This was our first time setting foot on the soils of Africa. It was a fantastic mix of exotic adventure, comfortable leisure, and historic culture.
We didn't spend much time in the urban wreckage of Casablanca. The aesthetic was a strange mix of crumbling buildings and cranes building new ones.
The incredible Hassan II Mosque, which was built using mandatory donations from the people of Morocco, was an impressive architectural experience.
Marrackech is a cultural and trading hub. In fact, the entire country of Morocco is called "Marrakesh" in some languages.
Jemma el-Fnaa, within the old city, is the largest open market square in Africa. It's especially amazing at night, when the sounds and smells come alive.
The flamenco, tapas, and jamón ibérico were incredible, but I was especially struck by the enormous Plaza de España (which was built to celebrate Being Spanish), and the mind-bogglingly large and old Cathedral of Seville, which holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
I can't possibly sum up the Alhambra or Generalife gardens in a paragraph.
This was our first time visiting Barcelona, but it won't be the last.
Barcelona is so awesome that tourism has become a real problem. The city is attempting to ban or curtail short-term housing because it's becoming too difficult for actual residents to afford housing.
The masterful mind of Gaudí is present everywhere, and we got to experience some of his work at Casa Battlö, Park Güell, and the Sagrada Familia.
The Sagrada Familia alone is one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had in all of my travels. It's been under construction for more than a century; I can't wait to go back in a decade when it nears completion!
© 2026 Jack Collier