Spain Tour; Side Trip to Lisbon, Portugal

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Spain Tour; Side Trip to Andorra (La Vella)

I made this side trip from Seville, Spain due to 2 reasons; being just a 7 hours bus travel away from Seville and to complete the countries of Europe continent. Portugal shares the Iberian peninsula at the Southwestern tip of Europe together with Spain. I only visited the capital, Lisbon's Sao Jorge Castle, Lisbon Cathedral, Praca de Comercio and City Center. There is no crossborder checkpoint during the bus travel. We left Lisbon around 1900H from airport going to Rome, Italy.

timezone - UTC +0100H    capital - Lisbon    language - Portuguese    currency - Euro (EUR)

visa - Philippine passport holders need to apply first before travel

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT PORTUGAL
1. Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries
2. Portugal has had the same defined borders since 1139, making it the oldest nation-state in Europe. 
3. The oldest bookstore in the world is in Portugal's capital
4. Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world
5. Portugal has the longest bridge in Europe
6. Portugal is one of the world's top surf spots
7. Portugal was the first colonial power to abolish slavery

Spain Tour; Side Trip to Lisbon, Portugal

Spain Tour; Side Trip to Andorra (La Vella)

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Seville City Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

I made this side trip in Barcelona, Spain due to 2 reasons; being just a 3 hours bus travel away from Barcelona and to complete the countries / micro-states of Europe. I only visited the capital, Andorra La Vella's St. Steve Chapel, Casa de la Vall and City Center. There is a crossborder checkpoint during the bus travel, Police Officers just verified our Schengen Visa inside the bus. Andorra is a small mountainous country in the Pyrenees between France and Spain.

timezone - UTC +0200H    capital - Andorra La Vella    language - Catalan    currency - Euro (EUR)

visa - Philippine passport holders need to apply first before travel

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ANDORRA
1. It is the 16th smallest country in the world by land and the 11th smallest by population.
2. Andorra is also one of the few places in Europe where you can still smoke indoors in public places.
3. Andorra is the only country in the world with Catalan as its official language
4. Andorra has never been in a war in almost 1,000 years
5. Andorra has no national bank and has never had its own currency
6. Andorra is the world’s only co-principality, they have two princes who jointly share the title of prince. They are the only country where one of their heads of state (the President of France) is democratically elected by another country.

Spain Tour; Side Trip to Andorra (La Vella)

Seville City Walk Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Seville City Walk Tour 1st part; The Cathedral and Real Alcazar

After finishing the visits on Seville's main tourist spots such as Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral, we just had a summer self-guided city walk tour. We check-out in the hostel first then we proceed to Prado de Sebastian Bus Station for departure time confirmation and locker rental. Then, we had the walk tour to El Divino Salvador Church, Plaza de la Encarnacion and in Triana area. We left Seville around 2300H for a 7 hour crossborder bus ride to Lisbon, Portugal.

Seville City Walk Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

Seville City Walk Tour 1st part; The Cathedral and Real Alcazar

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Valencia City Walk tour (Arts and Science Park)

How to go to Seville Cathedral and Real Alcazar;
Both of this tourist spots are just beside each other. No nearest metro, only tram. I bought my tickets via walk-in only, 9 Euro for Real Alcazar and 9 Euro for Seville Gothic Cathedral. Photography and video taking is allowed inside, strolling around will take around 2 hours.

Seville City Walk Tour 1st part; The Cathedral and Real Alcazar

Valencia City Walk tour (Arts and Science Park)

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Barcelona Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

From Barcelona, we had an advance booking of night train to Valencia for about 3.5 hours. The main reason why I visited this place is to have the night shots of the Arts and Science Park particularly the Hemisferic (The Eye), Palau de Arts Reina Sofia and Valencia Science Museum. I did visited this places also in the morning together with the Valencia Cathedral in Plaza de la Virgen. We left this place around 1300H for a train ride bound to Seville.

Valencia City Walk tour (Arts and Science Park)

Barcelona City Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Barcelona City Tour 3rd part; Inside Casa Mila and Casa Battlo

After finishing the visits on Barcelona's main tourist spots such as Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, La Pedrera and Casa Battlo, we just had a metro hopping as I bought also 2-days (48-hours) unlimited public transportation card. We visited other Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece such as Casa Vicens (Lesseps Station in line 3) and Gaudi Fountain Park near Arc de Triomf Station in line 1. In addition, we visited also Barcelona Cathedral (Jaume I in line 4), Plaza de Espanya, Poble Espanyol, and National Museum of Arts of Catalunya (line 1,3,5), and back to Sagrada Familia for night shots.

Barcelona City Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

Barcelona City Tour 3rd part; Inside Casa Mila and Casa Battlo

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Barcelona City Tour 2nd part; Park Guell and Gaudi House Museum

Casa Mila (La Pedrera) is a building that embodies nature. A huge wave set of stone. A collection of organic, atavistic shapes. A stone poem, a giant sculpture, unique and unrepeatable... La Pedrera is, without a doubt, the perfect example of how Gaudi was inspired by nature. Widely known as La Pedrera because of its rough outer appearance that resembles a stone quarry, it has an undulating facade with shapes taken from nature.

How to go to Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Casa Battlo;
Both of this tourist spots are just 1 metro station between each other and along the main road. Nearest metro is Diagonal Station under line 4 / line 5. I bought my tickets online in advance for 22 Euro for Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and 24..5 Euro for Casa Battlo. Photography and video taking is allowed inside, strolling around will take around 2 hours.

Barcelona City Tour 3rd part; Inside Casa Mila and Casa Battlo

Barcelona City Tour 2nd part; Park Guell and Gaudi House Museum

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Barcelona City Tour 1st part; Inside Sagrada Familia

Eusebi Guell entrusted to Gaudi the plan to create an estate for well-off families in large property that Guell had acquired in the zone known popularly as the Muntanya Pelada (bare mountain). Park Guell is currently much treasured leisure area for the people of Barcelona.

Antoni Gaudi lived in Gaudi House Museum in Park Guell from 1906 to 1925, shortly before his death. In 1963, the building opened to the public as Gaudi House Museum. Today, the museum illustrates the architect's private life and religious devotion through personal effects, recreation of some of the rooms and an audiovisual.

How to go to Park Guell and Gaudi House Museum;

Both of this tourist spots are just beside each other. Nearest metro is Lesseps Station under line 3. I bought my tickets online in advance for 7.5 Euro for Park Guell and 5.5 Euro for Gaudi House Museum. Photography and video taking is allowed inside, strolling around will take around 2 hours.

Barcelona City Tour 2nd part; Park Guell and Gaudi House Museum

Barcelona City Tour 1st part; Inside Sagrada Familia

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Bilbao Short Morning Walk Tour

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SAGRADA FAMILIA
1. It’s Been Under Construction for Over a Century began in 1882 with 2026 as its estimated completion date
2. La Sagrada Familia is home to the tomb of Antoni Gaudí, who was unfortunately killed a few days after being hit by a tram
3. Nature Greatly Influenced the Design
4. When La Sagrada Familia is completed, it will be tallest religious building in all of Europe.
5. The Intricate Symbolism in each part of Gaudí’s structure

How to go to Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Cathedral);

Sagrada Familia has a metro station with the same name located along line 1 and line 2. It is advisable to book online as the walk-in has limited capacity only per intended schedule. Admission fee costs 15 Euro that includes entrance to Cathedral and Museum at the basement. Photography and video taking is allowed inside, strolling around will take around 2 hours.

Barcelona City Tour 1st part; Inside Sagrada Familia

Bilbao Short Morning Walk Tour

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Madrid City Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

Our itinerary for Bilbao was supposedly a day-tour and stay for 1 night but due to flight issues, I still managed to visit Bilbao but on a 4-hour morning tour only. From Bilbao bus station, we walked going to Bilbao Guggenheim Museum (my main interest why I went here because of Dan Brown Novel Origins) via bridge above Bilbao River. After that, we went to the other side of the river for Bilbao Cathedral (unfortunately closed) and City Center sightseeing. We immediately went back to the bus station before 1030H for Barcelona afternoon bus trip for around 8-hour travel time.

Bilbao Short Morning Walk Tour

Madrid City Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Madrid City Tour 1st part; The Cathedral and Real Palace

Upon arrival from  the Madrid Airport, we bought a 1-Day tourist metro card (unlimited public transportation ride for 24-hours) for only 17 Euro (8.5 Euro each). Then, we went to Avenue de Americas for night bus booking and locker rental. After that, we started to tour the city from Islas Filipinas station where the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal monument is located for courtesy visit. Then, we went to Opera Station for the Real Palace of Madrid and Madrid Cathedral and Museum tour. After that, we went to the parks near Museo National del Prado and spent some sightseeing via sitting there as the summer weather is getting through our skin. Then, we went for metro hopping for Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Plaza del Espana and Temple de Bod at night. We bought best and cheap souvenirs just outside the Opera Station. At night, we departed from Ave. de Ame. bus station going to Bilbao.

Madrid City Tour last part; Other Tourist Spots

Madrid City Tour 1st part; The Cathedral and Real Palace

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

August 18 to 25, 2018

Preparation and Itinerary for the 8-Days Summer Europe Budget Trip

Cathedral of Maria la Real de la Almudena (Madrid Cathedral) was built after unsuccessful attempts of different monarchs from Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor to Philip IV to establish an episcopal see in Madrid.

Royal Palace of Madrid stands on the site of the former Alcazar palace of the Spanish Habsburgs, which was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve in 1734. Today, it continues to be the official residence of the The Majesties King Felipe VI and Letizia of Spain, and it used for state ceremonies.

How to go to Madrid Cathedral and Real Palace;

Both of this tourist spots are just facing infront to each other. Nearest metro is Opera Station under line 2 / line 5. We bought our tickets via walk-in, 10 Euro for Real Palace and 6 Euro for Madrid Cathedral and Museum. Photography / Video taking is only allowed in  the entrance area part of the Palace and not inside the palace itself. For Madrid Cathedral, photography / video taking is allowed only inside the church.

Madrid City Tour 1st part; The Cathedral and Real Palace

How to Apply for Schengen Visa (Spain) as Philippine Passport Holder

The quest to visit all Schengen Member States 2013-2024 as Pinoy Solo Backpacker

* maximum of 6 months validity after issuance with period of stay of under 90 days
* Schengen visa is a special document that allows a Schengen visa holder to travel freely within the 26 Schengen zone (European Countries) member states. Apply for the Schengen visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country where you spend the most time.

* 26 members of the Schengen Agreement are (1)Austria, (2)Belgium, (3)Czech Republic, (4)Denmark, (5)Estonia, (6)Finland, (7)France, (8)Germany, (9)Greece, (10)Hungary, (11)Iceland, (12)Italy, (13)Latvia, (14)Lithuania, (15)Liechtenstein, (16)Luxembourg, (17)Malta, (18)Netherlands, (19)Norway, (20)Poland, (21)Portugal, (22)Slovakia, (23)Slovenia, (24)Spain, (25)Sweden and (26)Switzerland.

* A “Schengen visa” is required to visit one or more of these Member States. This visa is valid in all Schengen states for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business only, but not for employment or family reunification purposes.
* If you get a multiple entry Schengen visa, you may leave and return any number of times within the 180-day period, but the combined stay within the region must not total more than 90 days. Important is the date of the actual entry, not the beginning of the visa validity. 

* Valid Schengen Visa holders of most of the nationalities can transit/visit other European countries of (1)Albania, (2)Bosnia and Herzegovina, (3)Bulgaria, (4)Croatia, (5)Cyprus, (6)North Macedonia, (7)Montenegro, (8)Romania, (9)Serbia, (10)San Marino and (11)Moldova. Some of these countries provide maximum 15-days stay in any period given in the Schengen Visa duration.

Schengen States visa I applied in Spain Embassy of Abu Dhabi, UAE (August to September 2018)

How to Apply for Schengen Visa in France Embassy (2013)

How to Apply for Schengen Visa in Germany Embassy (2015)

How to Apply for Schengen Visa in Spain Embassy (2018)

How to Apply for Schengen Visa in Norway Embassy (2023)

How to Apply for Schengen Visa in Greece Embassy (2024)

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother

Spain - Andorra - Portugal (Lisbon) - Vatican - Italy (Rome)
August 18 to 25, 2018

23 Days Solo Autumn Experience in Central Europe (Oct. 2013)
23 Days Solo Summer Adventures in Central, Southern and Northern Europe (Jun. 2015)

"Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the creator." - Antoni Gaudi

My 5th time to visit the European continent following the 12 Days Solo Backpacking in Summer Russia (Trans-Siberia Train Ride) last August 2017 and 3rd time for Schengen Adventure following the Germany-applied visa for Summer Solo Trip last June 2015, 2nd trip with my mother abroad following the Winter Japan last Feb. 2015, total of 71 countries visited so far (total of 29 in Europe) and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

Schengen Area guarantees free movement within territory of 26 countries. As of 19th of December 2011, Schengen Area consist of 26 countries (of which 22 are EU states): Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Being part of the area without controls at internal borders means that these countries no longer carry-out border checks at their internal borders and have stepped-up controls at the external borders. 

SPAIN
timezone - UTC +0200H    capital - Madrid    language - Spanish    currency - Euro (EUR)

visa - Philippine passport holders need to apply first before travel

8 Days Self-Guided Budget Summer Europe Trip with My Mother