I have said it once, and will probably say it a million more times, but studying abroad is so amazing. Not only do I have the opportunity to study at such an awesome university, I get to travel to so many new places and have so many authentic experiences. Each experience I have had traveling is unique and so special. So, here is a list of where I have been so far:

  1. Madrid, España: When I first got to Spain, this is where I landed in the airport, but I also got to spend a few days exploring the city. It is safe to say that I really like Madrid. It is a typical big city: loud with lots of people. But, it has so much history and so much to do. I ate at an incredible market that had tons of yummy food and drinks.   I also got to go to the Prado Musuem, where I saw artwork from Velazquez and Goya, and I went to the Royal Palace, where I walked through rooms that Spanish royalty lived in. Amazing.
  2. Toledo, España: Toledo is very close to Madrid, so in my first few days in Spain we popped over to Toledo for the day. We were there on Three Kings Day, so not too many places were open, but it was still an amazing experience. The river that runs through the town made it foggy all day, but what a beautiful place. It was quaint and perfect, and I would definitely go back if I get the chance. 
  3. San Lorenzo de El Escorial, España: We headed to this little town on such a perfect day. It was sunny and the weather was almost as amazing as the sites we saw. The big thing to see here is El Escorial which was a summer palace/monastery. Most of the royal family was also laid to rest inside El Escorial, so I was quite literally in the presence of Spanish royalty. There is also an impressive basilica inside the monastery that is relatively inexpensive to get married in… but there is a three year waiting list. 
  4. Barcelona, España: Barcelona is honestly like a whole other world. Yes, it is in Spain, but I did not really feel like I was in Spain anymore, because the Catalan culture and language is so distinct. Nonetheless, Barcelona was beautiful. I visited la Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the Mercado de la Boqueria, all of which were incredible. What I appreciated the most about Barcelona was getting to see Gaudí ‘s architecture and how the city embraces his work. It was interesting to see a style so distinct be so embraced by the city. 
  5. Segovia, España: Holy. Cow. I really like Segovia. We first went to el Alcazar, which is one of the palaces that inspired the architecture for Cinderella’s castle, which was all I needed to hear. The view from the top of the tower in the palace was my favorite part. We also headed to the cathedral, and then to the best part of Segovia, the aqueducts. They run through the center part of town and date back to the times of the romans. I could have stood and stared at the aqueducts for hours. It was just so impressive. 
  6. Miranda del Castañar/San Martín del Castañar, España: I visited these two little towns in Salamanca on a very special day. It was the Fiestas de las Aguedas, where the town of Miranda del Castañar celebrates the empowerment of women over men. It was a beautiful ceremony where the women in the ceremony, who were dressed in traditional clothing, waved a flag over the people to show their power. More than likely, my group and I were the first Americans to have seen this ceremony in Miranda del Castañar, of which is a great honor. For lunch, we headed to San Martín del Castañar and then got to see a bull ring, traditional cemetery, and the amazing views from the top of the sierras. 

Looking back on these trips, I feel so lucky to be here. Traveling is something I truly enjoy, and I have loved every minute of the experiences I have had so far. I cannot wait for my trips coming up. Next stop, Sevilla, España.