During the first week in Girona I started looking at Spanish maps, on a mission to find a good-sized city relatively close, and Zaragoza was the lucky first recipient. It was around 4 hours or so, and I chose to go via blablacar, which is massive in Spain.
For those who aren’t aware, blablacar is a ride sharing website, where you can jump in with someone driving the same way as you. I found the public transport in Spain to be great, and used it a number of times, but for around the same price (often cheaper), a ride in an air-conditioned car was appreciated. It made for some awkward experiences occasionally (more on that in Valladolid), due to my massive lack of Spanish, but it’s a good way to travel, and I’d recommend it.
Jose was the man to take me down, and upon getting picked up at Girona train station, I entered his van which was pretty full of people. I think there was a mix of his family and fellow travellers, and one of them spoke English which was great. I soon realised it’s pretty shocking how poor our language skills are, especially travelling through Northern Spain, where not everyone spoke English. It’s embarrassing at times, and I should know, having tried to learn Spanish on numerous occasions.
I was dropped off pretty centrally in Zaragoza, which was great as I managed to get an Airbnb in a brilliant location, all for £9 a night. I was Eduardo’s first guest, and after reassuring me he had internet (needed for work), we were all set. Eduardo was a professor, who spoke a load of languages (including English….yay), and had a lovely apartment. The room was small, but had a bed, desk and wardrobe, so all was good.
Now on to Zaragoza, and holy fuck is it hot! I love the heat, despite my Welsh heritage, but this was something else. I think most of it was down to the humidity, but it can take it out of you. The place itself is beautiful, and while I didn’t visit a load of cultural places, it’s one of those cities you don’t mind walking around. One of the main shopping streets was particularly stunning, leading to the equally picturesque Plaza del Pilar. It’s more of a rectangle than a square, and is host to both the Basilica and Cathedral.
If I remember rightly, the Basilica is free to enter, and is definitely worth a visit. One little tip for those who have also given up pretending they have hair, remember to take your cap off when inside any place of worship. I’m pretty sure I didn’t take any photos whilst inside, but certainly did while climbing the tower (think this cost a few euros).
I’ve previously mentioned, I’m not particularly a fan of heights, and certainly had a few sketchy moments up here. One of the towers contains a lift, and then the rest is stairs. What a view when you get there! The first floor upon reaching the top didn’t have anything in the windows, and I couldn’t bring myself to get too close to them (anxiety = shaky legs). The very top had glass in its windows thankfully, so felt a lot more secure. It's worth the trip, with incredible panoramic views of Zaragoza your prize.
Besides these, I didn’t visit much else in Zaragoza touristy wise (this guide is a great place to start if you need inspiration), as there was plenty to scope out by foot. It’s worth visiting the many great-looking bridges that zig-zag the Ebro, and finding your own fun.
Speaking of, Zaragoza was the first place I really took advantage of the Couchsurfing community, and I’m glad I did. I met some great people during my time there, including Maridy, an American rock-climbing enthusiast, and Consuelo, an Italian who helps to organise many of the great events Zaragoza has to offer.
Check out the Couchsurfing app for hangout opportunities, as well as planned events. The aforementioned Consuelo organised a regular pub crawl, and it’s a brilliant way to meet some fellow travellers, even if you don’t speak another language.
For a big city, Zaragoza had a cosy feel, and even despite the humidity, I’d certainly recommend it. Oh, that, and the pub crawl.
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