Seven days was all it was, one week over spring break, and then we were to go back to our regular lives. Each individual day we spent felt endless by itself, but they only seemed to keep passing by when we looked back each day. I personally chose to do a week abroad as I felt it was the perfect amount of time to be away and try out what study abroad is all about. We are all so happy now to be back home and at UMass Lowell, but I wouldn’t be lying if I said that I would want one more day back over in Madrid.

The First Day of Many:

The flight went by smoothly, and we had somehow finally made it to the land we had learned so much about. Madrid was finally within our reach. After meeting with our API guide, Fran, at the airport, we took our shuttle over to our hotel, which just so happened to be right in the geographical heart of Madrid. We were very hungry, so my group ended up getting churros with hot chocolate. After having settled in with our accommodations, we were in the fight to stay awake for the rest of the day. Some others and I decided to take a way around the city center to get acquainted with our surroundings. Somehow, by the end of it, we had found ourselves eating 99-cent cheesecake, which was what fueled me for the rest of the night. A rather poor decision was made to get tapas after dessert, but we searched around for recommended places to eat. We ordered some drinks and conversed until the tiredness took us over. After making it back to the hotel, we were finally in Madrid for real.

A Day of Rest and Royalty:

The main objective of today was to make it to the Royal Collections Gallery, which was over the Royal Palace of Madrid. We made our way over to Puerta del Sol, which is the center from which all streets in Madrid branch out. From here, we got onto the train for the first time. The cleanliness, ease of use, abundance of stops, and overall frequency of trains were leagues better than what I experienced back home. With this train ride and a small walk, we made it to the gallery. Every time we would be walking, there would always be some bits of info being thrown at us about the surrounding area. Every step you took was a step through a different part of history. The Royal Collections Gallery itself was fantastic, in large part due to the great tour guide we had. When the tour concluded, we headed over to El Rastro market, then grabbed more drinks and tapas from across the street from the palace. When we concluded with our meal, the final decision landed on the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum. Like everything else so far, the museum was fantastic and had such a variety of different works. When night fell, we decided to head over to Retiro Park after grabbing some dessert. It was quite rewarding to finally sit down and purely enjoy some dessert and each other’s presence by the moonlit pond that sat before us.

Here Comes Day Three:

By the third day we were all here, we were pretty much locals. There was no better way to start the day than exploring the city center and getting to really understand the Civil War from this perspective on a walking tour. The tour concluded at the ancient Temple of Debod, which was a gift from Egypt to the city and is the oldest structure standing in Madrid. We were told that there would be great views from this temple, and there were. More time was spent taking photos here than at any other place during the trip, and nobody is to blame; it was a stunning view. We were overlooking the Parque de Casa de Campo, which is another large park that spans most of western Madrid. From here, it was decided that we were to go to the royal palace, as we weren’t able to obtain tickets the previous day. By some stroke of luck, when we made it there, there was practically no line. The palace, upon first entry, was a sight to behold; it took me by such surprise to see every inch of the initial interior so beautifully decorated. As we continued through the different rooms of the palace, I was cooninued to be shocked by the elaborate decorations and design choices made for each family and the different eras that inhabited it. When in Madrid, you were aware of the history that surrounded you, but it was no more obvoius then when in this palace, surrounded by artifacts of old. Our visit to the palace made up most of our time that day, as it ended up raining. The best plan of action was to head back to the hotel to rest and regroup soon after. To close out the night, we went to EL Riojano, which was a nice cafe/bakery that was over by the city center. We used this as a time to regroup before we made our way over to Parentesis for a book talk hosted by Professor Z. The night ended shortly after, as tomorow mornings weather looked unruly and we had to leave earlier than expected.

Somehow Tuesday:

Although our trip was heavily focused on the city of Madrid and the history surrounding it, we took a day trip to Salamanca. Salamanca is a city to the northwest of Madrid with a much higher elevation. Their elevation was higher by such a significant amount that it started to snow during our drive over. When we reached the city, we were greeted with the sight of golden sandstone as far as the eye could see. It was obvious now why it is called Spain’s Golden City. I had never seen a place as unique as Salamanca in terms of how it looks. The Cathedral that sat high above anything else in the city was visible from anywhere, and its late Gothic architecture was incredible to see in person. We decided to spend some time in the cathedral, taking in the views after receiving a short lecture on the history of Spain at the University of Salamanca. We spent probably a couple of hours in this cathedral, which just seemed to keep giving more the further you went into it. The cathedral itself is a combination of the old and new cathedrals, which were built into each other, giving such a unique contrast between what we may think is old and what is really old. To close out our time in the city, we did a walking tour starting in their plaza mayor and went over history and interesting facts about Salamanca. This day trip out was the perfect breath of fresh air to show us what the country of Spain can be like outside of its capital city.

A Wednesday to Remember:

For me and many others on this trip, Wednesday was a day that was to be packed full of activities, with not a moment being spared for sitting around. By this, I mean some of us were headed to see Real Madrid play in a Champions League playoff match against Manchester City. Before then, we were set to go to La Reina Sofia and view its works. One of the more important pieces that it had, I was very excited to see, was Guernica by Pablo Picasso. This piece was made in response to the bombing of the Basque city of Gernika by German planes sent by the Spanish Nationalists. It was probably where I spent most of my time in the museum due to the sheer size and context surrounding it. Very quickly after doing a tour of the rest of the museum, the others and I, who were set on going to the match, met at the hotel. The anticipation for this match was like no other, and at times it felt like every day prior was leading to now. Taking the metro to the stadium was fairly easy, but obviously busy once we got closer. The feeling in and around the stadium was electric. European football culture is unlike anything we have in the US, and I am so glad I was able to experience it here with this group. We may have all had separate seats, but we were all there to support Real Madrid. The match itself was as exciting as expected, with Madrid somehow winning in a shutout, and one of the players earning himself a hat trick. The entire day until now had pretty much sucked the life out of me, so I was dead set on going to the hotel ASAP. I made my way over, where I was stopped in my tracks right in front of the hotel, as the members of the opposing team started to unload out of their buses. It appeared that Man City had been staying across the street from us, and I caught them at the right moment. This final unexpected encounter perfectly capped off an already perfect day.

The Final Two Full Days:

It feels wrong to not give each of these two days their own separate time, but a lot of the time spent between each of these was on relaxing and taking in the city as we approached the end. Thursday, we went to see the breathtaking Las Ventas. This bullfighting ring was the most famous in all of the country of Spain, but it was not currently in use during our time there. We were able to walk in and around the arena, guided by our tour guide Carlos, who was able to make an activley under construction bullfighting arena a lot more interesting than many others may have been able to. Like always, by the end of any activity, some of us became hungry and were craving tapas. The bar on the Rooftop of Zara over in Plaza de España was what was chosen, and it was a sight to see. The vast sweeping landscape of the city was so impressive to see from this elevation, and made me reflect on what space we were taking up during our time in Madrid. The food and drink that we received were okay, but we were mainly there to soak up such a great view of Madrid. In the final few hours of the day, when we were out, some of us decided to get into the Prado for free. The museum is free for all for the last two hours it is open, but the line we saw upon approach looked impossibly long; thankfully, it moved at a swift enough pace. The main piece that I was there to see was Goya’s rendition of Saturn devouring his son. It is a piece with such truly raw emotion that is very direct with what it is trying to be. In our last few moments there, we scrambled to find Las Meninas while also trying to appreciate all the fantastic art we encountered along the way.

When Friday rolled around, we had finally accepted that our time here was coming to an end. This time was used for shopping and making sure we had done all the things we thought we wanted to do during the short time we had there. I ended up purchasing a Real Madrid jersey at El Corte Inglés, which is a massive store by the way. It took me approximately 15 minutes to finally ask a guard where the clothes were, to which he pointed me across the street and said that there was another whole building. A store that had practically everything you could want felt so uniquely American, yet I’m surprised no store in the US covers this much. One final stop at Retiro Park was made before we headed over to the paella dinner as we sat down and relaxed by the pond, reflecting on all the things we had done and all the memories that had been made in such a short period of time. The time finally came for our paella, and it was quite emotional. We knew it was practically a long-winded goodbye, but it was hard to accept that. The speech that Professor Z. gave was profound and had great timing with the music playing in the background. I was not confident whether I was going to see any of these students again, because we all follow different paths, but I was grateful to be sharing this last meal with all of them.

A Bittersweet Goodbye:

The moments leading up to our departure on our plane in the afternoon were somewhat saddening, but also great moments to think about all of the good times that had happened during the trip. Of course, nobody got to do everything they wanted to do just by principle, but we were all satisfied with what we had accomplished. As said previously, we all follow our own paths, and that even applies on trips like this, where no two students had the same experience, and will leave with different takeaways. The plane ride back was much longer than the first one, and wasn’t anything special, which is honestly a good thing in the air. Being back in Boston was a comforting feeling, but I walked through the gates of that airport with a now Spain-sized hole in my heart. The time that we spent in Madrid may have been generally short, but it left me with a lasting impact that I will think about until my return.

Morning/Free Time

On Friday 3/13 it was our last full day in Madrid. I was at the point in questioning where all of the time went. It felt like we had just gotten there and getting to know each other. Now it was the last day with the people who made Spain feel like home to me. I woke up that morning with a slight stomach ache and decided to stay in bed longer than I anticipated, which caused me to miss breakfast. Instead I went to explore the city with my boyfriend. I was very excited to explore the city because my best friend was coming to visit me. She’s studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain for the whole spring semester and when we found out we’d both be in Spain at the same time we knew we had to meet up. Before her arrival I went to get breakfast, I got an acai bowl from Amazonia in Madrid. It was really good, everything tasted super fresh and it was super cheap in cost. I learned that acai originated in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and that’s why the place we went to was called Amazonia. 

After that we walked around Calle Gran Via with no google maps and just went wherever the wind took us. After a bit of just mindless walking we found a souvenir shop and I decided to get souvenirs for my mom and dad, getting my mom a tote bag and my dad a bottle opener. Soon we went back to the hotel and met up with my best friend and her roommate. I had two activities planned which were a photobooth and bracelet making. We made our way to Matik Studios where we took different pictures in the photobooth. I took pictures with just my best friend and I, the whole group, and then some with my boyfriend. After that we made our way to Casashi International S.L. where we were able to custom make different types of jewelry. I made a bracelet for my sister and one for myself for a very good price which was around 9-10 euros each. Once we finished I headed back to the hotel to get ready for the farewell dinner.

Paella Dinner

We all met up in the hotel lobby, dressed up, and ready to head to La Taberna de Penalver. We headed to Gran Via station and took the metro as a group to the restaurant. It was very sad on the way to the restaurant because it was our final dinner together. Once we got to the restaurant there were two tables ready for us outside and we all sat down together. Our resident director Fran ordered a bunch of tapas for the table and two different Paellas. To get an authentic Paella it would be better to go to Valencia which is next to the Mediterranean. But we got lucky and the restaurant specializes in making Paellas. We all were talking at the dinner table about what we had done with our free time earlier in the day. Then when the food came we started to eat, my favorite food to eat was the ham and cheese croquettes. Then the two Paellas arrived, one was rabbit and mushroom and the other was a seafood paella. I’ve never had rabbit before and it was my first time ever trying it. I enjoyed the rabbit a lot except there were little bones which caught me off guard. The seafood paella had something called monkfish in it, I’ve never had monkfish before but it was super yummy and fluffy. After we stuffed our faces they brought out dessert and there was a big variety like cheesecake, molten chocolate lava cake, pistachio lava cake, and ice cream. The dessert was delicious and the lava cake was to die for. After we finished eating we all said our goodbyes to our professor on the metro. 

Night time/Karaoke 

After our dinner we all headed back to the hotel. We decided that for our last night together we would all go to a karaoke bar together. I changed my outfit and invited my best friend to come out with us. We went to a place called Cheers Karaoke. We had a great time singing along with the songs the other Americans were singing while also hyping up our fellow classmates in the songs they sang. I even got to sing with two other students Jack and Russell, singing the song Meet Me Halfway. We took a bunch of pictures and made a lot of memories that night. I knew after that night I was going to miss my time in Madrid but I knew I had mad friends that would last a long time. Creating amazing memories with them.

Day 7. The Last day in Madrid: Saturday 3/14/26

If I had to compare Madrid to U.S. City, Madrid would be the New York of Spain- a much better New York. A city filled with vast cultures, ancient history, and a lot of exquisite cuisine.

The Start

It was 2024 of freshman year, and I have earned the Immersive Scholars scholarship. There were 3 options for work, study abroad and one more I can’t remember. The study abroad option appealed to me because I wanted to go somewhere else for a while; I chose Spain because I was already familiar with the culture and the history since high school. It was also one of the cheaper options compared to other countries and that this program had a personal interest of art and history. After 2 years of planning for Spring Break, I left for the airport around 7:00 pm-ish. It was the first time I was traveling alone. I was a bit nervous about the TSA and luggage, but after that I was ecstatic about departing

Before leaving the only concern, I had been pickpockets and scammers, everything else I already knew since high school. I left exploration and shopping unplanned, so I could have that thrill of exploring the unknown. Then for personal planning like luggage, hygiene, paperwork; I had those filled out since last year; but what I did not prepare were phone plans, payment methods, and travel adapters. I didn’t consider phone plans until my sister mentioned it and I didn’t realize the vast difference between American vs. European outlets until I arrived there.

I needed to learn not only about the country, but also to consider things like personal technology, bank, and paperwork based on the country along with a bunch of other things; I was bound to make a couple of mistakes solo traveling even with research; but this was an important lesson on proper preparation. Other than that, I did not come with many pre-conceptions about Spain.

The Experience:

When we arrived at 10:30 am, we took a bus to the center of Madrid near the Calle Gran Via, after seeing lush countryside and mountains from the plane. The sound of the locals and the sights of the Gates of Alcala and Cibeles, had me pumped.

I had a variety of sights throughout this trip. With the others, it was the Royal Collections and El Rastro on Sunday, the city of Salamanca on Tuesday, La Puerta de Sol on Saturday, the Reina Sofia, and a Flamenco dance on Wednesday just to name a few. On my own, I witnessed Cercedilla, the Royal palace, 2 cathedrals, and the night life of Spain. People waiting in line for a local staple, while chatting about life was something I could get behind. I had a lot of fun on my own and I knew I could get around with my level of Spanish.

As a history and art nerd, the Royal palace on Monday, The Las Ventas bullfighting ring on Thursday and the cathedrals of Almudena on Sunday and Salamanca on Tuesday were my favorite; The architecture, paintings, or religious symbolism of these places get better with each glance. I was in awe at the works of previous artisans and artists creating visuals everyone could appreciate regardless of if you were atheist or religious.

But the most memorable day for me was Friday. After I got back from horseback riding in Cercedilla, everyone in the group went to the Cheers Bar and did karaoke and one of the songs was Last Friday Night by Katy Perry, because it literally was our last night in Madrid. Seeing the locals and my group having fun and living in the moment was one of the most meaningful things I could have seen.

Likes and Honest thoughts

What I liked about this country was its outgoing people and laid-back nature. Many people came up to me to complement my attire and were curious about my plans. A sentiment I rarely seen or felt during the states. American cities offer no grand views, or big enough bars for massive social gathering. Hell, not even good infrastructure for walking. The food was great; lighter, healthier and cheaper depending on what you got; but I did not like the fact I spent more than what I had for budget. If I had more funds, I would spend a lot of it just on food alone.

To be honest, I should have been afraid of racism or ending up dead somewhere in a ditch; yet my excitement and curiosity of the country overcame those things. Plus, I already knew what to look out for due to previous experience of independence as a child. Still, people should be more cautious when going alone with personal belongings or going to a club; and make sure you have everything you need before leaving your place of stay and when you return. Thankfully, I did not encounter any major incidents for myself, minus some people assuming the wrong culture with my outfit.

The Departure

After last night, it was 8 am, and I was in bed contemplating “It flew by quickly. I had such a wonderful time here in Madrid, but it was not enough to do everything I planned out”.

Throughout my time in Spain, the places I visited left an impression on me. After visiting the cathedrals, royal gallery, and the old markets and bars. It left me with a deeper appreciation for cultural exports and history, religion being an inspiration for artists, and an everlasting sense of community when I’m not a local. That’s not even all of it, so having to leave this place was a bittersweet feeling.

I knew I had to leave; but I wish I could have spent more time here. Sure, I missed some parts of home, but I did not feel homesick most of the time; I was glad to have been away for my own peace of mind. At 9 am, I had breakfast with the others and had conversations with the others about how we all felt about our entire experience, until we all met our tour guide Fran in the Lobby around 11:45. I was really going to miss the food.

Airport arrival

We got on the bus around 12:00 pm and arrived at the airport around 12:30 pm. As I gazed at the buildings and surrounding landscape. They were nothing special. However, being the first things I saw on my arrival, it reminded me that although our time here was short, I cannot wait for the day I return. Seeing these mundane things again reminded me of all the changes I learned about myself and other people, while also learning other valuable lessons between now and when I first landed. Fran had led the way up until the security checkpoint and checked bag area; to which we said our Fairwells to him, before we all left for the gate

As we finally got through customs and checked baggage. me, and two students-John, and Dahianny-waited around gate S4, until it changed to S48; which was where everybody went off to. We also bought some stuff for ourselves, and I realized how expensive airport products are. I told myself, “Time will continue to move forward, but this week of my life is something that I will always travel back to”. After we met up with the others, they called our group after 30 minutes of waiting and as we moved into the plane, I had Lana- another student take a pic of me to conclude my journey in Spain.

This flight was also 7 hours, but it felt shorter on the way back. Then we arrived back in the states in no time. Everyone left until I was the only one in the baggage claim area. As for me, I came back to Lowell by bus and train; but this was more of a quiet pilgrimage. Of solitude and reflection, as I imagine taking these modes of transportation and navigating these systems in adulthood. Safe to say, I am more confident in traveling alone. The first thing I did when I got back to my dorm was eaten a bowl of Pho. It was a week old, but the taste of marrow rich collagen broth, rice noodles and flank steak alleviated my weary senses. It was a much-needed hug after a cold, desolate walk from the train station.

The Lessons

Philosophical Lesson

That day of departure reminded me of some of the philosophies from East Asia and Stoicism I had grown up studying. From Miyamoto Musashi and Buddhism, it was “things and people will come and go”, while for Stoicism it was the concept of “memento mori” which means remember you will die. These ideas encapsulated my feelings of impermanence and made the most out of each day I had during that week. Sure enough, this time I traveled with a random group of people to learn about another country together, while making the best of it will be unforgettable. That it’s okay to let go and live for once instead of surrounding yourself with constant tasks all the time.

Academic and Personal Growth

This whole experience taught me that to be complete as a thinker, you need more than complexity to be elegant, you also need creativity as well- which I lacked both semesters. This fatigue and apathy was not rooted from the amount of work I had, but the number of burdens I carried in both heart and mind and no medium to express those feelings through.

This experience surprised me with the differences between my mindset and my peers; I was a wanderer by nature, but my independence was deemed unordinary. I learned how charismatic and outgoing I can really be, and I never saw myself as an extrovert. Finally, learning how to handle purchases, and managing my own time made me understand that to have more free time. I need to rid myself of destructive habits that consume my time and plan most of my actions out. Even though I did plan ahead of time, after completing everything; I was still deciding the next move. As for the country, I learned how a history of political conflicts, the arrival of different historical groups over centuries, and geography can influence the lifestyle, cuisine, social issues, and diversity of a country. That can really contribute to that beautiful complexity that makes each country unique.

Life lesson wise, there is the usual be present, be grateful for your opportunities, and stay true to yourself. A new one I did learn was that sometimes the people you frequently never speak to are the last ones you expect to become great friends and establish connection with.

Conclusion

After this whole experience, It inspired me to work toward a career where I can afford to see these sights again. Even when my hair turns gray and my skin has wrinkles; I will never forget the feeling of being a 20-year-old on a 1-week journey in Spain and the experiences I have brought back with me. No matter what happens, I’ll continue to have a deeper appreciation of the arts, and the feeling of joy to unite others in the states, cause what we really need in this place is hope and a sense of community.

1. Walk to Sol station (4 minutes)
2. Board the Metro Linea 1 toward Pinar de Chamartin
3. Ride 2 stops, exit at Tribunal
4. Board the Metro Linea 10 toward Hospital Infanta Sofia
5. Ride 4 stops, exit at Santiago Bernabeu

If the Hotel Regina was our home during this unforgettable week, then the Santiago Bernabeu was my home away from home (away from home).

When I signed up for this transformative experience, I had no idea what to expect. My plan was to have no plan… go with the flow and see what the city brings. That is, except on Wednesday March 11, 2026. That was the day of the Champions League elimination game between Real Madrid and Manchester City As the first day with the morning off, I had finally slept enough to beat my jetlag. When my alarm rang that day, I jumped out of bed, brushed my teeth, enjoyed some jamon croquetas and Spanish tortilla from the hotel breakfast, then set out for what would be the most fun (and my most expensive) day in Madrid.

Touring the Santiago Bernebeau

I set out to Sol station, stopping, as I did every day, to listen to the symphony street performers. I waited for Aleks, a friend I made on the trip, and tried to ask for some directions in my broken Spanish (which adds to the adventure!). 30 minutes later, the distinctive metro announcement rang out: “Proxima Estacion, Santiago Bernabeu.” When I walked out, I was immediately star struck. Madrid is a city of history and beauty – the Bernabeu stood as a monument to both. We walked through the stadium, seeing the 15 (!!) UCL trophies, numerous individual player trophies, and exhibits to the history of the club. We concluded with a panoramic view of the stadium and pitch.

The Reina Sofia Museum

Wanting to enjoy every moment, Aleks and I were the last of our tour to leave the stadium. Our delay was of course helped by the fact I bought 10 commemorative coins from the single-dispense machine and got involved in some friendly banter with some Manchester City fans at the stadium. We found ourselves rushing to make it back to the hotel to freshen up before our group outing to the Reina Sofia museum, one of Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art,” along with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (which I visited a day earlier) and the Prado Museum. The highlight of the Reina Sofia was Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, inspired by the bombing of the Basque Country, a testament to the brutality of war. I remember thinking I had fully analyzed it after stopping at different angles for several minutes, then I spoke Russell, another friend I made on the trip, and our discussion reminded me of even more details I had missed. After visiting a majority of the exhibits, it was time to get ready for the climax of the day!

Pre-Game Rush!

In all my excitement for the day, I was reminded that I forgot to eat… In Madrid, many places close for a few hours in the afternoon for lunch/siesta time before reopening again for the night; in other words, this would not be an authentic tapas kind of day for me. So, after a quick Popeyes meal (sorry Julian and Fran!), I walked out to find the Manchester City team bus loading players from the Four Seasons across from our hotel After some more friendly banter and chants at the players, the bus left and I set back on my way to the hotel for yet another wardrobe change, this time putting on my white Real Madrid jersey and my recently purchased scarf.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City – UCLR Round of 16

The five other guys going to the game and I met in the hotel lobby and we set out for what would be an unforgettable night. When I arrived at the Bernabeu for the second time this trip, the atmosphere was electric. Madridistas were jumping up and down, chanting in Espanol while we did our best to fit in. I walked in to find my section, ready to participate in the deafening chants. Following the Champions League anthem and the Real Madrid anthem (during which I lost my voice), the game was underway. Every touch of the ball was followed by ooh’s and aah’s from a crowd that was almost as involved as the players. The game did not disappoint as Fede Valverde, Madrid’s #8, scored a hattrick of goals and Vini Jr. gestures amped up an already excited crowd. By the end of the game, I had perfected my scarf spinning technique.

The Night is Young

After meeting up with the rest of the group outside the stadium, it was time to find food. The food scene matched our luck with the rest of the day as places had closed and we had to resort to yet another fast food place, this time the McDonald’s across the street from the Regina Hotel. We placed our orders, unaware that we would not receive them for another hour and a half. When we walked in, we were met with a McDonald’s packed with other fans who had also made the trek back. Surprisingly, this wait allowed us to meet people from all over the Europe, including Sweden, Russia, England, and, of course, Madrid. It became evident very quickly that the Bernabeu’s atmosphere would be hard to shake off as we broke out into chants in the McDonald’s. Ole‘s were chanted with every late order, with the workers joining in. Finally, at 1:30 AM, I got my order. I realized I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the Bernabeu, and ended up returning to the Bernabeu the following day, this time in my Arsenal jersey. Aleks, Bishoy, and I enjoyed hot choocolate at a Starbucks overlooking the stadium as a way to say goodbye to the place that I had once only dreamed of visiting.

Reflection

From the historic streets of Salamanca to the pervasive energy of Madrid, this was an experience that blended culture and history with personal connection in a way that made this week unforgettable. Each day offered something different – from quiet wandering in the streets of Salamanca, to awe-filled visits to the Royal Palace and Collections Galleries, to high-energy moments like the Champions League night. These experiences shaped the spontaneity of the trip and allowed to me build friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Morning/Early Afternoon

March 9th, a new day in the city of Madrid, in the morning. At 10:00 pm, after a fantastic breakfast at Hotel Regina, we met up at the lobby of the Hotel to start the Civil War tour with our API Director, Fran, and our professor Julian Zabarbeascoa. We stopped multiple times to know more about the surroundings, and especially the buildings around us. One of the buildings we stopped by was the Telefonica building from the Spanish Civil War era, which currently houses the Espacio Fundación Telefónica exhibition space. A lot of the buildings in the zone have been repaired since the Civil War, but even so, you can see the remains of the Civil War in many of those buildings. For example, Julian and Fran pointed out the black spots all over the wall facing the street of the Gran Via. Those were bullet holes from the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, which made such a huge impression on me because, as a foreigner, I was not aware of how recent and deep the wounds from the Spanish Civil War are. 

As a matter of fact, the Spanish Civil War was actually not intended to be a civil war but a military coup that ended up failing. The nationalist party led by Franco wanted to take over the main cities of Spain, then eventually take control of the whole country. However, they didn’t expect the republicans to resist the coup, and then the two sides inside the nation started fighting each other. Eventually, the nationalist side won, and Spain got into an authoritarian regime for almost 40 years

As the tour continued, we not only learned about the Civil War but also about the past and present of what Madrid represents. We were told about the new wave of immigration of spain originated at the end of the Franco dictatorship; some people saw opportunity in Spain after it stopped being an authoritarian regime. Because of this, a lot of different immigrants, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese people, start appearing in Madrid. That’s why there is a big diversity of restaurants of authentic asian cousine in Madrid. Fran gave us multiple recommendations for good places to eat and visit during our free time.

As for the end of our tour, we visited the Temple of Debod, a gift from Egypt in 1968 in gratitude for Spain’s support in preserving the Nubian temples. This building was incredible, and the most impressive thing is that it was moved from Egypt to Spain brick by brick; unfortunately, some bricks broke in the transportation process, and because of the passing of time, they were replaced by Salamanca stone for the main facade. The rebuild involved mounting the original stones onto new concrete domes to protect them. With this, our tour was  done with a beautiful view of the city of Madrid

Afternoon Free Time

After we were done with the Civil War tour, we got some extra time until 7:30 pm. During this period, some other classmates and I decided to take some pictures of the surroundings of the Temple of Debod. After a fun time taking pictures, we decided to go to the Royal Palace; luckily, there was barely any line, so we only had to wait around 10 minutes before getting inside. Walking into the Royal Palace was honestly one of the most impressive moments of the day. From the outside, the building already looked massive and elegant, but once inside, the scale and detail of everything became even more overwhelming. The rooms were filled with gold decorations, huge chandeliers, detailed paintings, and furniture that looked like it belonged in a completely different world. What really caught my attention was how every single room had an unbelievable effort in detail and elegance. It made me realize how much power and influence the monarchy once had, especially when compared to the everyday life of regular citizens during the same periods

This visit also created a strong contrast with the rest of the morning. Earlier in the day, we were looking at bullet holes in buildings and learning about war, dictatorship, and political conflict, which showed a darker and more painful side of Spain’s past. However, the Royal Palace represented a completely different perspective, one of power, tradition, and national identity. Seeing both in the same day helped me understand Madrid in a deeper way because it showed how the city holds both suffering and beauty at the same time. The palace was a reminder of how Spain’s political and cultural history has evolved from monarchy to dictatorship and eventually to democracy.

Finally, before going to the Bookstore Parenthesis, we briefly stopped at Confiteria El Riojano to try some desserts and hot chocolate that unbelievable good. Afterwards, we took the metro and decided to go to our next destination.

Evening

At 7:30 pm, we met at the Bookstore Parenthesis, a bilingual bookstore near. That night, Julian was speaking about his book, “What We Tried to Bury Grows Here,” with the writer Willow Mata. Julian discussed his long writing journey and process for the book. He not only talked about its content but also what it meant for him personally, which I found really inspiring. After the event was done, some of us decided to grab dinner at Casa Toni, a popular, casual tavern in Madrid, renowned for authentic, affordable Spanish tapas. We tried some of its specialties, such as Patatas Bravas and some tapas, which were tremendously delicious and authentic. Afterwards, we went to the Regina Hotel and called it a night; a very funny and complete day in Madrid, but I could barely sleep thinking about all the new things that awaited me the next few days.

Reflection

This day in Madrid was not only one more adventure in Madrid but also an experience that connected history, culture, and personal growth in a very meaningful way. From the Civil War tour in the morning, where we saw bullet holes and learned about Franco’s failed coup and dictatorship, to the Temple of Debod and the Royal Palace in the afternoon, and finally Julian’s book talk in the evening, the entire day felt like a journey through different layers of Madrid’s identity. It was amazing to physically see how the city carries its past in everyday spaces while still functioning as a modern and vibrant place full of art, literature, and cultural diversity. The contrast between war scars on buildings, royal luxury inside the palace, and international influences showed me that Madrid is shaped by centuries of political conflict, cultural exchange, and creative expression.

Morning

On the morning of March 9^th at 10 am, our API Resident Director Fran and Julian led us on a walking tour of the city.  The day prior, we had learned about the history of Spain beginning with the very first fortress here. Monday marked the beginning of our study of the Spanish Civil War, which began with a failed coup in the heart of Madrid. We walked through the center of Madrid and learned about the beginning of the Spanish Civil War and Madrid’s current culture through the landmarks around us.

After a big breakfast at Hotel Regina, we headed out to make our way through the city. When we reached Gran Via, we stopped outside of the Metro station to take in the buildings around us. We were right across the street from the Telefonica building from the Spanish Civil War era, which is now a Movistar flagship store and the Espacio Fundacion Telefonica. I thought it was so incredible to see the building that we had read about in Hotel Florida by Amanda Vaill. We had learned about Arturo Barea and Isla Kulscar, who were censors in this foreign press office during the Spanish Civil war. I had pictured the inside of it and the street view so clearly— the view out the windows through Barea’s eyes, where he and Ilsa would sleep through the sound of the shells, and the missing wall in the bedroom when one hit too close. The building had since been repaired after the shells, but Julian pointed out the black spots all over the wall facing the street. These were bullet holes dating back to the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, a permanent reminder of the Spanish Civil War.

Along the way, we stopped a few more times for Fran to give us lunch recommendations and orient us in the city. He had told us about the growing Asian population in Madrid, and how that has contributed to a growing population of amazing authentic Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese restaurants nearby. We stopped at the Monumento Cervantes in Plaza de Espana, a monument for the most famous Spanish writer of all time, known for Don Quixote. Julian gave us background on the bronze statues beneath him of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and we learned about the funny history of a Don Quixote film adaptation that was never completed. After taking some photos lining up our hands to be high-fiving Don, we headed to the Monumento a los Caidos en el Cuartel de la Montana, or the Monument of the Mountain Barracks.

The coup began at that exact location in 1936 on Principe Pio hill. We learned how these barracks were the location of the declaration of the war, how it was surrounded and attacked by Loyalists, and how it was eventually turned into a concentration camp for Republican soldiers by Franco in 1939. In 1972, the monument we stood at was erected in memory of those who had fallen while defending the barracks, the Nationalist soldiers.

We made our way up the stairs to the Temple of Debod, a beautiful structure that was a gift from Egypt in 1968 in gratitude of Spain’s support to preserve the Nubian temples. Behind this temple we went to the Príncipe Pío Mountain Viewpoint, which overlooked the Royal Palace. We got some incredible photos there, with the vast city and the woods in the background, which we had learned the day before were hunting grounds during medieval times.

Afternoon Free Time

After photos, Fran and Julian left us to explore the surrounding neighborhoods. We split into 3 groups to get food, which worked out well because there was such a great variety of restaurants around us. Chris, another student on the trip, and I hunted down a nearby tortilla at Pez Tortilla, while some of the others tried the local seafood at Anciano Rey de Los Vinos. We tried croquetas de jamon for the first time, a delicious, originally French, fried roll with a savory ham filling. We were recommended to get tortillas by Julian, and I had been anticipating something like a Mexican corn tortilla. I had not realized that tortilla was Spanish for omelet and was confused when the waitress brought out an egg dish with bread.  Regardless, we devoured the tortilla and ordered another one later in the week because they made us believers.

Evening

At 7:30 pm we met at the Libreria Parenthesis, an English and Spanish bookstore near Embajadores station. That night, Julian was speaking about his book, What We Tried to Bury Grows Here, with American writer and co-founder of The Write Salon, Willow Mata. Julian discussed his writing process and inspirations for the book and then the floor was open to questions from the audience of students, fellow readers, and writers.

Reflection

I look back on this day as not only an adventure through Madrid, but an adventure through time. It was amazing to be able to physically see remains of history merely blocks away from modern culture. Madrid is shaped architecturally, culinary-wise, and socially through its complex history; its past is written on everything you pass. From bullet hole remains, bilingual bookstores, gifted temple from Egypt, Little Asia, French cuisine, to old hunting woods— Madrid is tattooed with its history and continues to grow in art, architecture, and cuisine to this day through each person that crosses its path.

Las Ventas Bullring

On Thursday, March 12, our group met up in the lobby and headed out to visit the famous Las Ventas Bullring. It was a short metro ride away, which made getting there super easy. Before arriving, I did not know what to expect.

First Impressions

When we arrived, we met our tour guide, who had given us some background on bullfighting and why Las Ventas is such an important part of Spanish culture. It is the largest bullring in Europe which was hard to fathom. Outside there were plaques with lists of names honoring famous bullfighters, which immediately showed me how much history there is at this bullring.
Once we went inside, the first thing that stood out to me was just how big the arena is. Turns out it holds around 23,000 people. When we were visiting, no bullfights were happening, but they were setting up for what I believe was a concert, which I found interesting because it shows how this space is still used today.
Something I found very interesting was the shape of the area. It is circular. Our tour guide explained that this was intentional when building the arena. Other arenas were often square or rectangular, with corners giving the bulls a place to hide. So, the circular design of Las Ventas was made to keep everything moving during the fight.

Stepping Into the Experience

One of the coolest parts of this visit was the virtual reality activity where we got to experience what it is like to be bullfighters. Watching my classmates try this virtual experience activity made me realize how intense bullfighting is, both physically and mentally.
We also saw a full-size taxidermy bull which put things into perspective, it showed the size and strength that these animals have. We then got to step into the arena ourselves and were able to try to handle some of the traditional tools that bullfighters use such as capes. They were much heavier and harder to control than I expected, which made me appreciate the skill that bullfighters have.

The Museum

After the arena, we headed into the museum which ended up being my favorite part of the whole day and the most memorable museum from the entire trip.
When we entered the museum one of the first exhibits we saw was capote de paseo, which I learned is a ceremonial cape that is worn by the bullfighters. I was surprised by how detailed and expensive they looked. They looked like they should be a piece of art, not an article of clothing. Throughout the museum there were different outfits worn in the ring, each outfit reflected the personality and identity of the bullfighter who once wore them.
One exhibit that really stuck with me was a suit worn by a bullfighter at the time of his death. This exhibit was a powerful reminder of how dangerous this profession is and what is at stake every time someone steps into the ring.
There was also a section about women in bullfighting, and it was the smallest part of the whole museum even though it was the smallest part it was the most inspirational. Since bullfighting is a traditionally male-dominated field it was very fascinating to see how women have started to make their mark and be recognized.
The last room was filled with artworks of bulls and bullfighters, along the wall there were mounted bull heads from famous breeding families. This room was a mix of art, history, and tradition all in one space, which really emphasized the lasting impact of bullfighting in Spanish culture.

Wrapping Up the Day

After the tour, we stayed around the Las Ventas area to grab food and just take everything in. Even the restaurant that we went to had bullfighting artwork which showed how present this tradition is in everyday life.
We spent some time walking around the neighborhood of Las Ventas, which gave a glimpse into life in Madrid.
Later we took the metro back towards Sol, we did some shopping near our hotel, then went to a tapas bar nearby. It was my first time trying Tapas, which was a fun experience on its own. We ended the night with crepes which might honestly have been my favorite part of the whole trip.

Final Thoughts

Visiting Las Ventas gave me a completely different perspective on bullfighting. Before this trip, I only had a very surface-level understanding of it. I never realized how deeply it is connected to Spanish history and identity.
This experience challenges some of my assumptions about Spain. I went on this trip with a limited understanding of the culture, but moments like this helped me see the bigger picture. The visit to Las Ventas was not about seeing a famous landmark; it was an eye-opening experience that introduced me to something I never would have explored on my own.

Day two of our trip to Madrid was a day full of exploring the unknown of a new city. The plans for the day according to the API itinerary included a guided tour through the Royal Collections Gallery. After Fran and Professor Z, will guide us to El Rastro, Europe’s largest open-air flea market. Since those were our only two planned activities for the day, the rest of the evening was free for us to explore the city.

Waking up in a hotel room is always exciting to me, it reminds me that I am away from home and I get to experience a different area than I am used to. Due to an exhausting Day 1, full of traveling and classes from the day before, I overslept a tad and rushed downstairs to be greeted by Fran, the best API Resident Director in the whole program. Fran explained that we would walk to Puerta de Sol, there he would help us take the metro for the first time in Madrid, to the Royal Palace. Outside the Sol metro entrance was Spain’s Zero Kilometer point. This signified the geographical center of Spain, to me this was fascinating that it was a guide point used to navigate the city. Better yet it meant that we were within a five minute walk from “the center of Spain”. After snagging a couple of quick photos, Fran led us down the escalators into the metro. In Madrid, their metro’s seemed to be way cleaner than most I have seen in the US. A short metro ride (literally 1-2 stops) brought us right outside the Teatro Real, an opera house built in the early 19th century.

Another short walk led us through the Plaza de Oriente, where we got our first view of the Royal Palace. It truly is stunning to look at especially for the first time, I myself had never seen a palace before, so to see Europe’s largest palace as my first was incredible. Fran led us around the Royal Cathedral to the back of the palace where the entrance to the Royal Collections Gallery was. Fran wasted no time and introduced us to our tour guide, unfortunately I do not recall his name, but he was an incredible tour guide. He led us through the whole museum, explaining the history of the palace, how Madrid was shaped to be the way it is today, he explained how the city expanded with time to grow as the population grew and technology advanced. I have always enjoyed learning about the past, but I can’t express how excited I was to learn about the past while viewing artifacts and pieces of art from an expert. As we progressed through the tour, we reached the second floor. This is where our guide stopped the tour and explained to us the Spanish enlightenment period. He explained that the art created on the second floor was around the time that Spaniards began their quest for knowledge, how as humans we need to keep driving to learn more every day about anything that sparks our interest. To me these words resonated deeply with me. He labeled the importance of learning in order to keep your mind young.

After several hours in the museum our time there was up. Fran led us to the Plaza de la Armeria, where from there we walked South towards El Rastro. Professor Z and Fran gave us some tips on fun things to do in the area, then they let us explore the market on our own. Lana, another student on the trip, and I decided to just jump right into the market and start exploring the streets. There were so many pop-up clothing, jewelry, handbags, and sunglasses shops. But the further we got, the more interesting the booths became. They became more flea market shops rather than touristy shops at the beginning. Most people were selling antiquity items, or random knick-knacks. Luckily, I was able to refrain myself from buying every cool metal piece I found there. Due to all the walking we had been doing, we decided to try and find a restaurant to rest and fuel up before doing more walking. However, time is a little different in Spain, around two to four in the afternoon most stores closed up for a relaxed lunch and a siesta. This means the restaurants and tapas places get very busy. After checking lots of restaurants on our walk back we found a place that looked busy and interesting. The restaurant was called Cerveceria San Millan, since this was only day two of our trip, I was still a tad unsure on how restaurants were different in the U.S. compared to Spain. Luckily our waiter was very patient, he recommended to us, Carrillada de Ternera estofada or braised beef cheek. He did not lie when he told us it was one of their best dishes. After eating to our stomachs content, we decided that this planned nap time after lunch was a magnificent idea.

Something that stood out to me the most from my first full day in Madrid, was even though Madridians do essentially the same thing as Americans they do it at a different, slower pace. Now this isn’t a bad thing, it’s just a different way of doing things. It was very relaxing to just unwind and not be rushed around my day, in the U.S. I feel as though we live every minute with the thought that if we aren’t being productive, we are wasting time. Especially as an engineering major I feel that way, but it was so calming to take a nap during the middle of the day because that’s simply what people do to stay happier. It was small moments like these where I was able to just compare the two lifestyles that I enjoyed the most. Neither one is objectively better than the other but rather it is a different way of living, suited for different people.

Morning

After a good night of rest, still slightly adjusting to the jet lag, we embarked on our second day in Madrid. The second day in Madrid particularly stands out to me because it was our first full day in the city, packed with activities, tapas, and terrain still waiting to be uncovered. Our introduction to the day was meeting in the hotel lobby at 9:15 and departing to the Royal Collection Gallery, which is situated next to the Royal Palace and the Cathedral. Walking through the Royal Palace’s gardens, I could see the different generations of Madrid’s rich culture and history. There were statues of Madrid’s previous kings depicted with perfectly sculpted bodies in a variety of different poses, characterizing their personalities. The Royal Palace was stunning. It captured centuries of Madrid’s artwork, sculptures, and other items of historical significance. Most notably, the large tapestries hanging on the walls depicted scenes where colors seemed to pop out at you. My personal favorite was The Adoration of the Name of Jesus by El Greco, which portrays three different realms: heaven, earth, and hell. The painting had a wide array of beautiful colors and many different scenes depicting various relationships. Looking at the painting, it demonstrated the devotion Spaniards had to Christianity and the significance of the “final judgment” of an individual upon death.

Free Time

When the gallery visit ended, it was around 12:00 PM, and we ventured off into Europe’s largest open-air flea market, El Rastro. El Rastro had a completely different vibe compared to my traditional market expectations. It was chaotic, but more so an organized chaos filled with unpredictability. All of the stands were unique in their own way. Some had vintage clothing, old coins, modern toys, antiques, and more. Being in the market felt like a major cultural blend, with every generation mixing the past and present in one open space. I broke off from the main group and found a smaller, more niche store that focused on handmade goods and jewelry. Compared to the rest of the market, it was quieter and had a more local atmosphere. I was browsing through the jewelry hanging on a wooden wall when a handcrafted bead bracelet caught my eye. Unfortunately, I did not have any euros on me, only USD. Luckily, I used my persuasion skills and was able to convince the vendor to sell me two bracelets for ten USD. An intricate part of the flea market experience is bargaining. I utilized that to my advantage, and eventually the vendor gave up, nodded, and handed me the two bracelets—easy. After the market, a group of us went to a more touristy restaurant that had authentic Spanish dishes but also offered wings and burgers. I regret to inform you that I did choose the burger. While everyone else was eating authentic Spanish dishes, I was eating something I could have ordered at virtually any American restaurant. That small decision had a lasting impact on the rest of the trip. It taught me how easy it is to fall back into your comfort zone, and I promised myself that for the remainder of the trip, I would fully experience Spanish cuisine. Later that night, I redeemed myself. We went out for tapas in smaller groups, and my group chose more locally established tapas bars. We shared a variety of different dishes, chorizo, charcuterie featuring locally made cheese and crackers, and toast with the famous Iberian ham and olive oil. To finish off the night, we connected with a larger group and had churros con chocolate.

Reflection

Looking back on the entire day, it draws clear connections to the broader themes of Madrid’s past and present. The Royal Collection Gallery showed me the sheer depth of Spain’s history, going back many centuries. This is a unique concept to me because the United States dates back to 1776, whereas Spain’s history extends as far back as it can be documented. My experience in the museum only confirmed the historic tradition, religion, and power that I learned about during the pre-departure lectures. The flea market, on the other hand, represents a more modern aspect of Spain while still incorporating its past. Going into Madrid, I expected to see a clash between the duality of Spain’s past and present. While there certainly are moments of contrast, I noticed that the past and present more so complement each other. For example, while simply strolling down the streets of Madrid, you can see historic buildings that date back centuries with influences from Romanesque times, and then, right next to them, something like a McDonald’s. Taking a step back, nothing seems out of place. Everything exists exactly where it is supposed to be. If I could describe Madrid in three words, I would say: historic, contrasting, and alive. Alive because, within just a week, it has created memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.