Maria had always dreamed of traveling through Europe, but she had never found the right time. One autumn morning, she finally booked a one-way ticket to Barcelona. Her friends thought she was crazy to travel alone for three months. 'You'll be lonely,' her mother warned. But Maria felt ready for an adventure. She arrived in Barcelona on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. The hostel was busier than she had expected. A young woman with curly red hair smiled at her from the bunk bed across the room. 'First time traveling solo?' the woman asked in a friendly tone. Maria nodded nervously. 'I'm Sophie, from Ireland,' the woman introduced herself. 'I've been on the road for six months now.' That evening, Sophie invited Maria to join her for tapas. They walked through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter together. Sophie knew all the best hidden restaurants. 'The secret is to eat where the locals eat,' she explained. By the end of the night, Maria felt like she had known Sophie for years. They exchanged phone numbers and promised to stay in touch. The next morning, Sophie left for Morocco. Maria felt sad but also inspired by their connection. She decided to take a train to Valencia. On the train, she sat next to an elderly Spanish man named Carlos. Carlos was returning home after visiting his grandchildren in Barcelona. He spoke slowly so that Maria could understand his Spanish. 'Where are you from?' he asked politely. 'I'm from Canada,' Maria replied. Carlos smiled warmly. 'My grandson lives in Toronto,' he said proudly. They talked for the entire three-hour journey. Carlos told her stories about Spain during his childhood. When they arrived in Valencia, Carlos insisted on showing her the way to her hostel. He even recommended a restaurant where his cousin worked. Maria realized that kindness from strangers could make a trip unforgettable. In Valencia, she met a group of German students at the beach. They were celebrating the end of their university exams. One of them, a tall guy named Lukas, spoke excellent English. 'Would you like to join us for volleyball?' he asked. Maria hadn't played volleyball since high school. But she said yes anyway. They played until the sun went down over the Mediterranean Sea. Lukas told her about his dream of becoming a marine biologist. 'The ocean is full of mysteries we haven't discovered yet,' he said passionately. Maria found his enthusiasm contagious. The German group invited her to travel with them to Granada. She hesitated at first, worried about imposing. 'Don't be silly,' said Anna, one of the other students. 'The more people, the more fun.' So Maria changed her plans and joined them. The bus ride to Granada took five hours. They shared snacks, told jokes, and taught each other words in their languages. Maria learned to say 'beautiful' in German: wunderschön. At the Alhambra, they wandered through the ancient palace together. The intricate patterns on the walls took Maria's breath away. 'I never imagined anything could be this beautiful,' she whispered. Anna took a photo of Maria standing in front of a fountain. It became Maria's favorite picture from the entire trip. After Granada, the German students flew back home. Maria felt a little lonely again. But she knew she would see them again someday. She continued her journey to Lisbon by bus. Portugal surprised her with its colorful tiles and melancholic music. At a fado concert in an old café, she met a Brazilian couple named Pedro and Juliana. They were on their honeymoon, traveling around Europe. 'We've been married for just two weeks,' Juliana said, showing her ring. Maria congratulated them warmly. The three of them spent the next few days exploring Lisbon together. Pedro was an amazing photographer and offered to take pictures of Maria. Juliana taught her a few Portuguese phrases. 'Saudade means a longing for something you've lost,' she explained. Maria thought that word perfectly described how she felt about leaving each new place. When it was time to say goodbye, they all had tears in their eyes. 'You must visit us in São Paulo,' Pedro insisted. Maria promised she would. Her last stop was Paris. She had saved the City of Light for the end of her trip. At a small bookshop near the Seine, she met an American writer named James. He was working on his first novel and had moved to Paris for inspiration. 'Every great writer has lived in Paris at some point,' he joked. They spent hours walking along the river and talking about books. James introduced her to his favorite café where Hemingway had once written. Maria felt like she was living inside a novel herself. On her last night in Europe, she sat alone at the Eiffel Tower. She looked through the photos on her phone and smiled. She had started this journey afraid of being alone. Instead, she had met dozens of wonderful people. Sophie, Carlos, Lukas, Anna, Pedro, Juliana, James—they were all part of her story now. She realized that traveling alone didn't mean being lonely. The world was full of people waiting to become friends. Maria boarded her flight home with a heart full of gratitude. She knew this was only the beginning of many more adventures.
English Story (B1)Friends Made While Traveling
This B1 English story is designed for intermediate learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Maria overcomes her fear of solo travel and spends three months exploring Europe, meeting wonderful people along the way including Sophie in Barcelona, Carlos on a train, German students in Valencia, a Brazilian couple in Lisbon, and an American writer in Paris.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Who was the first person Maria met at the hostel in Barcelona?
2
What did Maria learn to say in German from the German students?
3
What Portuguese word did Juliana teach Maria?
4
Where did Maria spend her last night in Europe?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
