As my Caribbean adventure came to an end I found myself struggling to find the motivation to write my next post. Call it writers block, general apathy, maybe even the world demise, something zapped my writer’s energy.
My biggest surprise, therefore, was to return to my stats and find that for the first time ever in the three years I have been writing my blog I had over one thousand views in a 30 day period!!!
So Thank You! to all my readers, you have made this midlife adventurer very happy!
My next adventure is on the horizon but whilst I await my exit flight from the UK I’ve been pondering all the adventures I have had, —both during my blogging years and before.
As a newly formed couple, we started travelling together back in 2016. Sometimes I forget just how many wonderful places we’ve been fortunate enough to visit… until I open my hard drive and see hundreds of photos neatly filed by year.
Press another button, and folders from each destination pop up—scenic reminders of memories made.
I found myself asking: Which were my favourites? Which cities would I revisit? Which museums, galleries, or historic sites would I return to? And that led to a new series of posts stretching back over the last decade, beginning with:
MY TOP THREE CITIES
I’ve decided to write this in reverse order to build a little suspense, including not just reasoning but also some fond memories of why these cities stand out to me.
3. Madrid
I first visited Madrid in May 2018. It was a trip my husband and I organised as part of my daughter’s 21st birthday celebrations—and the first time I used a travel planning app.
“Inspirock”:
I absolutely loved this app. It became a staple tool in my travel planning arsenal. Easy to use—especially for a beginner like me—it allowed users to create personalised itineraries using AI and local expertise, while still adding their own ideas.
Unfortunately, it was later acquired by Klarna in October 2021 as part of its expansion beyond “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL). When it didn’t meet expectations, it was shut down with no notice to users.
Anyway… back to this wonderful Spanish capital
🏛️ History
Madrid began as a small Moorish fortress settlement in the 9th century under Islamic rule. It was later conquered by Christian forces in the 11th century but the city’s real transformation came in 1561, when Philip II of Spain moved the royal court there, making Madrid the capital. From that point, it grew into the political and cultural centre of Spain it is today.
Madrid played major roles in key events like the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleon and the Spanish Civil War, during which it suffered heavy damage but remained symbolically important.
The mixture of heritage creates a city and a surrounding area that is full of beautiful and outstanding architecture.
👥 Population
Madrid is very much a modern European capital that blends royal heritage with contemporary culture. It has a population of around 3.3 million within the city and over 6.5 million in the wider metropolitan area.
It’s Spain’s largest city and one of the EU’s major urban centres, known for its diversity and vibrant lifestyle. It also serves as an excellent base for exploring nearby towns and cities..
📍 Best Places to Visit:
🎨 Culture & Museums
Museo del Prado – One of the world’s top art museums, featuring works by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco.
Museo Reina Sofía – Modern art museum, home to Picasso’s Guernica.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum – A diverse collection spanning centuries of European art.
My husband has always enjoyed art—particularly world-famous works and the French Impressionists—but I used to wander off and do my own thing.
Madrid changed that.
I joined him at the Reina Sofía and realised that art truly is in the eye of the beholder. You don’t have to like everything—it’s personal. Suddenly, I found pieces I connected with, and from that point on, I’ve happily joined him on cultural explorations (as long as we go at our own pace!).
👑 Landmarks & Historic Sites
Royal Palace of Madrid – A grand royal residence with lavish interiors.
Plaza Mayor – Historic square surrounded by beautiful architecture.
Puerta del Sol – The symbolic centre of Spain and a lively gathering spot.
🌳 Parks & Relaxation
- El Retiro Park – A large, scenic park with a lake, gardens, and the Crystal Palace. This is my absolute favourite park in the world!
🛍️ Food & Local Life
Mercado de San Miguel – A popular food market for tapas and local specialties.
Gran Vía – A bustling street full of shops, theatres, and nightlife.
🌄 Surrounding Towns & Day Trips
🏛️ Segovia –
Famous for its remarkably preserved Roman Aqueduct and fairy-tale castle -The Alcazar.
👑 San Lorenzo de El Escorial–
A small town home to one of Spain’s most important royal sites – the El Escorial palace and monastery
🏞️ Aranjuez–
A peaceful town known for its royal palace, gardens and riverside walks
🧱 Ávila
One of the best examples of a fortified medieval city in Europe; you can actually walk along large sections of the walls
✨ What Makes Madrid Special
Madrid stands out for its world-class art, historic grandeur, lively street life and infinite opportunities to explore in the surrounding area..
It’s a city where you can visit a royal palace in the morning, relax in a park in the afternoon, and enjoy tapas past midnight.
I hesitated putting another Spanish city in second place—but I had to. Valencia completely surprised us during our three-month tour of Western Europe in 2023, and we fell in love with it.
It’s still firmly on our list as a place to live for a few months one day.
🏛️ History
Valencia has over 2,000 years of history. It was founded by the Romans in 138 BC, later ruled by Visigoths and Moors, and eventually reconquered by King James I in 1238.
It flourished during the 15th and 16th centuries as a major cultural and economic centre.
Today, it blends historic architecture with futuristic design.
Today, Valencia blends historic architecture with futuristic design, making it unique among Spanish cities.
👥 Population
Valencia has around 790,000 residents, with up to 2 million in the metro area. It’s Spain’s third-largest city
📍 Best Places to Visit
Valencia really does have it all when it comes to places to visit
- City of Arts and Sciences – One of Valencia’s most iconic attractions. A futuristic complex with a science museum, IMAX cinema, and Europe’s largest aquarium.
- Valencia Cathedral
A mix of Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque styles where you can climb the Miguelete Tower for panoramic views.
- La Lonja de la Seda
A UNESCO-listed Gothic building that reflects Valencia’s medieval wealth and trade power.
- Turia Gardens
A large park, 8-10 km long, built in a former riverbed—perfect for walking, cycling, and relaxing.
- L’Oceanogràfic
Europe’s largest marine centre which forms part of the City of Arts and Sciences.
- Mercado Central
One of Europe’s largest fresh food markets—just amazing, the best indoor market of this type we’ve been to, great for local culture and food.
- Malvarrosa Beach
The bonus of Valencia as a city is that whilst you have the old original city on one side of Turia Gardens you can easily access this wide, sandy beach on the other side—ideal for relaxing or trying authentic paella at one of the many popular restaurants.
Valencia is the birthplace of paella, one of Spain’s most famous dishes!
- Fallas Festival
This astonishing annual event that takes place every year in March and is a sight to behold with neighbourhoods competing for the prize for the best giant sculpture which then is burnt in a huge street celebration.
✨ What Makes Valencia Special
Valencia is one of Spain’s most balanced cities—where history, innovation, food, and lifestyle come together beautifully.
I first visited San Francisco in 2013 as part of a month-long trip around the U.S. with my children. We started in New York, flew to San Francisco, drove Highway 1 to Los Angeles, visited Disney, and finished in Las Vegas.
I loved it—but it’s definitely a Marmite city.
You either love it or hate it.
I returned in 2018 with my husband, and although I haven’t been back since, it still holds my number one spot.
🏛️ History
Originally inhabited by the Ohlone people, the area later became a Spanish mission settlement in 1776. It passed to Mexican control before the California Gold Rush transformed it into a booming city.
The devastating 1906 earthquake destroyed much of the city, leading to major rebuilding.
In the 1960s, it became the centre of counterculture during the Summer of Love, centred around Haight-Ashbury.
Today, it’s a global tech hub linked to Silicon Valley.
👥 Population
Around 800,000 people live in the city, with up to 5 million in the wider area. It’s diverse, densely populated, and known for its high cost of living.
📍 Best Places to Visit
👑 Iconic Landmarks
Golden Gate Bridge – The city’s most famous symbol. We hired bikes from “Blazing Saddles” and peddled our way along the waterfront to the bridge. Crossing the bridge made me a little nervous as you share a lane with pedestrians and the local bike riders seemed to be going very fast.
However on reaching the other side you can ride down into Sausalito which is a beautiful place to explore. (The houseboats are very tempting for a future stay).
After a welcome lunch we headed back to San Fran on the ferry.
Alcatraz Island – Former prison turned historic attraction – this will definitely feature in a later article of my favourite cultural places to visit
Lombard Street – Known as the “crookedest street” and one of the iconic sights of the city.
🌆 Neighbourhoods
Fisherman’s Wharf – Busy waterfront area known for seafood, shops, and sea lions
Chinatown – One of the oldest and largest Chinese communities outside Asia
Mission District – Trendy area with street art, nightlife, and amazing Mexican food
Castro District – One of the world’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods, full of history, nightlife, and culture; closely tied to figures like Harvey Milk
Haight-Ashbury – Famous for its role in the 1960s counterculture movement and the Summer of Love; still has a bohemian, alternative vibe
We even took a tourist bus (rare for us!) to better understand the city’s neighbourhoods—and it was worth it.
🌿 Parks & Views
Golden Gate Park – Larger than Central Park, full of gardens and museums
Twin Peaks – Best panoramic city views
Palace of Fine Arts – Beautiful classical style landmark
🎨 Culture & Museums
California Academy of Sciences – Aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum in one
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – Major contemporary art museum
✨ What Makes San Francisco Special
San Francisco stands out for its dramatic setting, diversity, and culture of innovation.
Built on steep hills beside the Pacific, it offers iconic views, rich neighbourhoods, and a unique mix of history, creativity, and progressive ideas.
A Midlife Adventure 