Don Quixote in Buenos Aires – Photo by Alaskan Dude

Have you ever reached that point of traveling where everything starts to look the same? Same city landscape, same South American food, same language, same music, etc. It’s a common backpacker issue – travel burnout. You start acting like one of those package-tourists. You come, you snap a photo of the “important” site, and you head back to your hostel/hotel.

There is so much more to see in your travels than what is listed under the “must see” section in your Lonely Planet. Well, here is a travel challenge that will help you slow down, take a second look, and remember that you are having the trip of a lifetime.

Find Don Quixote

Latine America Travel – Don Quixote

This famous Spanish novel is from Spain but the story and the main hero – Don Quixote – is just as loved in Central and South America. From paintings to sculpture to street graffiti, Don Quixote is one of the most recognizable figure in South America. How many places can you find this much-loved Spanish icon?

The Adventures of Don Quixote

The Adventures of Don Quixote – Photo by seriykotik1970

I have to admit that when I first came to South America, I didn’t really know who Don Quixote was. I did notice all the interesting art and sculptures depicting the same knight. I began to ask questions and eventually figured out who he was. I vaguely remember seeing a cartoon adaptation of Don Quixote as a kid but I didn’t remember anything of the story other than the fight with the windmill. Children in South America grow up with this story though. The same way reading Shakespeare is required in most schools in the English speaking world, reading Don Quixote is required in most schools in Spanish speaking countries.

The story was written by Miguel de Cervantes and follows the adventures and misadventures of Don Quixote and his trusted squire Sancho Panza. It was published in a two volume set, the first book in 1605 and the second in 1615, and is often called the most influential piece of Spanish literature ever written.

How to Spot Don Quixote

Latin America Travel – Don Quixote in Palermo, Buenos Aires

So, your challenge is to spot Don Quixote as many times as possible in your trip… but how do you do that? Don Quixote is such a recognizable character in Latin America that art pieces depicting him are often not even labeled. Your best bet is to look for a tall, skin man dressed as a knight. Unlike representations of real knights and Spanish historical figures, Don Quixote is often given a humorous or tortured look. He is sometimes depicted with his horse or sidekick Sancho Panza (a short, fat man). If you’re not sure, ask a local. Everyone knows who Don Quixote is and they will be more than happy to point him out for you if he is represented nearby.

Couple Travel Tips

• Why not pick up an English copy of Don Quixote before your trip? Read the epic story of adventure while having your own travel adventure in Latin America!
• If you really want to test your Spanish abilities, try and read Don Quixote in Spanish. Even native speakers have a difficult time with the old, historic Spanish writing style.
• Make it a game with your partner. See who can find the most representations of Don Quixote while on your backpacking trip.

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Latin America Travel – Finding Don Quixote 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure

Barcelona's City Hall at Night - Travel Barcelona

Luis Cicerone of Xixerone.com shares his pictures of Barcelona during a night stroll.

A night walk around Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter or Barrio Gótico is a must for every visitor eager to experience a part of the soul of a city packed with architectural wonders, cultural gems, sunny beaches and exciting nightlife.

Catalonia's Regional Government Palace at Night - Travel Barcelona

I tend to think every place has got a million different faces, a million feelings to be experienced.

Behind the Cathedral at Night - Travel Barcelona

Every time we travel somewhere, we get to see a couple, maybe a few of those faces, we get to experience only a tiny part of what makes a destination unique. Some of these traits are only shown to us when a certain trigger is activated.

Tourists walk around the Cathedral at Night - Travel Barcelona

A cloudy day, light rain, a special festivity, or even a recent shock could bring to the surface different personalities within the same city. London feels different when it’s sunny.

Gothic Window at Night - Travel Barcelona

Are the places we go to at night the same we visited in the morning? They surely change. Shadows climb on walls earlier filled with light, disfigured statues mock passers-by and shady characters wander around the darkest corners of town.

A Gothic gargoyle on Carrer del Bisbe - Travel Barcelona

Ghostly Reliefs - Travel Barcelona

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona is no exception, at night, some of the narrow streets in the neighborhood become obscure and scary, they almost seem taken from a horror book.

Ghostly figure near Plaça de Sant Felip Neri at Night - Travel Barcelona

Tourists having dinner near Sant Just i Pastor Church at Night - Travel Barcelona

And although I would love to say that the whole barrio is a secluded and quiet oasis in the middle of the bustling city, I won’t lie. By night, hordes of paella-hungry tourists converge in the areas around the main sights. The Cathedral, Las Ramblas or Portal del‘Àngel avenue become crowded with visitors as well as locals.

Barcelona is touristy, day and night - Travel Barcelona

Gothic Quarter at Night - Travel Barcelona

2 Backpackers Travel Community - Pictures of Barcelona by Night: A Walk around the Gothic Quarter 2 Backpackers Travel Community - Couples traveling to Latin America for a backpacking adventure