This weekend was the first time I had traveled outside of Spain since I began my study abroad. I had never been to Italy so I was so excited to have the opportunity to visit. It feels surreal that I’m able to say “I’m going to Milan for the weekend.” Our original plan was to go to Lake Como for day one and sightsee in Milan for day two, but as this trip unfolded I realized this would be a trip full of learning experiences.
Traveling efficiently takes skill, experience, and planning.
There were eight people I traveled with and we all knew we wanted to see Milan and Lake Como but not a single person thought about how. We arrived at the airport and we were practically stranded. We decided to rent a car, but none of us are 25. The Malpensa airport has no direct trains to Lake Como. The bus takes us to Milan central station but it takes an hour and a half and at this point we won’t make it to Lake Como until late in the day. We began to abandon our Lake Como adventure and decided we needed to rework our plan which, to be honest, did not exist in the first place. After troubleshooting and deliberating we decided we would take the bus an hour to the central station and then take the public tram another hour to our airbnb. Similar situations occurred the following two days, so while there were many parts of this trip that were absolutely wonderful it felt like most of it was spent in a train, or bus, or ferry, or uber, or on a plane.
A lack of knowledge on the transportation, airport, and airbnb cost us a lot of time that we did not have. In the future I think it would be beneficial to create a loose itinerary that includes insight on the logistics of the trip. It doesn’t sound the most fun but in hindsight it definitely would’ve been the right thing to do. Getting an airbnb that is closer to the city, flying into an airport that has direct transportation, and making sure that the train workers are striking when you decide to go to Lake Como are a few things I will keep in mind for the next weekend adventure.
Although there was a lot troubleshooting this trip, it made me extremely grateful for the friends I have made during my time here. It’s awesome to watch everybody’s personalities come into play when we’re all so out of our element. There were a few times that tensions were high, everyones hungry, exhausted, and lost but we stayed giggling, and made light of our situation. I came into my abroad experience not knowing anyone and I have made such a fun group of friends that make me excited to go out, try new things and travel.
Upon writing this blog, I have completed my first full month abroad in Spain. Yay!!
Originally, I planned for my blogs to be some insightful, eye-opening pieces in which I could express my various emotions surrounding the study abroad experience. But let’s be realistic, we gotta write about the fun stuff too. Specifically, some excursions!
Málaga
On my third week abroad I and a few other girls in the ISA program decided to book a weekend trip to Málaga, a fun little city on the southern coast of Spain. What a fun, unexpected excursion. We stayed Thursday through Sunday and packed in as much as we could. Lots of delicious food from pizza to Aperol spritzes to various breakfast toasts and LOTS of ice cream. My personal favorite meal was the paella we got on our last night. For those who don’t know, paella is a traditional Spanish dish made with a rice base and either seafood or chicken mixed into it. We got a little bit of both and it was DELICIOUS.
We got to explore so many fun museums and outside structures like the Alcazaba, a palatial fortification built during the period of Muslim-ruled Al-Alandus. I realized I have a deep affinity for Islamic architecture, as well as unique water features. Málaga at night was so lively and fun, all the streets decorated with white tile in the central area near the Cathedral de Málaga (which we ate dinner under the first night) and throughout all the streets dotted with shops and bars. We spent a day just rotting at the beach, enjoying the choppy waves and collecting various fun rocks.
We also decided to sporadically visit the Málaga Museum of Architecture, which was only one euro and such a fun way to pass the time. On the last morning before our flight, we stopped by the Picasso Museum, which was certainly a highlight of the trip. Hot take: the Picasso exhibit was interesting, but I’ve got to say that I loved the guest exhibit more. Maria Blanchard was an artist living the same years as Picasso, however, due to the fact she was a woman, she didn’t receive HALF the recognition he did. Her work was incredible, please check her out.
La Rioja y Pamplona
For another weekend trip our program took off to La Rioja (wine country) and the bustling city of Pamplona. La Rioja was short and sweet, we were taken to an underground wine cellar and given a wine tasting. Who knew that wine had so many different things determining taste?! The color, the hue, the smell, everything matters.
Exploring the old town afterward was such a treat, it’s a gorgeous culmination of old cobblestone, arches, and a gorgeous outlook of just miles and miles of vineyards and valleys. We got to explore the garden of Navarra in LaGuardia before heading off on a bus to Pamplona, where the real party began.
Pamplona is city home to the annual Running of the Bulls (Feast of San Fermin). After a quick tour, a few of us went to get some churros con chocolate, something I’ve been dying to try upon my arrival. (They did NOT disappoint). After the best burger and salad of my life, we explored the city at night, finding the most precious bar with a cat logo and savoring some “frizzante” (tasted like Moscato).
The next day we were treated to a buffet breakfast and another tour of the city, specifically the path where the running of the bulls commences. It’s such an interesting tradition, and anyone can run, as long as you are of age. Before the start of the run, participants sing to San Fermin three times to ask for his blessing and protection, as written on a sign along the path.
We ended the day with seeing the gorgeous Royal Holy Mary Cathedral of Pamplona, grabbing some food and piling back into the bus for a quick stop at El Alton del Perdón. Most people hike the beautiful trail, we were lucky enough to be taken to the top where I had my first up-close encounter with a windmill.
The outlook was breathtaking. It really puts into perspective just how small you really are in such a big, busy world.
Hike to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Pro tip: when your program director asks you if you want to go on a chill, fun hike, say yes…because it will probably end up being the most rewarding, challenging, entirely uphill climb of your entire life to see some of the most incredible views!
On a day we were blessed with no school, our ISA director Genoveva took us on a hike to see San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet in Spain connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. Originally built as a convent, it now serves as a tourist attraction for avid fans of the show, Game of Thrones, since apparently one of the episodes was filmed there (I wouldn’t know I’ve only seen House of Dragon). It was one of the hardest, most fulfilling hikes I’ve ever been on, and one of the most thrilling. Seeing deep blue water surround an incredible structure like that just shifts something in your brain. I could have stayed up there all day just gazing into the distance.
After said hike, a bunch of us decided to jump into the ice-cold ocean down at the beach as a reward. I’ve never felt so alive. That paired with the bocadillo my host mom packed me was a perfect end to a perfect day.
Safe to say that I have been BUSY! Posting more blogs this week to make up for it. Agur!!
DU Abroad 