The moment I stepped out of the Madrid airport, I felt like I was entering a storybook adventure. I had only learned about Spain and its culture through textbooks, and I was so excited to surround myself with the language and the people.
Madrid was much less crowded than London and beautiful, peaceful streets weaved through the heart of the city. Walking through, I truly felt like I was experiencing a new world with minimal English and no trace of the American commercialism that surrounded me back home and in London. Where in London I would see busy people eating alone for a quick meal, in Spain everyone was truly enjoying their time to share a meal with friends, drinking beer under the sun and chatting for hours.
Spain was my first excursion while studying abroad in Europe (super cheap tickets on the one and only, Ryanair) and the fact that I could so easily fly to a new country - just for a few days - enthralled me. I was traveling with my friend that I met in my dorm.
The first place we visited was Plaza Mayor, a huge, square space with crowds of people eating, drinking, chatting, and enjoying their day under the sun. The two must try things in Madrid, according to Google, were churros (of course) and the bocadillo de calamares (calamari sandwich). The calamari sandwich - which is literally a stack of calamari in between a crispy roll - was surprisingly really, really good. I never imagined fried squid and bread could be so strangely addicting.
The next day, we visited Buen Retiro Park, which is a huge, beautiful park - one of Madrid's largest. There was a small lake in which people could pay to ride a boat, and when my friend first asked me, I simply said "No way." I never even gave it a thought because I have a slight fear of water. But then I decided that I didn't want to disappoint my friend and stood in the long line. Boating in Buen Retiro Park was one of the most memorable moments from my trip. The park was simply beautiful, and enjoying the view from the water made it all the more special. Unfortunately, I haven't kept in touch with that friend after we left London, but I'll know that we share that special memory that we probably will never forget.
My friend and I also visited Toledo, a beautiful area two hours away from the busy city of Madrid, more famously known as the setting of the fictional adventures of Don Quixote. Toledo seemed truly separated from the world, a small city located on a hill, but filled with deep roots of history. I constantly stopped to look out and take in the amazing view of the narrow streets and old-styled houses and buildings. Because both of us were used to living within a commercial, materialistic society, walking through Toledo gave us a chance to relax and see the beauty of the world we lived in.
After I returned to London, I exited the storybook adventure of Spain and came back to my dull life. I had expected the trip to fulfill the emptiness that I always felt, even in the greatest city of London, but nothing changed. I wasn’t a new person, and I didn’t have a new, positive outlook on life. Most people expect one specific moment to change our lives. We barely get by each day, just waiting for something exciting to happen, failing to realize that every day is an opportunity to change how we see the world. I had thought going to Spain would help me escape my old life and create a new me.
But Spain actually did the opposite: it helped me see the beauties of the ordinary that surrounds me every day. We sometimes should take the time to relax and grab a coffee break with friends, or take a stroll through the park listening to music. We shouldn’t try to escape life, because our life is what makes us beautiful - we should try and grab onto the small bits that connect us to the world that make us who we are.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
