My study abroad program treated us to a three-day weekend in Extremadura, a large autonomous region in Western Spain. Although it is not an area that I would have chosen to visit on my own, I had a fun time reuniting with friends from the program who I do not see on a daily basis and exploring the ins and outs of the area. One of the most notable aspects of the trip was the abundance of storks (cigueñas) perched atop the towers and steeples of churches!
Guadalupe: We visited a large monastery and had the opportunity to see the Virgin of Guadalupe. Capturing our attention with his melody, a singing monk shared the statue’s importance.
Mérida: Arriving in the capital of Extremadura at dusk after a long bus ride, Daisey, Karla, and I spent some time exploring the city at night with a walk across the Puente Romano, the longest of all existing Roman bridges. The next day, our group walked around the ancient ruins that remain in the city. Some of my favorites were the Temple of Diana and the Roman Amphitheater. We also visited the Museum of Roman Art, home to Augustus’ head. Cool fact: Because the roman leaders changed so frequently (and statues were so expensive and time-consuming to build), the sculptors would just knock off the head of an existing sculpture and place a new one in its spot!
Caceres: After boarding the bus from Mérida and arriving in Caceres, we enjoyed a sweet treat of candied egg yolks from the Convent of San Pablo. We toured the winding stone paths of the area and dined on tapas in the Plaza Mayor!
Trujillo: We were almost washed away considering the unusual amount of rain, but we had an interesting tour of the town (home to conquistador Francisco Pizarro) that culminated with a visit to the Wine and Cheese museum (free samples)! Of course, the rain let up just as we were boarding the bus to return to Madrid.
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