Antigua Guatemala | Colorful Markets | Smoke spewing volcano 🌋 that one can climb, tree blanketed mountains, pastel buildings, cobbled streets and qu

spain - Fernwayer Travel Stories & Experiences

Guatemala

Smoke spewing volcano 🌋 that one can climb, tree blanketed mountains, pastel buildings, cobbled streets and quintessential garden courtyards with fountains give picture postcard views on every corner we turn.

The town Is made for walking with stone arches In bold colors, baroque architecture, churches from Spain and vibrant markets bursting with colorful woven garments like ponchos, hats & table cloth and handicrafts.

It’s the birthplace of chocolate 🍫 and there are several museums that teach how the Mayans made ‘the food of the gods’. Adjoining chocolate cafes serve decadent treats and chocolate liqueur.

The coffee ☕️ is divine too and apart from sampling the local shops, we visited a local plantation to learn about coffee making.

Antigua is one of our favorite Central American cities.

Colorful Markets

United States

Spain

Whether you're a beginner kite surfer or an experienced surfer – Southern Spain is one of the best spots in Europe to practice all kinds of water sports. We spent a whole month on the beaches of Cadiz, jumping waves and visiting nearby tourist attractions. Tarifa is a bohemian town of shabby charm, with a lot of bars and nice places to eat Spanish bocadillos. Our host told us that the city is blessed with wind about 300 days a year, making it perfect for kitesurfing. There are many affordable surf schools for those who still have to learn – just walk around and ask for the weekly price. If surfing is not your thing, you can also go stand-up paddleboarding – or relax on the sandy beach, drink a fruity cocktail, and read a book about Spanish history.
 Also, Morocco is just a day trip away. Tangier, the fascinating city within 30 minutes of Tarifa, once populated by artists from all over the world, is worth spending a day or two there.

Tarifa Surf Mecca

Colombia

You can't spend holidays in Barcelona without also visiting the Sagrada Familia. It's probably the city's biggest attraction – and for a good reason. 

La Sagrada, a Roman Catholic church, dates back to the 19th century but is still under construction (some expect it to be finished by 2026, but in my view, 2030 is a safer bet). We opted for a walking tour to the monumental building with high pinnacles, numerous squiggles, and 3-dimensional interior design. Later, during the tour, we discovered the works of art by Sagrada’s architect Gaudi, including Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera). 

The Sagrada Familia is located a little northeast of the city center and is easily reached by metro, bus, or cab. We stayed about 5 hours in this part of the city – as we visited not only the church but also the surrounding area and had some fresh fish to eat in the nearby restaurants. You’ll also find many souvenirs – including miniature La Sagradas, a great gift to bring home!

Walking Tour: Sagrada Familia

Finding a green oasis in a big city like Madrid is always a treat for the soul. The Retiro Gardens are not just any park but an elegant garden that was royal property until the 20th century.

You'll find all sorts of exciting monuments and gardens in it, including the Jardín de Vivaces, the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez, the Rosaleda Rose Garden, and the Parterre Francés, which features a 400-year-old cypress tree (named after Montezuma, the Mexican Aztec king). 

Among locals, El Retiro has a reputation as the best place to exercise, take a Sunday stroll after lunch, or just hang out with friends and family. If you've had enough of walking (which we for sure had after 4 days in Madrid), you can go rowing on the lake in the park, or sit down and enjoy the beautiful view.
The park is also home to some excellent restaurants and cafes – during summer in Madrid, there’s nothing better than a refreshing iced tea.

The place to be for Madrileños

If you are interested in rare natural phenomena and want to learn more about marine life, you should head to Mexico's Pacific coast. One of the best spectacles is the annual whale migration, where you can catch unique glimpses of humpback whales. 

The largest mammals on earth have earned their reputation as the most beautiful, intelligent, and impressive creatures. If you watch the ocean at migration time (either from the shore or on a boat tour), you'll see baby whales leaping and maybe even hear mother whales calling their families together. The baby-whale season is from January until the end of April.

But the Pacific coast is not only known for whales. It's just as beautiful to watch sea turtles hatch. If you come at the right time, you can witness mother turtles laying hundreds of eggs overnight in the soft sand on the coast, and much later, those hundreds of babies hatch and crawl toward the sea. Come between late August to early October.

Witnessing whale migration

If you want to explore Spain on foot, you should definitely set out on one of the pilgrimage routes through the country. All routes lead to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, which is located in the northwest. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Camino de Santiago has been named a central point of cultural exchange – and a historical highlight that shows what medieval Spain looked like. We chose to follow the famous Camino Frances. The original 800km route takes 5 weeks, but we decided to get in a little later, we only had 11 days, and opted for the route starting in the Galician town of Sarria. Along the way, you'll meet many other tourist pilgrims, but you'll also be able to immerse yourself in the local culture and taste Spain's best delicacies (tapas, seafood, and Spanish Serrano ham). Be prepared for a lot of walking – and take the best walking boots you have. We’ve enjoyed every minute, but some people we met had the wrong equipment, complaining about blisters.

The “French” pilgrimage route

A road trip through Spain is literally the best option for those looking for a local, less touristic experience. You can basically rent a car anywhere you want – we started in Barcelona, heading down the coast, and taking stops in Ebro Delta and Denia and other sleepy beach towns down the road. One of our highlights was the Spanish town of Cartagena – a historical hub with beautiful angled roads, traditional culture to explore (expect to be invited to some Cerveza by the locals), and history lessons about Phoenician traders, Roman soldiers, and Christian Reconquistas. If you have some days left, visiting Andalusia is a must. It's by far the most beautiful region in Spain and is known for its majestic horse breed, pristine beaches, hot weather, and super friendly culture. 
All in all, it took us two weeks to get down the coast – but you can make it in a week as well – though you might have less time to explore, sunbathe, and learn about the history of Spain

Off-the-beaten-path

The Valencia Cathedral is very beautiful place to visit.
It was consecrated in 1238 by the first bishop of Valencia after the Reconquista, Pere d'Albalat.
The picture was taken by me on 🎞 film camera olimpus om 10, Kodak Ektachrome 100.

Guatemala

Sacatepéquez Department

Colorful Markets

Spain

Andalusia

Tarifa Surf Mecca

Catalonia

Walking Tour: Sagrada Familia

Community of Madrid

The place to be for Madrileños

Witnessing whale migration

Navarre

The “French” pilgrimage route

Region of Murcia

Off-the-beaten-path

Valencian Community

Valencia Cathedral