This week was a lot of studying and a little bit of “abroading”, BUT this was our last week of school! We spent most of our time this week preparing for presentations, reading articles for our exam, and studying for our quiz. However, it made me really appreciate the education that we are receiving here in Barcelona. It has been so interesting to learn about the European Union in depth, because I would probably never learn about it if I had not come to Spain! I have loved being able to learn from a Spanish professor and better understand the similarities and differences between the EU and the United States. I feel more informed about the world around me.
Even though we spent a lot of time studying, we also took time to do fun things around Barcelona this week. On Monday we visited Park Guell and it was BEAUTIFUL. I could have walked around and enjoyed the architecture and view of Barcelona for hours. I have become a big fan of Gaudi, after seeing so many of his works in Barcelona. On Wednesday night we ate at a delicious Italian food restaurant in Born that had outdoor seating in the cutest square. We enjoyed a traditional 3 hour dinner with appetizers, wine, and pasta. And of course, we stopped for gelato on the way home.
Friday, the day after our last day of school, we were Barcelona tourists and saw all of the famous sites in Barcelona that we had not seen yet! We went on a tour of the Barcelona port- it was shocking to see how massive the ships are that come in and out of the port every day. It was also so interesting learning about the port in detail, because that is where most of Barcelona’s income comes from. After the port tour we had a delicious meal at a restaurant that gets its food from the local market next door. Then we saw Citadel Park as well as the Arc de Triomf, and finished off the day by touring the Picasso Museum. The Picasso Museum was intriguing. Picasso painted such a variety of styles, and each style is unique. His works are out of the ordinary. I loved seeing his work, but also learning about his life and how the museum collected all of his pieces.
On Saturday we headed to Madrid with little expectations, and it blew us away! We loved it! As soon as we walked through the city we fell in love with the slower pace and the extravagant architecture. It was definitely quieter in Madrid, which may be because it is vacation season for the locals. Also, it was unseasonably cool the entire weekend, which was amazing! On Friday night we got settled in, and walked to the Royal Palace…we were in awe of its magnificence. Sunday we saw all of the Madrid highlights: the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, and the Crystal Palace. Madrid is pretty incredible.
It’s hard to believe that school is already over, but we are ecstatic because now we get to travel and see parts of Spain that we haven’t seen yet! 2 more weeks let’s go!!!