. And I ate until I burst. But that was only because I felt that dining out was obligatory. I soon realized that there were PLENTY of open markets, fruiterias, and places to get great fresh/ healthy stuff for picnics. By the end of my trip, I ate picnic style more and more frequently – and I felt a lot better. As long as you’re willing to venture into less touristy neighborhoods to find these great little stores, you should be fine. When I was especially tired, I found it helpful to just write down exactly what I wanted in Spanish beforehand, and then when I got to the market, I simply handed the list to the clerk and said “Please!” (Most places didn’t allow the customer to touch the produce anyway). Anyhow, hope you have a great trip!
Calico1 – Thanks for your nice response. No, I’m not a journalist….yet! But, who knows!? – maybe someday
Right now, I’m just trapped in a putty-colored office-building, madly fantasizing (as usual) about running off to some nice little town half-way across the globe where no one knows my name.
Susan 557 – Thanks to you too. Ah yes, the make-up issue. In retrospect, my whole trip to Spain in this regard was really liberating. I think I mentioned in my original report that on most of the women seemed to have beautiful, clean skin with very little makeup, even when going out. On the days that I wore blush and lipstick I felt conspicuous and uncomfortable, and found myself rubbing it off and opting for the “less is more” approach. This was somewhat of a victory for me because I’ve been wearing makeup since I was 12 – (when my grandmother leaned over conspiratorially one day, spilling her martini on my lap, and slurred, “Dear, we need to fix you up.”) Ah…(insert whimsical sigh here)..If only I had bought stock in Estee Lauder…then I could be free of my evil putty-colored cubicle FOREVER!!!
BURNTORANGENEVA: Thank you! So sorry, but I don’t really know much about Marbella, or how long of a train ride it would be. Many people like to fly because it’s quicker than the train. For me, however, the train is much better. I just can’t handle going to yet another airport or getting on a plane again (no matter how short the flight is) after the long, hideous flight from California, so I tend to take the train for all my journeys within a given country. It may not be the most efficient way, but I love relaxing on the train and staring out the window. That’s just me. You might want to post a brand new separate thread and take a poll of folks who have traveled between BCN and Marbella to get their input. Fodors folks are great, because they respond so quickly with helpful suggestions. Best of luck with your trip!
Just a note about the food: the real reason I had a problem with the food was because at the beginning of my trip, I insisted on eating out in restaurants almost every night. And I ate until I burst. But that was only because I felt that dining out was obligatory. I soon realized that there were PLENTY of open markets, fruiterias, and places to get great fresh/ healthy stuff for picnics. By the end of my trip, I ate picnic style more and more frequently – and I felt a lot better. As long as you’re willing to venture into less touristy neighborhoods to find these great little stores, you should be fine. When I was especially tired, I found it helpful to just write down exactly what I wanted in Spanish beforehand, and then when I got to the market, I simply handed the list to the clerk and said “Please!” (Most places didn’t allow the customer to touch the produce anyway). Anyhow, hope you have a great trip!
Calico1 – Thanks for your nice response. No, I’m not a journalist….yet! But, who knows!? – maybe someday
Right now, I’m just trapped in a putty-colored office-building, madly fantasizing (as usual) about running off to some nice little town half-way across the globe where no one knows my name. Susan 557 – Thanks to you too. Ah yes, the make-up issue. In retrospect, my whole trip to Spain in this regard was really liberating. I think I mentioned in my original report that on most of the women seemed to have beautiful, clean skin with very little makeup, even when going out. On the days that I wore blush and lipstick I felt conspicuous and uncomfortable, and found myself rubbing it off and opting for the “less is more” approach. This was somewhat of a victory for me because I’ve been wearing makeup since I was 12 – (when my grandmother leaned over conspiratorially one day, spilling her martini on my lap, and slurred, “Dear, we need to fix you up.”) Ah…(insert whimsical sigh here)..If only I had bought stock in Estee Lauder…then I could be free of my evil putty-colored cubicle FOREVER!!!
BURNTORANGENEVA: Thank you! So sorry, but I don’t really know much about Marbella, or how long of a train ride it would be. Many people like to fly because it’s quicker than the train. For me, however, the train is much better. I just can’t handle going to yet another airport or getting on a plane again (no matter how short the flight is) after the long, hideous flight from California, so I tend to take the train for all my journeys within a given country. It may not be the most efficient way, but I love relaxing on the train and staring out the window. That’s just me. You might want to post a brand new separate thread and take a poll of folks who have traveled between BCN and Marbella to get their input. Fodors folks are great, because they respond so quickly with helpful suggestions. Best of luck with your trip!
Jan 23rd, 2009, 07:57 PM
#78
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What a great trip report. I took my first solo trip to Mexico last year, and had the same experiences in restaurants (surprise that I was alone, and some even offered me reading material because they thought it might be strange for me to just sit there). I love the description of the older woman dining alone who appeared to "own" her space. I'll remember that when I take my second solo trip, this time to Italy, in March. I hope I get the SG!!
Jan 23rd, 2009, 10:17 PM
#79
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I saw this was an old post, so went to the last message to see why it had been topped. I was intrigued by the "SG" reference and just had to go back to the start and skim to see what that was (Smoldering Glance).
I am so glad I did. I got hooked on the report, and found it just delightful. Thank you, Magellan-5!
I am so glad I did. I got hooked on the report, and found it just delightful. Thank you, Magellan-5!
Jan 23rd, 2009, 11:12 PM
#80
I'm glad this report was brought back up and I enjoyed reading it -- thanks for all the great info. I do solo travel sometimes and have many similar experiences in Italy/France but haven't yet ventured to Spain.
