Goodbyes and Great Memories: Day 15 – May 22, 2022

It is hard to believe that our time in Spain is coming to an end. We have spent the past two weeks immersed in a new culture and learning about the country, international social work, and ourselves. For many of us, it was the first time we had traveled abroad. All the preparation and anxiety that preceded our arrival had given way to a sense of belonging in this city, among our host families, and with each other. Although we are now headed back to our individual lives in our different cities and circumstances, we have all been changed by this shared experience.

 The view from our living room window.      

Our luggage is packed and ready to go!

As I told my roommate this morning, I dislike endings. I knew that at some point, between the packing and the plane ride, a sadness would come. The most memorable experiences often pass by too quickly, and this was a trip like no other. For our final breakfast in Alicante, we had croissants, cookies, coffee, and one last Tokke bar to go (this was a daily routine – our host mom, Ana, never let us go hungry or leave without a snack). After breakfast, we sat in the living room with Ana one last time, talking about the coming weeks and our hope to visit Alicante again soon. Then it was time to go.

The last breakfast in Alicante.

Eveling and I with our host mom, Ana.

After a slightly chaotic bus ride, we arrived at the airport. From there, seven of us began what would be an equally chaotic and exhausting trip through six time zones back to Florida. Our first flight out of Alicante left 30 minutes late, leaving us scrambling to get to our international flight out of Madrid on time. We made it with a little time to spare and settled in for the 10-hour flight to Miami. My seat mate told me that he was flying home from Spain, where he had previously lived and met his wife of 25 years. His adventures in Spain also began with a study abroad (though his lasted a full year)!

Waiting for our flight in the Alicante airport.

We arrived in Miami and experienced a range of emotions as our final flight to Tampa was delayed by almost three hours, then changed to 15 minutes late, then an hour and a half late, before finally departing about 20 minutes after the originally scheduled time. We were exhausted as we slowly made our way to baggage claim in Tampa where we waited… until the belt stopped moving and we realized that none of our luggage had made it onto the flight.

One last look at Alicante.

We continue waiting, hoping for the return of our belongings and souvenirs. Despite the less-than-stellar return journey and the uncertainty surrounding the lost bags, I still feel so grateful. This has been the experience of a lifetime. We have all made new friends from Tampa to San Francisco, Alicante, and other parts of Spain. We learned about social work, health care, education, and advocacy in a different context; now we can bring those lessons back with us to strengthen our work at home. Many of us have been reminded why we chose to pursue a career in social work or related fields. As we look back on the photos, review our travel journals, and begin working on our research papers, we will continue to bear witness to the impacts that international social work has on our lives and those that we hope to serve. I hope to continue the conversations and reflection-style discussions with everyone over the coming months and years as we each continue our academic and professional careers. Maybe we will even see each other again in Alicante someday.

A group photo taken in Granada.

A special thanks to Dr. Joshi, Dr. Carrion, Cynthia, Armando, Vinayak, and all the agencies who helped make this trip possible and provided us with these unforgettable experiences!

Final Free Time! Day 14 – May 21, 2022

Our last day in Alicante came way too quickly. As I write this, a collection of beautiful views, long walks, inspiring site visits, and moments of admiration for the lovely humans in my class play in my head like a supercut from a dreamy movie. 

Our last day was full of free time, and our group divided to make the most of our various activities – some soaking in the sun at the beach once more, searching for last-minute souvenirs to return home with, sharing tapas at a small cafe, or even just roaming the streets, wandering into shops, and basking in all of the beauty that Alicante has to offer.

After enjoying the famous sands of San Juan earlier in the week, my group opted for a second beach day; we chose to visit the beach not far from we were staying – Playa Postigüet. 

After laying by the water for a few hours, we climbed the spiral walkway  to eat bocadillos and pan con tomate at a nearby restaurant. 

And then had some legendary horchata at Horchatería Azul before taking the bus back to our host homes.

In the evening, a group of us went to a nearby park for a “battle of the bands”-type tournament and listened to the music of the final three bands of the competition.

We ended the night with farewell drinks and laughs and hugs. It’s unbelievable how close a group of seventeen individuals (many of us complete strangers) can become in just two weeks. Despite our mix of majors, we bonded over our mutual desire and passion to help others. It was a pleasure and privilege to be a part of this trip and to learn with and from everyone that participated in it. So, I guess the only next question is: When’s the reunion?

– Emi Sukijbumrung

“Knowledge is Power” Day 13 – May 20, 2022

Our last day of activities was one filled with lots of fun and learning! We met at the Mercado and then took the tram to Colegio El Valle, which is a school for students ages 3-18.

Currently, this school is ranked #1 in terms of their scores in the college entrance exams for graduating seniors. This is also where Cynthia’s grandchildren attend. A few students actually got to see her grandchildren!

The educational system in Spain is split into 4 levels. There is 0-2 which is optional for parents. There is pre-school for kids ages 3-5. Then there is primary school for students ages 6-11 and then secondary school which is ages 12-16. At this point, students are done with their required schooling. They can choose to pursue vocational programs or do a Baccalaureate (DP) which is two years of schooling. In El Valle, they have the IB program which many countries also have but El Valle started the IB program 8 years ago. Then, of course the student can choose to move on and attend university.

Cynthia mentioned to us that many students choose to do IB because they can study many different subjects if they are unsure what they want to get their degree on. Students can choose a focus when pursuing a Baccalaureate which are Art, Science, Mathematics, Languages, Humanities, etc. If a student is sure of what they want to study they can go straight into university and apply directly to the program of study they want to obtain a degree in. There is no changing programs midway, like students in the U.S. are able to do.

El Valle has a system called ManagePac where students, parents, and teachers can communicate. Students can see their grades and receive feedback. They really stressed the idea that communication is key! There is also a program called KiVa founded in 2006 in Finland, which intends to combat bullying.

Myself along with Ela, Nicolle, and Emi got to observe a class with secondary school students. The teacher we met was Pedro and this was his first year teaching at El Valle. These kids who were around 13 years old were in a technical design class which was essentially physics, and they were reviewing an exam which was almost entirely in English! Also, most of the class was taught in English with the exception of some commentary in Spanish. I was shocked they were learning this! Emily, Brianna, and Ethan got to observe primary school students. I heard that many kids were shocked by Ethan’s mustache and by Emily’s hair and necklace! Meanwhile, Britney, Jamie, Hannah, Mia, Taylor, and Laura all observed the two year olds and infancy and also visited all the age groups except for baccalaureate. Many of the pre-k kids seemed to be able to stare at you for hours!

Another thing that was great, was the fundraiser that was being conducted by the older kids, geared towards women who were in jail. This was aimed to help them once they leave jail to re-enter society, and also help with supporting their families. I thought this was a really great cause that they were supporting. 

Lastly, Cynthia mentioned to us that the school has a pool. We passed by the art class, and the outside play area where secondary school students were having recess. This colegio also teaches robotics. Both Cynthia and Nuria were really great when answering all our questions in the beginning (especially from Ethan) and were kind enough to offer coffee and a little snack before we were split into our respective groups. 

The art classroom.

This was a really great experience and an excellent way to end our last day of activities. Students that attend El Valle International College are surely receiving a top notch education.

Later in the afternoon, a few students went bowling at “Bowling Ozone” and also had a heated competition while playing air hockey. 😅

Many students are taking time to talk to their host mom’s to gain some information for their eco-map assignment and just savoring the last few days in Alicante. 

– Eveling Escober

Olé! Day 12 – May 19, 2022

The countdown begins… There are three days till half of us head back to the states while, the other half get ready to adventure out. 

Mia and I happily woke up at 8:30am to some wonderful breakfast made by our host mom (Maria).

Here is Mia with a traditional morning breakfast.

Maria, our host mom, always serves us; yogurt, fruit, orange juice, and bread with many options of spread. Then we made our way to El Mercado Central, where we met up with our group to start the morning adventure.

We took a short walk to the Plaza de Toros. Where the tour started and we stopped right in front of this statue below; “Alicante al Foguerer”.

Armando explained how foguere can be translated to “Bonfire” and on June 24th, which is the Eve of Saint John, the people light these statues that are all around the city on fire. He described it as a big ‘Catharsis’, which is defined as the process of releasing, and therefore providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. This links greatly with bullfighting, as Armando described ‘catharsis’ is a big part about what bullfighting is all about.

The building we explored is 300 years old! However, they have made subtle changes to the building throughout the years. For instance, around the 1960’s the arches in the windows displayed below is one of the changes made. This would have been around the time Franco’s leadership occurred. Armando then brings up Franco’s regime which is famously talked about in the streets of Spain. Franco definitely left a footprint in the country.

We’ve learned that there are risks in every situation within bullfighting. Both for the animal and for the person in the ring. There are many variations of bullfighting although the most known is the bull fighter with the red cape trying to kill the bull. An interesting fact: the “Matador” (which is what they call the bull fighter) goes in the ring after the bull has been weakened. It could be very deathly either way. Once the matador has won, they cut off the ear and the tail as a trophy.

In certain cases where the bull wins, they are then pardoned. As well as their bloodline because there is a high possibility that the bulls are also very strong and could win again.

Lastly, bullfighting is only done in Spain, Portugal, Southern France, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Peru. This sport is passed on by generations and starts at a young age in order to learn the techniques and skills needed to win.

Laura, Mia, me, and Hannah at the bull fighting ring. Sun was very hot!

After, we all went back to our host families and ate lunch. On our way home we stopped by “Horchateria Azul”, known to be the best horchateria in town. We absolutely loved it. Had such a rich flavor. I would definitely recommend.

Next, we made our way to the Centro de Salud (community health center). Mercedes Martinez, which is a social worker that works within the center, showed us around the facility and then explained the job that a social worker has within the facility. Very interesting to learn that it is a very demanding job. There are many people in and out of the center in need of different services. It is up to the social worker to facilitate the services needed for each individual.

Lastly, we made our way to the park where we got ready to do our reflections for the day. It had been a long day but getting together to reflect on the information we learned is a great refresher. Our professors asked us one question; what are two things we are greatful for? My answer was; “I am grateful for my support system and I am grateful to be on this trip to experience so much more than I would have in my home state.”

(Group Photo at the Museo Taurino de Alicante)

– Brit Guerra

Feliz Cumpleaños! Day 11 – May 18, 2022

Today is my birthday! So some of us celebrated at midnight and got some rest before the day’s activities. Today we visited Asociación de Espina Bifida e Hidrocefalia, which is the Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. We were able to listen to a presentation explaining what Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus is, what programs and services the association offers as well as some of the personal experiences of some of the members there.

Some of the services they offer.

I learned that there are multiple types of Spina Bifida and it is a congenital malformation of the neural tube, which occurs roughly during weeks 3 & 4 of the gestation period. It was important for us to know that when a baby is born, they are born with the condition already but it can be prevented by regularly taking folic acid at some point before pregnancy. Spina Bifida is one of the most difficult malformations to be compatible with life as it can severely impair mobility. While there are very severe cases, the degree of one’s condition ultimately depends on which type they have. I also learned that 70% of people with Spina Bifida develop Hydrocephalus, which is when the liquid running through the spinal cord gets trapped inside the brain.

Listening to one of the members of the association share his experiences about living with Spina Bifida.

Some services they offer are social attention, physiotherapy, health guidance, intervention and treatment, cooperation and diffusion, and leisure and coexistence. Social attention is where we as social workers come into play. The goal of this service area is to provide information and advice to society because most people simply just don’t know what it is like living with this condition. Social workers also work in an interdisciplinary team as they are constantly coordinating with other professionals. Lastly, they participate in social intervention and act as a mediator between public services and the individual, defending their rights and advocating for them.

This location has a gym where they can perform activities that help them with mobility in daily life. They also have a program of transition to adult life that helps them with basic daily activities such as: showering, dressing, and feeding themselves as well as helping them figure out how to navigate public transportation. In an effort to inform the public about Spina Bifida, they have awareness programs in high schools.

Their leisure program consists of monthly activities that are typically day trips to somewhere fun, like a museum, the movies, or even just out to lunch. During the summer, they have a longer (about 5-6 days) trip to a summer camp, which a lot of them enjoy. One individual shared that the summer camp is a great way of meeting people and relating to others in the group as well as breaking way from routine and monotony of every day life. The short trips consist of just this group and the longer trips are with other associations, which I thought was really neat. We also talked about if discrimination is something that they face frequently and they collectively said (for the most part) that there isn’t as much social discrimination as you would think, but the physical and architectural barriers of the city are a huge challenge. While some individuals experience more discrimination than others, we found out that it occurs most often in schools and when looking for jobs.

Another individual shared that she went to university and had a normal lifestyle until she had surgery on her foot and had to use a wheelchair. Her friends were very helpful during that time and the university was well adapted to wheelchairs, different than everyday architecture because most streets and sidewalks are difficult to maneuver. We asked her what we can do as social workers when it comes to working with this population and she said to fight for accessibility, to educate others-including teachers on how to be more flexible to an individual with this condition-, and to be a mediator with the families so that the individual is appropriately getting their needs met. Last, the mother of a 17-year-old girl spoke from the perspective of a parent. When we asked her what we should do as social workers, she said that the most important thing to keep in mind when working with a family is the patient. She also said that it largely depends on the mentality of the parents to determine the outcome for the child’s success. It is also important to know that another big problem people with Spina Bifida experience is overprotection by society because, from the perspective of someone with Spina Bifida, society isn’t ready to see that people in wheelchairs can live an independent life and educating the public and advocating for rights is what we need to focus on.

After a very informative presentation, we were able to play adapted basketball with them, ride their adapted bikes, and use a wheelchair to go zig-zag through cones to see that it’s not as easy as it looks! We had so much fun with music playing and interacting with individuals from the association.

Experiencing alternative mobility devices.

Our group photo with members of the association!

After visiting the association, Emi and I took our afternoon siesta (nap) and went to a nice tapas restaurant for some small appetizers and a glass of wine along the water. Afterwards, the group met for dinner for my birthday where I ended up being sang to and gifted a dessert…overall, a VERY successful birthday!

– Brianna Leigh

Rest Day (Day 10) – May 17, 2022

After a long week of waking up early hours and running on fumes, we were rewarded a rest day! To start the day, Ethan, Ela, and I decided to check out a vintage thrift shop we saw earlier in the week called Elephanta Vintage. We put on a whole fashion show in the dressing rooms, and each of us walked out there that morning with unique pieces. As we were walking back to the apartment all three of us decided that it would be a sin if we did not visit the Alicante beach at the Esplanade. So, we arrived home and had lunch with our host moms. Before leaving, I had brought my Polaroid Camara to take photos with our host mom and give them pictures as keepsakes. Our host mom, Vale, was thrilled, and we had a mini photoshoot before we left. 

While a majority of the group had similar ideas, most of the others went on the tram to Playa de San Juan. One thing that really stood out to me was the lack of seagulls I am used to seeing at the beaches back in Florida, and how the only birds I saw in Esplanade were pigeons. While we work on our tans, Evelyn and Brittany went to the Museo of Arqueológico de Alicante. 

“Something I thought was interesting that we learned about was that back then there were 4 different types of gladiators,” emphasized Evelyn.  

The four classes of Roman Gladiators are Retiarius, Dimachaeri, Hoplomachus, and Gallus gladiators. 

“The different Gladiators all had their respective costumes” -Evelyn

Later in the evening, Ela and I got ready to meet with Ethan downstairs. We caught him on our way down and we made our way over to dinner at La Casona Alicantina where we would be ending the night and meeting with Taylor and Emily! When we got there, we ordered a variety of tapas and we cannot forget Ethan’s favorite, calamari. For myself, I ordered sopa de marisco (seafood soup) and a cup of red wine. Ela sent a picture to her boyfriend who hates seafood and he replied with, “It’s literally staring back at you.” 

– Nicolle De Hoyos Uribe

Start of Week 2 in Alicante! Day 9 – May 16, 2022

After a jam-packed weekend in Granada, we began our second week abroad in Alicante, Spain, with a visit to the University of Miguel Hernandez Hospital. We fit in multiple visits with dedicated professionals at the hospital today who took time out of their schedule to share their knowledge with us. We were able to speak with Dr. Miriam Hurtado, who shared with us what occupational therapy entails, such as the services and resources offered to those in need. For example, building and creating the mold for a cast would be something taught to students participating in their internship. A psychiatric social worker at the day hospital here shared her experience administrating group workshops for individuals with personality disorders. In addition, many other doctors in the hospital talked to us about the health system in the autonomous community Alicante is located in, Comunidad Valenciana, and how their specific hospital is laid out to provide the necessary services to patients in their care. One of the doctors was kind enough to show us around the pediatric unit of the day hospital, and we walked around to see the layout, including the neonatal unit.

The conversations we engaged in with these professionals highlighted the diverse health practices their community had to offer in comparison to the United States. We inquired about the differences in the private and public sectors and how individuals receive services in either scenario, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their hospital system, the role a social worker would play in the hospital environment, and how an individual would study to become a doctor and the prestige accompanied by it, and what occupational therapists in effect do. For application, one of our group leaders, Vinayak Naidu, showed us his personal health card that he uses in Spain. Much like the citizens of Spain and the Comunidad Valenciana, all healthcare services are provided to people for free in the public sector, which is all covered by the country’s taxes and that of the autonomous communities. He explained that the health card essentially is a record of his medical history and important relevant medical information about himself that allows his doctor and even other medical professionals in other parts of the country to be aware of his history and thus provide the appropriate services. To take it a step further, one could even acquire a global card by going to their physical or family doctor and asking for the identification card that would be valid across the European Union, which would work and apply in all countries in Europe! Since this process is a part of the public system, individuals do not need to pay for any of the mentioned processes unless they seek out private services themselves.

After lunch and a short period for siesta, we all came together in the center of the city to sit on the grass and share with one another our reflections for the day. Every day we are here is another opportunity to learn more about international social work that we did not know about before traveling abroad. One important thing I discovered was that social workers in the hospital setting are included in the client-decision process and work hand in hand with doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists to bounce ideas off one another before deciding on the treatment plan for a patient. It was also very interesting to see how the motives of the hospital system in Spain are to efficiently treat all and any patients, so they oftentimes will place individuals in need of different treatments in the same building so they can effectively treat and reach everyone as soon as they can.

Finally, Bri, Jamie, Emi, Hannah, Laura, Brit and I went to a restaurant to spend our evening together and enjoy some of the city’s nightlife. Afterward, we enjoyed some ice cream and were able to sit by the water. Overall, it was another eventful day in Spain, and I cannot wait to see what tomorrow has in store for us.

– Mia Galeano

The Alhambra and the Return to Alicante! Day 8 – May 15, 2022

Starting off the day, most of us rushed to pack up from our fantastic trip to Granada! We had a quick breakfast at the hotel and we were quickly off to walk to the Alhambra. Originally, the Alhambra was designed as a military area. During the 13th century, it became the royal residence of Granada after the establishment of the Kingdom of Nasrid. The first palace was built by Alhamar, who was also known as Mohammed ibn Yusuf ben Nasr. We started at the front of the Alhambra to get a quick explanation of the layout by Armando. We visited Alhambra in four distinct sections: La Alcazaba (military complex), the Nasrid Palaces and the medina where there were the residences: the Charles V Palace, and the Generalife Palace (gardens). These sections make up the Alhambra.

We left the front of the Alhambra to walk towards the very end! Armando told us that working our way from the end to the beginning will allow us more room to move around and talk without everyone being bunched together! Armando also explained that the Alhambra in Arabic means “the red” which is theorized to derive from the reddish colors on the outer walls or that one of the rulers had red hair and was named after him.

Once inside the Alhambra, we started at La Alcazaba first. This is part is the fortified military complex of the Alhambra. The construction of the complex started during the Caliph period, and it’s believed that the building was possibly built on the remains of a Roman fort. During the 11th century, the city was taken over by the Kingdom of Granada, which is part of a small independent kingdom known as the Taifa. Some of the notable additions that can be found in this area include the Torre del Cubo, which is a round tower that was a Christian addition. The main constructions of the building date from the Nasrid period which was between the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. The walk to the top of the fortress was difficult, but we soon found out that the view was worth it!

My classmates and I were awestruck by the view and could not help but stare at it in amazement!

Next on our adventures, we went to the Nasrid Palaces which were built in the 13th century. The buildings that we see today are mainly from the 14th century. The complex was started by Alhamar, who was the founder of the Granada dynasty. The walls of these buildings enclose the delicate and refined features of the last Arab rulers, such as the Nasrids. The script featured on the walls is from the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam. The script on walls and decorations is a common practice in the Islam faith.

The Court of the Lions is a very popular place to visit in the heart of the Alhamra citadel! The decorative richness and water system is the main attraction at the Alhambra for most people.

Images of faces in Islam art are very rare because the religion believes it is thought to enable the worship of idols. It was very interesting to see this image here and the intricacy that was put into it.

Throughout history, different names have been given to the Court of the Myrtles, which is also known as the Patio de Los Arrayanes. Its current name is due to the large pond that’s located in this area that is surrounded by myrtle bushes. The bright green color contrasts nicely with the white marble that is on the patio. The other name for this area is Patio del Estanque o de la Alberca, meaning the Patio of the Pond or Reservoir, which refers to the area’s central pond. The pond divides the palace’s outdoor area into two parts. There are various chambers on either side of the pond. These columns feature carved columns and are adorned with inscriptions praising God.

The Medina featured various structures such as public toilets, ovens, and workshops. It also housed the homes of high officials and servants. The Baths were built to the east of the Comares Palace and they followed the model of Roman thermal baths.

While walking through the bathroom area, we found out that one of our own has an incredible singing voice! Jamie graced up with a performance of Ave Maria within a space that echoes!

The Charles V Palace was built after the city was seized by the Spanish Catholic Monarchs in 1492. It’s also in the medina. The Charles V Palace was built after the emperor needed a place that would provide him and his family with all the comforts of home. The palace was located next to the Alhambra, and it was constructed in order to enjoy its beauty. The architect who designed the palace was Pedro Machuca, who was a lover of Renaissance architecture. The building was constructed in 1527, and it was financed in 1957. During this period, various revolts and delays prevented the palace from being completed. The palace’s facade measures 63 meters wide by 17 meters high. It features a circular center, and it’s one of the most prominent buildings in Spain. Its south and west facades are only partially decorated. Due to its location, the north and east portions of the palace are only partially visible from the Alhambra.

Within the Charles V Palace, there were two museums where one had Islam Art and the other Christian Art. both places were very different styles with the Islam art looking much older than the Christian Art. Both were beautiful and I wish we could have taken photographs, but all we have to say is …. you just had to be there.

On the way to the last section, Generalife, we ran into a lizard! This was really exciting for us because in Florida we see them everywhere. During our week here, we quickly made notes of the absence of our little reptile friends, and to see one sparked joy!

The next and final stop of the Alhambra was Generalife! This is a recreation house surrounded by orchards and gardens! These gardens were so beautiful and serene. The garden also offered the perfect view of the castle.

This tree was one of my favorite moments of the day! There is a legend about a maiden and soldier and that their love will only die once this tree does. Stories like that are so beautiful and give character to the tree itself.

After a long day at the Alhambra, we were all excited to shop a little and sit down for lunch! Once lunch was over we grabbed our luggage and started our journey back to our host families in Alicante! Our time in Granada came to the perfect ending with a beautiful tour and an unforgettable history lesson. Adios Granada!

Back in Alicante, we had dinner with our host families, whom we have missed, and relax after the long day of walking and traveling! Some students went out to try fast food places and to see how they compare to ours in the U.S.

– Taylor Binger

Granada Greatness! Day 7 – May 14, 2022

Waking up well rested my roommates Taylor, Nicolle, Ela and I started our day getting ready for breakfast at the beautiful Hotel Alixares. They had a plethora of foods laid out for the buffet, including some American breakfast like eggs and bacon. I enjoyed some orange juice and a croissant while Nicolle and Ela ventured out to try some different fruits similar to melons.

A beautiful staircase at the hotel.

A lion statue we passed on our way to the vans!

After breakfast, our group took a short walk to the vans where we piled in to go to the monastery! I’ve been enjoying the car rides here since it allows us to see the breathtaking scenery of southern Spain. The pictures I’ve included are only a glimpse of the amazing views we have been seeing all week. All across Spain in the cities, I’ve seen gorgeous graffiti art and breathtaking views.

When we arrived at the monastery, Armando gave us some background on why the city of Granada is important to American history. The Catholic king and queen Isabel and Ferdinand wanted to unify a new nation and in the process they needed to conquer all the kingdoms. The other biggest one was Granada, which was under Muslim rule. After seven years and a tedious blockade in the valley of Granada harrassing anyone trying to do business with Granada, they turned people against the king. At a similar time, Christopher Columbus’ proposal to go to America was rejected by Portugese king, so he went to Isabella and Ferdinand in Granada to ask for funding. The events that occurred here gave way to why we live in America! There was a catch, he asked to be an admiral of navy, a judge in America, he asked for a percentage of the taxes and the king and queen said yes. He got boats and people to go. After 3 months he landed in the Dominican Republic and on his 4th trip he landed on mainland America in Venezuela. After conquering Granada the king and queen moved to Barcelona. Christopher Columbus came back to Barcelona and although he succeeded they denied his previous requests.

Armando and Cynthia being amazing historical experts!

Outside the Monastery

The floor leading to the monastery and the beautiful rock designs!

Inside the monastery we visited what was once the dining hall which is now filled with oil paintings depicting the Catholic vision of the Catholics being martyrs against Protestants. Many of these paintings would not have been in the dining hall when it was a dining hall but they were painted around 1600.

As we continued throughout the monastery, we got to see gorgeous gold leaf plated decoration and baroque accents. It was genuinely breathtaking and my friend and roomate Taylor got multiple pictures of me smiling staring at the intricate ceiling designs. I would definitely recommend seeing it at least once in your life.

I want to be an art therapist and I oil paint myself, baroque and oil paintings are my favorites so I was absolutely thriving today. I must say that personally this was one of my favorite things we have done so far. Just take a second to think about the time that went into each of the paintings! The underpaintings, layers, varnishes and more including restoration and upkeep. The architecture was stunning, my eyes could stare at the inside for hours and still not have seen every little detail.

A group photo in front of a statue with beautiful marble columns.

The ceilings were my favorite part of the building, they had gorgeous detailed paintings.

After visiting the Monastery we all drove back to the parking area and walked to the cathedral. 

There was a slight cultural difference we got to observe, walking to the cathedral there was a lady offering us rosemary in Spanish (so I did not understand) but Armando explained that sometimes it is offered and it’s an evil eye situation where if you accept it a spell is cast over you. None of us took the rosemary but I thought it was interesting to note since that’s not a thing in the US. We took a quick stop at a beautiful park and then walked downhill to the Cathedral.

Then we made it to the stunning Cathedral. The building was wedged into the already existing urban footprint of the city. There were more beautiful architecture details and gorgeous oil paintings.

After visiting the Cathedral, we took a short bus ride to Casa Torcuato restaurant! We got salads, meat platter, and fish platter, and drinks. After lunch we were all free to go explore the city!

Some wanted to go back to the hotel and get some much needed sleep, some decided to go shopping. Bri, Ela, Emi, Ethan, Nicolle, Taylor, and I went to go get ice cream at the highly recommended Los Italianos! I got a hazelnut cone and a specialty slushee lemonade drink (both were delicious!) Some of the others got vanilla bean, coffee, and almond flavored ice cream.

Then we went around shopping for souvenirs and explored a lot of shops around the city. On the way back we saw Dr. Carrion and Dr. Joshi so I had to get a cute picture. Then we had a treacherous uphill walk back to the hotel, however we did survive!

After getting back to the hotel, Ela and taylor crashed. Nicolle, Ethan and I decided to check out the hotel pool! It was beautiful.

After forcing myself to swim in the cold water we went back to our rooms to get ready for dinner. We wanted to get tapas and decided to walk a different more scenic route to get there. 

Then we arrived at Gran Cafe Bib-Rambla! Taylor, Nicolle, and Ethan split some tapas while I adventured trying some spicy ketchup for my chicken nuggets.

Afterwards we went to Queen Karaoke! Jamie, Bri, Emi, Laura, Ela, Taylor, Ethan, Nicolle, Mia, Brit and Hannah all came and sang some songs!! Some decided to have a calm night at the hotel after dinner as well.

At Queen Karaoke looking through the song book. 

All in all, this saturday was my favorite day on the trip so far. We got to see amazing historical artwork and architecture, we got to try some amazing cuisine and had some free time to go out exploring together. It has been an amazing adventure in the great Granada! 

– Emily Stevens

Off to Granada! Day 6 – May 13, 2022

We started off our journey to Granada by meeting at the Plaza de Los Luceros at 1030 AM. We packed our stuff into two vans and hit the road.

Armando was our driver and during our ride, he pointed out significant monuments and explained the history of the architecture. We stopped about halfway at a pitstop and picked up some snacks and souvenirs. Hannah and Brit took charge of the music; we had a nice mix of Beyoncé and High School Musical.  

After three hours, we made it to Guadix, which is a city and municipality in southern Spain, in the province of Granada. The name “Guadix” comes from the Arabic word Wadi Ash, which means ‘river of life.’ We ate our packed lunches in the plaza, and visited the Cuevas de María for snacks, ice cream, and souvenirs.  

Armando explained to us that many of the inhabitants of this large town live underground in cave houses. It is believed that the origin of cave dwelling began in 1492 when the Moors fled the city into the mountains and dug homes into the earth to hide from further prosecution. These homes still exist today, and the people that live in these homes are immensely proud and eager to show off their homes. We were invited to look around in José and María’s cave house. The first thing I noticed was how cool it was, I thought there was A/C but Armando explained that in the summer, the homes are extremely cool, which is such a relief from the scalding sun, and in the winter, the homes are warm.  

We walked up the stairs to the roof and saw the incredible view of the rest of the barrio and the mountains and valleys. It was truly breathtaking.  

After we left José and María’s home, we went to the Guadix Cathedral, founded in 1594. It is believed that Guadix is one of the oldest diocesan seats in Spain. This cathedral is over 500 years old and has multiple structural influences, from Corinthian columns, baroque architecture, Italian and Renaissance influences. The Cathedral still holds services and is home to many important artifacts.

We hopped back in the car, and we drove an hour and finally made it to Granada. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and our ears were popping all the way to the hotel. Once we arrived, we had a two-hour break before dinner. We spruced up a bit, enjoyed a buffet style dinner with a variety of food and drinks. 

We got on our bus and drove through the beautiful city of Granada. We made a stop at the overlook, which had the most amazing view of the city. We walked through the town and got a tour on the way. The streets of Granada are very tight, which makes driving exceedingly difficult, however, our driver did an amazing job. The streets are cobblestone and makes walking extremely burdensome, but we made it to another overlook, and the view was worth it. We headed back to the bus and drove to the flamenco show. We arrived at Restaurante Flamenco Cueva La Rocío, had a drink, and then sat down and got ready for the show.  

La Rocío was one of the first gypsy (or gitano) caves in the Sacromonte quarter. It was founded by Mr. Andrés Maya Fajardo and Mrs. Rocío Fernández Bustamante in 1951 and is still managed by the Maya family today. The flamenco show was an unbelievable experience. It was such an intimate experience. I found myself in awe of the passion in the dancers’ moves and their stamina. They gave everything they had in their performances, and it was truly remarkable to see. I am so thankful that we were able to experience it as a group.

After a full day of activities, we made it back to the hotel. I am already in love with Granada, the history and culture are so vibrant and boundless. I cannot wait to see what else is next ¡Olé!

– Laura Beverly