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Student Stories from Around the World

Tag: travel (page 7 of 8)

It’s People Not Places

January 25, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Edinburgh from bridge

Their thick Scottish accent only allowed me to understand about every other word that they were saying, but I didn’t much mind because they were just so nice. You could feel the exuberance flowing off of them, as if telling us about their beautiful place of worship helped them feel closer to it. Only about halfway through their introduction to the Cathedral did they even tell us that they were married, but it made sense. This couple was by far the kindest people I’d met since my flight over the pond almost three weeks ago.
We only ended up in Glasgow because when we told our history professor that we were going to Scotland he told us that we won’t have seen Scotland without seeing Glasgow. After he said that, we altered our plans (which were for Edinburgh all weekend) and fit in Glasgow on Sunday. When we told Professor Murphy our good news, he asked us why on earth we were going to Glasgow on a Sunday because everyone there will just be hung over or maybe in church. Awesome. Well, against Murphy’s “better” judgment we made plans to go to Edinburgh on Thursday after class and stay there until Sunday when we would go to Glasgow.

Right after class on Thursday we took a taxi to the train station and hopped on the first of our three trains to Edinburgh. The first two trains were pretty quick but the last one took an entire four hours. The time went relatively quickly and before we knew it we were getting off the train and searching for a taxi. We quickly found the queue for a taxi and found a large taxi that would accommodate us all, but the bigger problem came when we told the taxi driver where we wanted to go. “High Street Hostel, please.” To which the taxi driver responded, “Grapwoi knsdnf oiwndn owei ponf?” At least that’s what it sounded like to us. “High Street Hostel? 8 Blackfriar’s Street?” Repeating those words over and over we eventually ended up at our hostel.
It was perfect! Our hostel was right in the middle of everything and it was truly amazing. Right off the bat, we were amazed at the beauty of the city and the architecture of Edinburgh. After a cheap dinner at a wonderful pub, we walked the (VERY cold) streets before we went back to our hostel and settled down for the night.

Edinburgh Castle

The next morning we walked the very short distance from our hostel to the castle, stopping along the way for some delicious breakfast at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. The stone castle towers over the city with volcanic cliffs plunging down from either side. The tickets to the castle may have been the most expensive thing we paid for all weekend, but it was so incredibly worth it. With cannons protruding from the walls from 360 degrees and buildings dating back to many various eras, the castle just oozed character. In addition, since the castle was built on the top of a dormant volcano, every way you looked off of its defensive walls you saw picturesque Edinburgh cascading down below.
After the castle, we went to Scotland’s National Gallery. Now maybe I’ve just never been to any real art museums, but this was amazing. There is something about seeing Van Gogh’s name by a canvas covered in his brush strokes that left me in awe. In addition to Van Gogh, I saw works by Rembrandt, Monet, Raphael, Botticelli, and by far my favorite were the works by Degas. I grew up seeing copies of his paintings of ballerinas in every studio I ever danced in, so seeing one in real life was really fantastic for me. Plus it was free!

Me, Cliffs, Edinburgh, Canadian

The next day we did something truly awesome which none of the guidebooks recommended. Close to town were two hills, one boasting multiple monuments and the city’s observatory. The other hill was much higher with sheer cliffs on one side. We walked them both and they both offered superb picture taking opportunities. The city was bathed in the glowing light of midday sun and it was just perfect. Not to mention we did all of this with our fun Canadian friend that we had met in the hostel. Hostel folk are just fantastic; you can meet interesting people from all stages in life who are trying to see the world, just like you.

That night we took a tour of the cavernous rooms lurking below the Scottish streets of Edinburgh. They were spooky for sure, but definitely had a dark and interesting path. With each new turn, a story was told showing some dark aspect of that room or corridor’s past. Not for people who are easily spooked, but definitely an interesting stop on our journey. However, no thanks to the complimentary whiskey that tasted like death itself.
After the short train ride the following morning we stepped out of the train station and into a Glasgow town square, abandoned by everyone but Santa. Yes, you read that correctly. Every direction there were clusters of people dressed like Santa. Within the walking of the first block we found there source with a big sign that said “Glasgow Santa Dash 2010”. Maybe it got delayed or maybe Glasgow doesn’t realize that Santa is usually reserved for December and that it is no longer 2010, who knows? Almost as entertaining as the “art” we found at the free Modern Art Museum we went to next…

Modern Art? Ok...

Then we walked to the Glasgow Cathedral which was just getting out of church. Before we could go into the main part of the church, the nicest couple ever met us and started telling us all about the cathedral, what was there, when it was built, how beautiful it was, everything. They were just so nice and happy to share with us. It really touched my heart, reminding me of the warmth of my own grandparents and my own church and even home. As abandoned and hung over as Glasgow, Scotland may have been that chilly Sunday morning in January, I found there a little piece of home. My dad always says, “It’s people not places,” I just know how amazing it is to experience a weekend where I get the best of both.

Goodnight, Scotland

Check out all of my pictures here!

Stranded in London

December 21, 2010 / / 0 Comments

I was hoping that at this time I would be writing a blog about saying ‘good-bye’ to a place that I’ve lived for the past four months, but thanks to the weather and Heathrow airport, I have been forced to postpone that farewell and that blog…

So, instead… it’s 7:15 a.m., Sunday the 19th of December. The sun hasn’t even risen yet, but I arrive at Heathrow Terminal 5 in hopes of being able to fly out to Chicago in approximately four hours on my British Airways flight. It has been five months since I was in the US and I’m extremely excited to return after an unforgettable semester abroad in England. After already having my bus canceled and being forced to spend big pounds to take a taxi all the way from Cambridge, I am slightly eager to discover if my flight is still scheduled. The detrimental snowfall has ceased more than 12 hours ago so surely my flight is still able to take off, right? Not the case. Minutes after arriving at the airport, a woman announces over the PA system that every flight arriving and departing from Heathrow Terminal 5 has been canceled, with the exception of a handful of extremely fortunate flights. I look around at utterly shocked faces, all of whose somber expressions reveal their disappointment. I, too, am in disbelief.

BA 295: “Contact your airline”, so I’m told by the departure screen.  Once getting over the initial shock of having my long awaited route home canceled, I make an attempt to call the British Airways’ phone lines that an airport representative had given me. Unfortunately the lines are busy and I am not able to get through. I then try the other number I was given. Unsurprisingly, it’s the same story. “Due to the high volume of calls at this time, we are unable to take your call.” Unfortunately, that’s been the theme of my week. After storing two of my large suitcases in the terminal’s baggage storage for 16 pounds a day, I made my way to a hotel near the airport that a family friend had been kind enough to book for me while I attempted to get a hold of the airline to rebook. As I sat in the lobby with numerous other frustrated passengers who had also been unfortunate enough to decide to fly on this day (or this week), I tried over and over again to reach British Airways as I waited several hours to check-in to my room. I quickly lost count of how many times I attempted calling or how many hours I spent waiting to get through to an agent, but at the end of the day I knew it was a hopeless cause.

Snow: Wreaking havoc all across the United Kingdom

I’ve traveled numerous times before in my life and throughout this semester abroad, but not much could have prepared me for this. It has been the ultimate test of patience and flexibility as I must now wait until late Friday afternoon to fly out, all while hoping and praying that this white powder from the sky and these brutal temperatures do not cause further disruptions and cancellations at Heathrow. The very thought of spending Christmas at Heathrow makes my stomach turn. I’m just one of several thousands of people stranded in England right now, however. The terminals at Heathrow are full of people who have been forced to sleep at the airport as they desperately wait to get to their intended destinations. I can consider myself extremely fortunate to have an extremely hospitable family friend to stay with outside of London while I impatiently wait with everyone else for Heathrow to clear the runways and for this situation to improve.

Despite the disappointing end to my semester in England, I’m determined not to let things end on a sour note. I’m happy for the people who have managed to make it home safely, but all I can ask is that they either cross their fingers or pray that the rest of us can make it back soon too! England is great, but it is Christmas time and everyone affected by flight cancelations most likely shares my sentiment in saying that all we want for Christmas is to be home. Did you hear that, Heathrow?

Also, airing the following commercial is not exactly comforting for the thousands of passengers stranded at this very airport and terminal. Hopefully we will all be at our own desired destinations soon, and when that happens, I guarantee you we won’t need a large crowd to gather and sing ‘Welcome Home’ in order to feel happy about being home!

The T-Mobile Welcome Back

Five Reasons to Study Abroad

December 11, 2010 / / 1 Comment

1. Opportunities to travel: It’s not very often that you have a chance to travel as easily and as inexpensively as you do when studying abroad. Being in Cambridge, I’ve been able to explore much of Europe and with classes for the week ending by noon on Thursday, I was always guaranteed three and a half days every week to travel and visit places I might not otherwise would have had the opportunity to see. Our study abroad program even had designated weekends where we traveled as a group to parts of England with transportation and accommodation being paid for by the program.

Studying abroad allowed me to fulfill a childhood dream and visit Madrid

2. Experience a culture first-hand: In order to truly embrace a culture you have to immerse yourself in it over an extended period of time. A quick visit to see the sights and taste some new food should hardly be considered experiencing a new culture. There’s so much more to what appears on the outside. In order to truly appreciate a culture you have to learn about their values, perceptions, beliefs and differences from your own culture.

3. Learn about yourself: Studying and living in a country is without a doubt an incredible experience, but it is also a great way to learn new ideas and gain new perspectives about yourself and your own culture. I’ve experienced challenges during my four months abroad that have caused me to grow as a person and simultaneously expand my worldview. I’ve truly benefited from being able to view my own culture through the eyes of others.

4. Network and make new friends: When you live in one place for four months you are bound to make new friends and meet a wide variety of people. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet plenty of people during my travels around Europe and around Cambridge. Some were people I shared a brief conversation with while others were people I’m confident I’ll stay in touch with for many years to come. I’ve been able to learn a lot from the people I’ve come in contact with while studying abroad and through them and I’ve been able to learn a lot through every one of them.

5. Enhance employment opportunities: With the world becoming more and more globalized and more counties continually investing in the international market, having experience in a foreign country can only be a benefit in future careers. Studying abroad shows that you are willing to embrace challenges and handle diverse problems and new situations. Who knows, it might even be the difference between your resume and that of someone else who hasn’t taken up the opportunity to study abroad.

Truly Embracing a Culture

November 23, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Traveling is great, as is seeing all the extraordinary sites each city and each country has to offer, but in order to truly experience a culture, you really have to socialize with the people. I’ve found that the times spent conversing with locals are what really helped me get the most out of any trip I’ve made so far this semester. I may have been at awe at numerous sites I visited across Europe, but it was my conversations with various locals that helped me embrace the culture and ensure my travels were a memorable experience.

I remember being in Munich all the way back in September for my first visit to a country outside England. I had felt slightly overwhelmed at the notion of being in a foreign country and not knowing a single word of their language. Luckily I was with four of my friends from the Cambridge group, but I soon discovered there was not a whole lot to be apprehensive about if I accepted that sometimes things might go wrong and if I was willing to ask for help when I needed it. Without any clue of how to get around Munich, we approached the manager of our Bed and Breakfast. To our delight she gave us everything we needed: A map of the city, a train map and bus routes. Along with those items, she also gave us a friendly face to talk to when we needed it most. She was helpful and was willing to answer any questions we had about the city (which was a lot). I found the same to be true for most people I talked to that weekend and I really can’t count the number of people who I found myself conversing with over the weekend. Almost everyone was friendly and it was because of people like them that I was able to gain a greater understanding of German culture and be able to consider it a successful trip.

Hanging out with a group of Americans I met before a football match in London

The same has been true for every place I’ve visited. While at Gatwick Airport in London and waiting for a screen to announce which gate I needed to go to, I decided to strike up a conversation with a random man standing close by. As it turned out he was headed to Madrid on the same flight as me! Javier’s English was very limited, but I was still able to converse with my own limited knowledge of Spanish. Before even landing in Madrid I had learned so much about the city and received advice that only a local could possibly tell me. He even pulled out his iPhone and showed me how to use the Metro (subway) to get to every site I intended on seeing during my stay. When we landed he helped me buy train tickets and then gave me his number in case I needed any more help while I was in Madrid. Wow, what a huge help. It’s amazing how approaching a complete stranger can end up improving your visit so much.

To some this may not seem like important information, but in my opinion, it’s some of the best advice I can give anyone before they travel to a new place: Converse as often as you can with the locals. No matter where I went I found that my conversations with the local are what really helped me to not only appreciate but also learn the most about a city or country’s culture. It may be intimidating approaching strangers at times, but the truth is people in Europe are generally friendly almost anywhere you go. Of course you may meet a few people who aren’t, but it’s worth the risk when you bump into someone and are able to have a wonderful conversation with them about almost anything. Sometimes you have to remember that they are just as interested in your own culture as you might be in theirs!

Seeing all the beautiful sites and exploring the city is great, but in order to really get a feel for the place you really do have to talk with the people who actually live there. As strange as it may sound, some of my best memories are all the conversations I’ve had with strangers in the various places I visited across England and the rest of Europe. Although I may never see some of those people again in my life, they helped give me a good impression of their country and hopefully I was able to do the same for mine.

The beauty of Switzerland

November 14, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Switzerland is known for its overpriced lifestyle, its neutrality, and the beauty of its panoramic view everywhere you go. On my weekend trip to Switzerland, I thankfully only had to encounter the latter and avoided aiding in the Swiss economy almost entirely. Packing PB&J sandwiches really helps the wallet stay full.

Outlook from the train to Luzern

And traveling in Switzerland does the opposite for your memory card on your camera. There are so many scenic pictures that could be from postcards wherever you look. It’s fascinating to be around such real and untouched beauty; the picturesqueness of the views made me stop and think about how awesome God’s creation is and how much time He must have spent in creating Switzerland because He did it right.

There are all these small little towns enclosed by broad and magnificent mountains; you have the Alps on one side and some more ‘minuscule’ mountains on the other. Just riding around on the train can bring about some amazing pictures. All in all, I traveled to four cities all in the central part of the country: Zurich, Bern, Interlaken, and Luzern. Although all of them had superior scenery in comparison to many other cities that I have traveled to, Luzern was definitely the most beautiful.

Aided by the warm and sunny weather, Luzern was a truly gorgeous town to walk through. Matt and I only spent a few short hours there, but we got to see much of the city. Chapel Bridge was constructed in the first half of the 14th century and is one of the oldest wooden bridges standing. Walking across it allowed us to see paintings up along the rafters showcasing local history. Much of the bridge burned down in 1993, but the rebuilding was quick and allows for visitors to still witness the history of the fortified city. And across the water were the most scenic views of the Alps. Simply breathtaking. Matt and I took picture after picture to try to capture the magnitude of the sight.

The Dying Lion of Luzern

Further along into the city is the Dying Lion of Luzern; it is a carved lion in a piece of rock that portrays the pain and suffering of the massacred Swiss Guard in 1792 during the French Revolution. The emotion is clearly strewn upon the lion’s face making it a very powerful sight to behold. Also in this part of the town are the Nine Towers. These towers are left over from the fortifications of the city which was built in 1386. This remaining history is so important to the city and drives the tourism in the area.

The trip to Luzern would have been enough to satisfy me in visiting Switzerland as a whole. The other areas I went to were beautiful as well, but Luzern was the epitome of perfection. It was the perfect way to end my tour of Switzerland and a perfect way to unwind from the hectic 17 day break before. Luzern is a place that brings you so much closer to your surroundings and to God; it is not a place to miss.

Gracias, Madrid

November 8, 2010 / / 0 Comments

“Ah, Madrid… you chose the perfect city to visit in Europe.” Those were the words of Javier, an extremely friendly Spanish guy who sat next to me on the flight from London to Madrid during the second week of my two and a half week Fall Break. After four days of being in Spain’s capital, Javier couldn’t have been more correct. What a great city, what a fantastic culture, and what an unforgettable experience in the heart of Spain.

My first taste of Madrid and Spanish culture arrived where most people wouldn’t expect, but for those who know me would hardly come as much of a surprise. Shorty after taking the Metro from Madrid Barajas Airpot to the western part of the city and getting situated at my friend’s apartment, I joined the masses and headed for the Vicente Calderon – the home of Atletico Madrid. Although nowhere near as popular or successful as cross-town rivals and world-renowned European giants Real Madrid, Atletico are one of the best teams in the La Liga, Spain’s first division, and just came off of a season in which they won the Europa Cup.

My first taste of Spanish football

I can’t say that I’m much of an Atletico Madrid fan, but going to a Spanish futbol match was undoubtedly something I just couldn’t pass up. Despite Atetico drawing 1-1 with U.D. Almeria, a smaller club from southern Spain, it was still a highly entertaining match and an experience I’ll never forget. Going to football games in England is one thing, but witnessing the beautiful game in the country that just won the World Cup was an experience of its own. It was without a doubt the perfect way to kick-off my trip to Madrid.

Plaza Monumental de las Ventas

One thing that made my trip successful was the easiness of Madrid’s Metro system. The system is actually the sixth largest in the world, but after a few days of hopping on and off at various locations around the city I found it to be the least complicated of its type that I’ve used before. I suppose it helped that I had been well accustomed to using such modes of transportation through the London Underground. Regardless, Madrid’s Metro was also my cheapest way of traveling around the city with each single trip across the entire network only being 2 euros and a 10 trip ticket costing just 9 euros.

Despite using train several times each day, I spent the majority of my time walking and taking all of the great sights and simply observing people go about their day. At times I walked with absolutely no clue of what direction I was headed in and somehow always arrived at a point of interest. But in a city as richly and historic as Madrid, how could I not? It’s nice to have a plan of where you’re going to go and what you’re going to see on a particular day, but often times it’s refreshing just exploring and getting lost in the magnificence and splendor of such a great city.

Plaza de Cibeles

One of the highlights of my trip was seeing the Palacio Real, the official residence of the King of Spain. I’ve seen Buckingham Palace on numerous occasions and I’ve always been in awe of it, but the Palacio Real might even trump it in my opinion (Sorry Queen Elizabeth!). Along with the Royal Palace, I also visited Plaza Espana, Puerta de Toledo, Plaza Mayor, Almudena Cathedral, the Debod Temple, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Cibeles, the Santiago Barnebeu, Plaza Monumental de las Ventas and numerous other sights. It was a great couple of days walking around and viewing the sights and embracing everything Madrid has to offer. It was also a wake-up call for me, however. Apparently my Spanish isn’t as good as I thought it was as I found out at about every restaurant I attempted to order food at!

Seeing fascinating buildings and visiting historic sites is great, but in order to truly embrace a country and its culture you have to converse with the people. A sign at the airport when I arrived welcomed me by saying ‘Bienvenidos’, but it was the people in Madrid who really helped me feel welcome in their city. Everywhere I went people were friendly, even if they didn’t speak more than a sentence of English. I’ll always remember Madrid for its beauty and splendor, but I am absolutely certain I will never forget the countless people who chose to make a foreigner like me feel welcome in their remarkable city and wonderful country. Salud, Madrid…

Bear and the El Madroño Tree at Puerta del Sol

Palacio Real

To view more photos from my trip to Madrid visit my album.

What a packed full break

November 7, 2010 / / 0 Comments

Two weeks of traveling. Six countries. I have learned so much about myself and about others while traveling that it is hard to believe it has only been two weeks. For the last 17 days, I have basically been flying, training, walking, sleeping, and doing everything else with the same three people. This was an awesome experience to share these amazing times with the people I love most, and it also taught me a lot about myself.

And truth be told… I’m exhausted. I have had too much walking, too many trains, and too much cold weather in the last couple of weeks. All I need too much of now is sleep… and maybe some massages. Here’s a brief view of my travels – one picture from every country. This is just a glimpse at all the fun I had with my best friends and all of the scenes we saw.

Inside the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

On a beach in Mykonos, Greece

Me and Matt in the Vatican Museum in Rome, Italy

Me and my roommate in front of a canal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Me and Matt in a park in Copenhagen, Denmark

Andrew fighting a horse in Stockholm, Sweden

Whew! If you haven’t noticed, these countries make a complete circle around Germany… I don’t want to know how many miles we actually traveled!

Why to ALWAYS book train reservations in advance

November 4, 2010 / / 0 Comments

It seems simple enough.  You have a Global Eurail pass, as part of the Reutlingen Germany program, which means you can take any train in the European Union for free.  Figure out where you want to go, what time, and hop on a train!

Well, not really.  In most European countries, you must also buy a mandatory seat reservation for each leg of your trip.  One reservation can cost between 3 and 15 Euros, which can add up if you have to change trains several times.

Among many other reasons, Germany is an awesome country because you don’t need seat reservations for most trains.  Even if a train is full, you can still stand or sit at the end of the car, even if it is less comfortable.  And making reservations is a breeze; you simply walk into a train station, ask for any number of reservations for any train in Europe, pay, and you are on your way. No hassle at all.

Too bad the rest of Europe isn’t as user-friendly.  I am currently on the 17 day fall break that comes with the Reutlingen program (another reason to study abroad in Germany!).  My travel group decided to be smart and book all of our reservations ahead of time.  We had planned on going to Nice, France after Italy, but at the last minute we changed our minds because of the massive transportation strike, and simply head back to Reutlingen for a couple of nights.  So naturally, we did not make our train reservations from Rome to Reutlingen.

That was a major mistake.  I found that Trenitalia is almost impossible to work with.  About 4 days before our day train ride home, a time frame that almost always has seats available, I waited in line at the train station in Milan to book 3 different trains for 4 people.  I had all the train times and numbers written down so it would be easier for the lady in the booth.

When I asked for the reservations, she replied to me almost in a whisper, which I couldn’t hear.  I repeated what I said several times, but she would not talk any louder, even when I motioned that I couldn’t hear her.  Then she simply stared at me, frowning, and wouldn’t say anything.  I was so surprised! Then she yelled through the glass, “WHY?” At least I could hear her! But why? What kind of question is that? So I replied, “Because I want to go home.”

Then she started yelling at me in Italian, which of course is absolutely no help.  I heard the word “ticket”, so I tried giving her my Eurail pass.  Then she started yelling at me again, saying I needed everyone’s passes, which was impossible since Matt and Amber were in Greece.  Why did we need them here, but not in Germany? Who knows.  She was impossible to deal with, so we left.

When the four of us were all together in Rome, the day before our departure, we tried to make the reservations again.  After waiting in line for half an hour, the man at the ticket booth said that all of the trains for the entire day were booked.  He was very helpful, for once, but there was no possible way to leave.  And we needed to be on those trains, or else we wouldn’t make any of our reservations for the rest of the trip.

Thankfully, those with a will and a way persevere.  While Amber and I waited in line, Matt somehow found small regional trains that did not need reservations to get to Milan.  From there, Milan to Zurich to Reutlingen is our only way home, but we managed to make it.  We needed one reservation, and we got 4 of the last 6 seats available. Whew!  We were on trains from 6 am to 11 pm, but we made it home.

Lesson learned: Have a plan, be flexible, and make train reservations.

Old Trafford: The Theatre of Dreams

October 26, 2010 / / 0 Comments

12 years is a long wait for anything. But for me, waiting 12 years to go to my first Manchester United match at Old Trafford felt like eternity. When you wait so long for something you wonder if it will be meet the expectations that have been built up over the last decade or so. But for me, there was no question that seeing my favorite football club in their famous stadium would not only meet my expectations, but surpass them.

Indeed it did.

I remember watching Manchester United when I was young. I remember my fascination and my immediate love for the club and all its players and most of all, I remember wishing that I would one day be able to witness them play. The years went by and my love for the club only intensified with every season and with every match, but my wish remained the same.

Recently I was finally able to accomplish my dream and make that wish come true. As soon as tickets had gone on sale for the Manchester United vs. West Bromwich Albion match on October 16th I purchased tickets and on day before the match I made the much-anticipated journey to Manchester, England. Less than an hour after arriving at the train station I arrived at Old Trafford – a Mecca for all United supporters. I stopped and admired the stadium I had seen hundreds of times on TV and for a moment, I even had to pinch myself. Being there simply seemed too good to be true.

Indeed it was.

Before I knew it, I was standing next to the pitch my heroes play on every week as part of a guided tour of the entire stadium. Minutes later I found myself sitting in the players’ dressing room where famous names such as George Best, Bryan Robson and David Beckham have sat… the same room where Sir Alex Ferguson gives his team talks and where the champagne is popped after a cup triumph. Some of the most famous athletes in the world occupied the same room on a frequent basis.

Following the tour of the stadium I walked through every room inside the museum, admiring all of the trophies and awards on display. With over 100 years of rich, unmatched history on show, I found it hard to make myself leave. Finally, after more than two hours inside the museum and an additional hour in the stadium’s Mega Store, I forced myself to move on. I suppose it helped that I would be back inside the stadium the following day as Manchester United hosted West Brom.

If I thought touring the stadium and its museum was something special, I was in for the experience of a lifetime on the day of the match. After bumping into a group of United fans who had made the journey down from Ireland, we hung out a supporters’ pub before the match as we counted down the hours until kick-off. We arrived at Bishops Plaize at 11:00, four and a half hours before kick-off, and astonishingly by this time the pub was already packed with supporters socializing and belting out chant after chant about their beloved club. It didn’t take long for me to join in.

The time for the match finally arrived and by then I was already hoarse. My voice would suffer further impairment as I spent the entire 90 minutes of the match participating in the numerous chants that rang around the stadium. Never before in my life had I experienced such a remarkable atmosphere at a sporting event. This was an experience of a lifetime, not just for me, but for most of the 75,023 fans inside the stadium. Despite the match ending in a 2-2 draw, I was still incredibly satisfied with the experience of being at my first Manchester United match. More than anything though, I was already plotting my return to Manchester for another taste of one of the most incredible experiences the world has to offer me.

Footage of the pre-match traditions: Bishops Plaize Pub

Spain Excursions

October 26, 2010 / / 0 Comments

A recap of my travels in Spain: Google maps

On our first free weekend we headed down to Salobreña, the closest beach to Granada, about 40 minutes via bus. After the first week of orientation it was really nice to lay out, relax, and swim. The Mediterranean ocean was very, very pure, and although I’ve heard that there are nicer beaches in Spain, the water made it a great afternoon.

At this point, I still had my cast from my karate incident prior to arriving in Spain, and so when I saw a Spaniard swimming with one arm above the water like myself, clearly, I had to go say hello.

After my trip to Morocoo, which I’ve already posted about, I had a short break before classes so I headed up to Valencia with some friends from our program. They knew a Spaniard named Miguel who came to the States last year to teach Spanish at their school, Central College. He just moved up to Valencia so we got to explore the city with him. Their science park has some of the coolest modern architecture I’ve seen here, take a look at my Picasa webalbum to see all the photos.

Two of my Valpo friends, Emily Bahr and Madeline Horvath, met me in Valencia and we headed to the Oceanografíc, the largest aquarium in Europe! Highlights were aquariums with hallways through the middle of them (so close to sharks!), an amazing dolphin show, and some really lively wetlands:

Before I headed back to Granada I decided to catch a Bullfight (corrida de toro) in Madrid. Whether you’re a fan of bull fighting or not (I’m still undecided), it’s a key part of Spanish culture that I don’t think will be going anywhere soon.

More recently still I headed up to Barcelona for a long weekend, Allie in Reutlingen has already written about our time there, check it out. One of my favorites, Mercat Boqueria, a bustling market over 400 years old. Amazing mangos:

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