Submitted by Marissa Butrico on the 2018 fall semester study abroad program in London, England…
Hola! This past week was my fall break week from classes, so some of my friends and I decided to spend a few days in Spain! It was so nice to get away from the cold for a little while, but I am more than happy to be back in London. I always find myself missing the city when I travel!
As soon as I arrived in Barcelona, I made a beeline to the nearest restaurant to get some authentic paella, and it was absolutely worth it. Afterwards, we went to the beach, walked around the city, and enjoyed the nightlife before going to bed early to catch an 8:00 AM flight to Mallorca the next morning.
Mallorca was by far my favorite place I have visited so far. It was so breathtakingly beautiful, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing was actually real. My friends and I decided to rent motor scooters and cruise along the coastal roads for the day, making stops at a few beaches and a gorgeous cove lined with massive yachts before flying back to Barcelona. One of the reasons I love traveling in Europe is that it’s possible to fly to a new destination for just one day for only a few pounds. I’m so glad we decided to make the trip, it is one I will definitely never forget!
The rest of my trip was very relaxing, I went to see some famous landmarks such as La Sagrada Familia, a massive unfinished church built by the famous architect Gaudí, as well as Park Güell, also designed by Gaudí. Everything was so beautiful and it was so nice to get some warm weather even in late October.
I had my first “crisis” on my way back to London when I got to the front of the security line in the airport and realized I accidentally booked my flight for November instead of October. Nobody in the airport spoke much English so it was a stressful (and expensive) challenge to try and get on a last minute flight, but it ended up working out and I got back safely. I’ve definitely learned my lesson to double check my boarding passes before I leave next time, and that it is way easier to travel with a buddy.
I can’t believe it’s almost been two whole months since I’ve been here and that my time is about halfway over! I’ve had the time of my life so far, meeting so many interesting people and traveling around Europe. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my time here will bring.
