Mac Mackey: Spain

Arriving in Madrid

Day 1: We arrived in Madrid at about 10:30 in the morning and took a short but took a short bus to our hostal for the next 3 days. Here, we shared a room with 2 other members of our 16-person group, which is made up of people rom all over the United States. My first truly Spanish meal that I had was macaroni and shrimp pasta (macaron y gamba) as an appetizer a Mediterranean sea bass as my entree. After our meal we did a scavenger hunt where we were dived into groups of 4 and were given a task list to accomplish. Ex.: ask a native madrileño what they're most proud of Madrid for. This lasted for a couple hours and really tested our speaking, listening, and social skills. After the scavenger hunt, we walked to Rotiro Park and hung out for a big before riding around in boats. My first Spanish dinner consisted of paella for an appetizer and lamb for an entree. 

Boating in Rotiro Park 

Day 2: Day 2: We walked to the Palacio Real in the Plaza de Oriente & Cathedral.  The Palacio Real is the former home of the King and Queen of Spain. While here, we learned about the lifestyles of everyone living here, from the King and Queen themselves to the lowest level workers, as well as see all of the immaculate furniture and decorations around the palace. Later in the day, we took a visit to the Museum “Reina Sofia” (Mueso Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia). This museum is mainly dedicated to modern (20^th century) Spanish art.

Palacio Real from the front

Day 3: On the 3^rd day in Madrid, we took a tour of Prado Museum (Museo del Prado). This museum is mainly dedicated to fine art from around the 12^th and 13^th centuries. Today, we also took an unplanned, guided Segway tour of Madrid as well as a return visit to Reina Sofia in order to see the main exhibit, The Guernica.

Day 4: Today, we took a day tour to the Spanish city of Toledo while on our way to Granada. We spent a majority of the day walking around the city, seeing sights such as the famous cathedral, synagogue, and artesian workshop there. Toledo is famous for much of it’s handmade goods, such as jewelry made from gold and silver. After our time in Toledo, we finished our journey to Granada, where we are staying in a living system similar to high school dorms. This place is named Ave Maria and the area of Granada in which we are staying is named “Albayzín.” 

My group and I in front of Catedral de Santa María de Toledo

Day 5: Today we had our first language classes in Granada. We spend the first 2 hours of the day taking theater classes and the second 2 hours of the day taking vocabulary and grammar classes, with a 30 minute break to walk around the surrounding community in between classes. While we are taking these Spanish classes, Spanish kids from around the country (but mainly from Granada) are doing the same, but in English. In the afternoon, we had “ice-breakers” to get to know the Spanish kids.

My class and our theater teacher, María

Day 6: On the 6^th day, we didn’t have classes, because it was a Sunday and for that we took a guided visit to one the most popular destinations in all of Spain: La Alhambra. This former palace and fortress of Granada was built in the 9^th century for the housing of Moorish and Muslim leaders in Spain. The palace is situated in a spot in Granada so that it overlooks the entire city from the top of a large hill. In the afternoon, many of us walked through the city and took advantages of the “rebajas” or extreme sales that are very popular through much of Europe during the summer months. During the evening, about 6 or 7 of us went into the middle of Granada in search of a place to watch the Confederations Cup Final. This was one of the best nights on the trip. Although Spain actually lost the soccer match, the atmosphere in the pub was ecstatic.

          View of La Alhambra from the Albayzín

Day 7: On the 7^th day we continued our language classes, but in the afternoon walked to the local swimming pool. Although the walk was quite long (about 30-45 minutes) the time seemed to fly by as all of the Spanish and English students practiced their target language with each other.

Day 8: The language classes continued today with water games in the afternoon. The water games were similar to dodge ball in that there are 2 teams and the object of the game is to get people on the other team out by hitting them with a water balloon, but the catch is that only 2 water balloons are given out at a time and to only one team. If the balloon hits you, you must stand behind zone of play of the other team and your team can toss you a water balloon to throw at the other team. The game quickly transformed into an all out, every-man-for-himself water balloon fight, as everyone wanted one of the balloons.

Day 9: After the language classes, we took a bus trip to Salobreña, a small city on the southern coast of Spain. While we were here, we played games, swam in the sea, dove off of cliffs into water, explored the city, and met the families with whom we would be spending the next 12 days after our stay in Granada.

Day 10: Today was the 4^th of July and we spent it with the Spaniards. After our language classes, everyone came back to Ave. Maria with us to get ready for the party. We helped set up chairs, tables, and music for everyone. First we took some time to explain to the Spanish kids what the 4^th of July is as well as how each person celebrated the day.

Day 11: The language classes continued during the morning and early afternoon. The afternoon activity was tea tasting, a Moorish tradition. We walked down to the center of the city to a very highly Muslim population lived. Here we tried the many different types and varieties of tea.

Day 12: The language classes continued and in the afternoon we either played sports or learned to belly dance; I chose to play sports. We played a game of pickup soccer with some of the local Spanish boys on a hard surface (“suelo”). It was similar to our soccer but much quicker and with a few differences in rules. During the night, we went to watch a live flamenco show. There were 4 dancers, a singer, guitar player, and a woman who kept beat with her clapping.

Day 13: We didn’t have classes today and for that our leaders and we took a day to relax. We went to a local Arab bath house to relax in the 4 differently heated pools (cold, chilled, warm, and hot) in conjunction with a massage.

Day 14: We took the language classes in the morning and then a bus ride to “Colomera Lake” where we swam, paddled around in boats, and canoed. The views out near the lake were spectacular as well as the temperature of the water.

Day 15: After the language classes, we took a class similar to origami. The man leading the class, took a piece of origami and was able to maneuver the figure into different animals or things as he told a story until in the very end, all that was left was a flat piece of paper.

Day 16: This was our last day in Granada and we finished it by performing the plays that we had been practicing for in the theater classes. Our performance was titled “El Caballero Galbán y la Bruja.” My part in the play was Galbán, the noble sidekick to King Arthur, who helps to save his king’s life by offering up his own. In the after noon we had a goodbye party and then left for Motril, where we would be spending our next 12 days.

Day 17: This was the fist day of the homestay period of the trip. We met and became acquainted with our homestay families. I have a 16 year old brother, 19 year old sister, 24 year old sister, mother, father, 4 year old niece, 2 year old niece, and a 25 year old brother-in-law.

Day 18: Today the whole group took a bus trip to Almuñecar, a neighboring beach city of Motril. Here we visited the Botanical Garden and swam at a local beach. Similar to Salobreña, we swam, relaxed, and went cliff diving.

Day 19: Today, we spent much of the time at the house of my brother’s girlfriend, who also had an American host-sister in my group. We listened to music, ate, and watched TV for most of the afternoon. During the night we went to a party on the beach called a “paseo.”

Day 20: Today was Sunday and much like America, Sundays in Spain are spent relaxing. We didn’t get out of bed till nearly 1 or 2 in the afternoon and didn’t leave the house until around 5. We went back over to the house of my brother’s girlfriend to eat dinner and watch a movie. We then came back home at around 11 or 12.

Day 21: Today the entire group went “camping” in a beach town near Motril. We all slept in tents beneath the stars, just a block from the beach. During the night, we all went to a carnival that was going on near where we were staying. The rides were much like the ones that you would find in an American carnival

Day 22: Today was spent at the beach camping site relaxing. Because everyone was exhausted from the swimming in the ocean and the late night carnival (we didn’t arrive at the campsite until about 4 in the morning), we stayed at the campsite for most of the day sleeping or talking about what each person had done with their Spanish family up to that point in the homestay.

Day 23: My brother and I went to one of his friends’ house to swim in the pool. Although the walk to his house was a bit far, the walk there was extremely enjoyable as my brother and I compared the customs, traditions, and everyday lifestyles of American and Spain. Once we got to the pool, we spent most of the time swimming, relaxing, and playing video games.

Day 24: Today, the group spent the day at the beach. We swam in the ocean and relaxed as well as played volleyball. We split up into teams and played a tournament, which my team sadly lost in the finals. After the tournament, we went to a water park on the beach called “Aquatropic.” This water park was very different from any one that I had ever been to before, because it solely used salt water from the Mediterranean Sea. It was a weird experience at first, but I soon got used to it.

Day 25: Today, my brother had to go to a dentist appointment in Granada and for that I was left to do as I pleased during the day. I spent it by inviting some of the Spanish kids whom I had met back in Granada to the beach with me. This was one of the best days of the trip, because we were able to catch up and talk about how we mad missed each other and how we all wanted to see each other in the next summer break.

Day 26: My family and I took a trip to a beach about 25 minutes from where we lived in Motril, called Castell de Ferro. The beach here was fantastic. Although I enjoyed the beach in Motril, it was not what I had been expecting, as it had small black rocks instead of smooth golden sand. My brother and I swam all day and hung out with some of his friends who lived near the beach. We ate this one dessert called “Leche Rizada” which is similar to an extremely thick vanilla milkshake with a hint of cinnamon on top.

Day 27: This was the last day with our families and I spent it by walking around Motril and enjoying it as the beautiful town that it was. We walked along the beach, through the center of the city, and of course went shopping. My 24-year-old host sister actually owns a store in the city and let me choose any article of clothing that I wanted to take back home with me. I chose a blue long sleeved, button-up shirt and now whenever I wear it, I think of her shop and my family. We also had a farewell party at the end of the night where all of the families got together on the beach and shared our favorite moments, as well as exchanged gifts, which we had gotten for each other. I brought my family Goo-Goo clusters and a Titans t-shirt.

Day 28: Today we said goodbye to our host families and left for the 12 hour bus ride to the Pyrenees. We took a quick stop in Granada to pick up another EIL group, as they were coming with us to the mountains. Because we were able to make this stop in Granada, we saw many of the Spaniards, which we had met during our time in Granada and say our final goodbyes. On the bus, we played games, talked, listened to music, slept, and got to know the other group.

Day 29: At about mid-day we arrived at Ribes de Fresset where we got onto a “chain-up” which is similar to a cable car up to Nuria valley, which is where we spent the duration of our time in the Pyrenees. The rest of the day was spent resting as no on had slept adequately on the bus ride from the Southern tip of Spain to the Northern border with France.

Day 30: We went on about a 7 hour hike through the Pyrenees today. Although the distance was quite exhausting, it was well worth it. The views that we had at the peak of the mountains were incredible. The mountains reminded me greatly of our own Rocky Mountains in Western United States. We actually were able to see and walk into France from the peak of the mountain. Once we had returned from the hike, we had a scavenger hunt around the base of the mountain. We had to search for different contraptions, such as something to help milk the cows which were roaming freely around the mountain.

Day 31: We took a day trip to Quaralbs, a city at the base of the Nuria valley (we were staying at the top). The hike lasted about 3 hours with incredible views. Although we spent a long time travelling  to Quaralbs, we only were able to spend about 30 minutes looking around the city, which we spent by visiting a 12^th century church. During the night, we celebrated one of my group members’ 16^th birthday with a cake, presents, and lots of candy.

Day 32: Today was the day that we left the Pyrenees and travelled to Barcelona. Our hostal was located right along side of "Las Ramblas," the most famous street in Barcelona. We walked through Barcelona and admired all of the incredible architecture that was there. While in one of the many plazas in Barcelona, I even caught a pigeon. We also witnessed an important Spanish culture: the human tower, where people stand upon shoulders to build human towers nearly 30 feet high; kids as young as 6 and 7 were a part of it. 

Day 33: We visited the Parque Guell, which is an extremely famous park in the outskirts of Barcelona designed completely by Gaudi.  The arcitechuture and design of every here was amazing. Before going, I was expecting it to be like any other American park, but in reality it was one of the more interesting and entertaining parts of the trip in Barcelona. After Parque Guell, we visited the Picasso Museum, made solely on Picasso’s work, over 4,000 pieces.

Day 34: We visited Olympic Stadium today. We got to see the soccer stadium in which all of the games were played as well as all of the track and field events. Outside of the stadium, there were foot prints from many of the famous athletes who competed in these games, and we were able to measure our feet up against theirs. 

Day 35: