2024 Regis Jesuit Spain Cultural Journey
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Blog 11
By Jameson D.
Our last full day in Spain was a wonky one to say the least. We started off the day bright and early rushing to pack all our bags to get them down to our bus driver El Capitan (David) who had a long drive back from Girona to Madrid ahead of him. While he began his drive back to Madrid we had some free time in the city to go around and do whatever. A few of us went up to the castle to read, draw, or just take a quick nap before our lunch reservations. After spending too much time militating at the restaurant we rushed to get to the station and hopped onto our high speed train to Barcelona. We thought we were just supposed to stay on that train but it turned out that we were supposed to switch trains at the first stop. So, throughout the rest of the train ride we were getting up and sitting down in any empty seat that we could find.
Eventually we got to Madrid and met back up with David. He took us to our hotel where we got ready for dinner. This dinner was special though, it was a flamenco show where we were able to dine while we watched the intricate dances. The show was very good and although barely any of us could understand what they were saying, it was hard to miss the passion and emotion in the show. After our dinner we stopped to get ice cream and headed back to the hotel for our last night.
That last night was hard because it came so quick. Before we went, I didn’t anticipate the importance and influence that this trip would have on me. I feel inspired to travel, to learn, and to create connection in our world. I will speak on all of our behalves and say that this trip was life changing and that we appreciate Enrique, Mrs. Vela, and Mr. Bruno for giving us this opportunity and teaching us so much.
Blog 10: Say thanks to the chairs
By Campbell and Melody
On this lovely Saturday morning we woke up bright and early to eat a delicious breakfast at the beautiful hotel’s buffet. After a short bus ride we arrived in Besalú, old medieval town. There we met our amazing insightful tour guide Myriam. We then stopped at a beautiful bridge that was inspired by Roman architecture and invites you into a town of 2,400 citizens. We learned that the climate and weather is very unpredictable and that they endured wind, floods, and dry weather and that at least three times the bridge, which was built in the 12th century, was lost to floods. We learned about how when they rebuilt historical landmarks as they were previously, in Spain the law of Restoration allows that rebuilds can use completely different materials and distinctively alter the appearance of the structure.
We were immediately drawn to the creativity of this town when we were guided towards a close to ten foot tall chair which symbolized that when we find a solution to one problem, we will find another challenge learking around the next corner also needing a solution. As well as the tall chair we saw chairs on the wall and that symbolized that we should be grateful for what we have as it is often hard to see the things that are right in-front of us and the value that they hold. We also learned that citizens in medieval times frequently lived on the second floor (or higher) of their houses so they would have a height advantage if their city were to be invaded. To ward off their invaders they would throw their human waste out of their windows on top of them.
Shortly after this tour we were given time to wander, explore, and try sweet treats before a delicious lunch. Immediately after lunch we walked down to a near by river and skipped rocks. We sat down for some time to reflect and had the honor and privilege to write ourselves letters to open in a few years. Following this moment of reflection we grabbed some churros and headed back to the bus. After a long day of walking we took time for rest and relaxation. Many of the group spent time sitting in the hotel hallway searching for Wi-Fi, playing card games, reading, and doing their summer homework. After recuperating we headed back to town, spent a few hours walking around doing some last minute shopping then we headed to a delicious dinner. We then began the long walk home and were thankful to not get lost again. As we wrapped up our night we had our final meeting in Girona in the lobby to discuss our plans for tomorrow.
Blog 9
By Harry and Asher
After waking up, we met as a group and discussed plans for the day then we went down to a bus stop to take public transportation into the city to have a city tour. Our guide was named Myriam and she toured us around to different churches, chapels, and we also saw the cathedral. After the tour we had a bit of free time, at this point, we adventured around town and found a cafe to get our morning snack. We then wandered around for a bit to see more of the unique city of Girona. After that we met back up with the group in the square, where we moved collectively to eat lunch at a place called Croaks bistro and bar. We went back to the hotel for a few hours to rest and relax, then met to go back into the city for dinner. We had some free time before dinner to look in different shops for souvenirs. After dinner we wandered a bit looking for some ice cream for dessert. We then returned back to the plaza so that we could walk back to the hotel, at the hotel we had a discussion over the next day then after that we went to our rooms and went to sleep.
Blog 8: We went to war
By Jasmine and Béla
We began our day as usual with a breakfast buffet in the hotel. The majority of the group slowly trickled into the dining area, though some went for an early (and rainy) run along the beach. After eating, a few of us roamed around to find some last minute souvenirs from Lloret de Mar before our next journey.
We soon departed for our very adventurous and unexpected tour of an old fortress in Figueres. We learned that this Fortress, a mere 17 km from the French boarder, was built in the late 1700s to protect Spain from invasion by the French, but was also a critical spot in the Spanish Civil War. We were first handed bright yellow helmets with headlamps and beckoned to hop in jeeplike vehicles that would take us on a bumpy journey to the past. It almost seemed as if we were being shipped off to war, the rain only immersed us further into the trenches. We soon made a pitstop at some defense tunnels where we learned about all of the different methods they used to prevent attacks. We got a quick tour of the tunnels which seemed like a very boring post for the soldier stuck at the end of the tunnel with only a candle for hours.
After our flashbacks and with our sopping wet clothes we stopped at a somewhat ominous hole in the ground. Inside, there were two massive wells that contained 900 million liters of fresh, crystal clear water (now there is “only” 700 million liters). This water, which they sourced into this ‘tank’ from a natural spring via an aqueduct, was originally used for drinking water in the fortress, but we got a chance to float around there in little boats.
After our expedition, we walked back to our bus and drove a short ways to lunch. We ate (dysfunctional) family style and learned that SOME PEOPLE (the boys) don’t know everyone’s names. We (the girls) made a point to test them once in a while for the rest of the day. We even made some bets on who knew the least names. (They still don’t know all of our names). Despite this, we headed off to tour the great Dalí museum together. We explored with a tour guide, of course, and learned about all of the ways Dalí used his surrealism to express the stories of his art. Honestly, if we were on our own, we would never know the real depth of his often overwhelming paintings. Later, we even did a short walk to where Dalí grew up and began his fascinating work.
The last adventure on our plate was to find our next hotel in Girona. It was only a short bus ride but we played some card games. I (Jazz) won of course. We finally settled into our hotel for the last few nights and took a small rest before heading to dinner. We may have gotten a little turned around, but we successfully made it. The majority of us had some good ‘ole American dishes like burgers or ribs. And to finish off the night we searched far and wide for the one ice cream shop still open and got some delicious helados.
Blog 7: Goodbye Barcelona
By Luke Z.
June 19 We woke up to our last morning in Barcelona. We ate a continental breakfast and loaded the bus for the trip to our next location. On our way there we stopped at Park Güell. The initial plan for this public park’s was for it to be a wondrous and extravagant secluded community for just 60 rich families who would have triangle plots dedicated more to their gardens than to the houses they would build. The architect of the park, and one of only 3 who actually built a house in the community, was Antonio Gaudi, the architect of the amazing Sagrada Familia we saw yesterday. The project eventually fell through as none of the rich families they were targeting wanted to build due to the rules imposed, cost and distance from the city. But that is “good for us” (as our tour guide pointed out) creating a great story and heart to the park. Our tour guide for the park, Jofri (pronounced Jeffery), was definitely a sight to see. This performative storyteller had us laughing but thoroughly engaged in the story he wove about this “failed project” of 1901. As we quickly ran through the park he preformed many stunts such as horse impressions and the blood of animals and fish guts splattering on the walls. This style of tour guide shocked us and made for some good jokes after. Yet we learned a lot as we all paid attention the entire time as you never knew what he’d do or say next! After eating lunch there and exploring the park we loaded back into the bus and headed to our sleeping location for the night: Lloret de Mar. After reaching here in a short bus trip we discussed dinner plans and were sent out in our small groups to explore. Some of us got hair cuts, others walked up to the castle on the rocks, others dug holes in the sand, some went shopping for a few essentials (and maybe ended up with dental glue instead of toothpaste) and most of us ended up at the pool on the rooftop of our hotel at some point. Dinner was from 7:30-9:30 and was a simple buffet where the small groups could eat as they wanted to. Finally bed time was at 11.
Blog 6: There is only ONE Spain!
June 18 By Jenna K.
Today was a full day in Barcelona started by a simple breakfast at our hotel before we set off to enjoy the city. After a short bus ride to the center of the city we gathered round at a park to check in and reflect on how we were doing. We were collectively doing great, our excitements still prevalent even after a fleeting but long full week. It was a sticky hot tour with our guide, Aida, and as she talked to us about how Barcelona is the second biggest city in Spain, an eclectic stranger lapped around us as she added some interesting commentary, declaring that “THERE IS ONLY ONE SPAIN!” We took in the sights of the bustling city characterized by beautiful and ornate architecture. We navigated through the gothic quarter, visited the four Roman Columns, and saw the one and only cathedral of Barcelona that was a gothic, neo-gothic, and Romanesque architectural wonder, as well as buildings with elements that spanned the 12th-19th century.
Aboard the bus again, we made a pit stop at a bakery and continued to one of the best highlights of the trip— the Sagrada Familia! Under construction since 1882, the basilica towered over all its surroundings, giant cranes and scaffolding still in standing. Antoni Gaudí’s genius architectural design of this amazing basilica awed us all, but especially when we stepped inside and saw the kaleidoscopic, tree-canopy-like interior with tall pillars and geometric ceilings, every color we could name glowing through the stained glass windows. The green, yellow, and orange blended as if we were in a sunset of Jesus’ last moments, but if we turned the other way, the blue and purple was a striking reminder of the Nativity. IT WAS AWESOME!
After a much needed lunch, we had free time to explore the city. My group went shopping for souvenirs and clothes, including the Catalonian “caganer” figurines and had dinner at Lady Dumpling. And to conclude our busy day, we played many rounds of heated card games, and *someone* broke a chair (no one was hurt!). It was a great day in Barcelona. THERE IS ONLY ONE SPAIN!
Blog 5: The Way of St Ignatius
June 16-17 By Lawson D.
We started the day in Segovia. Seeing the sun set the night before was such a grand way to end our stay in that small town. We boarded the bus for quite a drive (6 hours). Along the way we stop in Zaragoza to see Basilica Del Pilar. This place was special and so far on our journey the most stand out Cathedral. It had a dome inside of the building itself along with a ceiling fresco in each inducing oculus. With such an outstanding stop we were all pumped to land in Manresa. This energy was not let down once we arrived in Manresa. As a Jesuit school it was surreal to stand in the same place and look at the same view as Ignatius. The city was surrounded with beautiful mountains and rolling hills for as far as one could see. The architectural piece we saw in this city was our first gothic cathedral. The dark feeling was immense and could not be ignored. This church was my personal favorite thus far and I’m excited to see similar buildings in the near future. We finished off the night with a very filling meal of tapas! Luckily my friends and I didn’t eat a “first dinner” since we definitely wouldn’t have been able to finish if we had!
The next morning we finally got to see the cave where Ignatius wrote his spiritual experiences. Like mentioned above, this experience was so fulfilling as a Jesuit student who has been through years of his teachings. One of my close friends made a comment that if it wasn’t for this cave we all wouldn’t have met and I think that sums it up perfectly. We continued to Monserrat where we got to see the Black Madonna. While we waited to see the piece a mass was happening and it felt as if the whole area was in worship. Being given some free time some went for a hike and some, including myself, went to see the art museum. Surprisingly, the museum was bigger than it looked from the outside and held art from artist such as Dali, Picasso, and Caravaggio. This museum felt the most intimate being it was “smaller” and less crowded than the previous ones. It was a perfect place to get up close and personal with the work. After about two and a half hours we hopped back on the bus and finally landed in the city of Barcelona! We will finish off the night having an amazing dinner of traditional Barcelonian food leading to a 8+ hour food coma!
Blog 4
June 15th By Annalise F.
On Saturday the 15th, we started off the morning with an early morning bus ride to a palace outside Segovia that was called El Granja de San IIdefonso. This had been the residence of Philip ll and his wife, Elizabeth. We walked through various rooms with astonishing artwork and then through the true gem of the palace; the gardens. The gardens had 21 different fountains, each of which either related to the theme of war or the love between Philip and his wife. Many of these also told the story of some Greek mythology, such as Apollo and Daphne, or Neptune and Amphitrite. After that tour, we drove to the actual Segovia, where we saw their still-standing, 2,000-year-old aqueduct (built in about 100 AD by the Romans when they briefly had control of the land that is now Spain). After our nearby lunch, we ventured to the Cathedral of Segovia, which was incredible. The stained glass windows at the top are still the originals, but their color has been restored. In one of the cathedral’s side rooms, our group got to see the extremely life-like sculpture of Jesus that is used in a yearly Easter parade to always remember his sacrifice. After that, we walked to the other end of town to visit the Alzacar castle, which was where Ferdinand and Isabel lived. We got to hike up the stairs to the tower, from which you could see everything. While up there, Miles gave the iconic “I’m in Spain!” line and we taught Enrique how to take a .5 group photo! Afterwards, we headed over to our check in to the hotel after which we got the next 2ish hours to explore. We headed back early for a vicious game of Uno, and then ate dinner. And that was June 15!
Blog 3
By Abby F.
On Friday the 14th we woke up and indulged in a continental breakfast at the hotel, before embarking on a driving tour of Madrid. During this ride, we drove by many monumental buildings including La Plaza Del Toro, learning about the history of the sport and architecture of Arabic influence as well as other history of Spain through the buildings and architecture. We then ate a traditional lunch of fried calamari on a baguette, one of the many delicious dishes that has expanded our taste pallets. Entering the contemporary art museum (La Reina Sofia) we were given the opportunity to explore this ingenious museum at our own pace and truly appreciate the art in front of us. We then had a bit of free time to walk around, explore, and buy souvenirs to remember our fleeting time in Madrid. Concluding the day, we experienced a true tapas environment for dinner. And for dessert, a stack ten high of golden crispy churros and a cup of chocolate to dip them in. Getting back to the hotel, we quickly packed and headed to bed to prepare for an early wake up and departure to the next adventure.
First Impressions
The first two days of our adventures in Spain have been nothing short of incredible, but they would be nothing without the journey it took to get here. It started early in the morning with a drive to DIA, a few Chick-fil-A breakfast nuggets, and a flight to Toronto. Although the the flight seemed long, it was nothing compared to the layover we had spent in THE 6 -Toronto. There in the great country residing up North time was spent smelling Canadian dollars to see if they smelt like maple syrup and playing long and brutal games of Uno. We hopped on a flight to Spain and 7 hours later, we were greeted by our tour guide, fearless leader, and now comrade Enrique.
After taking us to our hotel, Enrique took us out to see the streets of Spain and show us around. We spent that whole afternoon marveling at the magnificent architecture and incredible scenery surrounding us. The group then walked around a classic Spanish cathedral featuring towering arches, gorgeous stained glass, and a many incredible statues and art pieces that filled the church. Exhausted from the after affects of jet lag, we pushed through to see another day in paradise. The next morning was a difficult one, even with a great surplus of Spanish Cafecito (espresso) flowing through our veins.
After some breakfast we loaded the bus and headed for the center city. We toured a classical art museum named El Prado led by a quick and fiery spirited Spaniard by the name of Cristina. She guided us all throughout the breathtaking museum where our whole group shared a love for the arts. Bosch, Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Goya were some of my personal favorites. After the museum we walked in the scorching sun to the infamous Retiro Park and ate our lunches in the shaded grass. It was then when we split our group up and a few friends and I -along with Ms. Vela and Mr. Bruno- trekked our way to what seemed to be halfway across the city. We were on a mission to find a building across town. But it wasn’t just any old building, this place is going be my living quarters next year, my dorm room. I’m studying abroad in Madrid for my freshman year and today was my only opportunity to see my dorm room before I move in later this year. It was great to see the living space and show my friends where my next year will be spent. Overall the first two days were a great success and much sleep was had on that second night.
Llegamos!
The group has arrived safely in Spain, more updates and pics to come.