And just like that, it was our last day here in Madrid. I’m shocked over how much we were able to accomplish in just one week. Each day was filled with new experiences—whether it was exploring hidden corners of the city, trying local food, or learning more about Spanish history and culture. As the week came to a close, it didn’t feel real that we’d be leaving so soon. Our final day was bittersweet: a chance to soak up the city one last time, reflect on the memories we made, and say goodbye (for now) to a place that quickly started to feel like home.

To start off the day we went to Valley of the Fallen. Located in Sierra de Guadarrama mountains was a beautiful 500-foot-tall cross, one of the tallest in the world. This monument was dedicated for all the people who died during the Spanish Civil War. Over 33,000 people are buried here including Franco himself who was buried there in 1975, but was then relocated in 2019 to a family cemetery.

Following our visit we went to lunch at La Fragua de Vulcano. This was definitely a hidden gem that spanish locals only know about, but we happened to stumble across by luck. The restaurant was very cozy inside with a rustic atmosphere to it. The food was also phenomenal. Every bite was packed with so much flavor. By far this was my favorite restaurant we visited in Madrid. Chatting with the locals there was also a highlight. The Spaniards we met were incredibly friendly and welcoming, always happy to share a story or recommend their favorite dish.

After lunch, I did some shopping at Gran Via, one of the busiest and most iconic streets in Madrid. The energy there was contagious—locals and tourists weaving through shops, music playing from storefronts, and the architecture towering above in every direction. I picked up a few souvenirs to bring home with me. Walking down Gran Vía felt like the perfect way to end the trip: a final stroll through the heart of the city, surrounded by all the color and life that makes Madrid so special.

At 7:00PM we had our last farewell dinner with the whole group. It was a bittersweet moment—everyone dressed up a little, laughing, taking pictures, and trying to soak in the final hours together. We ate paella, which felt like the perfect dish to close out our time in Spain. The pan came out sizzling, full of vibrant colors and flavors—seafood, rice, saffron, and that signature crispy bottom layer everyone fights over. We passed plates around, shared memories from the week, and talked about everything from our favorite moments to how strange it would feel to back home the next day.

What started as a short study abroad trip quickly became something much more—an experience full of learning, laughter, and connection. From standing in front of centuries-old monuments to sharing meals and stories with new friends, I’m walking away with memories I’ll carry for a lifetime. Saying goodbye was tough, but I know this isn’t the end—just the beginning of many more adventures to come.

After spending a week in a foreign country with a bunch of strangers, I really feel like I am immersed in the Spanish culture. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this experience was once in a lifetime. I have made lifelong friendships, and made memories that I will remember for a long time. I believe that throwing yourself into the culture of a different country is the best way to experience it. My week in Spain has truly been incredible and I would recommend this to everyone.   

We started off the week jet lagged from the plane ride, hungry from not being adjusted to the eating culture, and soaked from all the rain. We were all so tired. Despite that, we trudged on and did a lot of exploring and walking around the city. Everyone was getting to know each other. The group that I spent time together with played a lot of games to get to know each other. I thought it was funny, I felt like I was in a summer camp.   

The second day was much more interesting. We got to go to the Reina Sofía Museum which was so cool. I loved seeing the art, especially the large paintings. I enjoy figuring out what the artist’s message was behind the painting. I was impressed by the painting by Picasso. I thought it was amazing to see just how large the painting was. My only complaint was that we did not spend enough time in the museum. After the museum we went to a flea market which was so fun! It was also the biggest flea market I have ever seen. We spent over an hour there and we still only brushed the surface of it. My group of friends had plans to see a castle in Segovia, but we ended up missing the train. I was disappointed but it goes to show how traveling is so unpredictable and even though we are disappointed, we prevailed, and we went to a good tapas bar instead and had a fun day.  

On Monday, we took a bus to Toledo. I thought that this trip was amazing. There were beautiful views of the city. I enjoyed that we got to learn about the areas around Madrid, like Toledo, on top of learning about Madrid. The architecture was beautiful, not only in Toledo but in Madrid too. I loved seeing the old buildings and the art that was created so long ago. It is astonishing that people were able to create such detailed and massive works of art with much less materials than we have now.  

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had informational morning lectures where we learned more about the history of Madrid and the cities significance in the Spanish Civil war. I was especially interested in how the war still affects Madrid currently. After the lectures we had time to explore the city on our own. By the end of the week, we became professionals at navigating the metro. I appreciate just how easy navigating around this city was. Navigating the subway in Boston is easy if you know where you are going, but the metro in Madrid is easier. I was much more confident in my navigation skills after this week.   

The nightlife in Madrid was fun, too. Dinnertime in Spain is from 9:00-11:00 at night, which is quite different from what I am used to. It took about half the trip for my body to get used to the different eating times. One night the whole group went out to dinner at around 10:00 at night at a rooftop restaurant where we could see the entire city. The lights were beautiful, it was one of the best views of the whole trip. And the food and drinks were delicious! Even when we left at around 12:30, there were still plenty of people out and about despite it being so late at night.  

On Thursday, we went to a bullfighting ring, which was cool. Bullfighting has been a large part of Spanish culture since the 1700s and still happens today. Unfortunately, the bullfighting season is from May to October, so we did not see a bullfight, but we saw the ring where they hold the events. Along with the bullfighting, we got to experience another large part of the Spanish culture, flamenco dancing. As a group we went to a flamenco show where we saw amazing dancers. I loved the show. The show is 90% improvisation! Flamenco is such a large part of Spanish culture, and I was so excited to see it firsthand.   

On our last day we went to The Valley of the Fallen. This monument is where Spain’s dictator Franco was buried until a few years ago. This monument is dedicated to his rule and consists of a huge church on the top of a mountain. People still visit it every week to pray. It had pretty views of the countryside where we took many pictures.  

Later that night, we went to a farewell dinner. This is where we reminisced on our trip, and we realized we were all incredibly sad to leave the next day. Despite being sad that we were leaving, we got to reminisce over delicious paellas. This is a famous rice dish that includes several types of meats and veggies. My favorites were seafood and chicken.  

I am so fortunate to have gotten the chance to experience this study abroad opportunity. This week is something I will never forget! 

With the dawn on our final day in Madrid, it was unbelievable that the trip was coming to an end. The week had been a blur of architecture, art, tapas, and many “wow” moments, but today would leave its own unique mark.

With one of the latest starts of the trip at 10:30am, we were able to get some extra sleep in. Before setting out for the day, we had breakfast at the hotel, which was served buffet style with everything from fruit, to eggs, to ham, to pastries, and more. The breakfast was always immaculate and a perfect way to help wake up and energize each day. Then, we set out, boarding the bus still half-asleep but buzzing with anticipation. Where were we going? Our destination was the Valle de los Caídos, or Valley of the Fallen, which was renamed to Valle de Cuelgamuros, or Valley of the Hanging Walls in 2022. I’d heard it was a controversial site, grand, solemn, and steeped in Spain’s complex political history, but nothing could have prepared me for the scale of it.

Carved from the Guadarrama hills, the Valley of the Fallen is dominated by a colossal stone cross, standing at 150 meters high and recognizable miles away. Fun fact: the cross is the largest cross in the world when measured from the base of the cross to the top of the cross. The basilica, tunnelled half-way into the hillside, is dark and cold-iced. It’s a site of remembrance and provocation, built under the Franco regime and once the resting place of his tomb before he was relocated in 2019 because the Valley of the Fallen is a resting place for those who died during the Spanish Civil War, and because Franco didn’t die until around 35 years after the war ended, he was removed after many people pushed for him to be removed. Walking through the enormous stone halls, accompanied by statues and veiled from the sun, I was filled with wonder and dread. History held heavy upon this place, the world’s attention in no way came close to diminishing the significance this was not an edifice at all, but a reflection upon the stresses and recollections of a country learning to forgive and forget. Our guide gave perspective, defining the lives lost in the Spanish Civil War, slave labor used in its construction, and how Spain still grapples with its past. An example of this is that when we were standing around Franco’s old tomb discussing Spain’s history, there were two men waiting for us to walk away in order to pay their respects to Franco at his old tomb. Altogether, the visit to the Valley of the Fallen was a humbling and strong experience unlike many others.

After returning to Madrid around midday/early afternoon, the mood shifted. Having the remainder of the afternoon to ourselves, some of us wandered around the lively streets in search of last-minute souvenirs. First, I stopped at a souvenir shop in order to pick up some gifts for friends and family. This included magnets, bracelets, and a shirt. Afterwards, we kept walking around the city and some of us wanted to get some jewelry for family members, so we visited a couple different local stores. I ended up getting a necklace and some earrings.

Finally, the evening rolled around and we were off to our farewell dinner at La Taberna de Peñalver Cava Baja. The restaurant serves a wide variety of paellas consisting of beef, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetarian, and more, and all of them sounded delicious. Additionally, there was an open window into the kitchen, where you could see the paellas being made as we walked in, and this made me even more excited as we were scouring the menu. Eventually, my table ended up ordering a chicken and a pork paella. After much waiting, the paellas arrived. There was a beautiful aroma in the air from the smell of the paellas and they were delivered in the massive pans they were cooked in. Before my first bite, I could tell they would be amazing and after my first bite I knew they were amazing. For dessert, I got a mango sorbet with fresh mango and pineapple, and it was one of the most delicate and refreshing dishes I have ever tasted.

Lastly, it is never simple to leave. But Madrid gave so much to me. And as I closed my suitcase that night, I did not figure that I was ending a chapter, I believed I was starting a new one. One day I will come back, but in the meantime, I carry a small bit of Madrid with me, wedged between my mementos and stories.