A Chinese-Only First-Time Traveler Ventures Alone into Europe: 11-Day Spain Free and Easy!
Once in 'iPartment,' I saw Wan Yu's line:
“I might be in Barcelona three years from now, or maybe Madrid…
But that life would be free, with new scenery and adventures every day.”
I never thought that years later, this line would become my reason to set off.
Hurriedly preparing the visa, writing an explanation letter, going through a phone interview…
Luckily, I got a six-month multi-entry Schengen visa on my first blank passport.
On October 29, I flew directly from Hangzhou to Madrid. The moment I landed, it was a new world.
Madrid was steadier and brighter than I imagined.
I was like a 'walking soldier,' visiting all the classic spots:
✅ Royal Palace of Madrid: majestic and luxurious
✅ Puerta del Sol: the heart of the city
✅ Retiro Park: soft sunlight and lake
✅ Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Thyssen Museum
✅ Mercado de San Miguel
✅ Spanish ham, churros with chocolate, paella
I walked every day, and every day I went 'Wow.'
That kind of beauty is a shock you only understand when you see it for the first time.
Barcelona felt like a different soul: lighter, more romantic, more colorful.
✅ Gaudi’s three masterpieces: Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló
✅ Gothic Quarter: every alley tells a story
✅ Picasso Museum
✅ Tibidabo Mountain: overlooking all of Barcelona in freedom
✅ The breeze at the beach
✅ Spanish high-speed train!
Every day in Barcelona, I could feel what 'European romance' really means—a kind of ease and liveliness.
To be honest—the biggest difficulty was communication. Although Spain has many Chinese-run supermarkets and restaurants,
checking into hotels, ordering food, asking for directions, taking the subway…
every step required communication, and I:
❌ Couldn’t speak English fluently
❌ Had zero Spanish
❌ Would get so nervous around foreigners that my mind went blank
In the end, I saw online that many people use translation apps to solve this problem.
I tried over a dozen translation apps, and finally TransNow accompanied me through the entire journey.
Its performance far exceeded my expectations:
✔️ Very fast translation
✔️ High accuracy
✔️ Works even in noisy environments
✔️ Supports multiple languages (so I can use it in other countries too)
The best part was that it gave me 'language ability' in a foreign land.
TransNow could translate what I said into Spanish and play it aloud.
I just pressed the play button and could naturally 'talk'!
Passport, visa, theft prevention, language anxiety…
I experienced all the worries, but I still embarked on the journey.
When I was strolling in the Madrid sun and letting my mind drift in the Barcelona sea breeze, I suddenly understood:
Freedom is not about how many languages you speak,
but about whether you are willing to take that step.
Travel diary table of contents
1、🌍 A journey that began with a line
2、🛫 14 hours from Hangzhou, landing in Madrid
3、☀️ Madrid: city of museums and sunshine
5、🌊 Barcelona: art, sea breeze, and freedom
6、🌐 How did I, knowing only Chinese, complete 11 days alone?
7、What travel taught me: freedom is just one step away
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