NOT A Walk In The Park



On Friday, we woke up, ate breakfast, walked to the bus, and went for a fifty minute ride outside of Madrid. I anticipated another great day of walking in El Escorial, with a hike on the agenda. I think we were all surprised when we kept going after we reached the first beautiful peak that overlooked the palace made by King Philip II. It was genuinely a very tough hike, through multiple different terrains. I enjoyed having the push and definitely relied on my mental strength that comes with wrestling. We were guided by someone who takes people on hikes for a living, but I did wonder if there are variations between the United States and Spain with the intensity of physical activities. Laura, who lives here, told us about the intensity of youth soccer. This is definitely true of the US as well. I am curious of the implications that sports or outdoor activities have on health. I am also intrigued if there lies an economic inequality of these type of activities. I think in the US, those with higher incomes have a much greater ability to have kids with success in sports. It has been interesting and fun to see all of the pride that the community has for soccer. These ideas come back to the large sense of community and being a part of something bigger. As we were hiking, I was thinking about the strong dedication to the preservation of the land and history. 

My other observations throughout these couple of days have been related to the appreciation for Spanish history. Visiting the monastery at El Escorial was breathtaking. I have never visited anything like it before. There was SO much history within this palace, the paintings covering the walls and ceilings, the tombs of the royal families, and the ancient books. It was surreal to see things that were so old and important to the context of today. Though we learn history growing up in the US, there is so much of world history that we seem to quickly pass over. I was curious to learn more about how education may differ in this way. Another part that has been different is learning more about the influence of the Catholic church on the history, the economy, and the social life of Spain. I think having such a long history has influenced the positive aspect of community that is so evident in every day life. A strong religious presence may also exacerbate this impact. Throughout this trip, I have come to appreciate the art and its impact much more and will be something I continue observing as I travel to other places.

My mind was blown when I stepped in the basilica. 



The most amazing reward so far.


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