Travel Adventures
Milan
My first independent travel adventure took me to Italy with four new friends. We didn't have anything planned but our flights and our accommodations before arriving, which was equally as terrifying as it was liberating. We found a way into the city, quickly figured out the metro, and checked into our hostel--a cheap place to stay with bunk beds and enough necessities for two pleasant nights. Our first meal was none other than authentic Italian pizza which was heaven for a true cheese-and-tomato-sauce lover like me. Full of delicious carbs we made our way to the "fashion district" of Milan which was apparently two seasons ahead of the rest of the world. The space exuded elegance and felt ingeniously trendy (and expensive).
Down the street, we could see spires of the Duomo Cathedral, Milan's masterpiece. It was breathtaking to see such extreme detail up close. After catching a glimpse of the famous church, we ditched the busy square for the canals of the Naviglio district at sunset and they did not disappoint. The orange and pinks of the sky reflected beautifully on the water and the moment felt quintessentially Italian. The small pastel flats lined up along the rocky streets with string musicians for background music was a scene from a storybook and one that I will treasure.
The rest of our time in Milan consisted of plenty of window shopping, some museums, so much eating (tiramisu, gelato, pasta, you name it), and lots of walking. We trekked all around the city to see Castle Sforzesco, the largest Starbucks in the world, and Napoleon's Arch of Peace. I was so amazed and thankful to be exploring a city so rich with life and beauty. It was surreal to slurp pasta in Italy, see art in Italy, and step foot in Italy.
Madrid
I didn't have many expectations before my visit to Spain's largest and capital city, but I was very impressed. The streets were filled with 20th-century charm and modern magic. Even though the population is double Barcelona's, I felt much more laid back than the hustle bustle I've gotten used to. Madrid has many public squares, of which I still couldn't tell you the correct names, but I walked through them all. The center of the city was filled with streets I didn't know were streets and shops of every shape and size. Every inch seemed elaborately decorated, as if for the king and queen, but oh-so inviting nonetheless.
I was thankful for the sunshine that let me see so much of the city on foot. I got to walk around the gardens of the Royal Palace, which is something I didn't know I wanted to do! All the statues of former monarchs, the first bronze statue of a horse on its hind legs, the largest European capitol with over 3000 rooms?? Yes please! I also got to see the town's old square--where the royalty used to live--that's now filled with shops and restaurants. Additionally, I was able to walk by the Guinness-World-Record-holding oldest restaurant in the world: open continuously since 1725! Of course I went to some pretty incredible museums, but my favorite part was just wandering around the city with new friends. I was so fascinated by the lifestyle of the nation's capital. The vibe was refreshing, cultured, purposeful, and never too serious. It was fun to quite literally see a different side of Spain.
All in all, it was a whirlwind of a weekend trip. I got to experience pure Spanish culture--no Catalan in sight! I got to eat delectable foods, including famous chocolate with churros, "broken" eggs, tapas on tapas, sweet summer wine, and the best bread. I got to spend three days in a city I may never have the chance to see again! (Although, let's be real, I'm definitely going to have to come back to the Prado.)
Tarragona "Study Journey"
This weekend I went on an overnight trip with my fellow American students to see the countryside of Spain. We drove down the coast to smaller towns and spent the night in Tarragona to experience elements of Spanish culture and heritage. We toured a monastery, walked through ruins of an ancient Roman city, attempted to build human towers (castells-- a Catalan tradition), and tasted roasted onions with Romanesco sauce in a messy "calçots" feast. It was great to get out of the city and explore!
Our first stop on the study journey was a monastery built in 1150 and still in use today. On our guided tour we were able to walk where the monks of the past once slept, ate, studied, and worshipped. One fun fact I enjoyed: this monastery was a rural residence for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella after they financed Christopher Columbus's journey to America. King Ferdinand's parents are also buried in the church, which I thought was the most beautiful part of the property. The altar and the stained glass are so detailed, and I felt an overwhelming sense of holiness walking into the place. Overall the monastery is very well taken care of and impressively spacious. It's incredible to think about people who built the structure and the monks who walked the halls almost 1000 years ago.
I never would have expected to find such well-preserved Roman ruins in Tarragona. I felt like a kid in a candy store (conservator in an ancient town??) walking through the "living museum" of the city. I was surprised how the first-century walls, floors, and structures were integrated right into the modern setting of Tarragona. On our walking tour of the historic city, we first visited the gothic cathedral that now stands on the place of the ancient Roman temple, as is common all over the Mediterranean from when the empire converted to Christianity. Next we traced the boundaries of the old city walls and climbed the lookout tower positioned at one of the corners, which offered amazing views of the city, the sea, and the rest of the ruins. We descended the tower and wandered through the underground tunnels leading to the Roman circus, where spectators once bet on chariot races. Literally tracing the footsteps of citizens from so long ago was indescribable. Finally we ventured down to the shore to see the amphitheater, which hosted gladiator fights back in the day. I actually got to sit on the seats and experience the same view as 2000 years prior, another incomprehensible moment. The whole tour I just tried to soak everything in, snap pictures of the old with the new, and imagine the experiences of people in this place throughout history.
These sites in Tarragona are truly magnificent, but they represent a common issue facing the area today: how to make history accessible but still preserved. Although much of Tarragona's Roman ruins are exposed for the public to literally trample over time, other parts are well-protected and out of reach for visitors. At this moment, I believe the city of Tarragona deserves credit for the ways it has integrated its past into its present and will continue to keep it for the future. As someone who is planning to deal with these dilemmas as part of my career, I very much appreciated this experience.
