2008 Woodie Awards
Europe Trip: Spain
Culture shock disappoints one student
Caryn Connolly
Issue date: 1/26/07 Section: Opinion
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I had the opportunity to travel to Europe over the winter break with a group of twenty Stevens students and guests. The trip began in Madrid, meandered through Barcelona, twisted its way through the French countryside to Nice and Monaco before crossing the Alps into Italy. In Italy we saw the infamous leaning tower of Pisa, the romantic city of Florence and Rome. This week I will discuss the Spanish segment of the trip, giving tips on things to do and see as well as warnings on what to look out for while traveling in the region.
When we landed in Madrid, we were informed by our guide, Marco, that an ETA terrorist attack had occurred in the parking lot of a nearby terminal. Marco did not seem overly concerned about this and continued with the tour with only a side note about notifying family members that we were okay. Once the tour got underway, the guide was extremely entertaining and knowledgeable, although he did seem unaware of current trends in the United States, often referring to "Spaghetti Westerns" and "those popular mime shows." Having never seen a mime show, I could not honestly say that they are popular, but to argue seemed pointless.
The first thing you notice about Spain is the alien landscape. All you can see in every direction is what looks like mountains of construction sand broken sporadically by tufts of grass. There is a slight - very slight - resemblance to the American Southwest and California, which could account for the guide's fascination with "Spaghetti Westerns." The major cities seem to be hundreds of miles apart, while small towns are few and far between.
In Spain, everything is cheaper than in other parts of Europe. You can get water for as little as 21 cents Euro. The trick in all the countries of Europe is to go into the supermarkets to buy water or snack foods. In my opinion, the food at the hotel was terrible and the food in nearby restaurants was not that much better. The first night, we were served heaping plates of large, flat green beans with ham, followed by half a chicken and a fruit cocktail for dessert. That was not the first time we would see fruit cocktail. It was available at most of the breakfasts. When ordering calamari, realize that it will not taste the way we have come to expect it here. In Madrid, I ordered calamari. It came on bread, it was not breaded and it stretched. I realize the seafood there was probably fresher than we have ever had in this country, but I do prefer mine cooked.
When we landed in Madrid, we were informed by our guide, Marco, that an ETA terrorist attack had occurred in the parking lot of a nearby terminal. Marco did not seem overly concerned about this and continued with the tour with only a side note about notifying family members that we were okay. Once the tour got underway, the guide was extremely entertaining and knowledgeable, although he did seem unaware of current trends in the United States, often referring to "Spaghetti Westerns" and "those popular mime shows." Having never seen a mime show, I could not honestly say that they are popular, but to argue seemed pointless.
The first thing you notice about Spain is the alien landscape. All you can see in every direction is what looks like mountains of construction sand broken sporadically by tufts of grass. There is a slight - very slight - resemblance to the American Southwest and California, which could account for the guide's fascination with "Spaghetti Westerns." The major cities seem to be hundreds of miles apart, while small towns are few and far between.
In Spain, everything is cheaper than in other parts of Europe. You can get water for as little as 21 cents Euro. The trick in all the countries of Europe is to go into the supermarkets to buy water or snack foods. In my opinion, the food at the hotel was terrible and the food in nearby restaurants was not that much better. The first night, we were served heaping plates of large, flat green beans with ham, followed by half a chicken and a fruit cocktail for dessert. That was not the first time we would see fruit cocktail. It was available at most of the breakfasts. When ordering calamari, realize that it will not taste the way we have come to expect it here. In Madrid, I ordered calamari. It came on bread, it was not breaded and it stretched. I realize the seafood there was probably fresher than we have ever had in this country, but I do prefer mine cooked.
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