Upon arriving in Spain this past summer I felt immersed in a new, but very hospitable, culture. I had been to Spain once before when I was too young to remember much of the experience. I was eager to return and hoped that my ability to speak the language would be sufficient for the trip. My mother was especially excited to visit Spain, as she had fond memories of studying abroad for a year in college.
At the airport in Madrid we were greeted by the family with whom she lived during that year. “Our Spanish family,” as Mom liked to call them, did everything they could to ensure that we had a good trip. Carlos, my “grandfather,” delayed his vacation on the Mediterranean to come pick us up at the airport with Monica, one of my “aunts,” and to show us around Madrid. That same night, Laura, another one of my “aunts,” hosted a large reception for our family and all the Spanish relatives at her house. They presented a huge array of tapas, or small culinary delights, for everyone to feast upon.
On the second day, Carlos took us to Segovia, his beautiful hometown which had an antique charm. The town was the site of the Roman Aqueducts and the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. After touring the Cathedral, we enjoyed a lemon granizado in Segovia’s Plaza Mayor, and we admired the gazebo that Carlos’ grandfather built. The gastronomic highlight of the day was the town’s world renowned restaurant, el Mesón de Cándido. Upon arriving at the restaurant we were lucky enough to witness the ceremonial presentation of the roast suckling pig. A. Candido, the son of the deceased founder and a long-time friend of Carlos, recited an exceptionally long speech before proceeding to slice up the pig with the side of a plate. At the end of the ceremony he smashed the plate on the floor, earning a resounding applause. At the end of the day we saw the Alcázar, the famous castle after which Disney’s Cinderella Castle is modeled.
The following day we traveled by car to Alicante, a city located along the east coast of Spain, where my “aunt” Susana and her family live, and where Carlos and Fely have their summer home on San Juan Beach. We stayed there for five days, enjoying the pristine waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Fely served us tortilla to celebrate our arrival. My favorite Spanish dish, tortilla is a delectable omelet containing potato and onion. Other enticing foods were Manchego cheese, “chorizo”, which is a sausage similar to pepperoni, and the famous rice and seafood dish “paella.”
Although I had become accustomed to Spanish culture at this point, it was still difficult to get used to the meal schedule. Unlike Americans, the Spanish people enjoy their main meal of the day in the afternoon and eat their evening meal very late. The afternoon siesta, typically between 2 and 5 pm, allows the Spanish people the opportunity to take a break from work to relax with friends and family.
Located in the region of Cataluña, Barcelona was another interesting city to visit. Catalan, rather than Spanish, is the main language spoken throughout Cataluña. Although nervous at first, I was happy to discover that the people there also spoke Spanish. Within Barcelona reside some architectural marvels by Antoni Gaudí, including his masterwork, the Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia. I was very impressed by its radiant stained glass windows and the sheer enormity of the edifice. Another attraction, El Pueblo Español, featured the regions of Spain in a similar manner to the Global Pavilion in Disney World’s Epcot theme park. We stayed in Barcelona for three days before returning to Madrid for the last leg of the trip.
During our first day back in Madrid we decided to visit the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor, the Main Square where tourists flock for photos, tapas, and souvenirs. We sat down for some tapas and enjoyed our patio view of the Plaza Mayor, after which we strolled to the neighboring Mercado San Miquel, a century-old market featuring the favorites of Spanish cuisine. We proceeded to the Museo del Jamon, a huge vendor of Serrano Ham, which is similar to prosciutto and is a favorite food of Spaniards. Our next stop was the “Puerta del Sol” (Gate of the Sun), where one can stand on “Kilometer 0”, the center of Madrid from which all distances to other Spanish cities are measured.
One night, we headed to the Plaza de Toros to watch a bullfight. Although a controversial part of Spanish culture, I personally found it quite interesting. While a group of English-speaking college students weighed in on the morality of bullfighting, I enjoyed the excitement of watching los toreros interact tactfully with each of the six bulls. If one does not wish to embrace the brilliance of Spanish culture, why bother visiting Spain in the first place?
On another day, we enjoyed Retiro Park and rented a row boat for a good arm workout. Afterwards, we headed to “Aunt” Natalia’s house. She graciously invited us over on a few occasions to spend time with the rest of the family and enjoy home-cooked meals. Needless to say, I now have numerous “aunts,” “uncles,” “cousins,” friends, and another set of “grandparents” who will forever be a special part of my life. The Spaniards always stressed the importance of family togetherness and maintained a system of values of which we should all take heed.
To Carlos, Fely, Monica, Eduardo, Jaime, Susana, Juan Antonio, Natalia, Miguel, Natalia, Antonio, Yosune, Angel, Carlota, Laura, Daniel, Carlitos, Nicolas, Marie Carmen, Mamen, Nacho, Javier, Maria, Juan Antonio, Elizabeth, Alejandro, and Nacho, I would like to say “Miles de gracias de vuestra familia americana. Nuestra casa es vuestra casa”. (“A thousand thanks from your American family. Our home is your home.”)