With a week to go in my study abroad experience, I can confidently say I have had my best day of the trip already. Here is that breakdown:
We began the day in Montserrat, a mountain range and monastery about an hour away from Barcelona. For me, the drive up was very similar to that of Yosemite National Park, as our bus driver went very slow to navigate the turns. Once we got there, it was impossible not to take hundreds of photos. On the side of the road, there were vendors selling different types of cheese and honey! I tried truffle cheese for the first time, and will definitely look for it back in the U.S. Within the last 30 minutes, we took St. Michael’s path up to the cross. This was an elevation point of 2500 feet, so quite a view. Be sure to find me next year to see these photos! After a few hours, the bus took us to Sitges, a coastal beach town in Spain. I had yet to cross the beach off my list up to this point, so it was great to swim in the ocean and enjoy the sun. As a group, we were allowed to stay here for as long as we wanted, but some of us took the bus back home to get ready for the last part of our day.
A football match at Camp Nou. NBA primetime, NFL rivalries or even the Whiteout fail to compare to the atmosphere that Europe’s largest stadium brings. The game was at 9 pm and was Barca’s first game since winning La Liga the week before. From taking the metro with locals and asking about their favorite players to sitting next to fans who get emotional during the chants, this was the most culturally immersive experience I have had. Despite the 2-1 loss, we were able to celebrate with Xavi and the players after the game. Sergio Busquets made his last appearance at Camp Nou, so it was a send-off for one of the greats too. When buying these tickets in April, I did not anticipate getting to watch such a historic night. Excited for week 3!
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