Why I almost didn't publish this Madrid video.

I travelled alone to Madrid, Spain, for a spontaneous trip that I almost never shared. What began as a casual Madrid travel vlog became an honest reflection on stepping away from full-time YouTube and starting over at 34. 🏨 RECOMMENDED PLACES TO STAY 00:01 - Hostal Persal: https://go.stay22.com/5TDH3uUMsi 05:12 - Dear Hotel: https://go.stay22.com/KkyhrFWpH_ 14:14 - VP Plaza España Design: https://go.stay22.com/iXC38KV7-_ I originally filmed this video for Patreon during the final days of my Schengen visa. With no pressure to create a polished travel documentary, I explored Madrid at my own pace, from trying churros and walking along Gran Vía to visiting Plaza de España, La Latina and the Temple of Debod. Looking back, I can see that I was already questioning the life and identity I had built around solo travel and YouTube over the past ten years. During my final days in Madrid, I wrote a letter to myself about the version of my life I was beginning to outgrow. The city did not give me all the answers, but it gave me enough distance to admit that something needed to change. Support me for extra content and early access: https://www.patreon.com/syifaadriana Business Enquiries: hello@syifaadriana.com Website: https://www.syifaadriana.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syifaadriana/ Best eSim for International Travel: https://holafly.sjv.io/7ae4AV Filming Gear: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/syifaadriana Music Subscription: https://artlist.io/Syifa-806190 00:00 The Madrid Video I Almost Didn't Publish 01:01 My First Time in Madrid, Spain 02:13 Trying Churros at a Local Madrid Cafe 05:27 Why I Came to Madrid 07:57 Exploring Malasaña, Madrid 08:10 Trying Empanadas in Madrid 10:13 My First Time in Southern Europe 11:31 Turning 34 & Feeling Stuck in Life 12:36 Saying Goodbye to the Person I Used to Be 15:22 Exploring Gran Vía & Plaza de España 17:03 What I Was Afraid of Before Visiting Madrid 19:18 Visiting Madrid's Temple of Debod 20:50 Exploring La Latina, Madrid 24:06 Starting Over at 34 & What Comes Next ABOUT ME: I’m a UK-based solo travel vlogger with a background in International Relations. My work explores culture, history, and everyday life in places often misunderstood or oversimplified. I travel slowly and independently, seeking real conversations rather than tourism that only scratches the surface. My journey began with long-term travel across Asia, followed by living and working in China. Since committing to YouTube full-time, I’ve documented life across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, with a focus on context, nuance, and human stories. Now based in England, I create thoughtful travel videos for viewers interested in geopolitics, culture, and what daily life really looks like around the world.