Week four of my Spain study abroad experience has been a success. Madrid, Toledo, Girona, and Tossa de Mar are the four beautiful cities I have explored thus far. During my travels, I discovered that each city has unique attributes that contribute to its culture, politics, and business structures. I have continued to embrace the major and minor events that occur each day, and I am confident that I will be reminiscing for years to come.??
Last Friday, after we toured the Barcelona Port Authority, my roommates and I traveled from Barcelona to Madrid, the capital city of Spain, by train. To our amazement, this mode of transportation provided us with much more flexibility than flying. An easy boarding procedure, comfortable seating, and the beautiful Spanish countryside to view during transport were just a few of the perks. Atocha Train Station in Madrid was centrally located, so we were able to reach our destination quickly. Staying next to Plaza Mayor, a major public space in the heart of Madrid, was the best decision we could have made. Sobrino de Bot?n (the world?s oldest restaurant, as mentioned in a Hemingway novel), San Gin?s (a famous dessert shop known for chocolate and churros), and Mercado de San Miguel (a monument of Spanish cuisine) were all just a few minutes away. The excellent company and our proximity to great food made it possible for me to indulge in some of the best meals of my life.?
In addition to the traditional dishes that play an essential role in Madrid?s culture, a visit to the Prado Museum emphasized the important role of art. The three hours I spent in the Prado were not nearly enough to view the over 2,000 paintings on display. I, however, was awestruck to see many of the pieces I studied in an art history course in the exhibition. Christ Falling on the Way to Calvary was a particular painting that I found captivating. In all, I admired the artist?s accurate depiction of the subjects featured and I appreciated the museum?s efforts to preserve the artwork. Walking through Retiro Park, Palacio Real de Madrid, and Gran V?a Street made it apparent that Madrid has been beautified and manicured for centuries. Every place my eyes laid eyes on was of the utmost quality. A day trip from Madrid to Toledo, the former capital of Spain, enabled me to have a taste of traditional Spanish culture. We visited Museo del Queso Manchego Toledo to learn about the process of making manchego cheese, a cheese made in the La Mancha region from the milk of sheep. Meeting Teresa, the local who offered us varieties of cheese and wine, was the highlight of my day. Her genuine character was an accurate representation of Spanish hospitality.?
After returning to Barcelona, our home base, our entire class took a day trip to Girona and Tossa del Mar the next day. Girona is a city within Catalonia with religious significance, given the Christian, Islamic, and Jewish influences that remain apparent in city landmarks. Walking along the Roman walls, constructed during the medieval ages, put into perspective the abundance of historical events that took place on that land. Similarly, Tossa de Mar is known for its rich history, towers, and cobbled streets in the old town. The fact that the coastal city was the scene of a famous 20th-century movie, featuring Ava Gardner, impressed me. As I travel to Granada, Malaga, and Seville in southern Spain this week, my goal is to continue generalizing how historical events have influenced current practices in Spanish society.