An Art Lover's Paradise!

By: MariaJose Valdez

Madrid gave me New York City vibes, with a European spin. There was bustling traffic and hordes of people walking around. Standing in the middle of the plaza I could see tons of modern stores and buildings as well as shops we have back home such as Vans, Sephora, Bath&Body and Apple to name a few. I’m not a fan of crowded cities so I found myself overwhelmed being in the center. I liked the outskirts of the city better, where the streets were narrow and full of surprises. I had more than one memorable moment in Madrid. First was going to the museums, Prado and Reina Sofia, they were completely intriguing and incredible.

Getting lost in the Prado was the best thing that could have happened. I would stumble on huge canvases, to marble statues, and 13th century art which gave me goosebumps to be in the same room with something that has existed for centuries. I was so excited to see all these works of art that I had learned about in past semesters up close. I took my time and absorbed all this magnificent building had to offer. I was glad I visited the Prado museum first and then went to the Reina Sofia as I was able to see some of the influence of earlier work reflected in more modern artists and their work. The museums were the highlight of Madrid for me. I have checked Guernica off my bucket list. I was able to see photographs of Picasso working on this historic piece and how the inner process panned out. I also found myself getting sucked into these small rooms in the museum where short films were being projected on the wall. They were very abstract and at times made me feel uncomfortable, which was probably the point. I've never had an experience like this in a museum and I truly enjoyed it. I'm glad I used my free time to check this place out. Highly recommended!

The other one was Retiro Park. I was a bit skeptical on going on a bike tour since I had explored the city all day and was feeling tired, plus I hadn’t been on a bike in five years, but I read that this park was a must see. I sucked it up and jumped on the bike. Boy! Am I glad I changed my mind. This park was AMAZING! From the Crystal palace to the remains of the old zoo, every part was beautiful and so clean. There was romance in the air with many couples having picnics and laying underneath the trees in the park. The weather was perfect for a siesta! I loved seeing the man made pond and the people using the row boats. It was such a relaxing feeling being there. I was also surprised to see they had a statue of the fallen angel Lucifer and that it happens to be located 666 meters above sea level, coincidence?! I think NOT! I was assured by our tour guide that no satanic rituals happen in this area. When I visit Madrid again I will be sure to come back to this park for a whole day, probably rent a bike again!

La Catedral de Sevilla, A Sight to See!

Photo by Maria Jose

By Ashley Lyons

  The most fascinating moment I had in Seville was my visit to the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, also known simply as the Seville Cathedral and the Torre Giralda. It was unlike anything that I have ever seen. The Seville Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world. It has Gothic style architecture throughout the entire place to show Seville’s wealth. The Tower of Giralda has very intricate patterns as well as the cathedral done in heavy Gothic stonework. The ceilings were extremely high done in stone and bricks with stained glass windows everywhere you look. There’s a monument inside the cathedral of Christopher Columbus where his remains are at its final resting place. Men representing the four kingdoms of Spain at the time are holding up the tomb. I thought this was kind of cool visiting a piece of history of a man we’ve been learning about in history since a child. There is a main mass area that is used for special occasion made up all of silver. The main choir area holds 117 chairs and has a large pipe organ that I wish I had the chance to experience.All of the mahogany wood that was around the church came straight from Cuba that gave the cathedral a real authentic feel. There were many beautiful paintings all around the church. It almost felt like we were in a museum with all of the history around us. The cathedral is still open to the public for mass and it is in Spanish. They are free to attend, but short in time. There are three times a day for daily mass. The Giralda is the bell tower attached to the cathedral. It’s over 300 feet tall. This was a rough walk up, but a beautiful sight to see overlooking all of Seville. You can see all the beautiful terracotta roofs and rooftop pools and gardens of people’s homes. Instead of stairs, the tower is a ramp going up 36 flights. It was made as a ramp so men were able to go up with horses more quickly than walking. The pathway was so narrow you can only pass by one at a time. Going down on foot was definitely harder than going up! 

Spain is Always A Good Idea

By Leana Pizarro

Arriving in Madrid the views were also very similar to Seville and Lisbon. The streets were very busy and the buildings were also similar. When we went to La Puerta Del Sol I was amazed by all the hidden history. La Puerta Del Sol is the main square in Madrid and is very famous. I learned that the square has a semicircular shape which represents the sun setting hence the name “La Puerta Del Sol” Originally it was one site of the city’s gates. It now has many stores to shop at and restaurants to eat. On the other side you will find the clock tower. That building is known as “Real Casa de Correos”. It was built in the 18th centuries and used as a post office and is now the headquarters of the president of Madrid Autonomous Community. The clock is the famous clock where all Spaniards look to on New Years Eve just like we see the ball drop in NYC. They also have a tradition where they have 12 grapes and eat one for every chime until midnight. It is said to be bad luck if you do not eat the grapes. I thought this was so fascinating because I had the opportunity to be able to compare and see what they do on New Years versus what we do back home. La Puerta Del Sol at night also had performers dancing or roller skating and doing tricks for side jobs. I thought it was very similar to the streets of NYC and it was cool to see so many random people get together to see the show! 

My favorite part most of all was the Royal Palace that we went to. It is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family but it is only used for the ceremonies. They palace itself has over 3,000 rooms inside. I learned that the King has his own separate room for eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. He has a changing room, an office, a meeting room etc. The same goes for the family. We were not allowed to take any pictures but I was amazed at the royal bathroom made out of porcelain. It was so beautifully created. Every room ceiling, floor and even the doors were made with such detail and it blew my mind. I learned that the King and Queen do not sit at the end of the table but in the middle right under the chandelier and of course sit across from each other. We were able to see the actual throne that has been used and is still in use till this day. It is so beautiful with the red stairs and red chairs along with the lions on each side. It was so royal. Madrid was definitely one for the books and the experience was so overwhelmingly amazing overall.

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Smile, You Are in Lisbon

By Victoria DeLaRosa

From the moment we stepped into the city of Lisbon, I felt that the people and community was busy yet quiet and reserved. Most pedestrians were walking at a moderate pace, dressed well, and casually going about their day. I also noticed that there are not much wildlife around except pidgins. No squirrels, insects, etc. I found that the monuments and buildings are things that the Portuguese take pride in and in its history behind them all. I learned a lot during the tours. Learning that Portugal was the 4th most spoken language in the world and the amount of countries Portugal conquered and discovered such as Macao, Japan, South Africa, and Cape Verde. I also learned how important Sailing is for Portugal as well as codfish. Learning about the natural disaster that occurred in Lisbon in 1755, that was Portugal’s worst natural disaster to ever occur, was shocking and seeing the still - standing Church in Belém years and years later as one of the few buildings left not destroyed by the disaster.

I saw a lot of luxury stores in the city of Lisbon, with people shopping. The driving was fast pace but not anywhere near as aggressive as “New York” driving. All of the cars were small. The streets were not dirty at all. What I did not see was any corner stores like we have at our disposal in Connecticut, and there was no Dunkin’ Donuts, all family owned coffee shops. With the exception of a Starbucks, which seemed to be in a “touristy” area. You can see the difference in the small, family owned shops as opposed to a lot of the chain companies and food places we are used to at home. I saw no potholes and vibrant colored homes and the streets are so clean and the people have a clear respect for their surroundings and people around them. 

I felt safe and comfortable being that the crowds were not like the crowds we are used to having in a city area. The way the community seems to feel so natural around one other no matter what they look like is what I enjoyed best. I could not say I felt that same diversity and comfort in Switzerland’s airport, just 3 hours plane ride away, yet very different vibes from one country to another. The buildings and architecture was vibrant and showed the Muslim influence as well as Catholic influence in their buildings.

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