On March 8th, I finally arrived at the Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain. I was so excited when I realized I was finally in Madrid after waiting months for the trip. I was with 3 other students from the study abroad program during this flight, which I was very grateful for, considering we were together throughout the whole flight helping each other get to Madrid. As we continued to be together, we shared our excitement about what we would do there and built a bond from the conversation. In the airport, as we were checking in, the process went really fast and was organized. We got through everything quickly, and then we arrived at the main entrance to meet Fran, our guide for the study abroad. I was relieved because we arrived safely in Spain, and now it was time to start our journey in Madrid. 

  We all arrived on the bus, and Fran started telling us the plan for the first day, which included settling in, exploring the city, and orientation. It was a very rainy day, which I expected considering we arrived in Spain during a week when it was planned to rain a lot. When we finally got to the hotel called “ Hotel Regina,” I was amazed by the beautiful architecture of the building around us. The front desk staff was very kind and respectful. As we waited for our keycard to be ready,  I was able to meet my study abroad group, and we decided to go eat at this restaurant called “Honest Greens,” and I ended up getting a breakfast burrito. This was a perfect time for everyone to get to know each other, which was really nice. However, I couldn’t stay long because a few of us needed to head back to get our MetroCards, and I was one of them. After the group met up, we walked to the metro station, where we had to get our picture and give them information, and once that was completed, I officially got my MetroCard. Once we finished, our keycards were ready, and I headed to my hotel room. And when I entered, I was overjoyed and thrilled at how beautiful the room was. After resting, we all had to attend orientation, and Fran gave us an insight into what the week was going to look like and what’s expected of us. When orientation ended, I headed back to my hotel and later went on my first outing with friends to this restaurant called “Le Club Sushita.” This was our first dinner, and we found this place unexpectedly as we were exploring the city, which made it more fun. It was overall an elegant and luxurious restaurant. The layout was incredibly different from the usual restaurants I attended. One of the dishes I decided to order was this ramen bowl. I really enjoyed it because it’s a favorite order of mine, and I usually get this dish in America, but in Spain, it had a different, unique flavor of combinations. Furthermore, we enjoyed the night, ending off with prawns and a dessert. It was an amazing place to start off with.  

One of the buildings that I enjoyed admiring while we were exploring the city at night was called “Cibeles Fountain.” This building was so classic and stunning, glancing at it at night. The purple colors lit up, which made it more noticeable to admire from afar.  I ended up doing my research on the influence behind the fountain, and I found that it was an 18th-century neoclassical fountain that depicted goddess Cybele on a chariot pulled by 2 lions. It is such a beautiful piece of art to look at, and it was not just this building that caught my attention, but overall, all of the buildings in Madrid were beautifully built out and had pieces of classical art. I noticed that Spanish monuments reflect the diverse history of blending Roman and Christian architectural styles. Spain’s monuments are beautiful because it has much creative mastery and depth of history with artistic monuments. In addition to being aesthetically beautiful, Spain’s rich culture has made me admire the country even more than before. As I continued to learn more about the culture, I began to grow more admiration and appreciation for how hard they worked to make these beautiful monuments. My favorite part of Spain was definitely experiencing the artwork and architecture. They are so unique and different from monuments and art in America.

“Cibeles Fountain.”

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

From Franco to Democracy –Madrid’s Role in Modern Spain

We met up in the hotel lobby at 9:45 where as a group we would head over to the Spaces Las Cortes to attend one of our two lectures about the history of both Spain and Madrid from the time of the Reconquista up to the Modern Day Spain. Here we learned about how Madrid became the new capital of Spain during the Reign of Phillip II and how after other lands around Madrid would be “absorbed” into Madrid creating the large area we know today and how this led to Madrid being one of the largest cities in Europe. After we learned about the land of Spain during the Spanish Civil War and which areas were Republican and which were Nationalist and how Francisco Franco came to power holding it until his death in 1975. We also learned how after the death of Franco Madrid would have Political and Social reforms to benefit the future of Spain such as the Constitution of 1978 and the “Movida Madrileña” cultural movement.

Intermission

After the lecture we split off into our own groups across Madrid experiencing the culture of the city while also knocking off items needed for our scavenger hunt assignment. Here during the intermission period, I would start off with taking the railway to a different part of town where with the group that I was with would walk around the City checking out different places such as a cafe or a sweet shop. The group would make our way to Mercado de la Paz which is a well known market in Madrid where I got to experience my first market in Madrid and thought it was cool of how each section was its own unique store, we would later on make our way to the Parque de El Retiro where would walk past the Puerta de Alcalá which is the former Northern Entrance to Madrid and I also saw the Monument to Alfonso XII which I thought was pretty cool, we would end our intermission period going to an Udon noodle shop.

Civil War Walking Tour around Madrid Prof. Zabalbeascoa and Prof. Fran

We Reconvened at 5 PM at the Hotel where we would start are walking tour of Madrid talking about the history of both Spain and Madrid while also talking about talking about key areas of Madrid during the Civil War and how Madrid was sieged by the Nationalists for 2 years. We started our walking tour off the city center learning about the iconic Tio Pepe sign and heading over to the exact middle of Madrid as seen in the first picture. We would continue our tour learning about the Siege of Madrid we learned the story of Manuela Malasańa Oñoro who was a young seamstress who was murdered by Napoleon’s soldiers which outraged the people of Spain and Oñoro would be remembered by the community with her own neighborhood in Madrid. Our tour also saw us learn the story of Don Quixote which is one of the most iconic works of literature of all time, and shortly after we would see one of the few monuments to the Spanish Civil War. We would finish our walking by seeing the Egyptian Temple the Temple of Debod which was an ancient Egyptian temple gifted to the country of Spain.

Reflection

During the time in Madrid so far the people of Spain and API have made my time during Madrid a blast due to the welcoming of the Spanish people and our group leaders Fran and Angeles, this has allowed us to experience the culture of Spain while also learning about it’s history and how it developed its culture. I also enjoyed having walked around Madrid a couple of times and seeing different areas have its influence somewhere in Madrid such as statues to Greek Gods such as Poseidon or Helios and others such as Heracles, I also saw a bit of influence from Rome from the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus, to the iconic SPQR of the Roman Empire. Also learning about how Madrid wasn’t always the Capital of Spain becoming it in 1561 but instead Toledo used to hold that honor, and during our tour of Toledo seeing a place with such a rich history all the way from Medieval times and how you can see glimpses of it today, I was also amazed by the churches and cathedrals of Toledo as stepping into something that was built a long time ago still be in good condition is amazing. During are walking tour it was kinda crazy how one place can hold so much history from a long period of time such as Madrid after it became the capital in 1561 to modern day and how it has gone through many experiences such as being invaded by Napoleon to the Siege of Madrid. Overall all the experiences I have had in Madrid has led to this trip being a fun experience while learning about another country’s culture and history and thanks to API for setting this the activities that we have done allowing this trip to be possible.

Wednesday was a calm day as we got closer to the end of the trip and departure. On Wednesday we began the day with a lecture on the Spanish Civil War. This lecture was given by the same local professor that the class had on Tuesday. As mentioned, this lecture focused on the civil war’s effect on Spanish society and Madrid’s role in resisting fascist forces. As discussed by the professor, over time since King Philip II moved the capital of Spain from Toledo to Madrid to be more central to the nation to make running the nation easier, Madrid has become an important economic and political metropolis. As the center of the government, it made Madrid an important city to take if he wanted to take over the government; this led him to station his troops around the city known as Casa de Campo and besiege the city. Before being captured, Madrid was a center for the Second Republic of Spain, so many of the republic’s combatants from labor unions went to the edge of the city to prevent Franco’s forces as a last bastion for the republic and their political beliefs. Madrid under siege was plagued by many of the same problems other cities under siege have faced: starvation, bombing, and infighting, and it was one of the longer sieges in European history. Despite the siege, Madrid still served to be a hub for journalism covering the Spanish Civil War and literature, even though the horrors mentioned in “I’ll Explain Some Things” by Pablo Neruda were commonplace within the city. Listening to this lecture changed my perspective of walking in the city of Madrid because in one lifetime on a street I casually walked, people fought for their political ideals and for their country or were dying of starvation due to the siege. To me it was a little jarring to look at a building and be able to see where they patched all the bullet holes because as an American there are not a lot of physical markers of modern war, and Spaniards today see it every day and know little about it.

Later in the day we visited and received a guided tour of the Colecciones Reales, which is a relatively new museum in Madrid that collected the possessions of Spanish royals before the 2nd Republic and Franco’s dictatorship, primarily focusing on the Spanish branch of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty and the Bourbon dynasty, which is the current ruling family. We were guided through art owned and supported by the royal family, beginning with the official formation of the kingdom of Spain with the combination of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile by the Catholic Monarchs King Philip II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. We saw art owned by their son-in-law King Philip I, who started the Spanish Habsburg line, and King Charles II, who ended it. Lastly, we saw art owned through the Spanish War of Succession passed over to the Bourbons, Napoleon, and the First Republic of Spain. The art in this collection was a lot smaller than what I’ve seen in other museums in Madrid, but the guide explained how the monarchy had a tradition of selling items owned by the previous ruler to settle unpaid debts, leading to a lack of items still left in the family’s possession before it became property of the country of Spain. Of what was preserved in the possession of the royal family, there were a lot of huge, intricate tapestries, which were quite opulent. Along with those, there were two huge carriages and books collected that helped to illustrate the culture of the time. Another cool thing about this museum is that when they were building it, they uncovered the remains of the wall that surrounded the original Moor Citadel, which the Royal Palace is also built upon.

Lastly, as part of the study abroad curriculum, we had to visit a spot mentioned by Hemingway when he was in Spain. To complete this criterion, we visited Sobrino de Botin, which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the oldest continually running restaurant in the world. Botin is famous for Suckling Pig, which is served from the same brick oven even after 300 years. While we were eating, students of engineering came into the restaurant and sang some traditional Spanish song while playing lute. These musicians are called Las Tunas in Spain and often play for money in restaurants and bars while representing their colleges and forming community. I couldn’t help but give them my 3 US dollars and my only 5 Euro bill, especially after seeing the medieval outfits they were in.

Overall, this day affected my perception of how to really take in and experience Spanish culture. You can listen to lectures and walk through museums all day, but I feel as if the best place to really absorb culture and understand it is to be where the people are and learn firsthand in person. Being in Madrid so far helped me understand European culture in a way I couldn’t see before; it’s kind of cool to see how the way their society works can be completely different or the exact same.

On the first full day in Madrid, Sunday, March 9th, the group began the day by enjoying the hotel’s outstanding breakfast buffet. This is the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had: freshly squeezed orange juice, flavorful scrambled eggs, Spanish tortillas, churros, sliced ham, nicely cut fruit, honey straight from the comb, and more insane foods, including pastries. I definitely took advantage of the free breakfast over the week.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, the group met in the hotel lobby, where we walked together to the metro. It was fascinating to experience the insanely efficient and effective metro system Spain has. In only a couple stops, the group only had to walk less than five minutes to reach the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. In this very large art museum, the group all gathered around the Guernica, painted by Pablo Picasso, who was famous for this anti-war message. To be honest, I would’ve had no idea what this painting was supposed to mean if it hadn’t been for others explaining it to me. I also observed a lot of Spanish Civil War propaganda in the museum, which was cool since many of the class presentations, including mine, were about the civil war. Connecting my previous knowledge of Spain’s history with the paintings and sculptures I saw was fascinating.

After exploring the museum, the group met outside and started walking to the flea market (which only happens on Sundays). After being warned about pickpocketing, the group could explore the market. Some of the guys and I went to watch live music played at the flea market. Five guys in total played music and sang, each with a different instrument. Throughout the flea market, so many other items were being sold, from cheap leather jackets to gold chains. Luckily, I speak Spanish because the local vendors don’t speak much English, making communicating much easier. After exploring almost every shop on the street, I ended my shopping with a new silver chain, key chains, and magnets.

At the end of the flea market, a couple of new friends and I met some police men who were willing to take a picture with us, and they gave us recommendations for food in the area. Following one of their recommendations, we went across the street to a restaurant/tapas bar (not exactly sure what this place was), and we ordered steak, which came with two fried eggs and french fries. Because of James Blick, the YouTuber the group watched to prepare for Spain, I knew to ask for “agua de grifo,” which every restaurant is legally required to serve for free (Spain’s tap water is ranked 15th best globally and considered very clean). Upon asking, the waiter sighed and repeated to the counter, “agua de grifo.” He was thinking, “These tourists know too much.”

After eating the delicious meal, I walked around Spain and stopped at any location I thought was cool. When walking, my friends and I stopped to take a picture in front of another famous museum, Museo Del Prado. We never went inside, but the pictures from out front came out nice. The people I asked to take our picture were very friendly and took some nice photos.

I continued walking, and then my friends and I decided to check out the large park, Parque de El Retiro. We hopped on a bus and got off very close to the park. The air was very fresh in this area, and a break from cigarette smoke was much appreciated. I noticed the landscaping was incredibly professional as the trees were perfectly groomed and kept. Continuing through the park, I reached the large pond where a large monument stood. 

After taking the metro back to the hotel, I went out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The tacos were delicious, but the portion sizes were tiny, especially considering the cost. The waitress recommended a watery drink with cinnamon, so my friends and I ordered it to try. After finishing dinner, I continued walking around Madrid when I encountered Plaza Mayor. There were some cool little souvenir shops and restaurants/places to eat in this plaza. We found an ice cream place not too far away to enjoy the rest of the night. 

This day was packed with incredible experiences in Madrid. I walked over twenty thousand steps that day, and my legs were feeling it. Luckily, the hotel beds were comfortable, so I could get a good night’s rest before the next adventure.

On March 5th the Spain study abroad group and I made our way to the Reina Sofia Museum for the first stop of our eventful day. The Reina Sofia Museum holds many impressive pieces of Spanish art by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miró. I enjoyed being able to freely roam and explore the museum as I was able to see almost all the artwork. All the artwork in the museum was amazing to see, but the most interesting piece by far was Pablo Picasso’s Guernica.

Guernica is a response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. It is now considered a symbol of suffering and a condemnation of violence. It was amazing to see this piece of art in person and to soak in its importance in Spain. The Reina Sofia Museum was one of my favorite stops on the whole trip and I am excited I got to see it on day two.

After the Reina Sofia museum we made our way to El Rastro Flea market. We went as a group but then split up at the flea market and had the rest of the day to ourselves to explore the market and do whatever else we wanted to. The flea market, which is held every Sunday, was incredible. There were thousands of people gathered to buy basically anything you could think of. I remember looking at jackets, shirts, sunglasses, and I even bought some bracelets and necklaces for a very good price. Most of the sellers were very friendly and kept honest prices even with us being tourists. It was a great experience overall and is something I recommend everybody who goes to Madrid to do.

After the flea market a couple friends and I walked to El Retiro Park. This park was one of the nicest places to walk around in Madrid. It had many scenic views and tons of beautiful greenery. We walked around the whole park which took us over an hour with many picture breaks. My favorite part was the lake at the heart of the park. An interesting fact about the park is that it was originally the gardens of the Buen Retiro Palace for King Phillip IV. Overall, I am happy I got to see and explore the park as it was a very breathtaking experience.

Lastly, after resting a little at the hotel, my friends and I went to see Plaza mayor. Plaza mayor is a major public space in the heart of Madrid and is in the center of the capital. The plaza was stunning in person. I really enjoyed walking in it and seeing all the different shops and restaurants. It was also nice that we went at night time when the whole plaza was lit up. My friends and I decided to get some gelato ice cream near plaza after which was delicious. All the food and sweets, especially the ice cream, in Madrid tasted fresh and delicious. Overall, our second day in Madrid was a very eventful and fun day with a lot of walking.

It’s hard to believe how much beauty and history can be packed into one place, but that’s exactly what Toledo was. My study abroad experience in Spain is something I’ll remember and talk about for the rest of my life. With that in mind, I can confidently say that Toledo was one of the top highlights of this trip, at least for me. I’ve genuinely been looking forward to sharing how this day went.

The day began early. After a quick breakfast at our hotel, Hotel Regina, the group gathered and left around 9:30 AM. We got on the bus for what turned out to be a smooth, one-hour ride from Madrid to Toledo. The first thing I noticed as we were driving out of Madrid and approaching Toledo was the change in landscape, from the big city vibes with its distinct architecture to Toledo with its beautiful scenery. Toledo’s landscape was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Overlooking the Tajo River, the terrain is hilly and rocky. The architecture is among the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. It features a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Moorish, and Jewish styles.

March in Spain can be an interesting time when it comes to the weather. You quickly learn that Spain has bipolar weather, and it’s never predictable. That day, visiting Toledo, we were incredibly lucky. It was cloudy, but luckily there was no rain. The clouds only added to the beauty of the place and made the trip even more memorable.

Our first major stop was at the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. We honestly had one of the best tour guides. She explained the history of the monastery and answered all the questions we had. She pointed out some of the symbolism in the artwork found in the amazing Gothic structure, which was ordered to be built by the Catholic Monarchs. This monastery is home to a few Franciscan monks. Sitting there, you feel a sense of peace that allows you to slow down, pause, and reflect. One of my favorite parts of the monastery was the garden in its heart, which added so much charm to the place.

From there, our tour guide walked us through the city’s aesthetically pleasing streets. Toledo’s layout felt like a maze, but that’s part of its beauty. The narrow alleys and unexpected turns revealed something new about the city. I was especially impressed by how cars were squeezing their way through the streets, even with our large group walking they still found a way to get through.

Walking through these narrow streets led us to our next destination: the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo. As we approached the cathedral, I found myself in awe. Without realizing it, I had drifted away from the group as I stopped to take pictures of the breathtaking building. This cathedral is similar to the Monastery of San Juan in that it also features French Gothic architecture. During our guided tour, I learned that the cathedral was once used as a mosque. It was hard to wrap my head around how massive the interior was and how detailed the artwork was that made the place what it is.

The main chapel was easily one of the highlights of the cathedral. Looking at it, you can see that the back of the altar is divided into two panels and five rows, and it is finished with a beautiful crucifix. To finish the tour, we walked through the Sacristy, which was adorned with incredible artwork, especially the painting of St. Mary on the ceiling of the room. The space was also filled with other paintings such as: Christ, St. Peter, St. Paul, and more.

To finish the day in Toledo, a few of us decided to make our way to Terraza del Miradero, a rooftop restaurant that offers stunning views of the city. We never expected lunch to be another highlight of the day, but it truly was. Getting there was quite the workout, we faced what the group called the “never-ending staircase.” We couldn’t help but laugh as we climbed higher and higher. On the way, of course, we had to stop for some photos to look back on and reminisce about later. Enjoying the food alongside the view made the experience all the more worth it.

Finally, we walked around a bit more, soaking in the last views of Toledo, taking pictures to remember the day, and then made our way back to the bus for the ride back to Madrid.

After attending my two Friday classes and doing some last-minute packing, I went to Boston Logan International Airport. The group’s flight itineraries were different, so a few other participants in the program and I had a night flight and did not arrive in Madrid until later Saturday. We had a layover in Lisbon, Portugal, where I used Euros for the first time, and I tried European matcha, which I found to be delicious. After many hours of travel, we arrived at the Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport. We claimed our baggage and then located the Metro. The Metro is fast and reliable. I liked how often trains came, so if you missed one you did not have to wait a long time for the next to arrive. It was slightly tricky to navigate at first, but with some assistance, we were able to find our way to Hotel Regina. The hotel was clean and modern, and the staff was welcoming, as well as helpful. Although rainy upon arrival, the city was still breathtaking. Fascinating architecture and bustling streets, there were many things to give an eye to. 

A few friends and I settled on a sushi spot by the name of ‘Le Club Sushita’ for dinner. We stuck to cuisine we were familiar with, but not to fret, we ventured out and tried some amazing Spanish cuisine later on. One of our dishes at the restaurant had prawns, which are commonly paired with sushi but also have specific significance in Spain. Prawns are featured in many Spanish dishes, including paella and gambas al ajillo. Paella is a dish that includes rice, saffron, vegetables, and seafood. Gambas al ajillo includes shrimp or prawns sauteed in olive oil with garlic. We had some delicious paella during our farewell dinner, and I found it to be a fantastic way to say our goodbyes to the city. 

For Spanish cuisine, a favorite of mine was empanada de rabo de toro or bull’s tail empanada. Our tour guide for Las Ventas informed us that bull’s tail was one of if not the best meat in the world. I have had it previously since bull’s tail, referred to as “oxtail,” is a staple in Jamaican cuisine. Although the seasoning was a lot different, it was just as delicious. These were not the only empanadas I had in Madrid, other fillings were chicken and cheese. Empanadas are believed to have originated in the Galicia region of Spain, with possible influences from Arabic meat-filled pies. The word “empanada” comes from the Spanish verb “empanar,” meaning “to wrap in bread,” and its original fillings included seafood, which alongside prawns highlight the importance of the country’s coastal regions. As the food spread, it adapted a wide variety of fillings and dough types and eventually became a dish enjoyed worldwide. I love empanadas, and I understand why they are regarded this way.

La Plaza de Toros Las Ventas was a favorite visit of mine. It is the largest bullfighting ring in Spain, seating around 23,000 people. It was built using Mudejar-style architecture, which showcases the coexistence of Muslims and Christians, emerging in the 12th century from the Iberian Peninsula. Red brick and ceramic tiles are the main features shown. The bullring holds immense cultural and historical significance as a central venue for bullfights and other events, such as concerts. The most popular concerts have been for artists like The Beatles and AC/DC. We received a tour of the bullring and the Bullfighting Museum. The museum displayed the belongings of bullfighters that had a great impact and offered more insight into the history of the practice. The attire of bullfighters, called “traje de luces,” is visually appealing, involving striking colors and various embellishments. Photography was not allowed in the museum, but I recall being drawn to one that was a vibrant purple. 

Our first day was rainy, but the sun made appearances throughout the trip, allowing us to admire the city for all it has to offer. The architecture speaks to the rich history, denoting styles that have Gothic and Baroque influences. There is also the prominent feature of balconies, which are multi-purpose, useful when viewing street life, and provide air circulation. Although my later arrival did not allow me to explore right away, I still had a great first impression. This impression carried its way through the entirety of the trip, and I can say that I had a great time exploring Madrid and other cities in Spain. The country remains on my travel list because I need to revisit it.