Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider painting Park Güell, the funky outdoor park designed by Antoni Gaudi, or recreating Salvador Dali’s famous painting of the melting clocks, titled The Persistence of Memory.
Need more inspiration? Check out these virtual tours of the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional in Madrid.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for Spain include:
- Ferdinand (2017)
- Carol’s Journey (2002)
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Study the Spanish Civil War, check out photos of the Roman aqueduct that still stands in Segovia, or read about La Alhambra, the stunning palace of the Moorish monarchs in Granada. Then, explore the streets of Barcelona and the city’s historical marvels with this virtual tour.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group, or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try paella, patatas bravas, or tortilla española.
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common sayings to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
Madrid is home to the world’s oldest operating restaurant, Botín, which opened in 1725. Botín was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite restaurant and the setting for the final scene of his novel The Sun Also Rises. Check out the rustic interior and hear from the manager here!
Meet Your Partner in Travel
Kelsey studied in Salamanca and Madrid during college and loved her time there. Her favorite experiences include enjoying homemade paella every Sunday with her host family, picnicking in Retiro Park, and feeling accomplished after every successful conversation held entirely in Spanish.