Bella Scipione

I envisioned writing today’s blog from the comfort of a train journey from Madrid to Barcelona, gazing out the window with my AirPods in, romanticizing my life. I also intended to have this post ready yesterday, during my original planned trip to Barcelona. However, I mistakingly booked a bus to Valencia instead. Not sure how I managed that, but life gets chaotic when you’re planning your days by the hour. Then, this morning, I ran around the train station like a crazy person and missed the next train. So here I am, writing from a Starbucks across the train station, still romanticizing my life, just in a different setting. Third times a charm, right?

I spent the last four nights in Madrid with my good friend Maddy and her roommate Ava in their cozy little apartment. Maddy and I have been friends since our first semester of college and were roommates in our second year. It’s crazy to think we’ve been friends for nearly six years now – time has flown by, and our 18-year-old selves would be surprised to see where we are today. While I was in Genova with no plans for the next leg of my journey, I reached out to Maddy to see if I could stay with her for two nights. Those two nights turned into four, and I enjoyed every minute, catching up, reminiscing about the past, and exploring the place Maddy has called home for the last 10 months.

Before heading to Madrid, I spent 16 hours in Venice, wandering the city, taking photos of the canal-lined streets, and spending the evening with some girls I met at my hostel. On the bus ride from Milan to Venice, I sat next to an Australian girl named Jasmine. Despite the three-hour journey, neither of us spoke a word to each other. Normally, I would strike up a conversation, especially with a fellow traveler carrying a big backpack like mine. However, I was deeply engrossed in writing my last blog and took that time for myself. Later, when we found ourselves in line together at the hostel, I switched on my extroverted side and made plans for drinks that evening.

Jasmine had met three other girls, Alie, Alyssia, and Izzy, and the five of us secretly drank Rosé in the hostel room, laughing and sharing stories before mingling with the rest of the hostel guests. I’m always amazed at how easy it is to make friends with strangers in a hostel environment. It’s like everyone understands there’s no time for small talk, so you dive straight into the personal details – things you might not even share with long-term friends. That night, it felt like we had been friends for years, and I felt sad I couldn’t join them for their day in Venice the next morning.

Moments like these make me so grateful for social media, which allows us to share photos and experiences. I often interact with people I meet on my travels via Instagram more than with some of my closest friends. There’s something really special about that.

The next morning, I had to wake up at 6 am to catch a train to Verona and then a flight to Madrid. Running on four hours of sleep with a looming hangover was, to say the least, rough. Budget travel requires creativity in finding the most affordable ways to move from one city or country to the next. And while it’s not always the smoothest journey, I had been managing well until missing these last two trains, which ended up costing me around $200 (clearly still not over it). Not every day can be a win.

After eight hours of travel, I finally arrived in Madrid and waited for Maddy at a restaurant near her apartment. The staff didn’t speak any English, so I did my best to ask for a seat in Spanish. You’d think that after 10+ years of learning Spanish in school, I could easily ask for a seat to enjoy a burger. Instead, the server and I stared at each other like deer caught in headlights. Thankfully, another customer stepped in to translate for me. I really need to re-download Duolingo.

Later that evening, I joined Maddy and Ava for a picnic to celebrate their friend Eric’s birthday. As a Cancer myself, I never pass up a celebration for a fellow Cancer. I was also eager to meet the friends that have become such an important part of Maddy’s support system here. I was impressed by the turnout – around 20 friends gathered to celebrate Eric. Not everyone knew each other, but we all shared a big picnic, learning about one another and our journeys that led us to Madrid. Eric even performed a dance to “Houdini” by Dua Lipa that he had taught his students, and a handful of us joined in. It felt like a mini Zumba flash mob, and it was awesome.

Even though I only knew two people in the crowd of 20, it was heartwarming to see such a strong community. All over the world, people come together to love and celebrate one another. I’ve been fortunate to feel this same sense of support in my own circles, but experiencing it from an outside perspective gave me a whole new appreciation.

Exhausted, Maddy and I called it night. The next day, while Maddy was at work, I spent a few hours at the public pool soaking up the sun. Later, I joined Maddy, Ava, and their friends for another picnic, this time to celebrate Ava’s birthday. Cancer season, I’m telling you, it’s the best. Six of us played cards in El Retiro, Madrid’s famous park, and then enjoyed delicious Italian food, followed by a homemade Tres Leches cake made by Maddy and Ava’s friend Paola. We played Mafia until 1 am before heading home.

On Wednesday morning, I got a new tattoo. I’ll save the story behind it for another blog, but trust me, it’s a good one. Maddy and I went out for dinner at Honest Greens and indulged in a sweet treat from Salt in Cake afterward. I discovered my college friend George was also in Madrid with his family, so I made plans to meet up with him later that night. I’ll never get over how late the Spanish party. I didn’t leave Maddy’s place until midnight to meet up with George and his brother, Nick.

We started the night at La Via Lactea, a 70’s themed retro disco bar, grooving to classic tunes. From there, we moved on to Club Malasaña, where I ended up behind the DJ booth. We danced to house music until 4 am before finally calling it a night. Yesterday morning greeted me with another brutal hangover, reminding me that I can’t party like I used to. But with big birthday plans coming up in the next few weeks, I better pull myself together.

I was all packed up and ready to conquer my hangover when I realized my train booking to Barcelona was actually for a bus to Valencia. Thankfully, Maddy let me stay with her for one more night. We spent the rest of our time together reflecting on our aspirations for the future. Having a concrete plan might be the way to go for some, but, as I’m sure you can tell, it’s not my style – I prefer to roll with life’s flow, open to its endless possibilities.

Now, I’m finally en route to Barcelona and then Palma de Mallorca for the final five days of my journey. I’m so grateful to Maddy and Ava for hosting me over the past four nights. Seeing Maddy in her element and witnessing her growth into a confident woman has warmed my heart. I deeply resonate with her and her dreams for herself in this world. It’s rare to encounter clarity when so much of life is unknown, and witnessing it firsthand has been beautiful.

So much has changed in the last three weeks, and reconnecting with friends who ground me has been a blessing. I’m excited to spend the rest of my journey on the beach, where I can continue processing and reflecting on everything that’s transpired. Nearly three weeks of travel, two on my own, and I’ve cherished every moment – both the highs and the lows. Until next time, Bella.