About |
Why Rick Steves?
Hi there! My name is Marissa, and this is my Rick Steves Tour Scrapbook. This past summer, to celebrate my graduation from graduate school, I returned to Europe for the fourth time with my favorite travel companion, my mother. I've done a lot of different kinds of traveling, particularly in Europe - I spent three weeks in Europe with my family in high school, studied abroad in Scotland for two months during college, and spent five weeks abroad (including some solo travel as well as my very first Rick Steves tour) the summer before I started graduate school. This time, choosing Rick Steves was a no-brainer for my mom and I. I'll be the first to say that solo travel is an incredible learning experience, and I have no doubt that I'll do more in my lifetime - I love the freedom and responsibility and growth it brings. But ever since we went on our first Rick Steves tour to Eastern Europe in 2015, my mom and I couldn't wait to join another wonderful group of Rick Steves travelers and guides! I'd always wanted to go to Spain to explore the architecture, food, and culture, and the 8-day tour to Spain seemed like a perfect fit.
Travel far enough, you meet yourself -David Mitchell |
Rick Steves tours perfectly blend group and solo adventure opportunities into one package - you have access to all the perks of group travel, including expedited entrances into major sightseeing destinations (hello, Sagrada Família!), world-class insights from funny, honest, and knowledgeable guides, as well as plenty of time for exploring your own interests and passions on your own. In other words, it doesn't feel like kindergarten with 24/7 supervision, but you have plenty of support and a welcoming community of fellow travelers with similar passions for immersing themselves in other cultures and places. Tour sizes are perfect - not too big, not too small. Excellent company is practically a guarantee! Extensive in-depth walking tours contextualize your sightseeing through historical, art historical, and cultural lenses, and the local guides really help ground you in the cultures and locales you visit in ways you might not experience traveling alone without any local contacts. I have two history degrees, so I'm all about context! Plus, Rick Steves tours always feature amazing housing options, usually very centrally located without being overly touristy, and often locally owned. Definitely a major plus! When in doubt, choose Rick Steves. You won't regret it.
This digital scrapbook offers a selection of my photography (unless otherwise noted, all photos on this website are my own creations) and reflections on the trip, including the few days we spent in France prior to the start of our tour in Spain....enjoy! |
ItineraryCourtesy of the handy RIck Steves' tour website, here's a rundown of our tour (with brief commentary from yours truly): Day 1: Welcome to Barcelona (this was actually not our first day of travel, as my mom and I arrived a few days early to explore Lyon and Montpelier before heading over to Barcelona....more on that later.) Day 2: Gaudí Day (Otherwise known as ARCHITECTURE DAY!) Day 3: Barri Gòtic and Picasso (So. Much. Art. Also historic Barcelona.) Day 4: Montjuïc and a Speedy Train to Madrid (Trains are definitely one of my favorite parts of European travel.) Day 5: Madrid's Royal Palace Today (plus some hilarious royal gossip from our lovely tour guide Federico García Barroso....much more on this fascinating man to come.) Day 6: Masterpieces of Madrid (word of advice for this tour: be prepared to walk, walk, and walk some more.) Day 7: Toledo (There are scarcely words to describe this place...but I'll try!) Day 8: Tour Over Please check out the Rick Steve website to find our more about pricing, date options, and more detailed itinerary information for this tour. |