New Europe Kids on Gaudi's trail: Spain Excursion

The 5-day excursion to Spain this past week was anything but boring for the New Europe Program! Whether they were at historical sites, palaces, art museums or even Flamenco shows, just about every hour of the day was packed with engaging activity in the culture and history to which the country is so deeply rooted.

The first half of this excursion was spent in the capital city of Madrid, where we were greeted by our fantastic, knowledgeable tour-guide, Diana. Our days were filled with museum visits—including trips to the incredible Reina Sofia, as well as the Museo del Prado—containing one of the world’s most well known European art collections. I don’t think any of us had expected the amount of energy it took to look at all of this art! History lessons were not in short supply, however, as we were able to explore the Royal Palace, as well as the medieval city of Toledo—an example of Muslims, Jews, and Catholics coexisting over time. Perhaps one of the bigger cultural shocks for the American students was the late time during which Spanish eat and drink in the evening. For the most part, we adopted the mantra, “when in Spain, do as the Spanish do”, and enjoyed tapas (much like appetizers) and drinks well into the night.

When the time came to move on to Barcelona, we realized the radical change in culture almost immediately after stepping off of the train. Masses of young crowds walked the boulevards, donning a relaxed, almost bohemian style; and the buildings stood alone as unique pieces of Catalan artwork. We Californians were delighted to break out our sunglasses after weeks of winter, and some even dared to put on shorts and flips-flops for the first time since our arrival in Europe! Art and architecture were continuously part of the adventure as we explored the origins of legends such as Gaudi, Picasso, and Joan Miro. Perhaps the most encompassing aspect of Barcelona, however was the architectural designs of native Gaudi, witnessed in the magnificently impressive Sagrada Familia Cathedral, and the Park Güell.

Check out our picture blow at: http://aibbonn.tumblr.com

Written by Dane Vaughn, NEP Spring 2013