Submitted by Brandon Grabelsky on the 2014 winter session program in Spain and Italy sponsored by the Department of Political Science and International Relations…
This was my first week in Madrid, Spain. Right when I got on the bus outside of the airport, I was so excited to be in Europe for the first time. Despite the rainy gray weather, I couldn’t help but smile. After an hour, we finally arrived at our hotel in Madrid, which is right next to the Opera House and very close to El Palacio Real (Royal Palace). We are perfectly located in the heart of this beautiful city.
The culture here is so rich and distinct, but it definitely took me some time to adjust! First off, I’ve never seen so much jamón (ham)! They love ham and cheese here! Also, their lunches are huge! A typical lunch here includes bread, a beverage, two courses, and a dessert. My favorite lunch thus far was in Segovia. The bread with fresh olive oil (we passed so many olive trees on the way) was incomparable. The soup was a red tomato broth with some type of fish and a big poached egg in the middle. The next course included veal with some sauteed vegetables. Lastly, the dessert was an ice cream cake with a chocolate shell. While I would never have thought to have tried any of this on my own (besides the ice cream cake!), I was pleasantly surprised as to how good it tasted.
As for excursions thus far, I simply cannot decide whether I enjoyed Toledo or Segovia more. Both offered amazing scenic views which truly took my breath away. The history runs so deep here and it is simply amazing to see these medieval, historic cities. My favorite part of Toledo was the Jewish Quarter, where we learned about the convivencia (living together)/intersection of the three religions centuries ago in Toledo: Muslims, Jews, and Christians. This of course was before the Spanish Inquisition, when Isabel and Ferdinand forced the Muslims and Jews to either convert to Christianity or leave the country.
Segovia was amazing as well. We climbed 152 extremely steep stairs to go to the top of the Alcázar de Segovia, where Ferdinand and Isabel lived. The views were definitely worth it, especially with the mountains in the distance. It was also amazing to see the Roman aspects of the city. For instance, they still use an aqueduct to carry water from one hill to another area. Next, we went to the Valley of the Fallen, where Fascist Dictator Francisco Franco is buried. It was so interesting to hear about the political/ideological divisions in Spanish society that still run deep today. Lastly, we went to El Escorial, a monastery that Phillip II used to bury his father Charles V.
Madrid is of course amazing with all of the culture and art here to see. While going to these important cities and sites is nice, it’s equally enjoyable to explore the city on my own. I went on a run the other day and found some amazing areas and got to get a taste of what Madrid is like on my own.
Sad to leave Madrid on Sunday, but I’m sure Granada will have lots to offer as well!