#madrid hop on hop off bus

[hoponhopoffbustourtickets]

Book Hop on hop off the marid bus and hop on and Hop off at iconic landmarks, museums, and vibrant neighborhoods, and enjoy insightful commentary from our knowledgeable guides.

[mssixlz]

BELONG TO ME||FERMIN X MALE READER

Summary: Fermin your arch nemesis.. likes you?

Fic type: Smut||Enemies to lovers|| Male reader.

M/R= male reader

REMINDER: THIS IS NOT PROOF READ!

___

Today. Was the El Classico.

Every Madrid player excited, worried, and scared.

I put on my Jersey and I catch up with everyone. We hop onto the travel bus and we make our way to the Barcelona stadium. I hope that we will win today.. but you never know.

Everyone gets off the bus and we head our way in. And I see the person who I hate most. Fermin Lopez

He gives me a smirk and gives me a stern look. I try so hard not to flip him off because he is such a dick. Luckily, Vini pulled me away and we go into the locker room.

Everyone puts there stuff down and there is some time to kill before the match. Some go out to wonder and some just stay in the locker room.

I decided to go get some water from the water boy. As I walk out I see Fermin there drinking some water. I quickly go to the water boy but ofcourse Fermin has to step in.

Fermin:”Are you ready to lose?”

M/R:”Yeah sure, you act like we haven’t kicked your guys asses so much.”

Fermin:”This time it’s different we have a better team”

M/R:”Yeah right.”

I push my way through Fermin and he pushes me back. I grab a water bottle and I head my way back but he trips me and I fall.

M/R:”What the fuck man!”

Fermin:”Oops!”

I look at him and he smirks. I’m done.

I get up and I push him and he pushes me back. I punch him and he punches me back. Then it turns into a scuffle. Then Vini and Ferran come rushing in and stops us.

I spit on Fermin and Vini pulls me away into the locker room. The manager starts lecturing me but I don’t care, he got what he deserved.

(Fermin)

Fermin:”I fucking hate that guy!”

Ferran:”He’s annoying isn’t he?”

Fermin:”the next time I see him he will regret it.”

Ferran:”Don’t worry about it”

Ferran rubs my shoulder and I sigh in relief

(M/R)

We all line up in the open area and there is a a lot of tension. I look at Fermin and he looks at me and I notice that he has a cut on the side of his cheek.

Everyone goes up a little bit and it gets to a point where me and Fermin are standing next to eachother.

Even if Fermin was being a dick I should still apologize for the cut on his cheek.

M/R:”Hey I’m sorry that we fought, and I’m sorry for that cut on your cheek. It won’t happen again.”

Fermins eyes open and he looks sincere.

Fermin:”It’s okay, don’t worry about it and I’m sorry for being a dick.”

We both shake hands and we all get on the field

After doing each teams anthem, the game starts.

23RD MINUTE|| 0-0

Modric passes the ball to me and I start to run towards barcelonas goal. I keep running and I’m almost there but.

Someone kicks my leg and I fall to the ground.

The crowd goes silent.

a couple minutes go by and I wake up on the field. Everyone sighs in relief and I get up to see Fermin yelling at Ferran.

Fermin:”WHY THE FUCK DID U KICK HIS LEG LIKE THAT, ARE YOU DUMB?”

Ferran is silent.

fermin:”YOU THINK JUST BECAUSE WE DONT LIKE EACHOTHER YOU THINK THAT MEANS YOU CAN HURT HIM?”

a medic helps me get off the field and I look back as Fermin is still yelling.

THE GAME ENDS|| 1-1|| TIE.

the medic let’s me leave the room and by the time I leave everyone has left by now. I go to the locker room to get my stuff and I sigh in disappointment.

As I’m getting my stuff I feel a presence behind me and it’s Fermin.

Fermin:”Hey are you okay?”

M/R:”Are you serious? You got fucking Ferran to attack me?”

Fermin:”I didn’t tell him too, he just did it. I’m sorry”

I push Fermin into the locker and I get mad

M/R:”YEAH YEAH.”

Fermin grabs my collar and we staff to struggle.

Fermin pins me against the wall and we stop fighting.

I look into his eyes and I get.. flustered. We both stare into each others eyes and we.. we kiss eachother.

(SMUT)

Me and Fermin are kissing each other. And it gets intense. We start kissing a lot and Fermin starts kissing my neck giving me hickeys.

the locker room was not a good place to make out so I grab his wrist and we go into the shower room.

We start kissing more and we start to strip eachother.

I take off fermins shorts and I his dick flings out.

Fermin:”H-Hey..”

I grab fermins dick and I start sucking it. Fermins head rolls back and I keep sucking more. His dick is so large that it starts to hit the back of my throat almost making me choke.

Fermin starts to fuck my face and I start rubbing my dick.

I start to suck it more and I can feel as Fermins dick gets tense. He is about to cum

Fermin:”S-stop wait I’m going to-“

I suck so fast that Fermin cum shots into my mouth. I swallow.

i get up and I position myself where he fucks me.

Fermin:”Are you sure?”

M/R:”Just do it.”

Fermin spits into my hole and he shoves his cock into me. I hold my breathe and damn it feels so good.

Fermin starts thrusting in me back and forth. His dick hitting good spots and making me moan and groan.

Fermins head is back and his eyes are rolling and he is groaning in pleasure.

He picks up the paste and he is fucking me so fast and rough that I most so loud it rings around the room.

Fermin fucks me and fucks me and he climaxes in me. Leaving my hole filled up with his cum.

He pulls out and we both sign in relief.. and pleasure.

Fermin pins me against the wall and starts kissing me.

We both make out for a bit and we stop.

after some time we both get clean and clothed. We leave the stadium and Fermin drives me to my house.

While he is driving me he is holding my hand and my legs are shivering after that sex.

As he gets there he opens the door for me and he walks me up to my house.

Fermin:”Hey does this mean that..”

M/R:”let’s just keep it a secret.”

Fermin:”Yeah yeah.”

I kiss Fermin passionately and he holds onto my waist. I decided.. why not to have more fun while we still have time?

He grab Fermins wrist and I bring him into my house and I close the door. He belongs to me.

(THE END.)

AN: Hey y’all!! This is my first fic and I hope y’all like it 😓😓 if you want more make sure to fill out a request!!

___

[momo-de-avis]

Fun story. Sometime last year I started with a company that assigned random tour guiding jobs and eventually I got a gig with an australian company that did the same shit every year. Clients arrive in PT through madrid. My job was to give them a walk tour of Lisbon and Belém. This day it turned out I had a surprise: there was a second group I did not know existed, and which I had not been informed of, who needed to meet with my group at X hours in Lisbon. They had a second guide with them I didn't know who it was and had no contact with. The Tour Leader (TL), who has a cabbage for a brain, instead of giving me the tour guide's contact as I requested, called the second tour leader who put the tour guide on the phone to then speak with me through my tour leader's phone, which has to be the most complicated method imaginable. A point to note here is that the other guide was super difficult. He refused to find a solution with me because "he was not told what to do" and I eventually had to force him to accept a conclusion bc idk this fucker couldn't solve a very simple problem.

This is a bus gig. I'd never done buses before but I'd done Belém plenty of times and was pretty comfortable. All I had to do was pick up a mic and speak to them about the city. Easy.

Imagine my surprise when the absolute dork ass loser of the bus driver puts his hands on the wheel and says "tell me the way". And I'm like. What the fuck do you mean. He means it's my job apparently to instruct this professional bus driver who refuses to turn on his GPS on the exact path from butt fuck nowhere Marques de Pombal to Belém. Literally turn left, right, straight ahead.

Important detail here is that the clients are australian, so the tour is in english, but the dumbass tour leader and the even dumber driver are spanish, so I am actually switching back and forth between english and spanish during this whole ordeal (at one point I did accidentally speak spanish to the australians, yes).

Somehow we arrive in Belém without crashing the fucking bus and I do my job. I know the clients had a good time and that's all I care about.

Then we return to Lisbon. Yes I had to yet again provide the BUS driver minute by minute instructions on how exactly to return, and while doing so, I was grabbing the mic, speaking in english about the city, lowering the mic and quickly going "ahora todo recto hasta el edificio amarillo y despues a la izquierda". i have never multitasked this fucking hard in my life. We get to central lisbon, where I was instructed by TL to meet with the other group there, so the people on my bus would be dropped off.

Now, I came to learn that every month this shit happens, and yet they fuck it up every single time. Basically, the tourists are given a plan. The plan states that they are going from point A to point B. At point B they can decide if they want to go to point C. Those who don't want to are promised a ride back to the hotel, those who want to hop onto one of the buses and head over to point C. Except every time, there's no ride back to the hotel, they just leave them stranded in the middle of central lisbon.

But at the time I did not know this.

So imagine my face when I deliver my clients to second group, and out of fucking nowhere, there's this angry Australian lady who is speaking to second TL, and then she turns, spots me with fucking T1000 eyes, lifts her finger abd aggravatingly says IT'S ALL HER FAULT!

At this point I'm like. So help me god. What else is coming. Now, my TL is mushy brain but in his defence he immediately stepped forward and defended me. But meanwhile this woman is still T1000ing me and insisting everything was my fault, when I don't even know what everything is. And it's then that I hear her say "our tour guide said to us she changed the plan!"

She means the afore mentioned plan of going from A to B and then optionally going to place C. She was rightfully upset that she'd been informed she'd have a bus ride back to the hotel and now was stranded in central lisbon (their hotel was not central at all). However, their tour guide, which happens to be the difficult motherfucker I had to communicate via three different phones in the most complicated way right before starting the tour, apparently panicked and instead of doing the correct thing which was relay the lady's complaints back to the TL, he threw me under the bus, accused me of changing plans I didn't even know existed, and hoped for the best.

Mind you, I did not blame the lady. I'd be proper pissed in her place too. But that was the moment I became T1000 and looked around for this motherfucker.

And when I saw him I realised I knew who this piece of shit was.

It turns out he's a tour guide who worked for a Free Tours company whose name I wont give out but they wear yellow, which is an incredibly predatory company, and I say this with full confidence because I actually interviewed for them and it was the most pathetic job interview I've ever experienced. It's the kind of place you pay to work (free tours the guide has to pay 3-5€ per client and they rely entirely on tips, they don't have wages. Kind of like real estate but more predatory). The guides for this company have their meeting spot in the same square as we do (as do several other companies).

This was the only stupid ass who always started shit.

He once screamed at a coworker of mine because he insisted they owned the square (I'm talking about fucking Rossio). He once offered violence to another coworker of mine, I don't even know why anymore. He once tried to start shit with me too. He spoke to some of my clients who had arrived before me and when I got there he went on a fucking rampage going "WE'RE GOING TK START STEALING YOUR CLIENTS BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LATE". I let him have it and stayed quiet. When he was done, in most dead pan tone, I just said 'mate there's 10 minutes left before the tour starts, go do your job'.

You ask anyone who regularly tours in Rossio they will know who this fucker is. He is rude, aggressive and a piece of shit.

And apparently a fucking coward too.

Instantly after that, I picked up the phone and called the company, who only called me back hours late cause lol, and told them this would never happen again. After explaining that next time I will refuse to do anything whatsoever if a bus driver ever tells me it's my job to tell the way, I explain that if I were them, I would never collaborate with this absolute piece of shit again bc this is unprofessional beyond belief.

I have since been forgotten by that company lmfao they literally stopped calling me but to be fair it was an amicable divorce bc I swore I'd never work with them again.

It's been like 7 months. I come to learn that piece of shit stayed in that shit ass company nonetheless which shows just how desperate they are. In this time that has since passed, a couple of guides who know what happened asked me what the guide's name is so they are sure to refuse work with that guy.

Turns out that list is growing lmfao there's at least 3 or 4 more guides who have since refused to work with him because he is such a piece of shit.

No idea where he is now. Haven't seen him in a while. Genuinely wonder how tf he is going to build a career in such a small field when he keeps burning every bridge.

[lovesosweeet]

better left unsaid // cth

chapter forty

in which orion has leukemia, and calum doesn’t know.

calum hood x fem!oc

read other chapters

june 21, 2016 amsterdam, the netherlands calum 

I don’t feel bad when my alarms wake up everyone else on the bus. My first one is to wake me up, and the second is to remind me that I really have to get up. Both rounds of the ringing, beeping, and vibrating meet me with a bus full of grumbling band mates, their girlfriends, and Matt. 

“Calum, turn that shit off!” Michael groans.

“Sorry, sorry!” I whisper, throwing myself out of bed so I have to wake up fully. 

“I’m happy that you have a girl, really, man, but these early ass wake up calls are not it,” Ashton whines.

“Well, get don’t used to it. Only a few more weeks in Europe and then I can’t see her for awhile.”

I grab my duffel bag from my bunk and head out of the bus, into the venue for a shower. I have about thirty minutes before I need to go get Orion and her friends from the airport. It’s just enough time to take a shower and then convince Matt to have someone drive me in a van to the airport. 

While I’m showering, I hear the door to the bathroom open and loud, heavy footsteps echo on the tiled floor.

“That’s you in there, I gather, Hood?” Matt’s voice calls out.

“Yeah, it’s me!”

“Do I have to get you a van again this morning?” Surprisingly, he doesn’t sound annoyed. He really likes Orion, for some reason. Actually, I know why he likes her. It’s just rare that he actually like someone.

I stick my head out of the shower and find him standing right outside the flimsy curtain. I give him my most charming smile. “Please?”

He nods. “Done. Y’know, just shoot me a text when she books her flights or whatever. Then I don’t have to wake up at the ass crack of dawn with you.”

“Thanks, Matt! You’re the best!”

After my shower, I dress in a piece of our own band’s merch — a black t-shirt with Youngblood on the front in red and a rose on the back — and the same pair of black jeans I wear almost every day, a pair of black Converse on my feet, hoping to match Orion if she wears hers. I toss my stuff back on the bus and then get into the black van that’s waiting for me.

“Airport?” The driver asks. I confirm, and then he starts driving.

From: stargirl hey, we landed! we’ll be waiting outside for you To: stargirl sweet :) on the way now. can’t wait to see you!

“Is it the girl again?” The driver asks again, and I can’t seem to wipe the smile from my face. 

“It’s the girl again.”

We pull up to the airport and I see her, along with her roommates. Orion is dressed in a white t-shirt dress, a green baseball cap with LA on it, and her black Converse. We do match. She’s grinning as we park right in front of them, and somehow her smile grows even more when I open the door. 

“Hi, beautiful,” I say, hopping out of the van so I can hug her. I don’t hold on too long because Orion has been feeling so self-conscious about the fans and their feelings toward her, so I step back and hug each of the other three girls. 

They all say a chorus of “hi, Cal” and I’m excited to have them all here. Ilse is from Amsterdam, so she’s going to be our tour guide today, but tomorrow she’s visiting her family. They’re all surprised that she’s home again so soon, since she hasn’t even been gone for three weeks, but she said she’s excited to get to bring more clothes to Madrid with her. 

We pile into the van to head back to the venue, where we’ll drop off all the girls’ stuff before we head out to play tourist for the day. When we get there, I’m not surprised to see Ashton is awake, standing outside by the bus with a cup of what I assume is coffee in his hand. He waves to us as we hop out of the van.

“Are those the Lavapies Ladies I see!?” He says, giggling.

Orion rolls her eyes, smiling to me quickly as I take her bag from her, before she runs to Ashton. “Hello, Ashton! Yes, these are the Lavapies Ladies. You remember Paula, I’m sure, since she came to Rome. Then this is Ilse,” she says, pointing to the petite blonde, “and that’s Marta,” and she points to the brunette girl. 

Ashton rolls his eyes back at her. “Yes, I remember all three of them, Orion.” They hug quickly, and Orion’s height is dwarfed by Ashton. It makes me wonder how silly the two of us must look next to each other, since I’m an inch or two taller than Ash.

“Just making sure!” Orion yells, raising her hands in surrender.

“Okay, we’ve got a full day ahead of us, we should probably get going if you want to get to see everything. And I know for a fact Orion will be pissed if we don’t get to eat breakfast at the place I have picked out,” Ilse says, giving Orion a smirk and a side eye. 

“We’re fucking leaving right now then, where do we put our stuff, Cal?” Orion means business when it comes to breakfast, and it makes all of us laugh. 

“Actually, we should probably just leave it in the van,” I say, glancing at Ash for confirmation.

Ashton nods. “Yeah, that works, I’ll shoot Matt a text just in case.”

“Are you coming with us, Ash?” Paula asks, looking between me and Ashton.

Ashton looks surprised and seemingly asks me if it’s okay with a raise of his eyebrow. I nod. “Sure, I’ll go with you guys. Ilse, I’ll need you to show me your favorite dispensary.”

With that, the crew is off, Ilse and Ashton at the front of the pack, discussing shrooms and weed and who knows what else. Paula and Marta fall into some conversation in Spanish that I won’t even pretend to try to decipher any part of, and Orion takes her place next to me, grabbing my hand in hers and giving it a squeeze. 

“You let me know the minute you feel uncomfortable, okay? If you feel like you’re being watched or whatever. I don’t want a repeat of Rome.” 

Orion being slutshamed in the crowd at our concert made me more upset than she let me be. She kept insisting everything was fine and that she didn’t care, but the pain in her eyes was evident, and it made me feel horrible. I hate knowing that the fans don’t fully accept her yet, but I do know, without a doubt, that they’ll love her once they’re used to her. It’s hard to be in my shoes, not because I don’t want to say anything, but because I don’t want to overwhelm Orion with my feelings, nor do I want to jump the gun by making any public statements so soon after we’ve met. We literally met 18 days ago.

I feel like I’ve known her my whole life. Fuck, I feel like I’d be in love with her if she’d give me another award winning smile and kiss me again. I’m totally, completely all in for her. I’ve never felt so sure of anything.

Orion insists, once again, that she’s fine, and we just follow the others in comfortable silence. She takes in the sights of Amsterdam while we walk. I feel like she’s going to love it. It’s so… quaint, in a way. That’s how she described London, even though admittedly, in my opinion, London is far from quaint. 

I suppose that’s just who she is, though. She sees the sparkling qualities in everything, even when the gross, dark, dirty parts are right there. It’s so refreshing to have found someone who has such a positive, infectiously happy energy, and she’s not even overwhelming or obnoxious about it. She’s so genuine. Everything she says, she means, and you can see it on her face, aside from how she discloses her feelings, I guess. 

There’s no way she really doesn’t mind being called a slut. I’m all for the deconstruction of that term and I’m sure she is, too, but I can’t imagine that anyone who’d use that term toward a stranger is also on board with that. 

We get to Ilse’s first destination, a breakfast place called The Avocado Show, and Orion looks at the sign above the door with stars in her eyes. They tell us there’s about an hour wait, and Ilse promises it’s worth it. She says she’s down to hold our spot if we all want to wander around until our table is ready. 

Ash volunteers to keep Ilse company, and then Paula, Marta, Orion, and I are walking around, just the four of us. We don’t get far before we see a flower stall, and the girls are all immediately distracted by the massive flowers that fill the buckets. As if I’m not there, they’re gushing over each of the different flowers, picking them up to sniff and show each other. 

I think they forget that I’m here, momentarily, until I grab a few of the flowers they’d smelled and said were ‘oh-my-god-so-pretty’ and hand a small wad of euros to the vendor to wrap into three small bundles for them. When I go to hand each of them their personal mini-bouquets, they stare at me, gobsmacked.

“Cal!” Orion hisses, taking her flowers from me. “What did I tell you?”

I roll my eyes and pull Orion away from the stall by her elbow, Marta and Paula smiling at me knowingly while they follow us. “It is a special occasion!”

Orion pouts and holds her flowers up to her nose, taking a sniff of the fragrant flowers. “I wouldn’t call it that.” 

“Di gracias,” Paula hisses to Orion, who rolls her eyes in response.

“Thank you, Cal. But seriously, you’ve gotta stop buying me flowers,” O says, huffing quietly. 

“Thanks, Cal!” Marta and Paula say in sync, looping their arms through each others and walking off toward the canal we’d just crossed. 

I go to follow Orion’s roommates but am stopped by her grabbing my hand while she stands firmly in place. I turn around and face her. She looks distraught, for some reason. I just bought her flowers. Is that not what girls want?

“Calum,” she starts. “I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but please, can flowers just be an occasional thing?”

When I look into her eyes, I can’t help but wonder if she’s holding back tears. Did I make her cry? I just bought her flowers. It’s concerning, because I thought flowers were supposed to be something that wins girls over, not something that pushes them away. 

My confusion must be evident, because she continues.

“I’ll explain later, I promise, but I just… please, flowers aren’t an everyday thing. Please?”

Because she seems genuinely upset about this, I drop it. I don’t want her to feel whatever negative emotion she’s feeling right now. I wanted her to smile when I handed her the small bunch of peonies and tulips, not be on the verge of tears. 

I nod, reaching out to try to hug her, but she steps back, increasing the distance between us. I don’t know what switch I flipped in this girl, but I feel awful. “Yeah, of course, O. I just… thought it was something nice I could do for you guys. I’m sorry if it’s upset you, that wasn’t what i wanted.”

Her expression softens. “Sorry, Cal, I don’t want you to feel bad about it. It’s fine. I’m fine. I swear! We’re good. Let’s go catch up with Pau and Marta.”

She reaches out and takes my hand, dragging me after her roommates who are now taking turns posting for pictures with the view of the canal in the back. When we get close enough, Orion drops my hand and runs up to Paula, jumping into her photo — literally. She koala jumps at Paula, who somehow manages to catch Orion without tipping over. Marta seems to catch it all in the photos she’s taking while the three of them scream with laughter. 

Their antics make me smile, quickly changing up my mood from whatever just happened with Orion about the flowers. I approach the giggling girls, holding my hand out for the phone that Marta is using to take the pictures. 

“Go, jump in, I’ll take some of the three of you,” I say, motioning toward Paula and Orion, who’s still wrapped around Paula’s upper body, holding both of their bouquets behind Paula’s back. 

I follow the directions Orion had given me back in London on how to take a proper photo of her. I squat down, getting a slightly lower angle, tap on the ground to adjust the lighting, and then start clicking the shutter button repeatedly, capturing both candids and posed photos. After the three of them have rotated through a few poses, Paula puts Orion down on the ground and Orion hands her her bouquet. 

“Okay, Cal, hop over here. You guys need some pictures, too,” Paula says, holding her hand out for the phone in my hand. When I hand it to Paula, I recognize the phone case covered in teddy bears as Orion’s. Now I know who to ask for the photos we’re about to take. 

I take my place next to Orion, instinctively wrapping an arm around her waist. I’ve taken thousands of photos with fans, and this is always the first step to posing with them. When I glance down at her to see if she has any specific requests about this picture, I see she’s sticking out her lips in a kissy face and holding up a peace sign.

I laugh, quickly doing the same, which makes Paula and Marta laugh. 

“Just take a normal one!” Marta calls, making me blush slightly.

I smile and dig my fingers into Orion’s side, where I know she’s slightly ticklish. The sound of her laughter fills my ears next, and it’s the sweetest sound I think I’ve ever heard. 

“Ew, I’m gonna throw up,” Paula yells with a smile that makes it very clear she’s joking. “You guys are so cute.”

We take a few more pictures and ask a stranger to take some of all four of us before we continue to wander throughout the streets. We pop into a tourist shop where Orion gets a small stuffed animal with a tiny t-shirt on that has “Amsterdam” printed on it, explaining that it’s for her younger brother. The girls all take a few more pictures in front of a mural we find before Ilse sends a WhatsApp message saying we need to be back at the restaurant in 10 minutes or else we lose our table. 

At breakfast, it’s a mess of conversations that constantly evolve, including different people at the table. Each of us is constantly pulled from group to group, shouting across the table, taking bites of food from other plates and inevitably posting for yet another photo that Orion takes. She goes around the table, making everyone pose with the menu for the restaurant because she says it’s adorable. 

The waitress ends up being a fan, but she’s very calm the whole time we eat, so Ashton and I take a bunch of pictures with her after we get the check, sign anything she wants, and Ashton says we should follow her on Twitter, so we do. I take note of how happy Orion looks while we interact with her. It’s almost like she’s proud, which makes my heart feel warmer. She’s only known me for a few weeks and seeing her feel like that about me or the band already is the sweetest. 

Ilse takes us to a few museums that she declares are the most important in the city — but she also says that she holds uncommon and unpopular opinions so if we have negative feelings, we should let her know via her nonexistent Google listing. We stop at the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, the Museum of Prositution, and she offers that we walk for quite a while to visit the Banksy or Van Gogh museums, but we decide to stick to the part of the city we’re already in instead. She takes us to the Heineken Experience, and she also mentions that the Anne Frank House is always a worthwhile stop, but we would’ve needed reservations months in advance.

We hit up the dispensaries Ashton had asked about earlier, and everyone except Orion buys at least a small edible. Orion declines, saying she doesn’t have any interest in anything, even after Ashton insists he buy for everyone. I just got a cookie that I’ll probably save for a night when I just want to relax between shows. Ash and Ilse stocked up on quite a few things, and Paula and Marta both got a small bag of gummies to try. The spectrum of interest in the store was quite comical at the register as everyone handed over their selections. 

By the time we get back to the venue, both Ilse and Ashton have microdosed mushrooms, and Marta and Paula say they’re going to go to the hotel to take naps before the show. They all slept on the floor of the Madrid airport last night before they got on their flight, so they are understandably exhausted. Orion sticks with me while Ilse and Ashton take a few laps around the area behind the venue.

I take O to the green room, which is thankfully empty, and we curl up on the couch in the middle of the room. I see the cooler that Michael always requests be full of beer and run over to get two bottles, handing Orion one after I open them with a keychain I always carry. She doesn’t take a sip like she normally would, and she’s staring at my face intently. 

“I don’t want you to feel like I’m being weird,” she starts. “I want to go ahead and talk about the flower thing.”

I’m taken aback, but I nod. I’m not used to someone being so set on talking about something that they understand is uncomfortable. Orion is unlike anyone I’ve ever met, so I guess it makes sense. She’s honest and open, and this is a new example of how that manifests for her.

“I try not to let it be a thing, but there were a lot of things wrong with my last relationship. And I’m not trying to put any kind of label or weight onto what this is, but I do need you to know that flowers aren’t something I like to be just thrown around.

“I know it’s kind of stupid, because, I mean, it’s just flowers. I’ve just had them used as an insincere ‘I’m sorry’ or some kind of weird evidence that someone isn’t an awful partner. I love flowers. I really, really do, so I like… want to receive them, but I don’t want them to be something mundane or insincere. They’re not as special if they’re given all the time, so I like it when they have meaning.”

Even if I disagree with her logic, I nod. I think that she deserves to receive flowers every single day if it would make her smile, but I get that she wants them to be something special. 

“Orion, I’m here right now with you because I like you and I respect you.” I look her directly in her light brown eyes so she knows I mean the words I’m saying. “If that’s how you feel, I’m happy and willing to reserve giving you flowers for special occasions. I’m sorry if me getting you flowers today didn’t come off the right way, because I was really just trying to do something nice.” 

She smiles. It’s her standard, award-winning, bright and beaming grin that could put me in a haze for days. “No, I know. Thank you. I loved the flowers today. I just wanted you to know, I guess, going forward, how I feel. Again, not to put any kind of weird pressure onto whatever this is.”

I nod and lean forward to kiss her, grabbing her cheeks to hold her steady. 

“You are most welcome.”

[umichenginabroad]

Week 2: HALA MADRID

This week started off great! On monday we had our surfing excursion on one of the three beaches in San Sebastian. It was an incredible experience. Since there were 30 of us we had 6 instructors and we were all able to get a handful of runs in. Coming from Miami and being a kitesurfer it was incredibly refreshing to be on the water again. There’s no greater feeling than smelling the ocean breeze and floating around in the waves. I would buy a surfboard but the beach that has good waves is too far to walk too unfortunately. Capped off the day by playing soccer on the gorgeous rooftop field the hotel has available and trying out the sauna in the basement.

Tuesday was a free day for us, no planned excursion. We decided to spend the day at the beach relaxing and then going out for food. Man, the food here is incredible. This bakery is getting familiar with seeing my face at least 2-3 times a week and there is an endless option of good pintxos places. Pintxos are the regional tapas here in the Basque Country, think sliders but with a variety of different traditional Spanish dishes. Also this place called Pizza Berri has 2 for 1 Tuesdays, they’ll be seeing a lot of me.

Wednesday they took us to the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. To be fair, I don’t really understand modern art. Bilbao on the other hand is a beautiful city. The Basque call it the capital of the world, since it’s their capital, but even without the bias it’s a gorgeous place.

Thursday was another rest day. And Friday it was time to say goodbye to the Penn State folk who were only staying with us for 2 weeks. I honestly got a lot closer to some of them than I thought I would. We would go out to eat, play soccer and basketball together, as well as complain about the overly strict hotel staff as a team :). Friday was their last day and we capped it off by playing basketball on the rooftop one more time. I’m really glad I met them and I hope to see them again.

Friday night is when the highlight of my week began. With two friends I made here, Ricky and Diego, we decided to go to Madrid to watch Real Madrid play the champions league final with all the fans. We hopped on a bus at midnight and arrived there at 7 am. We spent the morning eating breakfast then exploring all the touristy bits. The royal palace, the cathedral and the Plaza Mayor. After ate lunch at Five Guys, we were all craving a good American burger, and then Diego bought his official Real Madrid shirt. After that we continued the day by napping at the Parque del Retiro and visiting the Puerta de Alcalá. Diego had a ticket to watch the game in the stadium but Ricky and I were going to find a bar close to it to watch. The Subway ride there was electric, as well as walking by the outside of a stadium. Smoke flares, loud bangs, tens of thousands of people chanting. It was like nothing I’ve experienced before. Watching the game from the bar was much the same. An electric atmosphere of people all united for their love of Real Madrid. It made me fall in love with the club all over again. The game ended at 11pm, we celebrated on the street with the fans and then caught the train to catch our bus at midnight. A grueling experience for my body, but a day I’ll never forget. Asi, asi, asi gana Madrid!! Asi, asi, asi gana Madrid!! Hala Madrid!!

Mateo Jimenez

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in San Sebastian, Spain

[udo0stories]

You will be enthralled by Buenos Aires from the moment you arrive. This expansive capital city of South America is so colorful and opulent that it almost looks like Paris, I thought. or Madrid, or Mexico City. But wait until you see Buenos Aires' abundance of interesting activities. You are going to love the amazing food, amazing culture, and exceptional value! Tango performances aside, there are other reasons to visit Buenos Aires: the city's top-notch art museums, amazing live music, and art and culture in general. It is a culinary destination as well; steak is the specialty, of course, but there are also alfajores, empanadas, and a thriving international food scene. Furthermore, Buenos Aires is a fun city with lots of interesting and quirky bars, late-night dance clubs, and exciting live events. Buenos Aires is among the best-value major cities in the world due to its abundance of affordable options and surprisingly low prices. I went to Buenos Aires for the first time on my own when I was twenty-four years old, and I recently went back for a longer visit over fifteen years later. Has the city undergone changes? Has it ever happened? I have also changed. I cannot wait to tell you about the top activities in Buenos Aires. Come with me as we examine! Contributors to this post include Dale Peterson and Adventurous Kate. It was published in March of 2024. Buenos Aires is so much more than this picture suggests! through Shutterstock. Activities in Buenos Aires Examine Buenos Aires's Various Neighborhoods Discovering each of the many neighborhoods in Buenos Aires is one of my favorite things to do while visiting the city. You could visit every neighborhood in Buenos Aires for months and still not see them all. One of the best ways to explore lots of neighborhoods is to take the hop-on, hop-off bus tour. From above, you will be able to see all the best locations in the city and have a comprehensive overview of everything. However, if you’re short on time, this private walking tour takes you to several of the city’s best neighborhoods in one day. These are the top neighborhoods in Buenos Aires that I suggest you prioritize if you have more time to spend there: Palermo Palermo is a trendy, upscale neighborhood with some of the best restaurants, bars, and clubs in the city. It’s actually a huge neighborhood divided into sub-neighborhoods (including Palermo Chico, Palermo Soho, and Palermo Hollywood.)  If you’re familiar with the neighborhoods of Mexico City, you’ll understand what I mean when I say that Palermo reminds me a lot of Roma Norte and La Condesa. In New York, Palermo would be a massive East Village. Palermo is home to many of my favorite restaurants in Buenos Aires, including Sacro (vegan), Don Julio (steakhouse), Mishiguene (Jewish Argentine cuisine), and La Carnicería (Argentine meat). In Palermo Soho, you’ll find many of the coolest spots in the city concentrated around the lively Plaza Serrano. In Palermo Chico, the oldest part of the neighborhood, you can explore some of the city’s best museums, like the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA). To learn more about Palermo, check out this graffiti and street art walking tour. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll learn about Palermo’s history and the political origins of its street art. Keep an eye out for Conan O’Brien’s mural with Lionel Messi and Pope Francis—it cracked me up! El Caminito in La Boca, via Erwin Widmer on Shutterstock. The Boca Historically, one of Buenos Aires' most diverse neighborhoods has been this vibrant, working-class area. When immigrants came to Argentina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, La Boca was the main port of entry, much like New York City was for them entering the United States. La Boca's most well-known location is El Caminito, a vibrant street dotted with old conventillos, or boarding houses. This street is featured in any photo you may have seen of La Boca. Benito Quinquela Martín, a local artist, spearheaded the neighborhood's revitalization beginning in the 1950s.

To truly understand La Boca's history, I highly suggest taking a guided tour of the area. An excellent method to thoroughly explore La Boca is with this guided walking tour. Remember that pickpocketing and minor crimes make La Boca one of the neighborhoods in Buenos Aires where you should be even more cautious. The most elegant street in Recoleta is Avenida Alvear. via Shutterstock user AlexCorv. Recupe y Retiro Strolling around Recoleta and Retiro, you could honestly wonder if you were in Paris or Latin America. Several of the buildings in these posh neighborhoods are reminiscent of the Haussmannian architecture of Paris and are home to upscale stores and hotels. The Cementerio de la Recoleta, one of the most distinctive and exquisite cemeteries on earth and, in my opinion, a must-see attraction in Buenos Aires, is located in Recoleta. The enormous clock tower known as the Torre Monumental honors Argentina's independence and is located in Retiro. The nearby park is a well-liked gathering spot for the community. Buenos Aires' San Telmo is a bohemian neighborhood! The San Telmo Another European-style neighborhood that, in my opinion, could just as easily be placed in Madrid or Rome is San Telmo. The outdoor Feria de San Telmo market is held on Sundays, which makes this artsy, bohemian neighborhood very popular. Weekends are a great time to watch at the bustling Plaza Dorrego, which is a popular place for street tango. Because there are so many exciting late-night bars in San Telmo, it is also the ideal location for going out late. But San Telmo is another neighborhood to be on your guard because of an increased number of small-time crimes, such as pickpocketing at the bustling market. Puerto Madero skyscrapers, sourced from Shutterstock. Madero Puerto Situated near Buenos Aires' main port, Puerto Madero is a chic and contemporary neighborhood that makes for a pleasant stroll. It is the newest area of the city, full of gleaming skyscrapers, and it is close to San Nicolas, home to many of Buenos Aires' most significant landmarks. For a really unique experience, you can enjoy a sunset cruise with an open bar in Puerto Madero. For an hour, as the sun sets over the water, you will sail down the Rio de la Plata and enjoy views of the city. The US has the White House; Argentina has the Casa Rosada! See the Most Important Sites in San Nicolas, Buenos Aires You can spend an afternoon touring the many significant landmarks in San Nicolas, a historic neighborhood. The Casa Rosada, also known as the Pink House, is the most well-known. It serves as the president of Argentina's official office. It is situated on the large Plaza de Mayo, which also houses the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral and other significant buildings. The Obelisco, a colossal monument honoring Buenos Aires' founding, and the Avenida 9 de Julio, one of the world's broadest avenues, are also located in San Nicolas. These are Buenos Aires' main attractions! One of the most important things to do in Buenos Aires is to see a tango show! via Shutterstock via Gary Yim. Explore Buenos Aires' Tango scene. Tango is an experience that should not be missed while visiting Buenos Aires. The tango is the national dance of Argentina and a mainstay of Buenos Aires culture. There are numerous ways to enjoy tango in the city. Attending a tango performance is the first step. These events primarily serve tourists and are held in stunning historic locations throughout Buenos Aires. La Ventana is a popular tango show, or you can catch a performance at Teatro Astor Piazzolla. Going to a milonga is an additional option. The locals go out to dance for fun on these tango evenings. To learn about upcoming milongas, check local forums or ask around, as they are not very publicly announced in English. I attended one once, and I had some of my best people-watching experiences ever. Tango performances are also available in real time on the streets of Buenos Aires. The Sunday market in San Telmo and the El Caminito neighborhood of La Boca are two of the best places to do this.

Although it is free to watch street tango, do not forget to tip the dancers! At last, you can become a proficient tango dancer! Take a private tango lesson to learn the basic steps of the tango from a pro. Visiting Recoleta Cemetery is one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires. Go to Recoleta Cemetery. Even if you are not usually into cemeteries, I highly suggest visiting Recoleta Cemetery, as it is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world. This city of the dead, with its rows of massive stone mausoleums, is well worth a visit. Numerous well-known Argentines are buried there, notably Eva Peron (her grave is easy to miss!). Taking a guided walking tour is highly recommended to get the most out of the cemetery. You will discover more about the past of the graveyard and the individuals interred there. The cost of the walking tour is $10 USD, and cemetery admission is also an additional expense. Due to the unstable Argentinean currency, the admission fee varies, but it is approximately $7 USD and can only be paid with a credit card. Because this is a well-known tourist destination, you should be on the lookout for pickpockets. You can bet that when I got back, I kept a close eye on my bag because I had actually been pickpocketed near the cemetery back in 2008. The Ateneo Grand Splendid was amazing! What a memorable encounter! See the Grand Splendid, El Ateneo El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. This 1919 theater, converted into a magnificent bookstore, is a sight to behold on Instagram. Bibliophiles should not miss this magnificent bookstore, which features multi-tiered balconies, frescoed ceilings, and exquisite original details. I was overjoyed beyond measure! The books are mostly in Spanish, with a tiny amount in English. In addition, there is a cafe and lots of comfortable spots to read. Recoleta Cemetery and El Ateneo Grand Splendid are both close by, so I recommend taking a look at both while you are in the area. Experience La Bomba de Tiempo La Bomba de Tiempo is a performance like no other, and one of the wildest nights out I’ve ever had! If you’ll be in the city on a Monday night, you can’t miss this energetic performance. It’s an incredible live percussion show, and it’s popular with locals and tourists alike. Every performance is unique because it’s based on improvisation between the conductor and the musicians. And everyone is dancing and jumping around to it all! The show takes place at the Ciudad Cultural Konex. Tickets are 3,200 ARS ($4 USD) and can be purchased online. Art on display at MALBA, my favorite museum in Buenos Aires, via Brester Irina on Shutterstock Visit Buenos Aires’s Many Museums Buenos Aires is a city of incredible museums. If you’re looking for an indoor activity to do on a rainy day or a day when it’s too hot outside, you can easily spend a few hours browsing one of these great museums. The MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinamericano de Buenos Aires) is my personal favorite, housing an impressive collection of Latin American art. Another must-visit museum for art lovers is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, which features noteworthy works from artists including Picasso, Van Gogh, El Greco, and more. A smaller museum worth a visit is Museo Evita, which is dedicated to the life and works of Eva Perón. This museum will give you more insight into one of Argentina’s most polarizing historical figures and features some really cool exhibits, including many of Evita’s iconic outfits. She was tiny! Some other museums to check out are the Palace of Running Waters (an offbeat museum housed in a historic water pumping station) and the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, which is housed in an opulent early 20th-century mansion. San Telmo Market gets so busy! Visit San Telmo Market on a Sunday One of the best things to do in the bohemian San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires is visiting its famous Sunday market. The indoor Mercado de San Telmo is open every

day of the week, but on Sundays, a large outdoor market called the Feria de San Telmo takes place, filling the streets around the market hall with hundreds of stalls. It’s a great time, with plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining, and watching live tango on the street. You can also explore the antique shops and art galleries on the surrounding streets in San Telmo. The streets around the market get very crowded on Sundays, so be extra careful about watching your belongings, as it’s a popular spot for pickpockets. Our steak at Don Julio, absolutely beautifully done. Eat at a Fine Steakhouse Buenos Aires is home to some of the best steakhouses on the planet, and if you’re a meat-eater in the least, you need to try it! Two of the best spots in town are Don Julio and La Cabrera. I’ve been to both steakhouses, and most recently ate at Don Julio. This meal was expensive (honestly, the only significantly expensive meal in Buenos Aires, even though we ate at lots of nice places), but the steaks, the sides, the wine, and the atmosphere were top-notch. Don Julio is an experience, from the tomato vines covering the restaurant to the sparkling wine they serve you while waiting for your table. My top recommendation is to make a reservation VERY early, because they go fast. And if you’re not a meat-eater, have I got the place for you — Sacro. Charlie and I ended up at this high-end vegan restaurant on a whim, and SURPRISE — it was the best meal we had in Buenos Aires. Frank’s in Palermo Hollywood is a cocktail bar worth visiting! Cocktail-Hop at Buenos Aires’s Unique Bars Buenos Aires is filled with quirky and unique cocktail bars, especially in Palermo. If you’re looking for a fun night out, cocktail-hop your way through the neighborhood! Nearby in Palermo Hollywood, you’ll find Frank’s, a speakeasy-style bar with hidden rooms and passageways, all outfitted in dark wood and crystal chandeliers. It feels like you’ve time traveled to a mafia den during the prohibition era! A few other bars I enjoyed were Tres Monos, which is dark and has a tiki feel to it, and Backroom Bar, which has cool cocktails and jazz shows. Both of these bars are located in the trendy Palermo Soho neighborhood. Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, via Walkabout Photo Guides on Shutterstock Tour Palacio Barolo Palacio Barolo is one of the most distinctive buildings in Buenos Aires due to its eclectic architectural style that combines Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Gothic elements. This historic office building, which was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, opened in 1923. Today, Palacio Barolo is still home to offices and businesses, but it’s also open for guided tours. This 1.5-hour guided tour will allow you to learn more about the history of this building and explore various spaces, including the upper balconies, which offer some of the best views you’ll see in the city. For an even more unique experience, this evening tour offers a chance to see Palacio Barolo by night and enjoy a glass of wine as you explore the building with a knowledgeable guide. Boca Juniors Football Fans, via Katarzyna Citko on Shutterstock Watch a Football Game One of the top things to do in Buenos Aires is seeing a football game (meaning soccer, my fellow Americans). Argentines go wild for fútbol, and watching a match is an experience you won’t soon forget. There are numerous football teams in Buenos Aires, but Boca Juniors is one of the most popular. You can watch Boca Juniors play at La Bombonera, a famous football stadium in the neighborhood of La Boca.  I wouldn’t go solo to a game or even buy tickets on your own unless you have a local who knows what they’re doing. It’s difficult to score tickets, and scams abound. Instead, I’d recommend joining a tour, where they will make sure you have the best experience possible. Know that games can get pretty rowdy! This tour company is best for getting tickets to a Boca Juniors game. They also have tickets for other teams in Buenos Aires, including River Plate and San Lorenzo.

If you aren’t able to make a game, you can still take a tour of La Bombonera, as well as El Monumental, the stadium of the River Plate football team. This five-hour guided tour is the perfect experience for football enthusiasts. Cyclists in Buenos Aires, via Sandra Moraes on Shutterstock Explore Buenos Aires by bike Buenos Aires is a huge city, so exploring by bike makes it easier to cover more ground. The city is quite flat, and there are plenty of bike lanes, so it’s accessible even to beginner cyclists. This half-day bike tour is a great way to discover the city on two wheels.  You’ll explore several important neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, including San Nicolas and La Boca. You’ll also cycle through the Reserva Ecologica, the largest park in Buenos Aires, which is located along the waterfront, before finishing the famed Plaza de Mayo. Come early to Cafe Tortoni, or you’ll be waiting in line forever. Grab a morning coffee at one of the “Bares Notables” Buenos Aires is home to a collection of historic cafes called “bares notables” that are beautifully preserved and just as popular today as they were decades ago. In these cafes, time stands still — in the best way. The most famous of the bares notables is Cafe Tortoni, a French-style cafe dating back to 1858. However, this cafe is extremely popular and it always has a line — either go right when they open for the day, or hit up a lesser-known cafe for something special. Las Violetas is a great cafe to check out for a cup of coffee and some sweet pastries or a slice of cake. You can find a full list of the historic cafes in Buenos Aires on this website. Alfajores, like this chocolate raspberry pistachio alfajor, are essential to any Buenos Aires food tour! Go on a Buenos Aires Food Tour The best way to experience the cuisine of Buenos Aires is on a local food tour! A food tour offers a great introduction to the delicious cuisine you’ll find all across the city. Most people think of steak when they think of Buenos Aires, but there’s so much more to Argentine food than that! This food tour will take you through the trendy Palermo neighborhood, stopping along the way at multiple eateries, from local hole-in-the-wall spots to fine dining restaurants. You’ll try eight different dishes, as well as plenty of Argentine wine! Another unique activity is the Argentine Experience, an interactive cooking class and tasting. You’ll learn how to prepare empanadas, mate, and alfajores, some of the most popular food and drinks in Argentina. You’ll also enjoy a steak dinner paired with four local wines. You can’t out-meat an Argentine! Try authentic Argentine asado An asado is a traditional Argentine barbecue with LOTS of meat. It refers to both the dish itself and the way the meat is prepared.  If you want to try a typical Argentine asado, this is a great experience to book. Come hungry because over the course of several hours, you’ll enjoy a huge meal including appetizers, various cuts of meat, and dessert, all accompanied by local Malbec wine. Another cool experience is this rooftop asado in Buenos Aires. You’ll learn about what goes into the preparation of each of the dishes you’ll enjoy, including several types of meat, empanadas, and dulce de leche cake for dessert. And you’ll get to enjoy a great ambiance as you dine outdoors on a rooftop in the trendy Palermo neighborhood. One more option is this asado experience that takes place in the garden of a local family’s home. You’ll get to help the grill-master chef prepare your asado for dinner, as well as learn the secrets of making the perfect chimichurri sauce to accompany it. Mate and medialunas — that’s what Buenos Aires does! Via Shutterstock. Sample Argentinian mate If you’re wondering what those pots people are sipping from throughout Argentina, it’s mate (MAH-tay). Mate is a caffeinated herbal beverage that is extremely popular in Argentina. You’ll see people drinking it all day long from little gourd-like cups and metal straws.

Mate is a bit of an acquired taste, but it’s something you must try while in Argentina! This unique mate tasting experience will teach you exactly how to prepare mate like a real Argentine and give you a taste of this traditional beverage. Get ready for the strong, dark reds of Argentina! Go wine tasting Argentina is famous for its wines, especially deep, intense reds like Malbecs. If you can’t make it to the wine hub of Mendoza on this trip, go wine-tasting in Buenos Aires instead! There are plenty of ways to experience Argentina’s wine without straying far from the capital. While it’s true that most vineyards and wineries are located in the central part of the country around Mendoza, there are also several just outside Buenos Aires. This full-day tour takes you to Bodega Gamboa, a popular winery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It’s perfect for Malbec aficionados, as you’ll get to sample several varieties of this full-bodied red. You’ll also enjoy a picnic lunch in the vineyards with delicious local cheeses. Or you can try this tango lesson and wine tasting in Buenos Aires. You’ll spend an hour learning about Argentina’s national dance and practicing the basic steps of tango. Then, you can sit down and enjoy a one-hour tasting of local wines, with some freshly-made empanadas to snack on. A show at Teatro Colon is one of the truly special things to do in Buenos Aires. Via T photography on Shutterstock. Visit the Magnificent Teatro Colón Teatro Colón regularly ranks among the best opera houses in the world. This opera house in Buenos Aires opened in 1908 and is renowned for its opulent architecture and interiors. It’s also said to have the best acoustics in the world for performing opera. While in Buenos Aires, touring the theater is a must if you love visiting beautiful spaces. You can only visit the theater on a guided tour, which you can reserve tickets for here. On a guided tour, you’ll learn more about the history of the building and what makes it so special. You’ll have a chance to explore several halls inside the opera house, as well as the auditorium itself. For an even better experience, you can attend a performance at the Teatro Colon. You can see what’s currently on and purchase tickets to performances on the theater’s website. Centro Cultural Kirchner, via Brester Irina on Shutterstock Attend a Cultural Event in Buenos Aires As a world-class capital city, Buenos Aires is home to some great venues where you can attend cultural events for free or cheap. One of the best such venues is the CCK (formerly Centro Cultural Kirchner), which is one of the largest cultural centers in the world. The center hosts regular concerts and other performances. All events are free, but you will need to reserve tickets online (and spots fill up quickly!) Usina del Arte is another cultural center located in the vibrant La Boca neighborhood. The cultural center, which is housed in a former power plant, also has a regular schedule of concerts, performances, and art events. Almost all events are free. For something a little different, head to a horse race at Hipódromo de Palermo. This historic venue hosts horse races several days per week. Horse racing has been very popular in Buenos Aires since the 19th century, and attending a race is a unique cultural experience. You can attend races for free every Saturday at the Hipódromo de Palermo. Polo is surprisingly popular in Argentina! Via Shutterstock. Learn about polo While football may be the most popular sport in Argentina, you might be surprised to learn that polo is also hugely popular, especially in Buenos Aires. This is due to the prevalence of horses and the influence of gaucho (cowboy) culture in Argentina.  The Campo Argentino de Polo is a massive polo field located in the heart of Palermo. This venue hosts some of the most important polo events in the country. You can play polo yourself on this half-day tour from Buenos Aires, where you’ll learn about polo from a pro and have a chance to saddle up and hone your skills.

Or, if you’d prefer to watch from the sidelines, this tour includes admission to a nighttime polo match plus unlimited drinks and snacks. Learning to make Argentine empanadas is a souvenir skill you can enjoy forever! Via Shutterstock. Take an Argentine cooking class If you want to learn how to cook some staples of Argentine cuisine while you’re in Buenos Aires, take a cooking class! This is a great way to learn more about the history and culture of Argentina and its food. You’ll also get to try your hand at preparing some classic dishes (and, of course, taste-test the results!). In this 3-hour cooking class, you’ll learn how to prepare empanadas and alfajores, two of the most common snacks in Argentina. Empanadas are made with flour and stuffed with cheese, meats, corn, or other fillings. Alfajores are delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche, a sweet caramel-like sauce that decorates many a sweet dish in Argentina. This class is a great introduction to Argentine cuisine. For a more in-depth experience, consider this 4-hour cooking class. You’ll prepare a multi-course meal with dishes like chipa (a yuca-based cheesy bread), corn stew with veal, and dulce de leche crepes for dessert. With both of these experiences, you’ll work alongside a local chef who will show you the right techniques for crafting these delicious dishes while also explaining their history and significance. A pretty garden in the Recoleta neighborhood. Wander the city gardens While there are several green spaces throughout Buenos Aires, you’ll find the biggest and the best in Palermo. Here, there are multiple interconnected public parks and gardens to explore. The locals of Buenos Aires love this area, which is known as the Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods), for walking, cycling, and roller skating. The Japanese Garden is a must-visit. This tranquil oasis opened in 1967 to celebrate a visit from Japan’s emperor and his wife. There’s a small admission fee of 1,500 ARS ($1.85 USD), but it’s worth the cost to stroll around this relaxing garden. There’s also a Japanese cultural center and restaurant inside the garden. Nearby, the Parque El Rosedal is also worth visiting. This sprawling, elegant park is filled with flowers, including numerous varieties of roses. While you can visit year-round, it’s most beautiful in the summer when the roses are in bloom. You can also check out the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens while you’re in the area. This is a smaller garden, but it’s perfect to visit on a hot day because there’s plenty of shade. Planetario Galileo Galilei, via Andres Conema on Shutterstock Stargaze at Planetario Galileo Galilei After you’ve discovered the parks and gardens of Buenos Aires, head over to the Planetario Galileo Galilei for some stargazing. This planetarium is located close to the parks, and it resembles a giant UFO. You can purchase tickets to a stargazing show inside the planetarium for 3,000 ARS ($3.68 USD.) It’s a 45-minute show, and it’s important to note that it’s all in Spanish. There’s also a small museum with exhibits at the planetarium. The Tigre Delta is full of surprises, via Shutterstock. Take a day trip to the Tigre Delta One of the best day trips from Buenos Aires is the Tigre Delta. If you ask my friends in Buenos Aires, they will always recommend this as their top day trip from the city. The Tigre Delta, one of the largest natural deltas in the world, is just a 1.5-hour boat ride away from Buenos Aires. It’s home to cute little towns, buildings with interesting architecture, and low-lying wetlands. This day tour from Buenos Aires will take you by boat to the Tigre Delta, with stops in historic San Isidro and Tigre where you’ll be able to explore local markets and sample homemade empanadas. A day trip to Colonia del Sacramento is one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires! Take a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay Did you know that you can visit another country on a day trip from Buenos Aires? The town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay is just one hour and 15 minutes by ferry from Buenos Aires.

This charming small town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is well worth a visit, with picturesque cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, cute cafes, and artisan shops.  You can visit Colonia del Sacramento on your own (I recommend booking ferries in advance using DirectFerries, as the ferry company wouldn’t accept foreign credit cards) or with a group tour. This group tour to Colonia del Sacramento includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, ferry tickets, and a two-hour walking tour in Colonia. You’ll also have a professional guide with you all day. If you’re visiting Colonia on your own, I recommend giving yourself five hours for exploration in town, and you’ll want to get an early start — lines for passport control in both Argentina and Uruguay can take a while, and you’ll have to pass through them twice. Scenes from an Estancia, via Shutterstock. Take a Day Trip to an Estancia  Another one of the best day trips from Buenos Aires is visiting an estancia, or cattle ranch, in the countryside. Gaucho (cowboy) culture is a huge part of Argentine life, yet most visitors to Buenos Aires have no idea this even exists. This day tour from Buenos Aires is a great option if you want to visit a ranch. You’ll head out to the Pampas, or plains of Argentina, and visit a traditional ranch where you’ll be able to go horseback riding, watch a folklore show, and enjoy a typical asado lunch of grilled meats. You’ll also have the chance to watch gauchos at work and visit the small, historic town of San Antonio de Areco. Inside the Mercado de San Telmo. Watch your back for pickpocketing here! Is Buenos Aires Safe? Is Buenos Aires a safe city to visit? How safe? Well, to start, the vast majority of travelers go to Buenos Aires and have a great time, with no bad incidents. But this is a city where you need to be more vigilant about pickpocketing and theft. I liken Buenos Aires to Paris or Barcelona — a great city, but absolutely crawling with pickpockets, and you should expect them to be among you at any time. Keep an eye on your belongings, use a good purse that zips, and you may prefer taking an Uber at night rather than public transit. (And be sure to check out my top travel safety tips for women.) You might have noticed that I mentioned that there are some areas in town where you need to be especially vigilant: San Telmo (especially at the market on Sunday), La Boca and El Caminito, and the area around Recoleta Cemetery (where I myself was pickpocketed on my first day of solo travel EVER in 2008). Another big issue is that Argentina is going through economic and political instability. The value of the Argentine peso fluctuates continuously, so much that restaurants sometimes change their prices on a daily basis. There are two separate exchange rates, and you as a tourist can get a better rate for your money. ATMs and credit cards will give you good rates, but you can only take out a small amount of cash at a time. It’s a good idea to check in on the local news before and during your trip, just so you can be aware of what’s going on. Like any other city, if there’s protest or political event taking place, avoid that neighborhood. I’ve safely traveled during times of protest in Thailand, France, Greece, and the US and life is usually normal away from the protest areas. Just stay informed. I saw this mural in Palermo, was perplexed, found out Conan O’Brien had it commissioned for his visit to Buenos Aires, and then I couldn’t stop laughing! How Much Time to Spend in Buenos Aires How much time should you spend in Buenos Aires? Honestly, more than you think you need. I most recently spent a week in Buenos Aires and wish I had spent much longer. Even with seven days, there was so much I didn’t have time to do! For that reason, I recommend spending at least three full days in Buenos Aires proper so you have time to explore the city properly. If you have a fourth day, that would be a nice opportunity to visit Colonia del Sacramento or the Tigre Delta — or continue exploring the city.

I see a lot of people allot just a day or two to Buenos Aires — often when planning a trip to Patagonia or Antarctica — and if that’s you, consider adding on a few more days. How to get to Buenos Aires How can you get to Buenos Aires? As one of the largest cities in South America, Buenos Aires is a major air hub with plenty of international flights from North America and Europe.  There are two airports in Buenos Aires — EZE hosts primarily international flights with some domestic options, and is an hour’s drive from the city, while AEP is within the city (it took us 25 minutes to get there from Palermo) and mainly offers domestic flights. There are also ferries from the cities of Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo in Uruguay, and plenty of buses to further destinations in Argentina and beyond. (Just keep in mind that Argentina is a huge country, and bus journeys can be quite long!) Stay in Palermo to enjoy views of Buenos Aires like this one. Where to Stay in Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, as you well know by now, is a huge city with tons of different neighborhoods — so it’s important to choose a good one. My personal favorite neighborhood to stay in is Palermo, with tons of fabulous restaurants and bars, gardens, cool shops, and a lot of buzzing energy.  The following properties are the top-rated options in Palermo. Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Palermo: BE Jardin Escondido By Coppola is a luxurious boutique hotel in Palermo Soho where Francis Ford Coppola stayed while shooting a movie in Buenos Aires. Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Palermo: The best mid-range hotel in Buenos Aires is Magnolia Hotel Boutique, which offers chic and comfortable rooms in the heart of Palermo. Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Palermo: Palermo Bridge is a solid budget hotel in a great location just a short walk away from Buenos Aires’ sprawling city gardens. Top-Rated Hostel in Palermo: For budget travelers and backpackers, PH Palermo Hostel is an affordable place to stay in a fun, lively area. You can visit Buenos Aires year-round, but rain is always a possibility. Best Time to Visit Buenos Aires When should you go to Buenos Aires? I feel like there’s never a bad time to visit Buenos Aires – yes, the seasons are flipped from the northern hemisphere, but the city has mild winters that are great for exploring. The climate is a bit more like Houston than Boston, so to speak, so don’t expect any snow in July. Keep in mind that Buenos Aires’s high season is during the summer months — December to March — and this can often be a hot and humid time to visit. While the city is on the Río de la Plata, you don’t get the cool breezes that you get in coastal cities. You might want to time your trip for the shoulder season (March to May or September to November) for nicer weather with fewer crowds. I love El Ateneo Grand Splendid — and Buenos Aires! Is Buenos Aires Worth It? Are you kidding me? Buenos Aires is incredibly worth it! I absolutely love this city, and I was most recently reminded of why I love it so much. The culture, the nightlife, the incredible food, all for surprisingly reasonable prices — it all adds up to a world-class city! I’m already trying to get myself back to Buenos Aires for a third time. We’ll see how that goes. As for you — I hope you have the best time in Buenos Aires! There’s nowhere else like it. More on Argentina: More on South America: Have you been to Buenos Aires? Any suggestions? Share away! You will be enthralled with Buenos Aires from the moment you arrive. This expansive capital city of South America is so colorful and opulent that it almost looks like Paris, I thought. or Madrid. or Mexico City. But wait until you see Buenos Aires' abundance of interesting activities. You are going to love the amazing food, amazing culture, and exceptional value! Tango performances aside, there are other reasons to visit Buenos Aires: the city's top-notch art museums, amazing live music, and art and culture in general. It is a culinary

destination as well; steak is the specialty, of course, but there is also alfajores, empanadas, and a thriving international food scene. Furthermore, Buenos Aires is a fun city with lots of interesting and quirky bars, late-night dance clubs, and exciting live events. Buenos Aires is among the best-value major cities in the world due to its abundance of affordable options and surprisingly low prices. I went to Buenos Aires for the first time on my own when I was twenty-four years old, and I recently went back for a longer visit over fifteen years later. Has the city undergone changes? Has it ever happened? I have also changed. I can not wait to tell you about the top activities in Buenos Aires. Come with me as we examine! Contributors to this post include Dale Peterson and Adventurous Kate. It was published in March of 2024. Buenos Aires is so much more than this picture suggests! through Shutterstock. Activities in Buenos Aires Examine Buenos Aires's Various Neighborhoods Discovering each of the many neighborhoods in Buenos Aires is one of my favorite things to do while visiting the city. You could visit every neighborhood in Buenos Aires for months and still not see them all. One of the best ways to explore lots of neighborhoods is to take the hop-on, hop-off bus tour. From above, you will be able to see all the best locations in the city and have a comprehensive overview of everything. However, if you’re short on time, this private walking tour takes you to several of the city’s best neighborhoods in one day. These are the top neighborhoods in Buenos Aires that I suggest you prioritize if you have more time to spend there: Palermo Palermo is a trendy, upscale neighborhood with some of the best restaurants, bars, and clubs in the city. It’s actually a huge neighborhood divided into sub-neighborhoods (including Palermo Chico, Palermo Soho, and Palermo Hollywood.)  If you’re familiar with the neighborhoods of Mexico City, you’ll understand what I mean when I say that Palermo reminds me a lot of Roma Norte and La Condesa. In New York, Palermo would be a massive East Village. Palermo is home to many of my favorite restaurants in Buenos Aires, including Sacro (vegan), Don Julio (steakhouse), Mishiguene (Jewish Argentine cuisine), and La Carnicería (Argentine meat). In Palermo Soho, you’ll find many of the coolest spots in the city concentrated around the lively Plaza Serrano. In Palermo Chico, the oldest part of the neighborhood, you can explore some of the city’s best museums, like the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA). To learn more about Palermo, check out this graffiti and street art walking tour. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll learn about Palermo’s history and the political origins of its street art. Keep an eye out for Conan O’Brien’s mural with Lionel Messi and Pope Francis—it cracked me up! El Caminito in La Boca, via Erwin Widmer on Shutterstock. The Boca Historically, one of Buenos Aires' most diverse neighborhoods has been this vibrant, working-class area. When immigrants came to Argentina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, La Boca was the main port of entry, much like New York City was for them entering the United States. La Boca's most well-known location is El Caminito, a vibrant street dotted with old conventillos, or boarding houses. This street is featured in any photo you may have seen of La Boca. Benito Quinquela Martín, a local artist, spearheaded the neighborhood's revitalization beginning in the 1950s. To truly understand La Boca's history, I highly suggest taking a guided tour of the area. An excellent method to thoroughly explore La Boca is with this guided walking tour. Remember that pickpocketing and minor crimes make La Boca one of the neighborhoods in Buenos Aires where you should be even more cautious. The most elegant street in Recoleta is Avenida Alvear. via Shutterstock user AlexCorv. Recupe y Retiro Strolling around Recoleta and Retiro, you could honestly wonder if you are in Paris or Latin America.

Several of the buildings in these posh neighborhoods are reminiscent of the Haussmannian architecture of Paris and are home to upscale stores and hotels. The Cementerio de la Recoleta, one of the most distinctive and exquisite cemeteries on earth and, in my opinion, a must-see attraction in Buenos Aires, is located in Recoleta. The enormous clock tower known as the Torre Monumental honors Argentina's independence and is located in Retiro. The nearby park is a well-liked gathering spot for the community. Buenos Aires' San Telmo is a bohemian neighborhood! The San Telmo Another European-style neighborhood that, in my opinion, could just as easily be placed in Madrid or Rome is San Telmo. The outdoor Feria de San Telmo market is held on Sundays, which makes this artsy, bohemian neighborhood very popular. Weekends are a great time to people watch at the bustling Plaza Dorrego, which is a popular place for street tango. Because there are so many exciting late-night bars in San Telmo, it is also the ideal location for going out late. But San Telmo is another neighborhood to be on your guard because of an increased number of small-time crimes, such as pickpocketing at the bustling market. Puerto Madero skyscrapers, sourced from Shutterstock. Madero Puerto Situated near Buenos Aires' main port, Puerto Madero is a chic and contemporary neighborhood that makes for a pleasant stroll. It is the newest area of the city, full of gleaming skyscrapers, and it is close to San Nicolas, home to many of Buenos Aires' most significant landmarks. For a really unique experience, you can enjoy a sunset cruise with an open bar in Puerto Madero. For an hour, as the sun sets over the water, you will sail down the Rio de la Plata and enjoy views of the city. The US has the White House; Argentina has the Casa Rosada! See the Most Important Sites in San Nicolas, Buenos Aires You can spend an afternoon touring the many significant landmarks in San Nicolas, a historic neighborhood. The Casa Rosada, also known as the Pink House, is the most well-known. It serves as the president of Argentina's official office. It is situated on the large Plaza de Mayo, which also houses the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral and other significant buildings. The Obelisco, a colossal monument honoring Buenos Aires' founding, and the Avenida 9 de Julio, one of the world's broadest avenues, are also located in San Nicolas. These are Buenos Aires' main attractions! One of the most important things to do in Buenos Aires is to see a tango show! via Shutterstock via Gary Yim. Explore Buenos Aires' Tango scene. Tango is an experience that should not be missed while visiting Buenos Aires. The tango is the national dance of Argentina and a mainstay of Buenos Aires culture. There are numerous ways to enjoy tango in the city. Attending a tango performance is the first. These events primarily serve tourists and are held in stunning historic locations throughout Buenos Aires. La Ventana is a popular tango show, or you can catch a performance at Teatro Astor Piazzolla. Going to a milonga is an additional option. The locals go out to dance for fun on these tango evenings. To learn about upcoming milongas, check local forums or ask around as they are not very publicly announced in English. I attended one once, and I had some of my best people-watching experiences ever. Tango performances are also available in real time on the streets of Buenos Aires. The Sunday market in San Telmo and the El Caminito neighborhood of La Boca are two of the greatest places to do this. Although it is free to watch street tango, do not forget to tip the dancers! At last, you can become a proficient tango dancer! Take a private tango lesson to learn the basic steps of the tango from a pro. Visiting Recoleta Cemetery is one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires. Go to Recoleta Cemetery. Even if you are not usually into cemeteries, I highly suggest visiting Recoleta Cemetery as it is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world.

This city of the dead, with its rows of massive stone mausoleums, is well worth a visit. Numerous well-known Argentines are buried there, notably Eva Peron (her grave is easy to miss!). Taking a guided walking tour is highly recommended to get the most out of the cemetery. You will discover more about the past of the graveyard and the individuals interred there. The cost of the walking tour is $10 USD, and cemetery admission is also an additional expense. Due to the unstable Argentinean currency, the admission fee varies, but it is approximately $7 USD and can only be paid with a credit card. Because this is a well-known tourist destination, you should be on the lookout for pickpockets. You can bet that when I got back, I kept a close eye on my bag because I had actually been pickpocketed near the cemetery back in 2008. El Ateneo Grand Splendid was amazing! What a memorable encounter! See the Grand Splendid El Ateneo El Ateneo Grand Splendid is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. This 1919 theater, converted into a magnificent bookstore, is a sight to behold on Instagram. Bibliophiles should not miss this magnificent bookstore, which features multi-tiered balconies, frescoed ceilings, and exquisite original details. I was overjoyed beyond measure! The books are mostly in Spanish, with a tiny amount in English. In addition, there is a cafe and lots of comfortable spots to read. Recoleta Cemetery and El Ateneo Grand Splendid are both close by, so I recommend taking a look at both while you are in the area. Experience La Bomba de Tiempo La Bomba de Tiempo is a performance like no other, and one of the wildest nights out I’ve ever had! If you’ll be in the city on a Monday night, you can’t miss this energetic performance. It’s an incredible live percussion show, and it’s popular with locals and tourists alike. Every performance is unique because it’s based on improvisation between the conductor and the musicians. And everyone is dancing and jumping around to it all! The show takes place at the Ciudad Cultural Konex. Tickets are 3,200 ARS ($4 USD) and can be purchased online. Art on display at MALBA, my favorite museum in Buenos Aires, via Brester Irina on Shutterstock Visit Buenos Aires’s Many Museums Buenos Aires is a city of incredible museums. If you’re looking for an indoor activity to do on a rainy day or a day when it’s too hot outside, you can easily spend a few hours browsing one of these great museums. The MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinamericano de Buenos Aires) is my personal favorite, housing an impressive collection of Latin American art. Another must-visit museum for art lovers is the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, which features noteworthy works from artists including Picasso, Van Gogh, El Greco, and more. A smaller museum worth a visit is Museo Evita, which is dedicated to the life and works of Eva Perón. This museum will give you more insight into one of Argentina’s most polarizing historical figures and features some really cool exhibits, including many of Evita’s iconic outfits. She was tiny! Some other museums to check out are the Palace of Running Waters (an offbeat museum housed in a historic water pumping station) and the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, which is housed in an opulent early 20th-century mansion. San Telmo Market gets so busy! Visit San Telmo Market on a Sunday One of the best things to do in the bohemian San Telmo neighborhood of Buenos Aires is visiting its famous Sunday market. The indoor Mercado de San Telmo is open every day of the week, but on Sundays, a large outdoor market called the Feria de San Telmo takes place, filling the streets around the market hall with hundreds of stalls. It’s a great time, with plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining, and watching live tango on the street. You can also explore the antique shops and art galleries on the surrounding streets in San Telmo. The streets around the market get very crowded on Sundays, so be extra careful about watching your belongings, as it’s a popular spot for pickpockets.

Our steak at Don Julio, absolutely beautifully done. Eat at a Fine Steakhouse Buenos Aires is home to some of the best steakhouses on the planet, and if you’re a meat-eater in the least, you need to try it! Two of the best spots in town are Don Julio and La Cabrera. I’ve been to both steakhouses, and most recently ate at Don Julio. This meal was expensive (honestly, the only significantly expensive meal in Buenos Aires, even though we ate at lots of nice places), but the steaks, the sides, the wine, and the atmosphere were top-notch. Don Julio is an experience, from the tomato vines covering the restaurant to the sparkling wine they serve you while waiting for your table. My top recommendation is to make a reservation VERY early, because they go fast. And if you’re not a meat-eater, have I got the place for you — Sacro. Charlie and I ended up at this high-end vegan restaurant on a whim, and SURPRISE — it was the best meal we had in Buenos Aires. Frank’s in Palermo Hollywood is a cocktail bar worth visiting! Cocktail-Hop at Buenos Aires’s Unique Bars Buenos Aires is filled with quirky and unique cocktail bars, especially in Palermo. If you’re looking for a fun night out, cocktail-hop your way through the neighborhood! Nearby in Palermo Hollywood, you’ll find Frank’s, a speakeasy-style bar with hidden rooms and passageways, all outfitted in dark wood and crystal chandeliers. It feels like you’ve time traveled to a mafia den during the prohibition era! A few other bars I enjoyed were Tres Monos, which is dark and has a tiki feel to it, and Backroom Bar, which has cool cocktails and jazz shows. Both of these bars are located in the trendy Palermo Soho neighborhood. Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, via Walkabout Photo Guides on Shutterstock Tour Palacio Barolo Palacio Barolo is one of the most distinctive buildings in Buenos Aires due to its eclectic architectural style that combines Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Gothic elements. This historic office building, which was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, opened in 1923. Today, Palacio Barolo is still home to offices and businesses, but it’s also open for guided tours. This 1.5-hour guided tour will allow you to learn more about the history of this building and explore various spaces, including the upper balconies, which offer some of the best views you’ll see in the city. For an even more unique experience, this evening tour offers a chance to see Palacio Barolo by night and enjoy a glass of wine as you explore the building with a knowledgeable guide. Boca Juniors Football Fans, via Katarzyna Citko on Shutterstock Watch a Football Game One of the top things to do in Buenos Aires is seeing a football game (meaning soccer, my fellow Americans). Argentines go wild for fútbol, and watching a match is an experience you won’t soon forget. There are numerous football teams in Buenos Aires, but Boca Juniors is one of the most popular. You can watch Boca Juniors play at La Bombonera, a famous football stadium in the neighborhood of La Boca.  I wouldn’t go solo to a game or even buy tickets on your own unless you have a local who knows what they’re doing. It’s difficult to score tickets, and scams abound. Instead, I’d recommend joining a tour, where they will make sure you have the best experience possible. Know that games can get pretty rowdy! This tour company is best for getting tickets to a Boca Juniors game. They also have tickets for other teams in Buenos Aires, including River Plate and San Lorenzo. If you aren’t able to make a game, you can still take a tour of La Bombonera, as well as El Monumental, the stadium of the River Plate football team. This five-hour guided tour is the perfect experience for football enthusiasts. Cyclists in Buenos Aires, via Sandra Moraes on Shutterstock Explore Buenos Aires by bike Buenos Aires is a huge city, so exploring by bike makes it easier to cover more ground. The city is quite flat, and there are plenty of bike lanes, so it’s accessible even to beginner cyclists.

This half-day bike tour is a great way to discover the city on two wheels.  You’ll explore several important neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, including San Nicolas and La Boca. You’ll also cycle through the Reserva Ecologica, the largest park in Buenos Aires, which is located along the waterfront, before finishing the famed Plaza de Mayo. Come early to Cafe Tortoni, or you’ll be waiting in line forever. Grab a morning coffee at one of the “Bares Notables” Buenos Aires is home to a collection of historic cafes called “bares notables” that are beautifully preserved and just as popular today as they were decades ago. In these cafes, time stands still — in the best way. The most famous of the bares notables is Cafe Tortoni, a French-style cafe dating back to 1858. However, this cafe is extremely popular and it always has a line — either go right when they open for the day, or hit up a lesser-known cafe for something special. Las Violetas is a great cafe to check out for a cup of coffee and some sweet pastries or a slice of cake. You can find a full list of the historic cafes in Buenos Aires on this website. Alfajores, like this chocolate raspberry pistachio alfajor, are essential to any Buenos Aires food tour! Go on a Buenos Aires Food Tour The best way to experience the cuisine of Buenos Aires is on a local food tour! A food tour offers a great introduction to the delicious cuisine you’ll find all across the city. Most people think of steak when they think of Buenos Aires, but there’s so much more to Argentine food than that! This food tour will take you through the trendy Palermo neighborhood, stopping along the way at multiple eateries, from local hole-in-the-wall spots to fine dining restaurants. You’ll try eight different dishes, as well as plenty of Argentine wine! Another unique activity is the Argentine Experience, an interactive cooking class and tasting. You’ll learn how to prepare empanadas, mate, and alfajores, some of the most popular food and drinks in Argentina. You’ll also enjoy a steak dinner paired with four local wines. You can’t out-meat an Argentine! Try authentic Argentine asado An asado is a traditional Argentine barbecue with LOTS of meat. It refers to both the dish itself and the way the meat is prepared.  If you want to try a typical Argentine asado, this is a great experience to book. Come hungry because over the course of several hours, you’ll enjoy a huge meal including appetizers, various cuts of meat, and dessert, all accompanied by local Malbec wine. Another cool experience is this rooftop asado in Buenos Aires. You’ll learn about what goes into the preparation of each of the dishes you’ll enjoy, including several types of meat, empanadas, and dulce de leche cake for dessert. And you’ll get to enjoy a great ambiance as you dine outdoors on a rooftop in the trendy Palermo neighborhood. One more option is this asado experience that takes place in the garden of a local family’s home. You’ll get to help the grill-master chef prepare your asado for dinner, as well as learn the secrets of making the perfect chimichurri sauce to accompany it. Mate and medialunas — that’s what Buenos Aires does! Via Shutterstock. Sample Argentinian mate If you’re wondering what those pots people are sipping from throughout Argentina, it’s mate (MAH-tay). Mate is a caffeinated herbal beverage that is extremely popular in Argentina. You’ll see people drinking it all day long from little gourd-like cups and metal straws. Mate is a bit of an acquired taste, but it’s something you must try while in Argentina! This unique mate tasting experience will teach you exactly how to prepare mate like a real Argentine and give you a taste of this traditional beverage. Get ready for the strong, dark reds of Argentina! Go wine tasting Argentina is famous for its wines, especially deep, intense reds like Malbecs. If you can’t make it to the wine hub of Mendoza on this trip, go wine-tasting in Buenos Aires instead! There are plenty of ways to experience Argentina’s wine without straying far from the capital.

While it’s true that most vineyards and wineries are located in the central part of the country around Mendoza, there are also several just outside Buenos Aires. This full-day tour takes you to Bodega Gamboa, a popular winery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It’s perfect for Malbec aficionados, as you’ll get to sample several varieties of this full-bodied red. You’ll also enjoy a picnic lunch in the vineyards with delicious local cheeses. Or you can try this tango lesson and wine tasting in Buenos Aires. You’ll spend an hour learning about Argentina’s national dance and practicing the basic steps of tango. Then, you can sit down and enjoy a one-hour tasting of local wines, with some freshly-made empanadas to snack on. A show at Teatro Colon is one of the truly special things to do in Buenos Aires. Via T photography on Shutterstock. Visit the Magnificent Teatro Colón Teatro Colón regularly ranks among the best opera houses in the world. This opera house in Buenos Aires opened in 1908 and is renowned for its opulent architecture and interiors. It’s also said to have the best acoustics in the world for performing opera. While in Buenos Aires, touring the theater is a must if you love visiting beautiful spaces. You can only visit the theater on a guided tour, which you can reserve tickets for here. On a guided tour, you’ll learn more about the history of the building and what makes it so special. You’ll have a chance to explore several halls inside the opera house, as well as the auditorium itself. For an even better experience, you can attend a performance at the Teatro Colon. You can see what’s currently on and purchase tickets to performances on the theater’s website. Centro Cultural Kirchner, via Brester Irina on Shutterstock Attend a Cultural Event in Buenos Aires As a world-class capital city, Buenos Aires is home to some great venues where you can attend cultural events for free or cheap. One of the best such venues is the CCK (formerly Centro Cultural Kirchner), which is one of the largest cultural centers in the world. The center hosts regular concerts and other performances. All events are free, but you will need to reserve tickets online (and spots fill up quickly!) Usina del Arte is another cultural center located in the vibrant La Boca neighborhood. The cultural center, which is housed in a former power plant, also has a regular schedule of concerts, performances, and art events. Almost all events are free. For something a little different, head to a horse race at Hipódromo de Palermo. This historic venue hosts horse races several days per week. Horse racing has been very popular in Buenos Aires since the 19th century, and attending a race is a unique cultural experience. You can attend races for free every Saturday at the Hipódromo de Palermo. Polo is surprisingly popular in Argentina! Via Shutterstock. Learn about polo While football may be the most popular sport in Argentina, you might be surprised to learn that polo is also hugely popular, especially in Buenos Aires. This is due to the prevalence of horses and the influence of gaucho (cowboy) culture in Argentina.  The Campo Argentino de Polo is a massive polo field located in the heart of Palermo. This venue hosts some of the most important polo events in the country. You can play polo yourself on this half-day tour from Buenos Aires, where you’ll learn about polo from a pro and have a chance to saddle up and hone your skills. Or, if you’d prefer to watch from the sidelines, this tour includes admission to a nighttime polo match plus unlimited drinks and snacks. Learning to make Argentine empanadas is a souvenir skill you can enjoy forever! Via Shutterstock. Take an Argentine cooking class If you want to learn how to cook some staples of Argentine cuisine while you’re in Buenos Aires, take a cooking class! This is a great way to learn more about the history and culture of Argentina and its food. You’ll also get to try your hand at preparing some classic dishes (and, of course, taste-test the results!).

In this 3-hour cooking class, you’ll learn how to prepare empanadas and alfajores, two of the most common snacks in Argentina. Empanadas are made with flour and stuffed with cheese, meats, corn, or other fillings. Alfajores are delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche, a sweet caramel-like sauce that decorates many a sweet dish in Argentina. This class is a great introduction to Argentine cuisine. For a more in-depth experience, consider this 4-hour cooking class. You’ll prepare a multi-course meal with dishes like chipa (a yuca-based cheesy bread), corn stew with veal, and dulce de leche crepes for dessert. With both of these experiences, you’ll work alongside a local chef who will show you the right techniques for crafting these delicious dishes while also explaining their history and significance. A pretty garden in the Recoleta neighborhood. Wander the city gardens While there are several green spaces throughout Buenos Aires, you’ll find the biggest and the best in Palermo. Here, there are multiple interconnected public parks and gardens to explore. The locals of Buenos Aires love this area, which is known as the Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods), for walking, cycling, and roller skating. The Japanese Garden is a must-visit. This tranquil oasis opened in 1967 to celebrate a visit from Japan’s emperor and his wife. There’s a small admission fee of 1,500 ARS ($1.85 USD), but it’s worth the cost to stroll around this relaxing garden. There’s also a Japanese cultural center and restaurant inside the garden. Nearby, the Parque El Rosedal is also worth visiting. This sprawling, elegant park is filled with flowers, including numerous varieties of roses. While you can visit year-round, it’s most beautiful in the summer when the roses are in bloom. You can also check out the Buenos Aires Botanical Gardens while you’re in the area. This is a smaller garden, but it’s perfect to visit on a hot day because there’s plenty of shade. Planetario Galileo Galilei, via Andres Conema on Shutterstock Stargaze at Planetario Galileo Galilei After you’ve discovered the parks and gardens of Buenos Aires, head over to the Planetario Galileo Galilei for some stargazing. This planetarium is located close to the parks, and it resembles a giant UFO. You can purchase tickets to a stargazing show inside the planetarium for 3,000 ARS ($3.68 USD.) It’s a 45-minute show, and it’s important to note that it’s all in Spanish. There’s also a small museum with exhibits at the planetarium. The Tigre Delta is full of surprises, via Shutterstock. Take a day trip to the Tigre Delta One of the best day trips from Buenos Aires is the Tigre Delta. If you ask my friends in Buenos Aires, they will always recommend this as their top day trip from the city. The Tigre Delta, one of the largest natural deltas in the world, is just a 1.5-hour boat ride away from Buenos Aires. It’s home to cute little towns, buildings with interesting architecture, and low-lying wetlands. This day tour from Buenos Aires will take you by boat to the Tigre Delta, with stops in historic San Isidro and Tigre where you’ll be able to explore local markets and sample homemade empanadas. A day trip to Colonia del Sacramento is one of the best things to do in Buenos Aires! Take a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay Did you know that you can visit another country on a day trip from Buenos Aires? The town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay is just one hour and 15 minutes by ferry from Buenos Aires. This charming small town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is well worth a visit, with picturesque cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, cute cafes, and artisan shops.  You can visit Colonia del Sacramento on your own (I recommend booking ferries in advance using DirectFerries, as the ferry company wouldn’t accept foreign credit cards) or with a group tour. This group tour to Colonia del Sacramento includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, ferry tickets, and a two-hour walking tour in Colonia. You’ll also have a professional guide with you all day.

If you’re visiting Colonia on your own, I recommend giving yourself five hours for exploration in town, and you’ll want to get an early start — lines for passport control in both Argentina and Uruguay can take a while, and you’ll have to pass through them twice. Scenes from an Estancia, via Shutterstock. Take a Day Trip to an Estancia  Another one of the best day trips from Buenos Aires is visiting an estancia, or cattle ranch, in the countryside. Gaucho (cowboy) culture is a huge part of Argentine life, yet most visitors to Buenos Aires have no idea this even exists. This day tour from Buenos Aires is a great option if you want to visit a ranch. You’ll head out to the Pampas, or plains of Argentina, and visit a traditional ranch where you’ll be able to go horseback riding, watch a folklore show, and enjoy a typical asado lunch of grilled meats. You’ll also have the chance to watch gauchos at work and visit the small, historic town of San Antonio de Areco. Inside the Mercado de San Telmo. Watch your back for pickpocketing here! Is Buenos Aires Safe? Is Buenos Aires a safe city to visit? How safe? Well, to start, the vast majority of travelers go to Buenos Aires and have a great time, with no bad incidents. But this is a city where you need to be more vigilant about pickpocketing and theft. I liken Buenos Aires to Paris or Barcelona — a great city, but absolutely crawling with pickpockets, and you should expect them to be among you at any time. Keep an eye on your belongings, use a good purse that zips, and you may prefer taking an Uber at night rather than public transit. (And be sure to check out my top travel safety tips for women.) You might have noticed that I mentioned that there are some areas in town where you need to be especially vigilant: San Telmo (especially at the market on Sunday), La Boca and El Caminito, and the area around Recoleta Cemetery (where I myself was pickpocketed on my first day of solo travel EVER in 2008). Another big issue is that Argentina is going through economic and political instability. The value of the Argentine peso fluctuates continuously, so much that restaurants sometimes change their prices on a daily basis. There are two separate exchange rates, and you as a tourist can get a better rate for your money. ATMs and credit cards will give you good rates, but you can only take out a small amount of cash at a time. It’s a good idea to check in on the local news before and during your trip, just so you can be aware of what’s going on. Like any other city, if there’s protest or political event taking place, avoid that neighborhood. I’ve safely traveled during times of protest in Thailand, France, Greece, and the US and life is usually normal away from the protest areas. Just stay informed. I saw this mural in Palermo, was perplexed, found out Conan O’Brien had it commissioned for his visit to Buenos Aires, and then I couldn’t stop laughing! How Much Time to Spend in Buenos Aires How much time should you spend in Buenos Aires? Honestly, more than you think you need. I most recently spent a week in Buenos Aires and wish I had spent much longer. Even with seven days, there was so much I didn’t have time to do! For that reason, I recommend spending at least three full days in Buenos Aires proper so you have time to explore the city properly. If you have a fourth day, that would be a nice opportunity to visit Colonia del Sacramento or the Tigre Delta — or continue exploring the city. I see a lot of people allot just a day or two to Buenos Aires — often when planning a trip to Patagonia or Antarctica — and if that’s you, consider adding on a few more days. How to get to Buenos Aires How can you get to Buenos Aires? As one of the largest cities in South America, Buenos Aires is a major air hub with plenty of international flights from North America and Europe.  There are two airports in Buenos Aires — EZE hosts primarily international flights with some domestic options, and is an hour’s drive

from the city, while AEP is within the city (it took us 25 minutes to get there from Palermo) and mainly offers domestic flights. There are also ferries from the cities of Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo in Uruguay, and plenty of buses to further destinations in Argentina and beyond. (Just keep in mind that Argentina is a huge country, and bus journeys can be quite long!) Stay in Palermo to enjoy views of Buenos Aires like this one. Where to Stay in Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, as you well know by now, is a huge city with tons of different neighborhoods — so it’s important to choose a good one. My personal favorite neighborhood to stay in is Palermo, with tons of fabulous restaurants and bars, gardens, cool shops, and a lot of buzzing energy.  The following properties are the top-rated options in Palermo. Top-Rated Luxury Hotel in Palermo: BE Jardin Escondido By Coppola is a luxurious boutique hotel in Palermo Soho where Francis Ford Coppola stayed while shooting a movie in Buenos Aires. Top-Rated Mid-Range Hotel in Palermo: The best mid-range hotel in Buenos Aires is Magnolia Hotel Boutique, which offers chic and comfortable rooms in the heart of Palermo. Top-Rated Budget Hotel in Palermo: Palermo Bridge is a solid budget hotel in a great location just a short walk away from Buenos Aires’ sprawling city gardens. Top-Rated Hostel in Palermo: For budget travelers and backpackers, PH Palermo Hostel is an affordable place to stay in a fun, lively area. You can visit Buenos Aires year-round, but rain is always a possibility. Best Time to Visit Buenos Aires When should you go to Buenos Aires? I feel like there’s never a bad time to visit Buenos Aires – yes, the seasons are flipped from the northern hemisphere, but the city has mild winters that are great for exploring. The climate is a bit more like Houston than Boston, so to speak, so don’t expect any snow in July. Keep in mind that Buenos Aires’s high season is during the summer months — December to March — and this can often be a hot and humid time to visit. While the city is on the Río de la Plata, you don’t get the cool breezes that you get in coastal cities. You might want to time your trip for the shoulder season (March to May or September to November) for nicer weather with fewer crowds. I love El Ateneo Grand Splendid — and Buenos Aires! Is Buenos Aires Worth It? Are you kidding me? Buenos Aires is incredibly worth it! I absolutely love this city, and I was most recently reminded of why I love it so much. The culture, the nightlife, the incredible food, all for surprisingly reasonable prices — it all adds up to a world-class city! I’m already trying to get myself back to Buenos Aires for a third time. We’ll see how that goes. As for you — I hope you have the best time in Buenos Aires! There’s nowhere else like it. More on Argentina: More on South America: Have you been to Buenos Aires? Any suggestions? Share away!

[hoponhopoffbustourtickets]

Experience the heart of Spain with our Hop-On Hop-Off Madrid Bus Tours. Cruise through centuries of history and culture at your own pace.

🏰 Royal Palace to Retiro Park - all at your fingertips 🎧 Audio guides in 14 languages 🚌 Frequent buses, no waiting 🎫 24/48 hour passes - your choice, your adventure

[captainsandipandutta]

If you’re only in Madrid for a short amount of time or want to get a feel for the city on your first day, a hop-on-hop-off bus is a great option.

This tour offers you either a 1-day or a 2-day pass for the hop-on-hop-off buses, which begins from your first hop-on. There are 49 stops available along two routes – so if you can, we suggest taking the 2-day pass.

An audio guide is provided with 14 languages available, detailing the most important information about all of the locations. A free map is included, as well as discounts across a number of locations in Madrid.

[maaarine]

Barcelona bicibús: the children’s bicycle convoy that’s helping cycling take off in Spain (Graham Keeley, inews, Dec 06 2021)

“But instead of hopping in to her father’s car to enjoy a snug journey to the school gates, she joins her friends on their bikes for the weekly ride through the streets of Barcelona with the bicibús, or bike bus.

This is a straggling convoy of around 70 parents and children, some as young as three, who wind their way along the city’s roads to be dropped at their various schools at rush hour every Friday.

Some of the smallest are just taking the first wobbly ride on two wheels while others still rely on stabilisers.

But they are all pioneers in a new movement that wants to make cycling through bustling modern cities safer for the youngest in society. 

As the pressure to take action to combat climate change mounts, campaigners say more people should ditch the car and hop on the bike for the school run. (…)

Her father Lluís Juncà, a civil servant, said that despite the efforts of authorities in Barcelona to make the city more accessible for cyclists, the roads were not safe enough for children.

The fact that the bicibús needs two police cars to escort it through the busy streets underlines Mr Juncà’s point.

There are cycle lanes all the way to school, but the car is still king in this city. And it is getting worse.

A recent study by the EAE business school in Madrid found that traffic use in Barcelona had risen 23 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

The city has 6,000 cars per square kilometre, double that of the French and Spanish capital cities of Paris and Madrid, and 47 per cent of the city’s population use cars to get around, the study found. (…)

“The idea behind it is to ask for better (cycling) infrastructure, so we get the children to ride their bikes in the bike lanes. Right now, it is a bit nerve-racking.

And there is a need for more families to use their bicycles as a means of transport to help the environment,” she said.”

[1ddiscourseoftheday]

Sun 28 Apr

Harry was out and about in West Hollywood (yes, the gay club district) last night showing off his short hair and friends, it looks beautiful. Absolutely stunning. Stop your crying, it's all all right. Dunno what he was up to but some gays got drunk Harry to take the tram with them; finally after all these years yes, that really was Harry on the bus in L.A. (Sort of: the cute free bar hopping trolley anyway, not the FULL public transport vibe but pretty sure that's as close as you're gonna get with this fancy ho.)

The guy from the festival in Madrid talked more about how he's been trying to book Louis for the last two years and says his old team made it difficult, which could honestly mean almost anything, and the Villa Mix festival released a teaser video for Liam's appearance.

Niall, amused at people trying to connect dots to find clues about NH2, said, "you guys are so funny! Nothing is happening for a while. You'll know when it's happening," well yes probably so. But we're so scarred by SOME PEOPLES' refusal to tell us anything ever that we forget how to trust, sorry Niall. Be gentle with us.

Also today in dot connecting, it looks like the rbbsbbofficial twitter may not just be a saved url, but perhaps a url saved by someone with a verified twitter account. Or maybe not, but since that's not a remotely surprising piece of news, I don't have any trouble believing it. I'd be a hell of a lot more surprised and suspicious if evidence suggesting otherwise surfaced tbh.

[umichenginabroad]

Week 4: Midterms, Friends, Mallorca!

Hi everyone! Sorry this post is a little late as I had a crazy week so just had the chance to sit down and write this post.

Monday, we had our physics midterm which was open note, 10 multiple choice questions, and 10% of our grade. I scrambled in the morning to get my notes printed but figured it out just in time for our 9:00 am exam. The exam was not too difficult. After, we had a physics tutorial and then I wrote my history essay that was due at 9:00 pm. I procrastinated the essay but ended up finishing around 7:00 pm. That night, we went to student night at Dicey’s Garden Club and had a (too) fun time.

It was a struggle to get up Tuesday, but luckily we just had physics lecture and history lecture in the morning and a screening of the film Belfast that afternoon. The rest of the day was nothing too interesting, just laundry and planning upcoming trips.

Wednesday morning, I woke up early because my friend Kate from home flew in around 6:00 am! She arrived at UCD around 7:00 am and after getting ready we headed into town. We headed to breakfast and then explored Dublin. We were able to see the Book of Kells and The Long Room(most of the books are not there which was disappointing) at Trinity College as well as go into Saint Patricks Cathedral. We then shopped around and stopped in for Lunch before heading back to UCD for my lab. This lab was particularly challenging and long so we used the full three hours. After lab, I came back and got ready and we headed into town for dinner along with Sammy. We ate at Boeuf which was amazing steak, potatoes, and vegetables. After dinner, we met the rest of our friends in Temple Bar area and hopped around to different pubs until around 2:00 am. It was a wild but super fun night.

Thursday morning, Kate, Alex, and I got up early and ran to Blackrock for coffee and a quick bite to eat. We bused home and Alex and I headed to class while Kate took a nap and then exploded Dublin more. After class, Kate and I headed to the airport to catch a flight to Mallorca, Spain. Our flight got delayed so we didn’t arrive at the place we were staying in Magaluf until around 2:30 am. In Mallorca, we met up with my friend Jordyn who is studying in Madrid this summer and her friend Isa from her program. I was so excited to see Jordyn but exhausted from the long day of travel so we headed to bed.

Friday, we woke up, grabbed a croissant and coffee, and headed to Cala Cap Falcó via taxi where we relaxed, swam, and ate lunch. It was an amazing day and so good to relax by the ocean. It was difficult to find a taxi back so we ended up taking the bus which was easy to use and worked well. We got back and showered and headed into Palma to explore and for dinner. It was St John’s Day Saturday so there were festivities Friday night by the beach which were super cool/ The cathedral there was also gorgeous along with the palace and the restaurant was amazing. We got a taxi back and headed out to explore the night life in Magaluf. We had a fun night but had an early morning planned Saturday so didn’t stay out too late.

Saturday, around 9:30 we got picked up in a van to go to 3 of the best beaches on the island. It was also Jordyn’s birthday so I was so happy I got to spend the day with her. We first headed to Caló Des Moro, then Cala s’Almunia, and finally Cala Llombards. All three were absolutely beautiful and we were able to go cliff jumping, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and off a rope swing throughout the day. It was the perfect day and we had so much fun. We arrived back at our place and rested, got ready, and headed to dinner in Puerto Portals. The dinner was amazing and the restaurant was gorgeous. After dinner, we took a quick nap and then headed to BCM which was a huge club. We had a great night and ended up in bed around 5:00 am.

It was a struggle to get up the next morning, but we packed up, checked out, and headed to get brunch. The food was amazing(a common thing for this trip). Kate and I then said bye to Jordyn and Isa and we headed to the airport to catch our flight back to Dublin. We arrived back to UCD around 7:45 and headed into town to get some fish and chips. They were amazing and along with our lack of sleep immediately sent us into a food coma. We got back to UCD and headed to sleep immediately.

This morning, I woke up and Kate left before I headed to class :(. We only had class until 1:00 pm today so my plans for today include laying in bed. This week, like most, is going to be another crazy fun week so I can’t wait to show you more!

Elsa Pater

Industrial and Operations Engineering

BIG 10 STEM and Irish Studies: University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland

[prettyinlimegreenboots]

Stories of Our Lives - Chapter 12

A/N: Here's the next chapter!! 

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

August 3, 2019

Six weeks after they said "I Do" Louis was ramped up for rehearsals and promotions for the tour. Two weeks after that, he hopped on a tour bus and left Gia at home. And now three weeks after seeing her husband, she missed him, plain and simple. Yes they talked on the phone and skyped but that was completely different from being by his side, his hands in hers, and his hugs, god she missed his hugs. 

Super secret conversations were had and plans made, a little white lie was told before she found herself on a plane to Madrid. Scarlett, Tricia and Mollie were all on tour; Tricia being the band's photographer and Scarlett being part of their wardrobe crew. Both women tried to convince Gia to come out on the road but she had to finish up some last minute things before agreeing. 

Arriving in humid Madrid, Gia smiled the first real smile she had in awhile. The prospect of seeing her husband for the first time in three weeks was simple too much for Gia to handle right now. 

"Well hello stranger!" Tricia smiled, watching Gia's hand fly to her chest in fright. "Welcome to the tour."

Gia threw her arms around her best friend grinning brightly. "Oh my gosh it's so good to see you. I've missed you."

"You as well. Finally threw responsibility away and came to play with us." Tricia grabbed one of her suitcases, leaving the other and her carry-on with Gia. 

Shrugging, Gia followed Tricia behind her. "Something like that."

"Does Louis know you're coming?" 

Shaking her head, Gia's grin was too much. "Nope. Planning on surprising him."

Throwing the suitcases in the boot, Gia and Tricia climbed in the backseat with Paul driving. "Oh no here's trouble!"

"Hey you should be excited I'm here. I'm going to keep Louis in line." Gia defended causing the older man to chuckle. 

He nodded. "He's been a little out of hand lately."

"He's like a kid in a candy shop while on tour." Tricia spoke, Gia quickly agreeing. 

Watching the city pass, Gia took a deep breath. "What are the boys up to? And where's Mollie?"

"They have a day off. Louis was talking about sleeping the day away." Tricia smiled. "Niall and Harry took her to the zoo."

Paul looked at the girls. "So what's the plan for surprising Louis?"

"Not sure. Thinking about winging it."

He chuckled. "That's not going to end well."

"Hey! I will be on my best behavior." Gia grinned. "Though I can't promise the same for Lou."

Reaching in her bag, she grabbed her mobile, turning it on. The car grew quiet each lost in their thoughts. Her mobile buzzed and vibrated in her hand. "Lou's blowing up your phone?"

"Yea he's worried. Jay texted that he called her worried - she told him I had a spa day and I had to turn off my mobile." Gia smirked. "Love my mother-in-law." 

Tricia laughed. "That's classic. I'll have to remember that one for future use."

Pulling up to the hotel, Paul escorted them in promising Gia to get her bags to her. Tricia said her goodbyes, leaving Gia in the lobby. Sitting in a comfy chair, Gia tried to figure out how she was going to let Louis know she was there. Her mobile rang interrupting her thoughts. 

"Hello?"

Louis chuckled on the other end. "Well hello there. Are you nice and relaxed from your spa day?"

"Yes I am. Sorry it slipped my mind to tell you." Twirling a piece of hair in her finger, Gia grinned. "What are you up to today?"

She heard him sigh. "Not sure. Niall and Harry took the Mollie to the zoo while everyone else is just hanging out. Who knows what Liam's up to - maybe him and I will do lunch or something. What are you up to?"

"Socks and I are hanging out in the garden. He's trying to hunt the birds while I'm catching up on some reading, missing you of course." Gia laughed. 

He groaned. "I know baby. I miss you too. Two more weeks and I'll be back in London seeing your pretty face."

"Way too long Tomlinson." She scolded him lightly. "We need to have a limit from now on."

He laughed. "What? Two days?"

"If I'd have my way that's what it'll be." She giggled. "Hey someone's at the door. Let me let you go and I'll call you later. I love you."

He sighed. "Love you too. Give Socks a kiss for me. Talk to you later. Love you lots Damsel."

Hanging up the phone, she smiled at the young fans across the lobby. Two girls cautiously came closer both excited. "Are you Gia?"

"I am. What are your names?" 

The older of the two grinned brightly. "I'm Kennedy and I'm 8 and this is my sister Becca and she's 4. You're pretty."

"Thank you so are you girls. Do you want a picture?" Gia crouched down smiling as the girls' mother came closer. 

"I'm sorry if they're bothering you." The young woman smiled at Gia while she shook her head. 

Gia smiled. "No they're not bothering. I'll take a picture with them if they want."

"Yes!" Kennedy jumped a bit causing Gia to laugh. 

Kneeling between the two girls, Gia smiled as their mother snapped the photo. "The only thing I ask is that you wait to post that until later tonight. I'm surprising Louis and he doesn't know I'm here yet."

"That's so romantic." The mother gushed, Gia grinning brightly. 

She talked with the girls and their mum for a few more minutes before heading to the elevators. Sending a text to Tricia asking for Louis' room number, she pressed the 15th floor once inside. Tapping her foot lightly, she took the last few minutes to herself. She was a little nervous to see Louis and actually be with him for more than a few hours. 

Stopping in front of his door, she took a deep breath. But before she could knock, a door to her left was opened as Scarlett walked into the hallway. She shushed her before she could spoil the surprise. 

"What are you doing here?" Scarlett hugged her tightly. 

Gia chuckled at her friend. "Surprising my miserable husband."

"When did you get in?"

Looking at her mobile, she shrugged. "Like an hour ago. I've been in cahoots with Tricia and Paul."

"Nice. Will you and Lou be at dinner?" Scarlett asked raising her eyebrows suggestively. 

"Go surprise our boy. We'll see you later." Scarlett walked away leaving Gia standing at Louis' door. 

Raising her hand, she knocked hearing Louis grumble about having to get up. "Tricia your husband isn't here. Liam, if this is you I'm gonna - " 

Gia grinned as he ripped open the door. "You're gonna what?" 

"Gia!" She was pulled into his arms, the door slamming behind them. "What are you doing here?"

His question went unanswered as she placed her lips on his. They had a nice little make out session until a knock on the door interrupted them. "What?"

"Open up Tomlinson I come bearing gifts." Paul yelled pounding on the door. 

Sighing, Louis opened the door allowing Paul to drop Gia's luggage off. "I see you received your surprise."

"I did. Did you have a hand in her surprising me?" Louis brightened up a bit. 

Paul shook his head. "Nope she was in cahoots with Tricia who told me we had to go to the airport today, said a surprise was being delivered."

"Thank you for bringing that up here." Gia grinned motioning to the suitcases. 

Paul grinned. "Not a problem. If you two go out, let me know. Dinner is at 6 tonight."

"Sounds good. I think we might hang out here but we'll see you later for dinner." Louis said, Paul saying his goodbyes leaving the two alone. 

Louis faced his wife with a grin. "Not that I'm not thrilled you're here but what happened to the packed schedule you had at the base?"

"Well .... That was a little white lie." Gia bit on her lip with a smile. 

Louis cocked a brow. "What aren't you telling me?"

Gia went to sit on the bed, patting the space beside her. "Come sit before I tell you."

"Uh oh this can't be good." Louis took her hand in his. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Gia took a deep breath. "As of yesterday, I'm unemployed. I resigned my position at the base completely."

"What? Why? You loved your job and the last thing I ever wanted was for you to give it up." Louis' eyes went wide. "Gia you didn't have to give up everything you've worked for."

Gia stood, walking to her suitcase to retrieve a box. "Well my duties were going to change significantly because of some news I received so I decided just to resign while I was ahead of everything."

"What news?" Louis started panicking with how calm she was acting. "You're freaking me out Giovanna." 

Handing him the box, she took her place next to him on the bed. "Go ahead and open that." 

Slipping the thick yellow ribbon off the box, Louis carefully opened the lid, tossing it aside. Moving the tissue paper aside, he looked at his wife with wide eyes. "Seriously?"

"Yes, daddy."

Looking between the yellow sleeper in the box and his wife, Louis felt tears cloud his eyes. "You're pregnant?"

"I am. Eleven weeks along." Gia grabbed his hand and place it on her still flat stomach. "Apparently your little swimmers were bound and determined the night of our wedding."

He laughed, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Is everything alright?"

Picking up the sleeper, she grabbed the sonogram photos from underneath handing them to Louis. "Your son or daughter is doing just well. He or she is the size of a fig. The doctor says everything looks great."

"When are you due? How did you find out you were pregnant?" Louis couldn't take his eyes off the photos. “How are you feeling? Should you even be traveling? Should you be sitting?” 

Gia laughed. "Breathe babe. Due date is January 22. I was throwing up constantly for two weeks, feeling better after I was done. For the hell of it I did a pregnancy test and it came back positive, went to the doctors after that."

"Who else knows?" Louis tore his eyes off looking at Gia's watery smile. 

Leaning forward to kiss him, she smiled brightly. "You and me and no one else. We do need to tell people soon."

"My mum and sisters, your parents and siblings. We can tell the boys tonight if you want." Louis stopped looking wide eyed at her. "What are we going to do?"

Gia looked her her husband with concern. "What do you mean?"

"Are you going home after this or are you sticking around?" Louis placed his hand on her stomach. "I'm going to be really selfish here and say that I don't want to miss a second of this pregnancy but with the tour it's not feasible to be there every second."

Kissing him, those words were exactly what Gia needed to hear. Tears slipped down her face, Louis pulling her into his chest. "Hey, hey what's wrong?" 

"You are the most perfect man Louis Tomlinson." She sniffled. "That's exactly what I needed to hear. I was so worried about how you would take the news - not that you wouldn't be happy but the fact that we've only been married for 11 weeks and five of those have been separated."

"Babe, yes timing is difficult at the moment, but you're pregnant and I couldn't be happier." Louis wiped her tears away kissing her forehead. "So what's the plan?"

Taking a shaky breath, Gia squeezed his hand. "I talked to the doctor and she said it would be okay to travel with you through my seventh month - November. Then she doesn't want me leaving London. She told me when she wants me in for appointments and has recommended doctors along the way to visit."

"So you're staying with us on tour?" 

Gia nodded. "If you'll have me. The doctor warned me to take it easy as much as possible. She said I'll become more tired as I progress and to take full advantage of naps." 

"Giovanna Maria Tomlinson you've made me the happiest man ever. I love you, Italia." 

She laughed. "Hey it takes two to tango Pooks. And I love you too."

The two spent the afternoon skyping with their families delivering the news. Both mothers had cried while Louis' siblings were excited to be aunts. Ava screeched and cried when Gia told her. Tony was excited to be grandpa. Her brothers cracked jokes of Louis not being able to resist knocking her up. Everyone was very excited and told Gia to let them know if she needed anything. 

After delivering the news to their families, the two brainstormed of how to tell their friends. Gia wrapped in Louis' arms yawned sleepily as he rambled on. He smiled seeing her fast asleep, her cheek nuzzled against his chest. 

Caressing her flat tummy, he cleared his throat, whispering to his unborn child. "Hi peanut, I'm your daddy. Your mum and I are so excited you're on your way. Your mummy is the best person I know and I'm happy she's the one that's going on this crazy journey with me. You will have to be patient with us as this is our first time."

Gia shifted slightly, causing Louis to pause in his speech. "Anyways, I promise that I'll always be there for you no matter what. I'll take you to the park, teach you the fine art of football, and support you no matter what. I want you to try everything once and if you want to do something other than footie then that'll be all right."

"Honestly I just want you to be happy and healthy. Everything else is just icing on the cake. I may not have the easiest job but that's never going to keep me from loving, protecting and taking care of you. You're my little man or princess and I will always be there for you no matter what."

He felt tears on his chest. Looking down at Gia, he saw her teary eyes on his. "Awe Damsel why are you crying?"

"Because you're being so sweet." She sniffled wiping the tears away. "You're already talking to the baby."

Louis nuzzled her closer to his side, kissing her forehead. "Since you were obviously eavesdropping, I promise I'm always going to be there for you and our many children. But I need to you tell me when it becomes too much. There may come a time where I'm gone too much or you feel like you're doing it all, I need to you tell me to walk away from it all. Can you do that?"

"But you love it so much." She whispered. 

Looking into her eyes, his hand cupped her cheek. "But you and our children are more important than my career. I've had a great run and things can only get better as we add to our brood but if you feel like I'm never around you need to tell me. Okay?"

"Okay." She leaned up and kissed him sealing her promise to him. 

Looking at the clock, Gia groaned seeing it 4:30 all ready. "I need a shower."

"Want some company?" Louis raised his eyebrows up and down suggestively. 

Smacking his shoulder, Gia laughed. "Nope! You're a dirty boy."

"Then I guess I need a girl to help me get clean." Louis mused. "I'm sure there is plenty of girls around that would be willing to help."

Gia's eyes went wide looking at her husband. "Not a chance in hell bubs. Let's go!"

Leaving a trail of her clothes on the way to the bathroom definitely peaked Louis' interest. Chuckling he followed her into the bathroom where they both got squeaky clean. 

6:00pm

The two held hands as they walked into the conference room where dinner was being held that night. Paul and Preston were both there as well as the boys, Scarlett, Tricia, Mollie. 

"Look what the cat drug in! What are you doing here?" Liam hugged Gia with a grin, a surprised look on his face. 

Gia hugged him back with gusto. "I surprised Louis by flying out here. I'm joining you guys for a bit if you don't mind."

"Absolutely not. The more the merrier." Niall said, Louis and Gia trading glances with one another. Mollie galloped over to greet her auntie. Gia enthusiastically gave her a massive hug. 

Louis took a seat at the end by the boys as Gia sat next to Tricia. "So this afternoon I was inspired and wrote some songs.  Just pieces if you guys want to hear them later."

"Absolutely. What was your inspiration?" Harry asked with a smirk on his face. 

Louis slapped his arm, chuckling. "Dirty but no. Gia just surprising me in general." 

Gia meanwhile was talking to the girls grinning the entire time. "You haven't stopped smiling since I picked you up from the airport. What gives?"

"I'm just really happy and excited to be here. I'm just happy to be hanging out with you in this sunny, beautiful country instead of miserable England." Gia shook her head at Tricia.  

Scarlett pointed at Gia, a look of determination of her face. "No Tricia is onto something. Something is going on with you. Spill!"

"There's nothing going on. I had a great afternoon of sexing my husband up and now I'm excited for an evening of crazy shenanigans with you folk." Gia held her hands up in innocence.

Scarlett nodded unconvinced. "You're hiding something Giovanna and we will figure it out."

"Uh huh and I wish you all the luck in the world." Gia rose her eyebrows in challenge. 

The rest of dinner went off without hitch. The boys had convinced Paul to clear the pool area so could go swimming without interruptions. Paul relented and before long the boys were cannonballing into the lukewarm water. 

"So Tommo what are these songs you were mentioning earlier?" Niall asked catching Mollie as she jumped into the pool. 

Louis smirked. "There's like four I've started but I'm stuck." 

"Well just start singing them and maybe we can help you." Harry suggested. 

Louis took a deep breath, glancing at Gia before clearing his throat. "Now pay attention - these took a while to come up with. You know you love me, I know you care, Just shout whenever, and I'll be there, You are my love, you are my heart, And we will never ever ever be apart."

"It's catchy." Harry nodded, bobbing his head to the beat.  

Niall snorted. "It's quite catchy because it's already a song. It's Bieber."

"Oh sorry. It's stuck in my head. Next song goes like this - When I'm not with you I lose my mind, Give me a sign, Hit me baby one more time."

Tricia hit Gia's arm with wide eyes, whispering. "No way! When? How? How far?"

"Yes way!" Gia hissed back turning to the men with a smirk. Danielle and Scarlett soon caught on to what Louis was trying to accomplish. 

Liam rolled his eyes. "Nice try. That's Britney. Seems you were a little too distracted by Gia this afternoon. Wanna try again pretty boy?"

"I swear I've got a hit here." Louis mused. "Last one. Havin' my baby. What a lovely way of sayin'. How much you love me."

Liam snorted. "That one is a song all ready! I think it's high time we admit Louis to an institution because he's officially lost it! Man do you not know what the words 'copyright' mean?"

"I think I'm pretty smart. Besides your wives and girlfriend figured it out pretty quickly, nincompoops." Louis smirked. 

Liam, Niall and Harry turned to their girls who simply smiled at them. "It's all up to you to figure it out. If you think about it, it's not that hard to figure out!" 

"Just because you were your class valedictorian doesn't mean the rest of us were that smart, sweetheart!" Niall drawled glancing at his wife. 

Liam's eyes lit up, grinning at his friend. "That's awesome mate. You must be over the moon."

"Uh huh. Can't stop smiling." Louis glances at Gia with a grin. "We are so excited."

Harry cleared his throat motioning between himself and Niall. "Ummm .... Still confused over here."

"I'm going to break it down for you very slowly." Scarlett drawled looking at the two men. "Think about what the three songs have in common with one another."

Niall tilted his head going over all the lyrics. "Wait, no really?"

"Wanna share with the class Nialler?" Louis smirked. 

Looking over at Gia, who merely nodded, Niall smirked. "Louis' gone and joined the daddy's club. All the songs have to do with baby."

Everyone looked to Gia and Louis for confirmation. The couple both grinned and nodded before the pool area erupted in cheers and excitement congratulations. Questions were thrown out as hugs were quickly exchanged. 

"When are you due?" Scarlett asked, Gia sitting on Louis' lap snuggled up to his chest. 

Gia smiled. "January 22. I had a scan two days ago and everything looks good. The doctor said I can travel up until November then I'm homebound."

"What about the base and your job?" Liam asked bouncing Mollie on his legs, her laughter causing everyone to smile. 

Louis kissed her forehead before she spoke. "I resigned. I was going to be placed behind a desk and not allowed anywhere near the bombers. I would've been miserable so I handed in my resignation yesterday. So currently I'm unemployed."

"So what's the next steps?" Tricia asked bouncing in Niall's lap excited at the possibilities. 

The couple laughed. "The plan is for me to travel with you guys for the next few months. Tour is done end of October so then we'll be home, decorate the nursery and prepare for peanut to arrive."

"Do you want to know what you're having and do your parents know?" Liam had Mollie wrapped up in his arms keeping the little girl from becoming too cold. 

Louis chuckled, remembering how his mum and sisters reacted. "Our families found out this afternoon and they're beyond excited. Gia and I talked and I think we want to find out what we're having. Our lives are so out of our control so this will be nice to have so be can at least prepare for his or her arrival."

"I remember thinking that when I was pregnant." Tricia sighed looking at her little girl. "But there's no way to prepare for every little thing."

Gia yawned, nodding at Tricia’s remark. "That's why I have you in my corner."  

"To Louis and Gia two of the best people to become parents. You both will be amazing." Harry raised his beer toasting his best friend and his wife. 

"Here here."

And the rest of the night the guys gave Louis tips on what not to do with a baby (forgetting the fact he has five sisters and a brother) while the girls spoke of names and how to decorate the nursery.

[nospainnogain]

Hey I’m Isabelle and wanted to recap our New Year’s Eve and of the trip! Today was a free day in which we had access to a hop on/hop off bus. This bus allowed us to tour different areas of Madrid where we could hop off at anytime to explore the sites.

We stopped at plaza mayor where we look at different shops and got some souvenirs. While we were there we also got some churros that you dip in chocolate.

After the bus tour we went back to get late lunch/early dinner since most places close early for New Year’s Eve. The rest of the day consist of a nap and going out to celebrate the new year!!

Overall the trip has been jam packed with things to do everyday with today being the first slow and time to explore. It has been great to travel around Madrid to get to see all the famous sites and to learn more about the city and the culture. It’s been a good trip so far and am ready to see Barcelona and what else Spain has to offer.

[hoponhopoffbustourtickets]

Explore Madrid with ease and savings! Grab your Hop-on Hop-off Madrid discount ticket to discover the city's iconic landmarks, historic sites, and vibrant neighborhoods. Enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace while enjoying panoramic views from the open-top bus. Unforgettable city adventure awaits!

[abroadfortheride]

Auto Bus, where art thou??

We have very successfully acclimated to the Spain lifestyle; we slept in until noon today!

Overnight a lively little market place popped up outside of our apartment. We stopped to browse on our way to find the Hop-on-Hop-off bus tour.

We got a little lost looking for the actual bus stop, where said tour picks you up... but we figured it out eventually!

After riding along, we decided to stop and see the Royal Palace of Madrid. We got side tracked at the Marcado De San Miguel. Filled with stalls of gourmet tapas and drinks, we each found something delicious to eat. Ariel and I found the bougie Aperol Spritzers and Blake stuck with his beer.

Upon arriving at the Royal Palace, we decided to go in. Embroidered and porcelain walls were the hallmark sights on the tour of the palace. The ceiling frescos very were impressive as well.

It started to rain as we caught the bus again to try to see the el Retior Park, Crystal Palace. We accidentally ended up in the botanical garden before making it to the actual park.

Retior Park was serene with a multitude of shaded walkways and a labyrinth of paths to follow toward our objective.

After a lovely jaunt in the park, we Ubered our way back home before our scheduled Flamenco show.

A small cabernet theater welcomed us for our 2 hour flamenco show. We were the last reservation for the show and the manager dotted on us, especially after giving is the "worst" seats in the house. We ended up getting an extra free sangria at the show and the manager then gave us a coupon for another free round at their spot back at Mercado De San Miguel.

The show seemed extremely authentic and very intimate. Every toe tap and dress swish was easily visible from our seats.

We wandered back to the mercado to cash in our new drinks. We enjoyed a Brut Rosé before continuing our exploration.

We wandered around searching for food before find our way back to the apartment.

We certainly have assimilated.

Viva España!

Cheers!

9/1/19