Sarah had always planned her trips down to the smallest detail. She preferred knowing exactly where she would eat, sleep, and visit each day. So when her carefully organized vacation to Italy fell apart, she felt completely lost. Her flight to Rome had been cancelled due to a massive thunderstorm. The airline could only offer her a seat on a flight to Barcelona instead. After hours of frustration at the airport, she decided to take a chance. 'Why not?' she thought to herself, 'I've never been to Spain before.' She boarded the plane with nothing but her suitcase and an open mind. Landing in Barcelona at midnight, she had no idea where to go. A friendly taxi driver recommended a small hotel near the Gothic Quarter. The next morning, she woke up to the sound of church bells and street musicians. Without a plan, she simply started walking through the narrow medieval streets. She discovered hidden plazas filled with locals drinking coffee and reading newspapers. A bookshop owner invited her inside to browse his collection of rare Spanish literature. He gave her recommendations for restaurants that tourists never found. That evening, she ate the best paella of her life in a tiny restaurant with no menu. The chef decided what to cook based on the freshest ingredients available that day. She shared a table with a group of young architects from Copenhagen. They invited her to join them on a day trip to Montserrat the following morning. The mountain monastery took her breath away with its spectacular views. She had never imagined she would be hiking through such dramatic landscapes. One of the architects, Erik, mentioned he was heading to Portugal next. 'You should come along,' he said casually over lunch. Sarah hesitated for only a moment before agreeing to the spontaneous plan. They drove through the Spanish countryside, stopping at small villages along the way. She tried unusual local dishes she would never have ordered from a guidebook. In one village, they stumbled upon a traditional festival with folk dancing and fireworks. Sarah found herself dancing with complete strangers, laughing without any reservations. This was so unlike her carefully controlled life back home. They crossed the border into Portugal as the sun was setting. The Portuguese coast revealed itself in shades of orange and purple. Erik knew a surfer hostel where they could stay cheaply. Sarah had never surfed before, but she decided to take lessons the next day. After falling off the board dozens of times, she finally managed to stand up. The feeling of riding a wave was unlike anything she had experienced. She spent three days there, completely forgetting about her original plans. Her colleagues back home were surprised by her sudden silence on social media. She had not checked her email once since arriving in Barcelona. For the first time in years, she felt truly present in each moment. Erik had to continue his journey south, but Sarah wasn't ready to leave. She rented a small scooter and decided to explore the coast on her own. Along cliff-side roads, she found secret beaches with crystal-clear water. Fishermen taught her the names of fish she had never seen before. She learned a few words of Portuguese from the elderly women in the markets. Every day brought new surprises, new flavors, and new friendships. She extended her trip twice, using savings she had set aside for emergencies. This felt like an emergency of a different kind, she reasoned. Her rigid personality began to soften around the edges. She stopped caring about perfect photos for social media. Instead, she kept a handwritten journal filled with sketches and observations. One evening, she met a Portuguese ceramicist named Clara in a seaside café. Clara invited her to visit her workshop the next day. Watching Clara shape clay into beautiful objects fascinated Sarah deeply. She asked if she could try, and spent hours learning basic pottery techniques. The imperfect bowls she created felt more meaningful than any souvenir. Clara suggested she continue south to the Algarve region. The dramatic cliffs and hidden caves there were absolutely stunning. Sarah rented a kayak and paddled through sea caves carved by centuries of waves. She had never felt so small and so alive at the same time. Two weeks into her unplanned journey, her boss called with urgent news. A major project required her immediate return to the office. For the first time, she considered saying no to work. But responsibilities awaited, and she reluctantly booked a flight home. On her last night in Portugal, she watched the sunset from the cliffs. She promised herself this would not be her last adventure. The plane ride home gave her time to reflect on everything that had happened. She realized her most treasured memories came from unplanned moments. The cancelled flight to Rome had been the best thing that ever happened to her. Back at her desk, everything looked the same, but she felt different. Her colleagues noticed a new calmness in her demeanor. She started leaving work on time instead of staying late every night. Weekends became opportunities for small local adventures. She joined a pottery class and kept in touch with Clara. Erik sent her photos from his continuing journey through Morocco. She began planning her next trip, but this time with plenty of room for surprises. Her new philosophy was simple: make reservations, not expectations. Six months later, she quit her job and bought a one-way ticket to South America. Her family thought she had lost her mind. But Sarah knew she had finally found it. That unexpected adventure in Spain and Portugal had changed everything.
English Story (B1)An Unexpected Adventure
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sarah, a meticulous planner, finds her Italian vacation derailed when her flight to Rome is cancelled. Taking a chance on Barcelona instead, she embarks on an unexpected adventure through Spain and Portugal. Along the way, she meets new friends, learns to surf, discovers pottery, and slowly transforms from someone who needs to control every detail to someone who embraces spontaneity. The journey changes her life so profoundly that six months later, she quits her job to travel the world.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did Sarah end up going to Barcelona instead of Rome?
2
What activity did Sarah try for the first time in Portugal?
3
Who was Clara in the story?
4
What did Sarah do six months after her adventure?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
