Adventures in Spain (pt. 1) //
Unknown
11:27:00 PM
Did I promise weekly blog posts while in Spain?
Yes, of course I did.
Did I succeed in doing so?
Not exactly, but we're not going to count how many days late this update is/how much I suck. I'm back now and really, that's all that matters, isn't it?Surprisingly, this trip I had an outline and a plan for how to set up this blog post, but it required a lot of writing and a lot of photos, and honestly I just didn't feel like sitting down and doing that, because I'm a human being and sometimes I don't have as much motivation as I should. I decided to set this post up much like the one I did last year while describing my NSLC experience, where I wrote a slightly-more-than-brief paragraph for each day I was there. However, this time I have to write for about 18 days, so I'm splitting this up into two posts. The next one should be up September 2, so mark your calendars!
And I guess that pretty much covers it all. So, without further ado, here comes the Spain blogging experience:
Sunday, August 14: I hopped on the plane at BOS with a dream in my cardigan… then flew for 6 hours to Dublin where I had a 9 hour layover. I traveled with 2 of my friends, and one of these friends has family in Dublin. So we met up with them and had breakfast, then went on a bus tour for the day. Despite my exhaustion, I tried to keep my eyes peeled open long enough to see each brick building with its rooftop garden, and to become immersed in a rich history that was not my own. Time flew by, and before I knew it I woke up to find myself on the roof of a bus, my friend Emma telling me it was time to leave. We traveled back to the airport, then proceeded to take another 2 hour flight from Dublin to Madrid. Since our flight out of Boston was very late at night, somewhere along the way, it had become Monday morning. //
Monday, August 15: I started the week in a brand new place. Needless to say, I was incredibly exhausted and smelled disgusting. I'd gone almost a full day just sweating, without access to a shower, and surrounded by cheap airline food. The 6-hour time difference between Boston and Madrid was brutal. After running a 17-hour day, turns out it was only like, 4 pm. The family am staying with live in Zaragoza, which is about 4 hours away from Madrid. If we were heading straight home like my friends and their host families were, I probably would have died. Luckily, my hosts had rented an apartment in Madrid where we would stay until Friday. As soon as we got there, we ate some dinner (in Spain they eat around 10 pm. The firstfew days two weeks, this was incredibly difficult for me, because my family eats wicked early, even for the US. I was waiting legit 5 hours past my dinner time to eat). And then I crashed, sadly with the knowledge that I'd have to get up early the next morning with jet lag slowly eating away at my soul. //
Tuesday, August 16: The first day in Madrid was magical, despite the fact that my insides still felt like death and that my brain was not fully functioning due to my immense sleep deprivation. We visited El Palacio Real, and Almudena Cathedral on this first day. Basically, there are no palaces in the United States, and Cathedrals are present, but are rarely to the same size and caliber as those in Europe. These sights were absolutely amazing and completely breathtaking. Colors of gold and royal blues danced along the walls and ceilings; tapestries in every color elegantly hugged the spaces between doorways and windows; lengthy hallways and grand staircases made me feel like I was a Disney princess. If only I had been allowed to take photos! My words could never live up to the way it actually feels to walk through the rooms; filled with art and culture and a rich history; becoming part of something so unfamiliar yet so amazing. Of course, even while internationally traveling, I succumb to capitalism and the fast fashion industry. We visited Gran Via, and there was a huge H&M set up in what used to be a beautiful hotel, and a Primark that was 4 stories tall. //
Wednesday, August 17: The beauty of Madrid continued to expose itself, as this day we went to the palace in Aranjuez. Much like El Palacio Real, shades of gold and blue covered the whole palace, and it was larger than any place I'd ever been. However, this one was slightly smaller and more simple than the extravagance of El Palacio Real. Again, we weren't allowed to take photos, which really bothers me (because I think art, culture, and history are some of the most important things for humans to share with one another. Some people will never have the opportunity to visit these famous sites, and I do really believe that photos and videos and other mediums should be available to them.) One of my favorite aspects of the palace in Aranjuez was a large room where they had a glass case filled with gowns that the royal family of Spain had worn. These were some of the most beautiful and intricate pieces of clothing I had ever seen. Long trains and silver sequins lined high lacy necklines and tight waists. So. Gorgeous. Later this day, we also went on a tour bus, much like the one in Dublin. The city was dark, with the exception of lights bleeding into the sky from tall buildings. It was so refreshing to travel around a new place, with cool air whipping across my face. Of course, I was still super jet-lagged, and crashed the moment we stepped foot back in the apartment. //
Thursday, August 18:. I felt a bittersweet sadness as I approached the last full day in Madrid. Elena, her mom, and her aunt took me to El Reina Sofia, a modern art museum in the heart of Madrid. They told me that there was an abundance of Goya art in the museum, much to my pleasure. The smell of clean wood and ancient paintings flared up into my nostrils. White walls surrounded me on all sides. Black ribbons stood closely around each painting, forbidding anyone from touching the art of getting a bit too close. It reminded me of home, in a way, and spending countless hours at the Museum of Fine Arts. Getting lost in artist's minds and in the glances of other people. Becoming a part of history and the world as we know it. One of the most amazing pieces of art to see was Guernica, by Goya. It depicts the terror and confusion of wartime in Spain, and is one of the most well known pieces of modern art. Seeing it was such a cool experience and I'm upset because I wasn't allowed to take any photos of the classic work. There was plenty of other art to fall in love with, and seeing such a familiar atmosphere filled with a different language and culture felt amazing. //
Saturday, August 20: Full immersion into the life and culture of Zaragoza occurred this day. I was able to meet up with some of Elena's friends, and we all went shopping in the shopping center downtown. There was a mix of restaurants, locally owned shops and chain stores. I had about 0 self-controls, and ended up spending 30€, which isn't that bad but this was only my 6th day abroad and knew that I was on a tight budget. (I bought an Urban Decay Vice lipstick; is 10/10 would recommend). I went a little bit touristy when visiting La Magdalena-- a beautiful cathedral located in Zaragoza. I wasn't supposed to be taking photos, but I got away with some beautiful photos of art, architecture, and culture. //
Sunday, August 21: Zaragoza proved itself to be just as lovely as Madrid. This day we visited Aljafería, another palace. The thing that set this palace apart from others was that in ancient times, it was used by Islamic rulers who took over Spain. It has middle eastern inspired design elements and looks so different than the other elaborate palaces I'd seen. Outside, walls were lined with vines and overflowing green gardens. Intricate details were carved into the walls and moldings along the ceiling. The architecture was unlike anything I had seen before, and served as a source of creative and artistic inspiration. I could see the shapes and colors of Aljafería as long dresses draped over models, and after leaving I went back home and began sketching beautiful designs. //
Monday, August 22: The most beautiful things in life are found in nature, not manmade creations. Vast cityscapes formed from architectural genius and the hands of so many working as one are something magnificent, but not quite like walking underneath a waterfall; becoming one with the Earth. Connecting in a spiritual way with something so much larger than you could ever be. On this day, I ventured up a mountain to Monestario de Piedro, and lowkey I cried a lot. The views of a clear waterfall sparkling down over jagged rocks, the sounds of its pounding entirely engulfing you. Rainbows forming along the walls of a cave, formed from the reflection of the sunlight through a stream. This was one of the first days I felt at ease. I want to live inside a cave beneath a raging waterfall, and every morning when the sunrises I can dance through rainbows while small droplets force their way onto my skin through cracks in the ceiling. //
Tuesday, August 23: Materialism has a way of sneaking itself back into my daily life. I didn't do much today, other than shop, shop, eat, and shop. Elena took me to her favorite shopping mall El Puerto Venecia, and I somehow managed to spend about 250€ on clothes. My mom called me later and yelled at me for spending so much, but at least my back to school wardrobe will be cute af ?? It's alright though. I've also been writing and updating the blog, so there's been some level of productivity today. //
Yes, of course I did.
Did I succeed in doing so?
Not exactly, but we're not going to count how many days late this update is/how much I suck. I'm back now and really, that's all that matters, isn't it?Surprisingly, this trip I had an outline and a plan for how to set up this blog post, but it required a lot of writing and a lot of photos, and honestly I just didn't feel like sitting down and doing that, because I'm a human being and sometimes I don't have as much motivation as I should. I decided to set this post up much like the one I did last year while describing my NSLC experience, where I wrote a slightly-more-than-brief paragraph for each day I was there. However, this time I have to write for about 18 days, so I'm splitting this up into two posts. The next one should be up September 2, so mark your calendars!
And I guess that pretty much covers it all. So, without further ado, here comes the Spain blogging experience:
Sunday, August 14: I hopped on the plane at BOS with a dream in my cardigan… then flew for 6 hours to Dublin where I had a 9 hour layover. I traveled with 2 of my friends, and one of these friends has family in Dublin. So we met up with them and had breakfast, then went on a bus tour for the day. Despite my exhaustion, I tried to keep my eyes peeled open long enough to see each brick building with its rooftop garden, and to become immersed in a rich history that was not my own. Time flew by, and before I knew it I woke up to find myself on the roof of a bus, my friend Emma telling me it was time to leave. We traveled back to the airport, then proceeded to take another 2 hour flight from Dublin to Madrid. Since our flight out of Boston was very late at night, somewhere along the way, it had become Monday morning. //
Monday, August 15: I started the week in a brand new place. Needless to say, I was incredibly exhausted and smelled disgusting. I'd gone almost a full day just sweating, without access to a shower, and surrounded by cheap airline food. The 6-hour time difference between Boston and Madrid was brutal. After running a 17-hour day, turns out it was only like, 4 pm. The family am staying with live in Zaragoza, which is about 4 hours away from Madrid. If we were heading straight home like my friends and their host families were, I probably would have died. Luckily, my hosts had rented an apartment in Madrid where we would stay until Friday. As soon as we got there, we ate some dinner (in Spain they eat around 10 pm. The first
Tuesday, August 16: The first day in Madrid was magical, despite the fact that my insides still felt like death and that my brain was not fully functioning due to my immense sleep deprivation. We visited El Palacio Real, and Almudena Cathedral on this first day. Basically, there are no palaces in the United States, and Cathedrals are present, but are rarely to the same size and caliber as those in Europe. These sights were absolutely amazing and completely breathtaking. Colors of gold and royal blues danced along the walls and ceilings; tapestries in every color elegantly hugged the spaces between doorways and windows; lengthy hallways and grand staircases made me feel like I was a Disney princess. If only I had been allowed to take photos! My words could never live up to the way it actually feels to walk through the rooms; filled with art and culture and a rich history; becoming part of something so unfamiliar yet so amazing. Of course, even while internationally traveling, I succumb to capitalism and the fast fashion industry. We visited Gran Via, and there was a huge H&M set up in what used to be a beautiful hotel, and a Primark that was 4 stories tall. //
Wednesday, August 17: The beauty of Madrid continued to expose itself, as this day we went to the palace in Aranjuez. Much like El Palacio Real, shades of gold and blue covered the whole palace, and it was larger than any place I'd ever been. However, this one was slightly smaller and more simple than the extravagance of El Palacio Real. Again, we weren't allowed to take photos, which really bothers me (because I think art, culture, and history are some of the most important things for humans to share with one another. Some people will never have the opportunity to visit these famous sites, and I do really believe that photos and videos and other mediums should be available to them.) One of my favorite aspects of the palace in Aranjuez was a large room where they had a glass case filled with gowns that the royal family of Spain had worn. These were some of the most beautiful and intricate pieces of clothing I had ever seen. Long trains and silver sequins lined high lacy necklines and tight waists. So. Gorgeous. Later this day, we also went on a tour bus, much like the one in Dublin. The city was dark, with the exception of lights bleeding into the sky from tall buildings. It was so refreshing to travel around a new place, with cool air whipping across my face. Of course, I was still super jet-lagged, and crashed the moment we stepped foot back in the apartment. //
Thursday, August 18:. I felt a bittersweet sadness as I approached the last full day in Madrid. Elena, her mom, and her aunt took me to El Reina Sofia, a modern art museum in the heart of Madrid. They told me that there was an abundance of Goya art in the museum, much to my pleasure. The smell of clean wood and ancient paintings flared up into my nostrils. White walls surrounded me on all sides. Black ribbons stood closely around each painting, forbidding anyone from touching the art of getting a bit too close. It reminded me of home, in a way, and spending countless hours at the Museum of Fine Arts. Getting lost in artist's minds and in the glances of other people. Becoming a part of history and the world as we know it. One of the most amazing pieces of art to see was Guernica, by Goya. It depicts the terror and confusion of wartime in Spain, and is one of the most well known pieces of modern art. Seeing it was such a cool experience and I'm upset because I wasn't allowed to take any photos of the classic work. There was plenty of other art to fall in love with, and seeing such a familiar atmosphere filled with a different language and culture felt amazing. //
Friday, August 19: Compared to most days, this was uneventful, but still meaningful to me. This morning was time to leave Madrid, and head to Zaragoza. We first stopped for lunch, and then headed to the bus station. Pretty lowkey, except the bus station had a little pond filled with turtles. It was smelly, like reptile skin and poop, but a nice touch to a usually dismal area. The journey began, and I was on my way to integrate with a family and society. I was about to be welcomed into a home; community; neighborhood. No longer was I to be a tourist, but a part of the family. I had never been more excited. //
Saturday, August 20: Full immersion into the life and culture of Zaragoza occurred this day. I was able to meet up with some of Elena's friends, and we all went shopping in the shopping center downtown. There was a mix of restaurants, locally owned shops and chain stores. I had about 0 self-controls, and ended up spending 30€, which isn't that bad but this was only my 6th day abroad and knew that I was on a tight budget. (I bought an Urban Decay Vice lipstick; is 10/10 would recommend). I went a little bit touristy when visiting La Magdalena-- a beautiful cathedral located in Zaragoza. I wasn't supposed to be taking photos, but I got away with some beautiful photos of art, architecture, and culture. //
Sunday, August 21: Zaragoza proved itself to be just as lovely as Madrid. This day we visited Aljafería, another palace. The thing that set this palace apart from others was that in ancient times, it was used by Islamic rulers who took over Spain. It has middle eastern inspired design elements and looks so different than the other elaborate palaces I'd seen. Outside, walls were lined with vines and overflowing green gardens. Intricate details were carved into the walls and moldings along the ceiling. The architecture was unlike anything I had seen before, and served as a source of creative and artistic inspiration. I could see the shapes and colors of Aljafería as long dresses draped over models, and after leaving I went back home and began sketching beautiful designs. //
Monday, August 22: The most beautiful things in life are found in nature, not manmade creations. Vast cityscapes formed from architectural genius and the hands of so many working as one are something magnificent, but not quite like walking underneath a waterfall; becoming one with the Earth. Connecting in a spiritual way with something so much larger than you could ever be. On this day, I ventured up a mountain to Monestario de Piedro, and lowkey I cried a lot. The views of a clear waterfall sparkling down over jagged rocks, the sounds of its pounding entirely engulfing you. Rainbows forming along the walls of a cave, formed from the reflection of the sunlight through a stream. This was one of the first days I felt at ease. I want to live inside a cave beneath a raging waterfall, and every morning when the sunrises I can dance through rainbows while small droplets force their way onto my skin through cracks in the ceiling. //
Tuesday, August 23: Materialism has a way of sneaking itself back into my daily life. I didn't do much today, other than shop, shop, eat, and shop. Elena took me to her favorite shopping mall El Puerto Venecia, and I somehow managed to spend about 250€ on clothes. My mom called me later and yelled at me for spending so much, but at least my back to school wardrobe will be cute af ?? It's alright though. I've also been writing and updating the blog, so there's been some level of productivity today. //
My Realm