One Month in Spain, A Lifetime of Memories

Published: March 6th, 2026

Some trips are a whirlwind. Some trips are a transformation. Doreen Sargente's five weeks in Spain — anchored by a month-long stay in Valencia with The Good Life Abroad — was very much the latter.

Her story was recently featured as the cover article in Brunswick Forest Living, a community magazine in Leland, North Carolina. We're honored to share it here in her own words.

👉 Read the full feature as published in Brunswick Forest Living Magazine (PDF)

A City Revisited, A Country Reimagined

Spain wasn't new to Doreen. The last time she'd visited Madrid was 1972 — when the city moved to a much slower, more serious rhythm. Returning decades later, she found something almost unrecognizable: a city reborn, vibrant, confident, and very much awake.

It was the perfect opening to a five-week journey filled with discovery, extraordinary food, new friendships, and the kind of unhurried moments that remind you what travel — and life — is really for.

Madrid: The Perfect Opening Act

Five nights in Madrid gave Doreen and her husband just enough time to find their footing, marvel at the city's transformation, and navigate the fine art of ordering a small beer without accidentally receiving a bathtub-sized one.

A Tuk Tuk tour whisked them through grand boulevards and narrow side streets. A day trip to Toledo — that storybook medieval hilltop city — left them suitably awestruck. Even a dutiful visit to the Prado, where stern aristocratic portraits began to blur after room 28, was redeemed in spectacular fashion that evening.

Dinner at Botín, officially the world's oldest restaurant, was the highlight. The history was extraordinary, the food didn't disappoint, and they even spotted the famous Hemingway table — though Doreen and her husband were seated at what the staff affectionately calls the "Mickey Mouse table," directly beneath a vintage sketch of the mouse himself. Fitting, somehow.

Valencia: Thirty Days, One Neighborhood, One Key

From Madrid, a smooth train ride delivered them to Valencia — and the heart of the journey: thirty days with The Good Life Abroad.

"Our group of eighteen settled into the lively Ruzafa neighborhood, each of us in our own small but comfortable apartment (about 525 square feet) in the same building. It made spontaneous gatherings feel natural, even inevitable — a bit like a grown-up version of a college dorm, minus the exams, and with better wine."

One building. One neighborhood. One set of keys. That simplicity, it turns out, is precisely the point.

A Community That Clicked

No TGLA experience happens without the person who holds it together — and in Valencia, that was Suzie.

"Our community manager, Suzie, quickly became our guiding star. Young, upbeat, and endlessly patient, she balanced logistics, personalities, and the occasional minor emergency with grace."

When the group's oldest traveler — a spirited 90-year-old — took a fall and needed an ambulance, Suzie handled translation, reassurance, and hospital navigation without missing a beat. It was a powerful reminder, as Doreen notes: travel insurance is not optional.

The group's social home base came together quickly, too.

"Our first official gathering was at a local restaurant, Pane & Vino, run by a young couple, Suzanna and Ricardo, whose warmth was as memorable as their wine list. It became our unofficial clubhouse — the kind of place where you could count on seeing familiar faces and share a toast or two."

What's on the Agenda — and What Isn't

"TGLA has a standard weekly structure — activities on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, leaving plenty of time to explore on your own. It was a mix that suited us perfectly."

That balance of structure and freedom is a hallmark of The Good Life Abroad experience — enough to connect, enough to wander.

Among the group activities Doreen highlights:

"Paella class with Ramón, the recent winner of Valencia's annual paella contest. Traditional Valencian paella uses chicken and rabbit — and believe me, after tasting his saffron-bright, smoky masterpiece, we understood why he'd won. You could practically hear the rice applaud."

"Fallas Museum, home to the rescued 'ninots' (intricate life-size figures) spared each year from the fiery Fallas festival. They range from whimsical to jaw-dropping in detail, and seeing them up close was unforgettable."

"Albufera boat ride, gliding across a serene natural lagoon before sitting down to a paella lunch in a charming, authentic restaurant that felt like a secret passed down through generations."

On their own, they added a three-hour bike tour from the historic center all the way to the beach, a small-group wine tour at a welcoming local winery, and a genuinely invigorating hike through rocky terrain — followed by a well-earned soak in what they optimistically called "thermal springs" (75 degrees, but the spirit was there).

A Side Trip to Altea: Fireworks at Midnight

Midway through the month, Doreen and her husband slipped away for two nights in Altea — a coastal town of whitewashed buildings, cobblestone streets, and Mediterranean views that she describes as straight from a postcard.

The beachfront apartment felt like a dream. And then, just as they were drifting off to sleep around midnight, an explosive boom rattled the windows. Rushing outside expecting a commotion, Doreen instead found fireworks — massive, dazzling, launched close enough to feel the vibrations. They lit up the Mediterranean for nearly half an hour.

Her husband slept through every single one. She didn't get a single photo. And she wouldn't trade the memory for anything.

The Joy of Staying Put

When people ask Doreen whether a whole month in one city was too long, her answer is immediate.

"People have asked whether we got bored spending a whole month in one city. Not even for a minute.

I discovered I adore slow travel — the rhythm of living, not just passing through.

Mornings at cafés. Afternoons wandering without an agenda. Evenings filled with tapas, conversation, and the comfortable sense that the city was ours, if only temporarily.

Sure, I celebrated my arrival back home with a meatball sub — balance is important — but I quickly found myself missing Valencia's effortless charm. The spontaneity. The warmth. The music, both literal and figurative, of daily life echoing from balconies and plazas."

Why Everyone's Talking About TGLA

Since returning home, Doreen says she's been fielding more questions about The Good Life Abroad than she ever anticipated. The appeal seems clear to those who hear about it: one destination, one suitcase, one set of keys. No constant packing, unpacking, repacking, or wondering where you left your favorite sweater.

For many, the idea of truly settling into a city for a month — or even TGLA's newer two-week Short Stay option — feels more relaxing, more immersive, and frankly more doable than the whirlwind pace of traditional travel.

In Doreen's own words, it's a philosophy worth living:

"Spain may not have been new, but the experience certainly was — romantic, surprising, joyful, and wonderfully slow in all the right ways. Sometimes the best adventures aren't about how far you go, but how deeply you settle in.

And sometimes, staying put is the most unforgettable journey of all."

Ready to Experience Valencia for Yourself?

Valencia is open for new sessions now. Whether you're drawn to a full month or curious about a two-week Short Stay, The Good Life Abroad makes it easy to live — not just visit — one of Europe's most vibrant cities.

👉 Explore the Valencia Program 👉 View All Destinations 👉 Request a Free Brochure 👉 Book Your Experience

Photos and original article by Doreen Sargente, as featured in Brunswick Forest Living Magazine, February 2026.