Spring Break: Viva España! + FREE Weezer Download

“SPRING BREAAAAAAK!”

Now I know reading that probably brings to mind beaches, beer bongs and, uh, other unmentionables, but not so fast! This is a different kind of spring break adventure. When my little sister was accepted into the study-abroad program last year, my mom and I began plotting our trip to visit her wherever she chose to go because a) we knew it’d be somewhere in Europe (cool!), and b) we knew she was a shoo-in so preplanning didn’t feel weird. And, right on schedule 8 months later, we were Spain bound!

Countryside view from my favorite city, Ronda (Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent a lot of time here)

Now, traveling with your parents (and grandparent . . . and some extended family) once you’re in your mid-twenties isn’t something people do all too often apparently; I guess the general consensus is that “spring break” should still mean beaches, beer bongs and unmentionables at my age. I got more than a few sideways glances anytime I said the words “spring break,” “parents,” and “two weeks” in the same sentence. People were like “Oh, NOOO! Really??? Sad! Bummer, bro.” Appropriate responses . . . for someone who just told you they have worms.

Alcazar de Segovia!

Little do these family trip haters know that my folks are actually a breeze to travel with . . . and they’re a riot, too! We’re all morning people, we all like seeing as much as we can in a day, and we all enjoy ending the day with a little wine and some fresh bread. Seriously the bread in Spain was outstanding . . . the wine, too ;). And true to form, there was no shortage of music quizzing going on between my dad and me. Though this time there wasn’t as much quizzing as there was both of us trying to yell who was playing on the radio before the other did. I would say I beat him nearly tenfold but the man knows more Bread songs than I do, it’s just the truth.

Where my dad and I left our mark during a little bar hopping

The only person I took issue with the whole trip (outside of a few obligatory arguments with my sister) was my roomie, Grandma T. She found cause to wake up around 5:30 am every day (a late start for this 4:00 am riser) so that she may pack (and then unpack) her things. LOUDLY. As loudly as, I’m convinced, humanly possible. I almost lobbed a pillow at her on the last day but decided that wasn’t very granddaughterly.

Anyway, despite the minor hiccups I had with my grandma’s morning rituals, the whole journey was truly incredible and I’m beyond thankful that I was able to go. Having the opportunity to gallivant through another country with some of my favorite people, especially in a country as beautiful as Spain, is not something many have the chance (or desire, I understand) to do.

 

Aqui esta mi familia!

This is one of the nicest family photos we’ve ever been taken. My Dad is even showing off his brilliant smile (that’s literally his version of smiling). This was at the Aqueduct in Segovia.

I hope my snapshots inspire you to get out and take your own family-filled, beer bong–free “spring break.” Here’s a song to get you in the mood for the adventure.

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