My name is Elliott,
and this is my semester in Alicante, Spain.
Dublin and the Last Days
December 20, 2019
It is crazy that my time here is finally coming to an end! It was such an amazing semester!
A couple weeks ago, I visited Dublin. The views were beautiful, and our AirBNB was right next to the ocean. We had some amazing views on our walk to the bus stop into Dublin. In the city, we visited the library at Trinity College, the St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the castle and palace. It was incredibly beautiful, and exactly what I wanted Ireland to be like. We visited a few Irish pubs, and it was everything I wanted it to be!
The Guinness Brewery was incredible. To be honest, it was the first time I tried a beer that I actually liked, because they taught us how to taste it correctly. You need to hold in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing (while holding your breath), then after swallowing, start to breath again. It actually made it taste significantly different.
The last couple weeks went by very quickly. I have mixed feelings about returning home, because on one hand, I am very ready to be home for the holidays, but on the other hand, I am not ready to leave Spain! All I know is that I will never forget this incredible experience! Not only has my Spanish improved, I have improved in many other aspects of my life. I have become more confident in my ability to do things on my own, I have learned more about how I adapt to new situations, and I know that I am coming out of this experience a better person!
It is crazy that my time here is finally coming to an end! It was such an amazing semester!
A couple weeks ago, I visited Dublin. The views were beautiful, and our AirBNB was right next to the ocean. We had some amazing views on our walk to the bus stop into Dublin. In the city, we visited the library at Trinity College, the St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the castle and palace. It was incredibly beautiful, and exactly what I wanted Ireland to be like. We visited a few Irish pubs, and it was everything I wanted it to be!
The Guinness Brewery was incredible. To be honest, it was the first time I tried a beer that I actually liked, because they taught us how to taste it correctly. You need to hold in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing (while holding your breath), then after swallowing, start to breath again. It actually made it taste significantly different.
The last couple weeks went by very quickly. I have mixed feelings about returning home, because on one hand, I am very ready to be home for the holidays, but on the other hand, I am not ready to leave Spain! All I know is that I will never forget this incredible experience! Not only has my Spanish improved, I have improved in many other aspects of my life. I have become more confident in my ability to do things on my own, I have learned more about how I adapt to new situations, and I know that I am coming out of this experience a better person!
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
London and Madrid
December 4, 2019
The last few weeks have been crazy! I have done a lot more exploring of Alicante, which are the first few pictures. Some of my friends that are studying in London came to visit me a few weeks ago, and I got to show them around. It was a very fun time!
The following weekend, I went and visited them in London. I got to see Big Ben, which was unfortunately under construction, but I took a picture in front of it anyways. I also got to see the London Eye and Buckingham Palace. I enjoyed seeing a some of London's very cool museums, like the National Gallery. It was a cold and slightly wet, but very fun, weekend!
Last weekend, I went to Madrid. I went to the Prado, the Thyssen, and the M.A.N. (Museo Arquelógico de Madrid), where I saw a lot of famous works of art that I have been studying in my Literature and Art classes. I also got to see the palace there. Both London and Madrid were decorated for the holidays, so I am finally starting to get into the Christmas spirit!
Here, they don't have Thanksgiving to separate the Christmas season from the Halloween season, so some places have been decorated for Christmas for a long time. Other places in Alicante are just starting to put up decorations, and it's finally starting to feel like Christmas!
I will be going to Dublin this weekend, and I can't wait to explore Ireland! My time here is starting to come to an end, and I plan to make the most of it!
The last few weeks have been crazy! I have done a lot more exploring of Alicante, which are the first few pictures. Some of my friends that are studying in London came to visit me a few weeks ago, and I got to show them around. It was a very fun time!
The following weekend, I went and visited them in London. I got to see Big Ben, which was unfortunately under construction, but I took a picture in front of it anyways. I also got to see the London Eye and Buckingham Palace. I enjoyed seeing a some of London's very cool museums, like the National Gallery. It was a cold and slightly wet, but very fun, weekend!
Last weekend, I went to Madrid. I went to the Prado, the Thyssen, and the M.A.N. (Museo Arquelógico de Madrid), where I saw a lot of famous works of art that I have been studying in my Literature and Art classes. I also got to see the palace there. Both London and Madrid were decorated for the holidays, so I am finally starting to get into the Christmas spirit!
Here, they don't have Thanksgiving to separate the Christmas season from the Halloween season, so some places have been decorated for Christmas for a long time. Other places in Alicante are just starting to put up decorations, and it's finally starting to feel like Christmas!
I will be going to Dublin this weekend, and I can't wait to explore Ireland! My time here is starting to come to an end, and I plan to make the most of it!
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Spain Vlog #4
November 22, 2019
Villajoyosa and Granada
November 3, 2019
It has been a couple weeks since I gave an update, so I have A TON of pictures. A couple weekends ago, I was supposed to go to Barcelona with Mara, my cousin; however, that very weekend some pretty serious riots were breaking out in the city, so we decided it wouldn't be wise to go there. Instead, we visited a chocolate factory in the town of Villajoyosa, another coastal city in Spain. We explored the city a little bit, and we had an amazing time!
Last weekend, we went to Granada. It was the last city conquered by the Catholic royalty that took over Spain, so it still has a lot of Arab influence within the city. I got to try apple Arab tea at the tetería, and it was amazing! The city has some amazing architecture. First, we visited the cathedral, which was absolutely gorgeous. That night, we went to a flamenco dancing show in a cave nearby, and it was very cool to see the dance done professionally. I have been taking a flamenco dancing class through my program, and it has been very fun to learn more about Spanish culture through the lessons!
The next day, we went to the Alhambra in Granada, an Arab palace/fortress and one of the most visited places in all of Europe. The architecture was absolutely amazing! I took so many pictures there, and I was so impressed by the ornate designs decorating the entire palace. The entire time, I felt like I was in Aladdin or something! And of course, while I was in Granada, I had to buy some ice cream!
This week we celebrated Halloween in the program office, and I took some more cool pictures around the city of Alicante! Every day, I am surprised by how beautiful this place is, and I can't help but take some more pictures!
Honestly, it is crazy that my time here is already half over. I know that I am going to savor all of the experiences yet to come!
It has been a couple weeks since I gave an update, so I have A TON of pictures. A couple weekends ago, I was supposed to go to Barcelona with Mara, my cousin; however, that very weekend some pretty serious riots were breaking out in the city, so we decided it wouldn't be wise to go there. Instead, we visited a chocolate factory in the town of Villajoyosa, another coastal city in Spain. We explored the city a little bit, and we had an amazing time!
Last weekend, we went to Granada. It was the last city conquered by the Catholic royalty that took over Spain, so it still has a lot of Arab influence within the city. I got to try apple Arab tea at the tetería, and it was amazing! The city has some amazing architecture. First, we visited the cathedral, which was absolutely gorgeous. That night, we went to a flamenco dancing show in a cave nearby, and it was very cool to see the dance done professionally. I have been taking a flamenco dancing class through my program, and it has been very fun to learn more about Spanish culture through the lessons!
The next day, we went to the Alhambra in Granada, an Arab palace/fortress and one of the most visited places in all of Europe. The architecture was absolutely amazing! I took so many pictures there, and I was so impressed by the ornate designs decorating the entire palace. The entire time, I felt like I was in Aladdin or something! And of course, while I was in Granada, I had to buy some ice cream!
This week we celebrated Halloween in the program office, and I took some more cool pictures around the city of Alicante! Every day, I am surprised by how beautiful this place is, and I can't help but take some more pictures!
Honestly, it is crazy that my time here is already half over. I know that I am going to savor all of the experiences yet to come!
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Spain Vlog #3
October 17, 2019
Tabarca and Altea
October 9, 2019
A lot has happened since my last post! Amidst all of the paella, ice cream, and occasional Japanese food that I have been eating, a couple of the highlights from the last couple weeks were my visits to Tabarca, an island off the coast of Spain, and my visit to Altea, a neighboring city of Alicante.
On Tabarca, I went snorkeling off the coast of the island. We had a guided tour which even went through a cave off the shore. I saw lots of pretty fish, and as it was my first time snorkeling in the ocean, I had a great time! The island had an interesting vibe to it, because there are very few people who actually live there. Therefore, the economy is very much based on tourism. All of the tourist shops were mixed in with things like the old church, fortress, and lighthouse, which are remnants of the earlier inhabitants of the island who were not able to get to the mainland as frequently. The mix was very fun to experience!
I have also done a lot more exploring of the city of Alicante. The other day, I went for a run on the mountain where the castle is built, and I came across many impressive views. I have also checked out a lot more ice cream places, because the gelato here is AMAZING.
I have been searching the city for a piano, and I finally found one... in the train station in the middle of the city! It's a little hard to practice, since everyone is listening, but I have gone there a few times to play some the music that I have a bit more polished. It has been very fun, since I hadn't touched a piano for over a month!
One of my weekends, I also took a trip to Altea. The beach there has a very impressive view of the mountains, and the city is built into the side of a large hill. After following the steps leading upward through the streets, we came across a beautiful view of the ocean and the mountains right beside it.
Last weekend, I did an escape room. In Spanish. This made it slightly more difficult, because we had to read a couple diary entries, but besides a couple words, we were able to understand everything and almost made it out of the room! We didn't quite get there, but it was still a very fun experience!
Just today, I went to a park between the city and the airport, and it was beautiful! There were palm trees everywhere, and with the beautiful landscaping and pools of water, it was a great place to go for a walk. Perhaps next time I'll hike up the "mountain" next to the coast in the middle of the city!
Everything has been going really well, and I can't wait for my next adventure in this amazing city!
A lot has happened since my last post! Amidst all of the paella, ice cream, and occasional Japanese food that I have been eating, a couple of the highlights from the last couple weeks were my visits to Tabarca, an island off the coast of Spain, and my visit to Altea, a neighboring city of Alicante.
On Tabarca, I went snorkeling off the coast of the island. We had a guided tour which even went through a cave off the shore. I saw lots of pretty fish, and as it was my first time snorkeling in the ocean, I had a great time! The island had an interesting vibe to it, because there are very few people who actually live there. Therefore, the economy is very much based on tourism. All of the tourist shops were mixed in with things like the old church, fortress, and lighthouse, which are remnants of the earlier inhabitants of the island who were not able to get to the mainland as frequently. The mix was very fun to experience!
I have also done a lot more exploring of the city of Alicante. The other day, I went for a run on the mountain where the castle is built, and I came across many impressive views. I have also checked out a lot more ice cream places, because the gelato here is AMAZING.
I have been searching the city for a piano, and I finally found one... in the train station in the middle of the city! It's a little hard to practice, since everyone is listening, but I have gone there a few times to play some the music that I have a bit more polished. It has been very fun, since I hadn't touched a piano for over a month!
One of my weekends, I also took a trip to Altea. The beach there has a very impressive view of the mountains, and the city is built into the side of a large hill. After following the steps leading upward through the streets, we came across a beautiful view of the ocean and the mountains right beside it.
Last weekend, I did an escape room. In Spanish. This made it slightly more difficult, because we had to read a couple diary entries, but besides a couple words, we were able to understand everything and almost made it out of the room! We didn't quite get there, but it was still a very fun experience!
Just today, I went to a park between the city and the airport, and it was beautiful! There were palm trees everywhere, and with the beautiful landscaping and pools of water, it was a great place to go for a walk. Perhaps next time I'll hike up the "mountain" next to the coast in the middle of the city!
Everything has been going really well, and I can't wait for my next adventure in this amazing city!
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Spain Vlog #2
September 28, 2019
Exploring the City and Benidorm
September 19, 2019
I can't believe that I am already finishing my third week here in Alicante! Below are some of the pictures that I took during my adventures this week. After being cooped up inside for a couple days due to the intense rain that southeast Spain experienced, I was ready to get outside and do something interesting! The first few pictures are from my solo excursion to the beach during a break in the rain. I had my umbrella with just in case it started raining. It sprinkled a little bit, but the views were definitely worth it, or "vale la pena" as they say in Spain!
The next few pictures are from my exploration with a couple of my friends from my study abroad program. We were all ready to get out of the house after the rain, so we decided to just go exploring. We found some pretty cool places just by walking around! One was a street full of broken umbrellas hanging from clotheslines. It was very pretty, and a very creative use for your unused umbrellas. We also found a restaurant that had a mural of Tintin and Captain Haddock on the side of it! The comic-loving child in me got very excited and had to take a few pictures. Afterwards, we walked along the marina and got ice cream at a place not far from the beach, where they shaped the ice cream to look like a flower.
Last weekend, we took a trip to Benidorm, a city not too far from Alicante (about an hour tram ride away). We had a lot of fun at the beautiful beach there! This week, I have done a bit more adventuring in Alicante. On Monday, I took a tour of the city, visiting some of the important places in Alicante, and yesterday, we took a tour of the MARQ, or Archaeological Museum of Alicante.
Thanks for reading! I can't wait to have many more adventures here in the coming months!
I can't believe that I am already finishing my third week here in Alicante! Below are some of the pictures that I took during my adventures this week. After being cooped up inside for a couple days due to the intense rain that southeast Spain experienced, I was ready to get outside and do something interesting! The first few pictures are from my solo excursion to the beach during a break in the rain. I had my umbrella with just in case it started raining. It sprinkled a little bit, but the views were definitely worth it, or "vale la pena" as they say in Spain!
The next few pictures are from my exploration with a couple of my friends from my study abroad program. We were all ready to get out of the house after the rain, so we decided to just go exploring. We found some pretty cool places just by walking around! One was a street full of broken umbrellas hanging from clotheslines. It was very pretty, and a very creative use for your unused umbrellas. We also found a restaurant that had a mural of Tintin and Captain Haddock on the side of it! The comic-loving child in me got very excited and had to take a few pictures. Afterwards, we walked along the marina and got ice cream at a place not far from the beach, where they shaped the ice cream to look like a flower.
Last weekend, we took a trip to Benidorm, a city not too far from Alicante (about an hour tram ride away). We had a lot of fun at the beautiful beach there! This week, I have done a bit more adventuring in Alicante. On Monday, I took a tour of the city, visiting some of the important places in Alicante, and yesterday, we took a tour of the MARQ, or Archaeological Museum of Alicante.
Thanks for reading! I can't wait to have many more adventures here in the coming months!
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Valencia
September 10, 2019
Last Saturday, Spanish Studies Abroad took a group trip to Valencia. The city was beautiful! It was not too far away, only two hours on a bus, and with the view out the window being mountains or the ocean most of the way there, there was nothing to complain about. Once we arrived, we stopped at this science museum, one of the most architecturally significant places that the city has to offer. It modern design was meant to mimic the skeleton of a whale. |
We took a tour of the city, stopping at many places with very unique architecture. My favorite part was seeing the elaborate old buildings. Living in America, I haven't seen many things that are more than a few hundred years old. Here, you can walk down the street and see a dozen things that are well over a century old. We stopped at the market in Valencia as well. There is one in Alicante which I have yet to visit, but it seems like there are quite a few places that have them. There are shops filling the space selling fresh goods, like a farmer's market but in a super cool building.
We also visited the cathedral in Valencia, the Cathedral of the Holy Chalice. Inside, there is a room which apparently contains the Holy Grail. According to our guide, there are a few churches in Europe which claim to have the chalice used by Jesus at the last supper, but this one is the one that scientists say is the most likely to be the real one. Even so, I'm still a little skeptical, but it was cool to see!
While there, I bought horchata and coffee flavored gelato, both of which tasted amazing. Horchata is a traditional Spanish beverage containing milk and cinnamon. It was a little weird, but I think I enjoyed it. I might have to try it again to know for sure!
It was an eventful day, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the city! Perhaps I will have to go to check it out again! Below is a gallery of the best pictures that I took!
We also visited the cathedral in Valencia, the Cathedral of the Holy Chalice. Inside, there is a room which apparently contains the Holy Grail. According to our guide, there are a few churches in Europe which claim to have the chalice used by Jesus at the last supper, but this one is the one that scientists say is the most likely to be the real one. Even so, I'm still a little skeptical, but it was cool to see!
While there, I bought horchata and coffee flavored gelato, both of which tasted amazing. Horchata is a traditional Spanish beverage containing milk and cinnamon. It was a little weird, but I think I enjoyed it. I might have to try it again to know for sure!
It was an eventful day, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the city! Perhaps I will have to go to check it out again! Below is a gallery of the best pictures that I took!
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Spain Vlog #1
September 8, 2019
The First Week
September 5, 2019
As of tomorrow, I will have been in Alicante, Spain for one whole week. It already feels like it has been twice that, though! I have been very busy getting used to the new city and doing all of the activities that Spanish Studies Abroad offers, and because of this have fit so much into this eventful week!
As of tomorrow, I will have been in Alicante, Spain for one whole week. It already feels like it has been twice that, though! I have been very busy getting used to the new city and doing all of the activities that Spanish Studies Abroad offers, and because of this have fit so much into this eventful week!
The part that I was most nervous for was my flight and getting to my host family. Both, however, went by very smoothly! The hardest part about it was finding things to do for the hours that I was waiting in the airports of Minneapolis, Boston, and Lisbon, Portugal. I got a couple of snacks, though, and the airports had WiFi, so I was able to watch a bit of Netflix to pass the time (specifically The Good Place—quality TV show).
To the left: Typical airport cuisine, purchased with the last of my American dollars |
My last flight, going from Lisbon, Portugal to Alicante, was the one that I was most excited for. I was pretty exhausted, running on the only three hours of sleep that I had been able to muster during my trans-Atlantic flight, but the views outside the window were so pretty that I had to stay awake to see them. My first glimpses of Spain were its southern deserts and mountains, but as we approached the southeast coast, Alicante came into view.
To the right: The view of Alicante from its Santa Barbara Castle |
When I arrived last Saturday at the Alicante airport, running on my little sleep, I had to find a taxi to get to my host family. I was pretty worried about it, but after leaving the airport, there was an arrow pointing to where people taking a taxi needed to go. I followed the signs, and before I knew it, a nice taxi driver was helping me load my bags into the back of his SUV. From the taxi, I took a picture of my first view of the Mediterranean Sea.
To the left: My first view of the Mediterranean Sea |
I showed the taxi driver my host family's address, which I had written on a piece of paper beforehand, and he took me to the place that it said. He dropped me off, but I still couldn't figure out where I was (because I had written the address wrong on the piece of paper, oops), so I ended up asking someone in the Guardia Civil that spoke some English where I should be going, and he pointed me in the right direction. I approached the door, not really sure what to say or do. I buzzed the number of the apartment that I would be in, and after hearing someone on the other end say, "Hola?" I said, "It's Elliott!" kind of forgetting that I was supposed to be speaking Spanish. My host mother understood, though, and after a bit of waiting, the door opened and I ascended the stairs to the sixth floor. There, I was greeted by my host mother, Ana! She ushered me into her apartment, and showed me to my room. That night, we went to a hotel to eat tapas with the other students that were in the study abroad program. To the right are a couple pictures of all of us together at the Santa Barbara Castle, one of the most iconic locations in all of Alicante! In one direction is the Mediterranean, and in the other is mountains. The view was amazing!
Since then, I have gone on many adventures, going to the beach, exploring the city, trying to communicate with my host family, visiting the Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante, cooking paella, and celebrating the "cumpleaños" of one of the students in the program with me, Jenna. I have been here for less than a week, and I have already had so many great experiences! I cannot wait to see what the rest of the semester brings! Stay tuned for more posts, and below is a gallery of some of my favorite photos which I have taken thus far on the trip. Thanks for reading! |
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain
Preparing for Spain
August 19, 2019
In less than two weeks, I will be in Alicante, Spain! Honestly, I'm getting pretty nervous, but I know that it is going to be an amazing experience! My flight will first take me to Boston, then to Portugal, and finally to my destination, Alicante, Spain! This is actually the part for which I am most nervous. While I have flown overseas with groups of people, I have never gone alone, so it will be a very new experience. Upon my arrival, I will take a taxi to my host family, after which I will begin to become acquainted with the city. I was going to take a windsurfing class; however, there were not enough students interested, so instead, I will be taking a flamenco dancing class. It is one of the things that I am most looking forward to!
Make sure to stay tuned for more updates on my travels! On my journey to Alicante, I plan to keep a record of what happens, including a vlog of my trip there, which will be posted here and on Youtube.
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain (or at least soon to be)
In less than two weeks, I will be in Alicante, Spain! Honestly, I'm getting pretty nervous, but I know that it is going to be an amazing experience! My flight will first take me to Boston, then to Portugal, and finally to my destination, Alicante, Spain! This is actually the part for which I am most nervous. While I have flown overseas with groups of people, I have never gone alone, so it will be a very new experience. Upon my arrival, I will take a taxi to my host family, after which I will begin to become acquainted with the city. I was going to take a windsurfing class; however, there were not enough students interested, so instead, I will be taking a flamenco dancing class. It is one of the things that I am most looking forward to!
Make sure to stay tuned for more updates on my travels! On my journey to Alicante, I plan to keep a record of what happens, including a vlog of my trip there, which will be posted here and on Youtube.
Sincerely,
Elliott Rysavy from Alicante, Spain (or at least soon to be)