Spending the fall semester of my junior year in Barcelona, Spain, I stumbled upon modern history, contemporary art, and the relationships of Mediterranean countries. Prior to the start of my educational journey at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, I went on a one week jaunt around the country with my parents. Obtaining their assistance to enroll in the program comfortably and have my learning accommodations met was a valuable necessity.
Barcelona
The day after a three hour train ride from Madrid, my parents and I went on a long tour exploring three famous landmarks: Sagrada Familia Park Guell, & Casa Mila. The fascinating architecture persuaded me to enhance my artistic views on the structures in the capital of Catalonia.
Sagrada Familia
The Catholic Church of Sagrada Familia is full of technicolored windows. It reminded me of other cathedrals I visited in the European Union. There were portraits of past funerals, wedding celebrations, along with candle lighting to honor the architects who built the church two centuries ago.
Park Guell
Park Guell is the area of old houses and colorful stones for sitting outdoors. With the glorious views, I could see cruise ships, catholic churches, and the soccer venue. Park Guell felt like taking a gondola up to the mountains.
Casa Mila
Casa Mila is another interesting place. Climbing the stair-cases, the images depicted owners of the house and past residences from multiple generations. Reaching the top, I saw the clouds move slowly and walked through the tunnels of small towers. Casa Mila felt like owning a big house, and providing comfort for many guests.
Andalucia Excursion
Following course registration, I traveled on the first optional excursion to Andalucia. Seville’s architecture is a mixture of the ancient and modern designs. Granada is famous for its beautiful gardens, city views, and historical palaces. My two favorite places in Andalucia are one in Seville and the other in Granada.
(Granada) Alhambra:
The Alhambra is the historic palace full of bricked walls designed like a maze. Keep your eyes open, because the only way in and out is the spot you started walking at. Some of the staircases are a little rocky. But don’t worry, the rails are there to support the leg exercise.
(Seville) Plaza de Espana:
Plaza de Espana is my dream spot in Seville. The walkway bridges have one of the most magnificent rails. Without stair steppers, they look similar to the bridges in Venice, Italy where there is a good amount of space for canals to sail through. Fun fact, Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones was filmed in the Plaza. If any of you are Star Wars fans, this is definitely the place to go if you want to feel like you are in planet Naboo with Senator Amidala.
Morocco Excursion
Another excursion took me to Morocco, a new continent plus country number 30 on my travel records. Traveling to a nation with racial practices from my fathers background gave me a bigger picture of Islamic culture. The hotel was next to the beach, but it was too cold to swim in the ocean. The majority of the trip was wandering around small pathways next to connected homes that look alike from the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The trip concluded with camel riding and taking a ferry on the Mediterranean sea between Europe and Africa.
Travel Planning
Other than the provided excursions, I planned my own trips during long weekends. Even though I was traveling independently, I searched for group tours. It was not only safer, it was a great opportunity to make more friends. I went to Prague, The Czech Republic with Bus2Alps, and Budapest, Hungary with OneTravel. I stayed in hostels that were open to 6 or 8 people. Crossing old bridges and soaking in tubs in Eastern Europe was a huge stress relief.
Why Study with AIFS
Choosing Spain played a role with my Spanish speaking skills. But there was one thing I asked myself. “Which program do I want to travel with?” It was answered the way I wanted. Spending countless hours in the study abroad office of my local institution, I found the American Institute for Foreign Studies. As a matter of fact, my travel experience in the Galapagos was with the same organization. That reminded me to apply for the program in Barcelona. If I felt like I wanted to go somewhere or had nothing to do, it is with no surprise that I signed up for day trips to museums, mountains, or other spectacular sites. Even if I am not going to places in the same region, participating in cultural practices was supplemental.
Day Trips and Cultural Activities
Cooking a potato with eggs and a sauced bread gave me a behind the scenes look in preparing Spanish cuisine. The ingredients were easy, but my sense of smell did not change until the food was heated. I felt annoyed that my taste was still not accustomed to spicy flavors. The day trips in Catalonia were a combination of creativity and religion. Going on the peak of Montserrat in the mountains and the Urbana Church next to an uphill amusement park was undeniably breathtaking. Every pathway I climbed felt like being in paradise, where I could find my loved ones and those who lived a fulfilling life. The Salvador Dali Museum reminds me of a popular artist I researched for my Spanish Contemporary Art class. His moustache resembles his artistic styles from the facial body parts like a living room. The picture of me standing in front of the wooden bridge is in Besalu. It is the trail next to a small sanctuary with a melted menorah. Staring at the image where you can visualize me sitting on a toilet is in Girona. Beware, there is not a hole in the middle of the seat. The architecture is meant to be more closed, which means the trails are more slim.
What I Took
Visiting and living in a city are two different experiences. Now that I have lived in Barcelona for four months, I have a better perspective of navigating the city more than a fleeting tourist does. Having shared a lot about this unforgettable expedition, you can also read my posts on the AIFS website, where I was selected by the social media staff to be a blogger.
I dedicated this unpredictable, yet extraordinary journey to my beloved grandfather who passed away in the end of February in 2017. This adventure was a cherished memory from every single treasure he gave me so that I could incorporate whatever I wanted in my travel book. I will do the same thing for my upcoming journeys.
David Sharif 