Nothing brought me back to my freshman year at Pitt quite like climbing the steep incline into the heart of Toledo. I had flashbacks to my first month weathering the intense heat while trying to reach my Sutherland dorm room, despair setting in whenever the escalators were down and 50 more steps were added to my journey. But before I walk you through what I did during my 20,000 steps in over 90-degree heat, I want to take you back to the beginning of my weekend adventures: a visit to the Museo del Romanticismo.
With so many museums in Madrid, I told myself that I needed to visit one every week. As Saturday approached, I searched online for local options (preferably ones that had free visiting hours). I was excited to find Museo del Romanticismo among the first results. I briefly skimmed a few pictures and loved that the exhibit wasn’t limited to the art hanging on the walls. Whole rooms were decorated beautifully, and to top it all off, pictures were allowed (without flash of course). Visiting was free after 2:00pm, so after sleeping in for a bit on Saturday and easily navigating the metro (the route is conveniently the one I use daily for work), I finally got to see the exhibits in person. One of my favorite things about this museum was the variety of art it showcased. From furniture to dollhouses to ornate clocks, I found myself fascinated by every small detail. I had a really hard time choosing which photos I wanted to showcase, especially when sorting through the dozens I took the day after during my day trip to Toledo.
The journey to Toledo started with me reluctantly rolling out of bed at 6:50am. I wanted to give myself enough time to pack my bag and account for any navigational delays as I made my way to my first train ride out of Madrid (which, in hindsight, was a great decision). I ended up missing a turn at one point and taking an alternative route which led me up a long set of stairs, making me question if I was even headed to the correct place. Luckily, when I reached the top and glanced down through the glass panes to my right, I saw several rows of trains, restoring some hope. Much of my navigation from there involved following the crowd until I made it to luggage control. The bright side is that I was able to provide very detailed directions for my friend once she arrived, and we boarded just in time.
Waking up was rough, but arriving early turned out to be my saving grace. One benefit was avoiding the larger crowds we encountered later in the day, but the main thing I appreciated was the cool morning air making the trek bearable as we climbed higher and higher up the cobblestone streets. One of the first things that struck me was the large amount of birds flying around. They provided a pleasant distraction as I tried to catch my breath. Shortly after fueling ourselves with some coffee and toast, we began our exploration. As we wandered down one street, we noticed the distant sound of drumming and decided to take a closer look. What we found was an energetic performance, featuring whistling and precise choreography as drummers urged racers toward the finish line. The few minutes we spent watching them has easily become a highlight of my time in Spain.
The rest of the day was spent exploring a variety of breathtaking religious sites. As the temperature climbed, visits to different cafés increased, allowing everyone to cool down and rehydrate. My feet were aching by the end of the day, and I was eager to sit down. Little did I know that I would get more than I bargained for when we were told that the train wouldn’t leave for another 20 minutes. What could have been a gloomy atmosphere was brightened by a two-year-old with a bright smile running around and enthusiastically shouting “¡Hola!” to the nearby seats.
Dealing with delays and navigating ambiguity (and sometimes just navigating, period) has been a constant part of adapting to life in Spain, both inside and outside of work. Oftentimes the path is unclear and you need to figure out the best way to find your way through, whether that be using the resources at your disposal or asking someone else for help. Working in a small nonprofit, I often encounter unclear directions due to the fast-paced, flexible nature of the workplace. Since my supervisors are frequently hosting guests or participating in meetings, I need to figure out how to tackle different tasks with what I have on hand.
One example is a project that I was assigned today, where I was tasked with reading about a project that the company had completed and outlining the main objectives and results. While I wasn’t given detailed instructions, I knew from previous assignments that these bullet points go into the annual report to donors, so I referenced other projects and their corresponding summaries to ensure that my phrasing was correct. There is also another intern working remotely this week, so if I have questions, I have the option to message her over Whatsapp for additional support. Completing various tasks has made me more resourceful and kept me excited for each new assignment, and I look forward to seeing what new tasks arise as the August Bazar event draws nearer.
I expected time to fly by in Spain, but it has been going slow in the best way possible. I keep checking and rechecking my calendar, hardly believing that I still have over 5 weeks of exploration left. I can’t wait to see what new adventures Spain has in store!