This photo story focuses on some of the activities and trips led by 东航卡帕 to better immerse us students in the food, art, 文化 of 西班牙! These activities have helped me to better understand both our local city in 巴塞罗那 and the differences among other parts of 西班牙, as well.  

Local street performers along a walking strip in 马德里! 

During our weekend trip to 马德里, 例如, we were able to take a walking tour of the city, exploring the streets and learning more about the local niches within it. We started by visiting the elegant Royal Palace of 马德里 and across from it, the Almudena Cathedral where many esteemed figures of 西班牙 such as the former Queen, Her Majesty Mercedes of Orléans, 埋在这里.  

Members of the Royal Guard spotted near the city center in 马德里! 

Surrounding these historical buildings were the beautiful landscapes of both southern and northern 西班牙, seen from the two opposing viewpoints.  

Stunning landscape of the southern side of 西班牙 from a viewpoint in 马德里. 

We then walked to the main plaza, 马约尔广场, appreciating the highly detailed architecture and the historically significant sculpture dedicated to King Felipe III.  

Beautiful Spanish architecture displayed on 马约尔广场, 马德里. 

Colorful buildings along the outskirts of the main plaza in 马德里. 

We also had the opportunity in 马德里 to visit Puerto del Sol, a main city center where we tried the typical 马德里 on-the-go meal: bocadillos de 酥!  

The lively atmosphere near Puerta del Sol, 马德里! 

To experience both Spanish and 全球艺术品, we later took a group tour inside both Museo Nacional del Prado and the Reina Sofia Museum, where we saw firsthand the masterpieces of artists like Goya and Picasso. 

My housemates and I outside of Museo Nacional del Prado! 

A glance at Picasso’s esteemed “Guernica” painting at the Museo Nacional del Prado. 

巴塞罗那当地, another valuable activity led by 东航卡帕 was the Tapas Workshop which allowed us to experience Catalan 文化 firsthand through food! Some of the dishes we learned to make were piientos de piquillo, 酥, 墨西哥薄饼, 西班牙凉菜汤. Not only was this a great opportunity to gain more of an outlook on the local cuisine, but it also was a great opportunity to meet other students and to experience new customs together!  

Traditional Spanish tapas dishes made at the Tapas Workshop. (piientos de piquillo, 酥, 墨西哥薄饼) 

Another fun excursion provided by this program was the city bus tour that took us around 巴塞罗那, stopping at an outlook point of the entire city.  

My friends and I at a viewpoint of 巴塞罗那 during a stop on the 东航卡帕-led city tour! 

The 马德里 trip and the local activities planned by 东航卡帕 were helpful in expanding upon my understanding of both Catalan and Spanish society and 文化!