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.
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| 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 (20th
century) Spanish art.
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| Palacio Real from the front |
Day 3: On the 3rd day in Madrid, we took a tour of Prado
Museum (Museo del Prado). This museum is mainly dedicated to fine art from
around the 12th and 13th 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.”
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| 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.
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| My class and our theater teacher, María |
Day 6: On the 6th 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 9th 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.
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| View of La Alhambra from the Albayzín |
Day 7: On the 7th 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 4th 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 4th 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 12th
century church. During the night, we celebrated one of my group members’ 16th
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:
