Submitted by Sara Feldman on the 2012 spring semester program in London, England…
Studying abroad in London has been such an amazing experience, but my ten days traveling from Spain to France was extraordinary! Starting out in Barcelona was a little unnerving since I have never spoken a word of Spanish in my life. Yet, the language barrier didn’t cause much of a problem since the other girls I traveled with spoke Spanish. It was actually a fun learning experience. I learned phrases and words like: Lo siento (I am sorry); La cheque, por favor (the check, please); Café con leche (coffee with milk); and Quiero bailar (I want to dance). Additionally, it was amazing to see the sun again. Our first afternoon, we hit the beach and soaked in those vitamin D rays we so dearly missed. The next few days we got to see Sagrada Familia, Guëll Park, Parc de la Ciutadella, Plaça de Catalunya, La Boqueria, Arc de Triomf, and more! We even witnessed an attempted pickpocket on the metro (scary)! Leaving Barcelona we flew to Seville. In Seville, we took in the the sights, streets lined with orange trees, the sun, and the most amazing food! My friends and I really took the time to embrace the culture of southern Spain. We enjoyed the afternoon siestas, eating tapas, and watching a live flamenco show. Finally, we finished off our trip in Paris. Arriving in Paris was one of the highlights of my trip! A few hours after landing, we headed straight for fashion week. We were able to get into a fashion show, and watch models walk down the runway in the newest upcoming designs. Afterwards, we went to Angelina’s and enjoyed the richest hot chocolate in the world with flaky croissants. With only a few days in such an historical city, it felt like we never stopped moving. We walked to most of the historical landmarks, climbed to the top of Montmartre to watch the Eiffel Tower light show, hopped on a train to Versailles, observed the art work in the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, walked down the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, and more! Overall, it was an unforgettable trip filled with laughs, sights, history, food, and excitement!
