24 Hours in Madrid, Madrid, Spain

I haven’t bit the bullet yet and *really* done solo traveling, which seems to be all the rage right now. I did, however, find myself alone in Madrid a couple months ago. I’d traveled through Spain with friends seeing Valencia and Cuenca, but had one day in Madrid on my own before I flew to Marrakech, Morocco.

I lugged my duffel bag across Madrid to my gorgeous Airbnb, and arrived…on my own…to the shock of my very elegant Airbnb hostess. “I thought you were with a friend,” she said, “Nope, just me!” I replied…I could’ve booked a single bed, but due to a mix-up with Airbnb I got a voucher and had decided to splurge on the larger bedroom. “Just be careful…” she said ominously.

Now, I don’t think that’s necessarily a reflection on Madrid, but rather the idea of a woman traveling on her own. Granted, a woman who doesn’t speak any Spanish… but still, I doubt I would’ve received that reaction (or others I received in the rest of my 24 hours) if I’d been a man. Food for thought, I suppose, until my next truly solo traveling expedition, if it ever comes… ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).