A whistlestop whirl around Europe

Madrid 

Our journey kicked off in Madrid, the only major city where we had no activities planned, allowing us to explore at our own pace. We stumbled upon places like the Mercado de San Miguel, a historic market renowned for having some of the best tapas, churros and sangrías in the city. 

One of our highlights was El Retiro, a man-made oasis in the heart of the city. Right in the centre of the park, we found the Palacio de Cristal, a massive glass pavilion inspired by London’s Crystal Palace.  

Barcelona  

From Madrid, we flew to Barcelona, which gave us a perfect view of the city’s beautifully systematic grid layout. Seeing pictures of it is one thing but experiencing it from above as we came into land was something else. 

Barcelona quickly became one of my favourite cities. The atmosphere feels electric, with street music on every corner and people flooding the streets late into the night.  

Our first stop was Antoni Gaudí’s enchanting Park Güell, with its whimsical architecture and vibrant mosaic artistry. From its curved and colourful terrace, we enjoyed panoramic views of Barcelona before heading down to our next destination. 

The Sagrada Família was another Gaudí must-see for me, and the church, still under construction since 1882, is remarkable both inside and out. Exterior statues depict the story of Christ, while the interior features a stunning forest of stone with floor-to-ceiling columns that branch out like tree limbs to create a canopy effect. Opalescent stained-glass windows on one side reflect the cool blue and green tones of the morning light, while warm red, orange and yellow hues capture the evening sun on the other. 

Rome  

Although we would’ve liked to have stayed longer in Barcelona, we had a schedule to stick to. We flew to Rome and jumped on a train that took us a few hours north to Pisa to visit the famous Leaning Tower. Another bucket list item checked off. 

When it comes to design and architecture, Rome delivered in spades, with the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and other top sights. The Colosseum was especially fascinating. Basking in the history beneath our feet, we pictured the emperor in his imperial box surrounded by rows of marble seats where people once engraved their names. 

The Vatican was equally impressive. We’ve all seen pictures of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling painted in fresco by Michelangelo, but standing under it among a crowd of people, shoulder to shoulder, staring up in silence was profoundly moving.  

Amalfi Coast and Sicily  

From Rome, we took a bus down to the Amalfi Coast, arriving in Salerno. From there, a ferry brought us to the stunning village of Amalfi. It was just like I imagined, with colourful houses built right into the sheer cliffs, hanging over crystal-clear blue waters.  

But soon, Sicily was beckoning. This leg involved an overnight bus, with an unwelcome 3 am transfer to the ferry across the Strait of Messina, arriving in Palermo at 7 am. The early arrival allowed us to check into our accommodation and secure a good spot at Mondello Beach, a stunning but busy stretch of golden sand with a lively atmosphere and plenty of cafés and shops.  

Paris and Amsterdam 

The next day, we flew direct from Palermo to Paris. From the top of the Arc de Triomphe, we took in the iconic views of the Eiffel Tower (decked out with the Olympic rings at the time of our visit), walked the halls of the Louvre, saw the Mona Lisa and took a cruise on the Seine, perfectly timed to capture the last of the summer evening sun.  

After a day trip to London, we departed on another budget-friendly overnight bus to Amsterdam, the final leg of our journey.  

With little time in the city, the Van Gogh Museum was top of my list, offering a chance to see his masterpieces up close. That evening, we headed to a pub where we joined the locals to watch the Euros football tournament, which was in full swing.  

Lessons from a whirlwind adventure 

Looking back on our first European adventure, it’s clear we managed to see and do an incredible amount in just 3 weeks. Striking a balance between visiting many places and taking the time to truly appreciate each one is challenging. However, constantly being on the move taught me to cherish the little time we had at each location. 

In a way, this allowed us to appreciate and remember each place even more. We wouldn’t change a thing about this trip. It taught us to truly value and embrace every moment in Europe