As an academic from a developing country, traveling requires much more preparation compared to colleagues from more developed nations. And by traveling, I don't just mean trips for leisure; I'm also referring to attending conferences.

Every fall, I check two websites—the American Mathematical Society and the European Mathematical Society—to see upcoming mathematical events around the world and what’s planned in my field of study. Knowing in advance what will happen allows me to book plane tickets and accommodations at a much lower cost. But even then, 'cheap' is often not enough, as I have to multiply the price by more than 30, thanks to the very 'strong' Turkish currency.

Attending conferences allows me to travel and explore new places, present my recent work to an audience, network with others, brainstorm new collaboration ideas, and even make friends.

Last fall, around November, I noticed that a conference would be held in Seville, Spain, from July 15-19. 'I’ve never been to Spain,' I thought to myself. 'I can go there.' Plus, the conference would be organized by the European Mathematical Society, so it was going to be huge—more diverse in both attendees and topics, with high-quality invited speakers and the chance to see more inspiring people.

I usually travel to the conference city a day before it starts and leave right after it ends, but this time, since May 2024 marked my 40th birthday, I wanted to give myself a present by organizing a trip around almost all of Spain. I booked my plane ticket to Barcelona for July 9, giving me six days of leisure before the conference, and my return ticket to Istanbul for July 22, allowing three extra days after the conference. My plan was to spend two days in Barcelona, three days in Madrid, attend the conference in Seville, then spend two days in Valencia, and finally return to Barcelona for one night before flying home. After purchasing the plane tickets, I began searching for hotels. I decided to buy my train tickets within Spain a day before each journey but checked the prices in advance to get an idea. By the end of May, I was ready for my next adventure in Spain.

On July 9th, around 10 a.m., I arrived at Barcelona El Prat Airport and found myself in the longest passport control line I’ve ever encountered. Seriously, even the lines at Chicago O’Hare Airport were more manageable than this one. The line was so long partly because they divided people into two groups: those from the European Union and those from third-world countries. As a Turkish passport holder, I’m used to being labeled as someone from a third-world country, but to be honest, being in that line alongside people with U.S., UK, Canadian, and Japanese passports made me feel a bit privileged. Thank you so much, Barcelona El Prat Airport, for making me feel like I’m from a more 'civilized' country. Ha ha. :)

I took a bus to the city center, then transferred to the metro and walked a short distance to my hotel. The hotel (Sallés Hotel Pere IV) was a bit disappointing for several reasons, but since I only used it for sleeping, it was manageable.

I only had one full day (July 10) to spend in Barcelona, so I tried to make the most of it. Unfortunately, the only place that truly amazed me was the Picasso Museum—I enjoyed every minute of it. I also visited Park Güell but found it a bit overrated. The best memory I’ll have from Park Güell was being accidentally photographed by a complete stranger, who then airdropped me the picture while I was trying to find something interesting.

On the early morning of the 11th, I made my way to Barcelona Sants Railway Station to catch the train to Madrid. After a three-hour ride, I arrived at Estación Madrid - Puerta de Atocha. From there, I took a bus, the metro, and walked a bit, only to find that I had arrived at the wrong hotel (thanks a lot, Apple Maps). Fortunately, the staff at the wrong hotel kindly called a cab for me, which took me to the BEST hotel ever: Hotel Regina, known for its great location and fantastic breakfast. I truly enjoyed every second I spent in Madrid. It not only offered amazing views at every turn but also delighted my taste buds with its incredible food. Every time I found myself enjoying the food in Madrid, I had to remind myself that as a Turkish-born and raised person, I should be accustomed to good food. However, to be fair, Madrid's cuisine was on a higher level than the Turkish one.

On July 14th, I said farewell to Madrid, promising myself that I would return someday. I then headed to Seville to focus on the main reason for my trip to Spain: attending the conference.

From July 15 to 19, my days were filled with mathematics. I spent most of my time in three places: the hotel, which also served as the conference venue for the morning plenary sessions; the School of Engineering at the University of Seville, where the afternoon sessions were held; and Carrefour Express, an essential stop for me to pick up daily water and the delicious protein pudding I discovered in Seville and ate almost every day afterward. I also found the best spot for breakfast, where I enjoyed the most amazing avocado toast, and a small local pub where I savored local beer with tapas.

The conference was amazing. I was astonished by every talk I attended. I particularly loved the presentations by younger mathematicians, but I was also inspired by the older generation, whose enthusiasm for mathematics is still so evident. I gave a talk as well, and the audience was genuinely impressed. The next European Congress of Mathematics will be held in Bologna, Italy, in 2028. I hope that by then, I won’t just give a 15-minute contributed session talk but will also organize a special session myself.

On the afternoon of July 19, I headed to Santa Justa train station in Seville to catch a train to Valencia, where I planned to spend a day and a half before returning to Barcelona for one last night in Spain before heading back to Turkey. The journey to Valencia took about six hours. After traveling all around Spain for the past ten days, my body was tired and my feet ached with every step, but I was still eager to explore as much as possible. Valencia did not disappoint, offering hidden gems like antique shops, art galleries, and parks with trees planted in the 1800s.

On July 21, my plan was to return to Barcelona by train, completing a full circle by railway. However, since the train company's website kept giving me an error, I had to buy a bus ticket instead. As a result, I ended up trying every mode of transportation within Spain: train, intercity bus, local bus, taxi, and Uber.

Speaking of Uber, I need to make a small side note here. I was able to use Uber thanks to my friends I met during the conference in Seville. Uber is banned in Turkey for reasons I find hard to comprehend. I used it regularly when I was living in the United States and still have the app on my phone. However, since my Turkish credit card doesn't work with it and I no longer have a U.S. debit card, I can only use Uber when I’m with friends, and then I just pay them my share. Here’s a list of websites and apps that have been banned in Turkey, some of them multiple times: YouTube, Dailymotion, WordPress, Alibaba.com, SoundCloud, Uber, Deezer, GitHub, Imgur, LastFM, Dropbox, Google Drive, WikiPedia, Ekşi Sözlük, Wattpad, Instagram, and Roblox. 

Anyways, going back to the more pleasant aspects of life than any kind of censorship... On July 21st, I returned to Barcelona, staying at the same hotel where my journey began. My plan was to visit the Sagrada Familia, enjoy a local wine bar I had noted down earlier, and indulge in one final night out in Spain. However, all I managed to do was visit a small grocery store around the corner from the hotel, grab some snacks for the night and for the airport the next day, then head back to the hotel for a shower and some sleep. Well, trying to sleep—because, as luck would have it, my room had bedbugs. Needless to say, I won’t be returning to that hotel. On a brighter note, staying there did lead me to discover the most delicious grissini I’ve ever had. Even in this small detail, Spanish cuisine managed to impress.

I very much enjoyed everything in Spain. So, where to next? Stay tuned—I might just surprise you!

August 2024, Mersin.