A Hot-Girl-Summer Girls Trip
talking to boys and subjecting you to photos of my euro tour.
“So…” I coyly began while standing at an outdoor concert on a closed-off street in Barcelona.
Across from me was a man from Lisbon, who I’d already determined wasn’t quite my type or quite as attractive as his friend, whom my friend was hitting it off with two feet away. Since our friends were getting along smashingly and I hadn’t gotten along with anyone on the trip thus far, I smiled and tried to make my body language inviting as I asked, “So, what made you want to move to Barcelona?”
“The economy.”
He replied without missing a beat, and with those two little words, I was once again standing on solid, well-trodden ground. There would be nothing between us except conversation. He knew it. I knew it. With that mutual understanding out of the way, I went back to crossing my arms. I was a little less smiley and a little more honest while listening to this man’s life story. As we gave our friends more time to talk, we enjoyed a rapt conversation about Lisbon vs. Barcelona’s economy, the minimum wage rate, Miami’s tourism scene, and gun control in the United States.
All the while, we pretended we weren’t stealing looks at our friends who were talking, then dancing, and finally making out.
Later, when my friend and I debriefed, she burst out laughing that in a crowded outdoor concert this man and I had such an in-depth economic debrief. Her dance partner spoke little English, and we soon realized I’d heard more about his career and planned move to Barcelona than she did. Throughout the rest of our trip, my friend and I would cackle anytime one of us said, “the economy.” No other words were necessary.
To me, this story is indicative of the kind of girls trip we had this summer: equal parts informative, social, and silly.
I can now say with certainty distracting the friend of the person your friend is interested in is a universal social ritual. Our trip to another continent exposed us to new foods, ancient ruins, natural wonders, and a church that scrapes the sky, but there’s nothing like carefully placed eye contact and the banter that follows when you meet someone in a crowd, at a club, or on a rooftop bar to make you feel as though you’re right at home.
Longtime readers will remember my aversion to mating rituals as well as my comparison between my dating life and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. I’m far more comfortable as a wingwoman as opposed to being the one taking romantic flight. Luckily, I have a friend who occasionally knows what I need better than I do. After that night in Barcelona, she insisted on switching roles. She gave me a push out of the nest, and I’m thankful, cynical, flirting-averse baby bird that I am.
I did not find a Before Sunset-esque connection to pine for in the years to come, but I had fun. Having fun and surprising oneself are not small feats.
The love I experienced abroad - incredible, life-changing, affirming, unconditional love - was with my bestie: my ride-or-die; the person I could say anything to without judgment; the person I couldn’t wait to debrief with after every night out.
As far as I’m concerned, that’s what a good girls trip is all about.
Summer Trip Superlatives
To prove our trip wasn’t all about talking to boys, here’s a recap of some of my best, funniest, and most beautiful moments abroad!
Unmissable Sight: Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
I don’t know if it’s my fifteen years of Catholic school or the sheer majesty of Sagrada Familia’s architecture, but something about this church was deeply moving to me. It’s a phenomenal structure unlike anything else I’ve ever seen.
Most Overrated Sight: Park Güell Barcelona
Admittedly, this might be a “it’s not you, it’s me” situation. Everyone at our Barcelona hostel RAVED about this park. It was nice, but the path offered us no shade as we searched high and low for the tile steps. Then, after we finally found them, it took another half hour to find the entrance to the top. Maybe with better weather, this would have been a slam dunk.
The One that Got Away: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
We only spent one night in Madrid and realized too late that the Reina Sofía housed the famous Picasso painting “Guernica.” I knew we’d be going to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona and incorrectly assumed all the must-see Picassos were housed there. I’ll have to go next time!
Best Bucket List Item Fulfilled: Livraria Lello
After many years on the bucket list, I visited one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world! This trip made me all the more determined to do a bookstore tour of the world. Livraria Lello is a small, crowded store so it admittedly is not ideal for browsing. However, the special editions are stunning and the architecture made me feel as though I was stepping back in time.
Best Meal: Torrent de l’Olla in Barcelona
She may not look like much, but this John Dory was divine. The whole fish fell in the middle of a phenomenal meal in Barcelona during which my friend Sophia and I split Pulpo a la Gallega (aka octopus in a heavenly mixture of olive oil, salt, and paprika), a burrata salad, the John Dory pictured below, a sea bass, a bottle of white wine, and tiramisu.
I know many of you may have your reservations about eating octopus and some of you are averse to meat and fish in general. Cancel me if you must.
Weirdest Meal: Anchovies on a Bed of Lays Potato Chips
Yes, you read that correctly. We were given this tapa for free in Granada, and at first, I thought it was a joke on us for being Americans. I have to say, contrary to how it sounds, it was delicious.
Best Entertainment: It’s a Three-Way Tie!
Traditional Flamenco in Granada, Queer Flamenco at Barcelona’s Jamboree jazz club, and Fado at Povo in Lisbon were all phenomenal experiences. Without understanding any lyrics, I found the music moving and transformative. I can’t recommend checking out a show highly enough if you ever find yourself in one of those cities.
Sophia’s Biggest Breakdown:
After a jolty, nauseating Uber to an elevated palace, I had a breakdown due to some broken vending machines. My only drink options ahead of a hike were a juice box and milk. Not knowing how long our hike would be on a crazy hot day while I was fighting off a cold, I had to sit on a rock with my juice box for a few minutes before I could get it together.
Once I got my bearings and rehydrated, we hiked up to see Pena Palace in Lisbon and it was gorgeous.
My Favorite Afternoon: The Beach
If there’s one thing true of me it’s that I love the beach. I have never felt freer than while swimming in the ocean. Swimming out to a far buoy in a clear water beach in Barcelona is a memory I’ll savor long after the weather changes.
Outfit of My Travel Era:
Recommendations from My Travel Era:
(Besides what’s listed above)
Trying new foods.
Doing a free walking tour in a new city.
Buying museum tickets 1-3 days ahead of time.
Sangria.
“Moves” by Suki Waterhouse.
Bringing your own towel to the hostel.
Checking out the Porto soap scene.
Splurging on Caudalie Body Oil.