All posts tagged traveling abroad

A Personal Invitation: Conference & Prayer Journey in Spain

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to a foreign country? Learning about the culture and history? Walking through the historic or religious sites that are centuries old? Do you have a desire to visit Spain?

If you follow my blog you know that I’ve done that. Twice!

In Segovia, Spain on mission, October 2014.

A Personal Invitation to Visit Spain

Since those two trips I’ve become somewhat of an ambassador for Spain, sharing about the country, its culture, and the religious climate any time the opportunity arises. I’ve come to realize that Spain is a very popular tourist destination with Americans—often running into people who have traveled there. I’ve not heard a bad review of this beautiful country.

Friendly people.

Easy to communicate despite the language barrier.

And a place where Americans and our tourist money are welcomed.

So do you want to go to Spain?

Next spring, missionary and Pastor Josh Fajardo, from the church where I spoke last fall, is leading an organized prayer journey through many of the same places that I traveled to on my personal pilgrimage in 2013—from Madrid to Southern Spain.

As a writer who fell in love with Spain, and has a pulse on the spiritual climate, my desire is to put Spain on the radar, so to speak, for others. So I’m putting on my ambassador hat and inviting you to follow your heart to Spain!

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, where I worshiped one day while on mission to Spain, October 2014.

The Trip to Spain

This 10-day trip to Spain, scheduled for April 14-24, 2016, starts with a women’s prayer conference in Rivas, a suburb of Madrid. The conference is sponsored by Women’s Ministries International, a nonprofit that supports and empowers programs in under-developed countries. Male attendees will have separate speakers and be involved in other activities during the women’s conference.

During the 10-day trip to Spain travelers will ride via motor coach to sites with historic and religious significance in Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Málaga, and Seville. Each day of the prayer journey portion of the trip starts with a devotional and time spent in prayer. The mornings are organized group time visiting cathedrals, synagogues, mosques, museums, or royal palaces.

After the traditional midday meal, you are free to explore the city and familiarize yourselves with the culture and the people in a more personal way. Everyone reconvenes over the evening meal (very late by American standards) to share what God is doing in their lives and where He met them in the streets of Spain.

Here’s what Pastor Josh, who organized the trip has to say about it:

“If you studied Spanish history you learned how Spain has influenced continents and has contributed to the economic and spiritual development of many countries in both hemispheres. Today, it’s a different story…Christian history informs us that Spain never experienced spiritual reformation. This is why we are inviting you to join us in praying for God’s power to be revealed on this nation! God is calling His people to participate and intercede! Is your heart moved to pray for a people that have strayed away from God? Consider becoming a prayer partner, join us on this journey and be a part of a spiritual awakening in our generation in Spain!”

My Personal Experience

As someone who has been to all of these places except Málaga, I can attest to their amazing beauty, and historical and religious significance. Spain was conquered and divided into regions ruled by Muslims and Christians. It wasn’t until the fall of Granada in 1492 that Muslim rule ended in Spain. Granada and the Alhambra, the palace and fortress compound from which the Muslims ruled, will be visited as part of the prayer journey in Southern Spain. (I toured that in 2013—incredible!!!)

I can also attest to the breadth of religious history and context that Pastor Josh has to impart to those on the trip. For instance, before I returned to Spain last fall, Josh told me about the auto de fé (religious courts) held in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor during the Spanish Inquisition several centuries ago. I was shocked to learn that after the judgment was pronounced, heretics were burned at the stake (in Plaza Mayor).

Auto de fe by Francisco Rizi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Auto de fé, Plaza Mayor, 1680, painted by Francisco Rizi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I returned to Madrid for the CR mission last October, I visited Plaza Mayor again and saw it in a new light. Josh also told me to look for the sculptures depicting scenes from the religious courts. This historic scene along with others was barely noticeable on the backs of public benches surrounding the lamp posts in the outdoor plaza.

Plaza Mayor is one of the most popular tourist sites in Madrid, but there is no marker or mention of this piece of history at the plaza. Having this new spiritual context of Plaza Mayor led me to pray for healing in the country in new ways.

Lamp post with sculptures

Auto de fé sculpture on lamp post bench

Why go?

God got a hold of me and gave me a heart for Spain and the need for spiritual renewal in the country during my first trip there, which was not part of an organized tourist package. What I reference above about Plaza Mayor is just one example from my own personal experience of how seeing a country from a spiritual perspective (like Josh provides) makes it a truly enriching, moving, and life-changing experience. It will awaken stirrings in your heart for the people of Spain.

I could go on and on about Spain, and as a self-proclaimed ambassador for the country, I will in time write more about it. For now, check out the brochure about the conference and prayer journey, Spain-Prayer-Journey-Brochure-2016, or visit the registration page at Women’s Ministries International.

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1, NIV)

Present day Plaza Mayor at night

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on October 29, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, Travel Adventures

Tagged Mission to Spain, My Spanish Connection, Plaza Mayor, prayer, prayer walk, Spain, Spanish cathedrals, Spanish history, Spanish monuments, spiritual journey, The Alhambra, tourist sites, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on October 29, 2015

https://ardisanelson.com/2015/10/29/personal-invitation-conference-prayer-journey-spain/

Commemorating Christopher Columbus in Spanish Style, Part 2

What would it be like to celebrate a national holiday in a foreign country? I wondered that myself when I found out that I would be in Spain on October 12 for Fiesta Nacional de España, otherwise known as National Day, or Columbus Day in America.

In my last post about National Day in Spain, I shared some of the historic monuments to Christopher Columbus in Andalucia, the region of Southern Spain. This post is dedicated to the monuments and festivities in the nation’s capital, Madrid. (Neither of these posts take a stand on the controversy with replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day. So please vent elsewhere.)

Spaniards proudly display their flag at Columbus Square in Madrid, October 12, 2014.

National Day Festivities in Madrid

National Day is a public holiday throughout Spain marked by celebrations and a day off work for employees. In Madrid, a military parade has been held every year since 2000, when this day was also recognized as Spain’s Day of the Armed Forces. Most families stay at home and watch the parade on television. For me, it seemed like a once in a lifetime experience—sort of like being in Washington DC for a historic parade. If at all possible, I wanted to attend and experience this for myself.

We woke up on Sunday morning, October 12, 2014, to a rather dismal forecast of rain for the day. Our original plans were to go to El Escorial, a royal palace about 30 miles north of Madrid. My host family was not in favor of going due to the rain in the forecast. It also put a damper on my hopes to attend the military parade.

However, much to my surprise, Rosa volunteered to escort me to the parade. Umbrellas in hand, we took the underground metro to the center of Madrid in search of the best place to watch the parade. By the time we arrived at Plaza de Cibeles, an iconic symbol of Madrid, the clouds had parted and blue skies were glistening above.

The streets were closed and the crowds were swarming the area in search of a location to view the parade. Rosa knew her way around and led us directly across from the Cybele Palace, a large cathedral-like building that is one of several landmarks in Madrid.

Plaza de Cibeles, blocked off for the parade, Madrid, October 12, 2014.

National Day Parade

There wasn’t much time to waste. I wiggled my way into the standing-room-only crowd of people, settling into a spot about 10-people deep in front of me. Rosa had seen the parade numerous times in her years of living in Madrid and waited further back behind the throngs of people.

The parade was ushered in with a rumble of military aircraft soaring overhead. The planes released plumes of red and yellow smoke trailing behind in a formation that represented the colors emblazoned on the Spanish flag.

Spanish pride on display from the air.

As the parade started I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My only other knowledge of a military parade was seeing tanks and other military vehicles on TV, like seen in old time movies or documentaries in school. This wasn’t like that. No tanks. No large armored vehicles to speak of.

The parade was presided over by the recently inaugurated King of Spain, Felipe VI. The crowds cheered as his limousine passed by with the Royal Family inside.

The parade was primarily a display of various regiments of the military each dressed in their unique uniforms. They were mostly marching on foot. Some were prominently carrying their rifles in upright positions pointing straight into the air. Others traveled the parade route on horseback. Their uniforms were varied as well—bright colors and some with Arabian type robes draped over them. I didn’t know what branch of the military each was from or understand the differences (and couldn’t ask anyone due to the language barrier). Military sounding music, maybe the national anthem, was being played on portable speakers scattered around the area.

I’m rather tall, but didn’t get much of a glimpse of the parade. I raised my cell phone above the crowds to get some pictures and video. It was the first time I realized how helpful owning a selfie stick would be. For a feel of the parade, watch the short video clip I recorded below.

Columbus Square

The parade was over in less than an hour, and Rosa and I headed on foot to our next destination, Sunday Mass at a local church, Parroquia Concepcion de Nuestra Señora. We followed that by meeting Pedro and Rafa (Pedro’s father) for lunch at a nearby German restaurant, La Fábrica Biermuseum. Even in Spain, they get tired of eating Spanish food, but not drinking good beer.

A more contemporary church in Madrid, Parroquia Concepcion de Nuestra Señora.

The altar at Parroquia Concepcion de Nuestra Señora.

Twice on our walks to these other destinations, we passed by Madrid’s monument site to Christopher Columbus, Plaza de Colón, or Columbus Square. Prior to the military parade, the Spanish flag was raised at this site by the King of Spain, Felipe VI. We missed that ceremony, but thousands of people were still surrounding the site, only a few blocks from where the parade was held.

Location of the flag raising ceremony.

The first time I saw this monument and the flag was my second day in Spain in the summer of 2013. My host family took me on a walking tour into the heart of the city, past Columbus Square and Plaza de Cibeles and several other historic landmarks. (Oh my aching feet!)

Jet-lagged and somewhat still in shock that I was actually in Spain, I was impressed by the beauty of the Spanish flag towering over the majestic concrete sculptures at the monument site. It is the largest flag in Spain measuring 46 feet high x 69 feet long.

The largest flag in Spain.

The Square is made up of three parts. The first is a statue of Christopher Columbus perched on top of a large column in the center of a traffic circle on the Paseo de la Castellana (the Castilian’s Mall), one of the longest and widest avenues in Madrid. The statue of Christopher Columbus is pointing west toward America. The sculpture was created by Spanish sculptor Jeronimo Suñon in 1885 and is surrounded by a fountain at the base of the column.

The statue of Christopher Columbus stands majestically over the city streets.

Westward ho!

Next to the statue of Columbus is an entire city block that commemorates this Spanish hero. It is made up of the Gardens of Discovery, where the Spanish flag is located, and another monument to Columbus. The large monument along Calle de Serrano (Serrano Street) is made up of three large concrete structures that represent the three ships in the voyage to the New World in 1492. The monument was sculpted by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios. The three sculptures bear texts and figures related to the history of Columbus.

Monument commemorating Columbus’ voyage in 1492.

History Comes Alive

In writing these posts about National Day in Spain, I had to rely somewhat on the internet. Sadly that is because my time at many of these monuments was so limited and because of the language barrier. (For example on both of my trips to Madrid, I walked through Columbus Square, but never got up close to any of the monuments.)

It is one reason why I take so many pictures and keep a journal when I travel. When I’m back home scrapbooking or just looking at my photographs, it brings my travels, even the minutest details, back to life. And I can research and translate things more at my leisure, like I did for these posts.

This 2-part series on Christopher Columbus has made my Spanish travels richer and more meaningful, and given me a greater understanding of American history as well. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting a glimpse of these historic places and monuments to Christopher Columbus in Spain. I leave you with a few photos from this special day in Madrid.

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Commemorating Christopher Columbus in Spanish Style, Part 1

“In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” The opening line of the poem “In 1492” about Christopher Columbus takes me back to my childhood when we learned about Columbus and his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a new trade route to the East Indies.

Portrait by Sebastiano del Piombo, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.

I never thought at that time that I would someday travel to Spain or visit the historical places that led to his explorations. But I did!

When I was young, my mind was focused on remembering the dates and details so I could do well in my class. Decades later, the main thing I remember are the names of his first voyage ships—the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria—and the date he discovered the New World: October 12, 1492.

Christopher Columbus’ Significance in Spain

Today is not only Columbus Day in America, it is also a holiday in Spain, Fiesta Nacional de España, or National Day. When I heard that Spain commemorates the day that Columbus set foot in the Americas, it surprised me. Although Columbus claimed vast territory for Spain with his explorations, and governed areas of Hispaniola, Spain doesn’t govern in that part of the world any longer.

When I admitted my ignorance around the subject to Pedro, he explained that Christopher Columbus launched a new era of wealth and power in Spain. Christopher Columbus, known as Cristóbal Colón in Spain, is a national hero. Just like the U.S., there are monuments to Columbus in many places throughout the country.

In my travels in Spain in the summer of 2013, I was fortunate enough to visit some of those monuments and historic places where Columbus ventured on his quest for funding of his journey across the Atlantic. During a week long vacation in the region of Andalucia, in Southern Spain, with Pedro and his parents, I started to get a feel for the vast and complicated history of Spain.

In the summer of 2013, I visited Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, Spain.

Let me start out by saying, that before our travels, I had very little knowledge about these places or the history of Spain.

Christopher Columbus Monuments in Granada

My first glimpse at the intersection of American and Spanish history related to Christopher Columbus was in Granada, Spain. We walked through Plaza Isabel La Católica.

In the center of the square was a monument to Queen Isabel and Christopher Columbus. The monument was sculpted in Rome for the 4^th centennial of Columbus’ journey to the New World. It depicts Queen Isabel granting permission for Columbus’ voyage.

Columbus monument in Granada, Spain.

After strolling through this square we headed to the Granada Cathedral and the neighboring museum, The Royal Chapel of Granada. The Royal Chapel is the final resting place of Queen Isabel I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, known as the Catholic Monarchs. History truly came alive for me when I walked through the Royal Chapel and viewed the tomb and crypt of these people whose names I learned in school decades earlier.

The tomb of the Catholic Monarchs

The crypt of the Catholic Monarchs

The next day we toured the Alhambra, the No. 1 tourist site in Spain. While touring the Alhambra, I learned that with the conquest of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs in January 1492, all Islamic rule of the Iberian Peninsula ended. I was starting to piece together the significance of that year and how history really was shifting at that time and under the rule of the Catholic Monarchs.

The Alhambra, a Moorish fortress dating back to 889.

Christopher Columbus Monuments in Córdoba

The next stop on our travels through Andalucia was Córdoba. First, we visited another major tourist attraction, the Mezquita, a former mosque converted into a Catholic cathedral in the 16^th century. It is a splendid display of Mudéjar (Moorish) and Renaissance architecture and religious history.

Moorish architecture in the Mezauita.

Catholic altar at the Mezquita.

Being so slow and deliberately trying to take in all of the beauty and reverence I missed out on another Columbus monument. We walked through the stifling heat (over 100 degree Fahrenheit), to the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos (the castle of the Christian monarchs). This served as one of the primary residences of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand.

Unfortunately it was closed by the time we arrived. In the summer, the site closes at 3:00 PM due to the heat and the traditional time for a Spanish siesta.

Entrance and tower of the castle.

The exterior walls of the castle.

Columbus & the Catholic Monarchs

We walked along the exterior medieval walls of the castle, taking a few pictures, and marveling at the structure from the outside. Inside was another statue with Christopher Columbus. This monument commemorates the first meeting here of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand in 1486.

Christopher Columbus Monuments in Seville

Our final destination on this vacation through Andalucia was Seville. It was there that we met Rosa’s brother Paco, and his family. He spoke English and served as my personal tour guide in Seville. He is well versed in the culture and history of Spain and particularly so in the architecture.

That was most evident when we toured the Seville Cathedral, completed in the early 16^th century. This cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral and the 3^rd largest church in the world. Unbeknownst to me, it also housed the burial site of Christopher Columbus. It was sort of a surprise at the end of the tour.

At the exit doors to the cathedral, Paco pointed out the tomb of Christopher Columbus. It was a grand monument—with the tomb being carried by four kings of Spain represented by kingdoms in Columbus’ lifetime, from Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre. His remains took a circuitous route from Valladolid, Spain where he died, to the present day Dominican Republic, to Cuba, and now to their final resting place in Seville in 1898.

This partly explains why Paco told me that Columbus’ remains were only rumored to be in this tomb. Depending on who you believe, it does appear that at least some of his remains are buried there. DNA testing was done in 2006 to confirm it.

Seeing this monument with Columbus’ remains towering above the royal figures of Spain gave me much more insight and understanding about the place he played in this country’s culture and history. He was a hero and represented the dawn of wealth and power for this beautiful country.

An Ambassador for Spain

The burial site of Christopher Columbus was a fitting end to my Andalucía vacation and Spanish history lessons. There are many other monuments to Columbus in Spain. Someday I hope to return to Spain and see them—most notably in Barcelona or Valladolid, where he died.

As someone once told me, my travels to Spain have turned me into an American Ambassador for Spain. I still have dozens of ideas on posts I’d love to write about my travels and the sites and history of Spain.

In 2013, I saw it through the eyes of my Spanish hosts. In 2014, I saw it more through the eyes of religious history. I’m fascinated by it and am quick to tell people about Spain whenever I get a captive audience.

Date marker on Columbus monument in Madrid.

In my next post, I’ll describe more about the Columbus monuments in the nation’s capital, Madrid, and my adventures there on National Day (Columbus Day) last year.

España Update 8 ~ Arriving in America

When I last wrote about my return travel home to America, I had completed one-third of my day’s journey and survived a bomb scare. It was early afternoon Spain time and I was in flight on my Iberian Airlines jet soaring at 30,000 feet toward New York’s JFK International Airport.

Tracking my flight with the on-board GPS

Although somewhat tired after already being up since 5AM and only having a few hours of sleep, my main focus for the flight was writing. I didn’t want to miss capturing a word, a thought, an emotion, or any possible revelation that could surface once my fingers hit the keyboard on my tablet. Sleep would wait until my mind couldn’t coherently piece together another thought that was racing through it.

Airplane Etiquette

Five hours into the 8-hour transatlantic flight, I couldn’t fight the urge to sleep any longer. When I reclined my seat to the furthest position, I was met with resistance from the woman behind me. She abruptly pushed my seat forward. Earlier in the flight I had tried to recline my seat and she, a French woman, responded in the same fashion. At that time I gave up trying because I didn’t want to cause a scene. But now she was also kicking my seat. I was not going to be intimidated by her rude behavior any longer.

I pressed the call button for the flight attendant and told her my dilemma. She tried to reason with the woman in English, using the French woman’s husband as a translator. When the attendant left, I thought all would be fine. I reclined my seat again. It was only in that position for a minute or so before the woman proceeded to punch the seat back and kick under my seat again. My patience was wearing thin, and my body was in need of some rest.

I had just survived six weeks in a foreign country where language was a daily challenge for me. In this new situation, I decided I was going to use my voice, get my needs met, and use my conflict resolution skills—regardless of the language barrier. I turned around and calmly spoke with her husband in English. He was more understanding as we worked out a compromise.

I was a bit nervous about the entire situation, standing up for my airspace rights, and trying to reason with someone who clearly thought she was entitled to bully me for what she wanted. Even the woman sitting next to me loudly declared, “That is just the French, they think they are so special”. An international incident was averted, but it definitely reinforced the uncomplimentary things I have often heard about the French.

Nervous about question 11(b).

On American Soil

Toward the end of the flight, each passenger was required to fill out a form for U.S. Customs, to declare items being brought into the country. A red flag went up inside of me; and I was worried when I saw the question that states: “I am bringing meats, animals, animal/wildlife products—yes or no?”

“Uh, oh,” I thought. I had gifts of Spanish ham packed away in my luggage. When I asked the flight attendant if it was allowed, he said ‘yes’ and that I just had to declare it on the form. “What a relief,” I thought and put it out of my mind.

Upon arrival at JFK Airport, I followed the other passengers towards the U.S. Customs area for re-entry to the States. There was a huge back up of people waiting that seemed to go for blocks. It took me a few minutes to realize that this was the line for the non-residents. There was virtually no waiting at the U.S. resident line. I laughed to myself and thought how great it was to be a U.S. citizen at that very moment. As I’m prone to do, to remember these kinds of small details, I took a photo—for reference later when it came time to write about it.

That was not a good idea. Within seconds, a Customs agent was in my face telling me to “PUT THAT CAMERA AWAY” and “I DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT CAMERA OUT AGAIN!” I quickly complied with her demands, feeling totally unnerved and shamed by her intimidating behavior.

The agent who then reviewed my Customs declaration form was witness to the entire incident. He requested that I pull out my camera and show him my recent photos.

DELETE, DELETE—within seconds two photos were erased from my SD card. Well, I didn’t need those photos to remember anything about this incident now! This experience had already embedded itself into my memory. And I still wasn’t cleared to re-enter the country.

My Poor Ham

Next I was directed to go to a separate area for inspection of my luggage. Another stoic looking Customs agent was all too eager to demand that I pull my prized ham out of my suitcase. But first I had to find it. Of course it wasn’t in the first suitcase. It was in the heavier of the two—50 pounds of baggage crashed onto the steel table.

I had my next shocking discovery when I opened the suitcase. Items were strewn about inside—definitely not in the neatly organized way I last saw it. I immediately told the Customs agent that my luggage was gone through and asked if that was common. She said it would’ve been tagged if it was inspected. There was no such tag. My heart sank as I suspected the worst.

There was no sympathy from the agent. She just wanted the ham. I gave her the ham; she inspected it briefly, and said it wasn’t allowed in the U.S.

The Duty Free shop at the Palma airport was full of Spanish products including Iberian ham.

I got nowhere with her as I told her how I was assured by the butcher at the neighborhood market that there would be no problem traveling with it. (Of course, in hindsight, I realize he probably wasn’t privy to U.S regulations, but was most helpful in making sure it was adequately packaged for my trip home.) She went on about asking me if he had a license to package it, or something like it. None of this made any sense to me.

“But this kind of ham is readily available at the airport duty free shops in Spain,” I told her as I was trying to make some reason out of what I feared would happen next. “Why would they sell it to tourists if it wasn’t allowed?” I asked.

“They just want to take your money,” she resolutely said. There was no reasoning with her. I was frustrated, bewildered, and helpless to get any understanding or empathy for my situation from the agent.

“But, but, but…,” I almost cried as I watched and listened to my precious packages of specialty Iberian ham being thrown into the trash bin. That ham traveled from Madrid to Mallorca, back to Madrid, and on to New York, via car, boat and plane. Now it was lining a garbage can at JFK International Airport.

“Welcome back to America,” I thought, but my thoughts were not in a complementary nature to my native country. In that moment I was embarrassed to be an American, and dreaded telling my Spanish family the fate of the ham that we so painstakingly secured for my family and friends back home.

I felt beaten up inside and out. I was crushed. I was exhausted. I was alone. I still had nine hours of travel time before I would be home with my family again.

What happened next? You can read about how the last leg of my travel turned out on the final update in this series.

What’s your worst travel story?

4 Comments

by ardisanelson on September 18, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, My Trip to Spain

Tagged Iberian ham, living abroad, My Spanish Connection, Spain, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on September 18, 2013

https://ardisanelson.com/2013/09/18/espana-update-8-arriving-in-america/

España Update 7 ~ Departing Spain

Everybody has a story to share about their travels—some comedic, frustrating, or scary. My return flights from Spain to Seattle, 3 flights covering 25 hours of travel, were plum with anecdotes to blog about. One month after my return home, I’m ready to tell mine, and in hindsight, can chuckle just a little.

In comparison, my flights to Spain 6 weeks prior were very uneventful. I only had one layover and it was on American soil, so I was familiar with navigating U.S. airports, etc. I was also met at Barajas Airport in Madrid by my Spanish family. The language difference never really surfaced. There were no stories to tell, only excitement to share and jetlag to overcome as I lived out my longest day and started my Spanish adventure.

Farewell Mallorca, Spain, my home for 2.5 weeks, summer 2013.

The Best Laid Plans

The first leg of my travel home to America was an early morning one-hour flight from Palma, Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain, to Barajas Airport in Madrid. It was a separate ticket from the roundtrip international portion of my itinerary. That meant I had to physically claim my baggage and re-check it to the U.S., not something I was looking forward to doing alone. I made plans to meet up with Victor, another Spanish exchange student, for help, and to reconnect since our last meeting three years ago in Seattle.

Determining a place to meet was one of the comical parts of my journey and opened my eyes to the differences with traveling abroad. In a text conversation with Victor, I indicated I needed help with my baggage and requested that he meet me at the baggage carousel for my flight from Mallorca. He told me he wasn’t allowed in that area of the airport. I thought he didn’t understand my request and asked Pedro to explain where to meet. In the end, I was the one who didn’t understand as the baggage claim area is a secured area in Barajas Airport, unlike in America. So I had to initially claim my baggage, nearly 100 pounds of it, on my own.

Squeaking by the 23 kg weight limit with my luggage.

A Scary Situation

With my bags in hand at Barajas, I patiently waited for Victor to show. That was when my trip turned ‘interesting’. While sitting outside the baggage claim area, a man walked up beside me and, without a word, laid down a backpack next to my luggage. I watched in shock as he hurried off in another direction not looking back. I realized immediately this was a safety concern. However, being in a foreign country, and barely able to speak the language, I didn’t know how to report it. Luckily others noticed it and called security.

I was long gone by the time security arrived. I had already eaten up a lot of my layover time waiting for Victor and so I quickly turned my attention to getting to my next flight—praying as I rushed from the terminal dragging my luggage behind me. I never connected with Victor, later hearing that his phone died and he couldn’t contact me.

While I was a bit fearful about the bomb threat, I was reminded that if I died in that moment that God had answered a prayer I’d had for the last three years—let me see Spain before I die. Somehow that was comforting to me. I never heard anything about that mysterious package on the news or while traveling.

A comedic moment, spying the overflowing pile of water bottles at the security checkpoint.

Navigating Barajas Alone

With no personal Spanish translator, except my phone app, I began texting Rafa, Pedro’s father, for help along the way and keeping him posted on my status. They had warned me that T4, the international terminal, was a long distance from T2, the terminal where my Mallorca flight landed. I didn’t realize until I was on site that meant actually riding an airport shuttle bus. I dragged my luggage onto the standing room only bus to T4, a few miles away along the highway.

Checking in at the Barajas main terminal was another learning experience. Pedro and Rosa helped me at Palma, but now I was alone. I asked each airline worker or friendly looking traveler within earshot, “habla Inglés?”

Since I had my boarding pass for my flight to New York, I was directed to a self-service kiosk to check in my luggage. That kiosk spit out my luggage tags. Then I had go to another line to actually deliver my baggage and send it on its way. It was in that line that I met my first Americans. What a relief! We shared a few pleasantries and our itineraries. Then they graciously took my photo—the last one on Spanish soil.

Navigating Barajas Airport on my own with 100 lbs. of luggage.

Security Checkpoint and Boarding

With my baggage out of my hands, I headed to security, which is less restrictive than American TSA rules—no removal of shoes, no dealing with plastic zip-lock baggies, and no x-ray body scans. However, they were a lot more thorough with their baggage search—or at least it seemed that way as they took a lot of time with the x-ray machine and going through the carry-ons. I had also heard other travelers mention a worldwide security alert was issued for air travel the previous day, so that could have been the reason.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, Barajas is a huge airport. It is the 4^th busiest one in Europe. That became very apparent to me on the way to my gate (puerta). Shortly after leaving the security line area, I saw signs that gave estimates of the amount of time to get to the gates. Mine read 22 minutes! Yikes, I thought as I realized the flight was boarding soon. My 3-hour layover had whittled away to nothing. My laptop bag grew very heavy as I continued on multiple escalators, moving walkways, and a tram to reach my gate, naturally at the end of the terminal. The timed signs were actually quite handy as they decreased in value along the way, but the initial estimate was a bit alarming. I virtually walked right onto the plane with no waiting.

Travel times from the main terminal to outlying gates were posted on overhead signs.

Adios España

As I settled in to my window seat and watched the landscape of Spain soar by below, I was filled with many mixed emotions. I missed my American family. After 6 weeks in Spain, I was ready to go home. My trip of a lifetime was ending. I didn’t know when or how I would ever return to Spain or physically see my Spanish family again (and still don’t). It is an uncertainty and pang of the heart that I live with daily and trust God to lead me back in His timing.

My final hours and minutes on Spanish soil were scary and stressed. The late night before, lack of sleep, and early morning were all starting to catch up with me. It was early afternoon. I still had 18 hours of travel ahead of me.

Farewell Madrid, my home for 3.5 weeks, summer 2013. I miss you already

Re-entry to America was anything but fun. You can read about my remaining flights home on my next update in this series.

What’s your most memorable travel story? Feel free to share it in the comments below.

6 Comments

by ardisanelson on September 5, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, My Trip to Spain, Travel Adventures

Tagged Barajas airport, educational exchange program, living abroad, My Spanish Connection, Spain, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on September 5, 2013

https://ardisanelson.com/2013/09/05/espana-update-7-departing-spain/

España Update 6 ~ The Language

Obviously the Spanish language was another major change for me to adapt to during my six-week trip to Spain. The one regret I have about my trip is that I didn’t spend more time learning the language. I think it would’ve made a big difference—especially in group settings.

Preparing for the Language Barrier

Back when I was in high school, most colleges required two years of a foreign language for admittance. So that was exactly what I took—the 2-year minimum, in Spanish. Nowadays, most universities are requiring three or four years. I would’ve hated that at the time, but in hindsight, I can see how two years of a foreign language is not enough to really communicate. After all, when Pedro first arrived at our home, he already had eight years of English behind him.

ShortcuttoSpanish.com, my favorite online study tool.

Over thirty years after my high school language classes were completed, I came face to face with the reality that I was going to need to speak Spanish for my summer travel to Spain. I spent three months in advance of my trip listening to Spanish audio CDs and studying the language. With that, plus a translator app on my mobile phone, I hoped and prayed that would be good enough.

Immersed in the Language

A true exchange student is normally immersed in their new language without much opportunity to speak in their native tongue. That was not the case for me. My Spanish family was very accommodating of my language deficiencies as they all spoke English to some degree.

My biggest challenge was communicating with Rosa, Pedro’s mother. She had an English tutor for the last year to help her prepare for my visit. Although our initial communications were somewhat clumsy, her English was surprisingly good. We both relied on electronic translators to help us fill in the gaps.

I would’ve been lost without my trusty Bing translator on my Windows 8 phone.

Early on in my trip, I embraced the language and tried to communicate with my family in Spanish. I wanted to learn the language. I know I butchered it at times, but was rarely corrected. They knew what I was trying to communicate. I eventually limited my trying except for some basic phrases that I routinely needed.

The Emotional Side

While everyone spoke English with me, all other conversations were in Spanish. Prior to my arrival in Spain, I hadn’t given that much thought. I knew the household would be a mixture of Spanish and English. It was rather disorienting to live in a home and an environment and not understand what was being spoken around me. Of course, I asked at times or was filled in occasionally, but over time, I think it started to wear on me and fed into feelings of isolation.

The truth of the matter is that not knowing the language myself limited who I could talk to, when I could talk, and what I could say. There were times I felt lonely and invisible—even in a room filled with people. The emotions around this totally caught me off-guard. Back in America, I would be able to process all of these feelings and cultural adjustments with a trusted friend or in a support group setting. While in Spain, I mostly turned to my journal and to prayer.

I was very grateful for the occasions when I was able to speak English for an extended period of time—like having Pedro’s uncle serve as my personal tour guide throughout Seville, befriending a young Mexican woman who spoke fluent English, or spending a Sunday afternoon with English speaking Protestants.

My own personal tour guide in Seville, Pedro’s Uncle Francisco.

The Fun of Learning a Language

On the brighter side, I have some very humorous memories related to the language. Pedro used my naivety with the language to coach me into saying embarrassing things. I quickly learned and regularly repeated the phrase “no confío en ti,” which means “I don’t trust you.”

Rosa also mixed up the English words “kitchen” and “chicken” early on. We never let her forget that mistake and reversed those words in our future conversations. That led to Pedro and his father trying to confuse me on giving directions—to the left (izquierda) or to the right (derecha). Our friendly teasing was always good for a laugh.

I loved how learning Spanish stretched my mind in new ways—even at my age. I loved how at times we all mixed the Spanish and English in our conversations. I enjoyed and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my mind started to think in Spanish, and sometimes subconsciously in my dreams.

Pedro and his family commented several times how much my Spanish had improved over the course of my visit. I was just as surprised, although disappointedly so, that it all disappeared as soon as I was back in America.

Many restaurants had bi-lingual menus, like Casa de Valencia in Madrid.

Lessons Learned

I have logged dozens of hours of Skype calls with Pedro since we met. Not once did I ever feel like I needed to learn Spanish. What I learned about the language from all of this isn’t really about the Spanish words or the grammar. It is that we truly do live a world apart, and the language, no matter how much I learn, will always be a barrier between us to some degree.

I also learned many things about Spain, my Spanish family, and about myself on this trip of a lifetime. After two weeks back home, I am still processing much of it. One thing is for sure, I would not take learning the language so lightly for a future trip.

~ If this is your first time visiting my blog, you can start reading about my Spanish travels here. To read the next update in this series, click here.

3 Comments

by ardisanelson on August 20, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in Identity, My Spanish Connection, My Trip to Spain

Tagged adapting to change, educational exchange program, identity, learning a foreign language, letting go, living abroad, living in the moment, My Spanish Connection, Spain, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on August 20, 2013

https://ardisanelson.com/2013/08/20/espana-update-6-the-language/

España Update 4 ~ The Food

For the most part, eating is an experience in Spain. The way they approach meals is very cultural. In America, our meals are often a rushed experience. In Spain, lunch and dinner are a sit-down family experience, or one reserved for gathering with friends—especially dinner.

The Spanish Cuisine

Americans consume vast amounts of fast food. We also use a lot of pre-packaged or prepared foods in our cooking. In Spain, the ingredients are fresh from the market. For instance with so much bread in their diet, they buy a fresh loaf almost daily. (Bread is to the Spaniard like rice is to the Chinese.) The bread comes from a bakery—no Wonder Bread, or other similar sliced and mass produced bread.

Fresh food in the local neighborhood market, Madrid.

Since olive groves are plentiful throughout the country, it is only natural that they use olive oil in so much of their cooking. The main use of olive oil in my American home is in the summer when we douse our vegetables in olive oil before grilling them on the barbeque. It is a taste sensation. In Spain, I use olive oil to fry my very American egg breakfast, to drizzle on my bread at dinner or for a vinegar and oil salad dressing.

Olive groves in the mountainous region of Andalucía, southern Spain.

The most common meat in Spain is ham. But don’t picture the traditional American Thanksgiving or Easter ham. This is a totally different type of ham (jamón). This ham has been cured in special seasonings and is then thinly sliced—like paper.

I can only remotely explain it as a sort of cross between bacon in flavor (but not cooked like bacon), and salami in consistency. It is everywhere and visible in restaurants or markets with the leg of the pig hanging upside down from the ceiling. I ate this delicacy before ever realizing how it was prepared, etc. The ham and bread (jamón y pan) are a staple of the Spanish diet.

Ham, Spanish style, a frequent site in restaurants and markets

Other popular Spanish foods are paella—a Spanish rice dish usually prepared with seafood or chicken and gazpacho—a delightful chilled tomato based soup (my personal favorite), and one that Pedro introduced to our family on his first trip to America. I occasionally add this to our American summer menus. I was delighted to find gazpacho available in refrigerated cartons in the market so I can still enjoy it while living on my own these last few days in Spain.

My first authentic Spanish paella, Madrid

The Food Experience

I’ve done a lot of traveling during my five weeks in Spain. It has given me a feel for the food in different parts of the country and lots of opportunities to have tapas. Tapas are similar to what Americans would consider appetizers. Most restaurants have a full tapa menu as people order multiple tapa dishes and share them amongst the table. It is a feast of tasting different flavors, and different types of food.

San Miguel Market, Madrid, a popular tourist location for tasting Spanish food.

I bravely decided to try everything I was offered—even if I didn’t know what it was. It made for some interesting food experiences. I’ve truly enjoyed some foods I never would’ve considered trying if I knew what they were—like black pudding. On another outing, I ordered bull’s tail for lunch. I’ve also had octopus (not sushi like in Seattle), Vichyssoise, a French soup served cold, made from potatoes and leeks and foie pate, a meat paste made from duck liver.

Sangria, a refreshing wine drink with fruit.

The Drinks

The Spanish also like their alcoholic drinks. I’ve sampled and routinely drank many of these. One of the main surprises to me is the way Spaniards consume their wines. I had heard wonderful things about Spanish wine. Living in the wine country of the Pacific Northwest I expected to taste many wines—as a compliment to my food, like I do in Seattle.

In the circles I traveled and parts of the country I visited, that was not the case. In other words, wine was not ordered based on what food we were eating. The alchoholic beverage most served with a meal was either cerveca (beer) or tinto de verano (summer wine). Summer wine is basically a red wine with a 7-Up type of cola added. It was very refreshing.

Other alcoholic beverages included Sangria, Mojitos and Valencian Water. But beware, the latter two carry quite a punch. One of my favorite drinking experiences was witnessing family members drink summer wine (tinto de verano) from a flask type of bottle called a porron. It almost reminded me of something one might witness at a fraternity party, but was demonstrated by Pedro’s grandfather. Pedro demonstrated it as well and I obliged to their initial urging to try this too. (Like I said, I embraced this lifestyle and tried to fit in.)

Drinking summer wine from a porron bottle.

A Virtual Eating Tour

Everywhere I travelled and every time I tried something new or unusual I took a photo of the food or the setting. So I’m including some of my food adventures for your virtual eating pleasure.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Eating On My Own

My last week in Spain is already here and I’m living on my own in an apartment with views of the Mediterranean. It is amazing. I am writing this at a Chinese restaurant (for a change of pace and taste) along the beach overlooking the Port of Soller and my apartment home across the water.

I’ve enjoyed the Mediterranean and its food, but after five weeks away from home, I am ready for American food. Bon appetite! (Oops, that’s French, but you get the idea!)

The food is Chinese, but the view is Mediterranean.

~ If this is your first time visiting my blog, you can start reading about my Spanish travels here.

2 Comments

by ardisanelson on July 31, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, My Trip to Spain, Travel Adventures

Tagged adapting to change, educational exchange program, living abroad, living in the moment, Mediterranean food, My Spanish Connection, Spain, Spanish diet, tapas, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on July 31, 2013

https://ardisanelson.com/2013/07/31/espana-update-4-the-food/

España Update 3 ~ The Lifestyle

Like other Mediterranean countries, the Spanish lifestyle is steeped in tradition—from the pace of the day, to the food they eat, and more. It is so very different from America. Living with my Spanish family has given me a bird’s eye view into the typical Spanish home.

Thanks to hours of Skype calls and dozens of emails with Pedro and his family over the past three years, I knew a lot about the Spanish lifestyle and culture prior to my arrival. I was ready to blend right in—or so I thought.

For all of the prep I did, language, exercising, dieting, etc., the one thing I didn’t consider was my hair color. With my red hair, it is like I am wearing a sign that says “Soy Americana.” Other than that, I am doing everything in my control to live like a Spaniard. Here’s an idea of what that is like.

Standing out with my red hair and enjoying the laid back lifestyle Spanish style (with Sangria).

Pace of Life

The Spanish lifestyle is much slower paced than in the U.S. However, my personal pace of life has been very hectic as we tour parts of the country and sightsee almost daily. The Spanish are hard workers, putting in a full day’s work, from 9AM to 7PM, but also fitting in a long lunch for the traditional summer siesta. In the summer, families usually take a month long holiday (vacation), like I am now.

The Spanish pace of life revolves around their scheduled meal times. With no set time to wake up in the morning in my family, breakfast (desayuno) for each of us has been on our own. The mid-day meal, lunch or almuerzo, is generally at 2:00 in the afternoon. Unlike America, lunch is the main meal of the day. It is served in courses, with all family members finishing each course before moving on to the next.

Rosa wheels a cart with the family dinner to the dining area.

The Siesta

With a big mid-day meal and an uncomfortably hot summer climate, the traditional siesta is definitely in order after lunch. In America, I usually get a bit drowsy after lunch, but I fight the urge because I always have so much to do.

Before I arrived in Spain, Pedro asked me if I was going to participate in the Spanish tradition of siesta. I laughed and told him I was planning on writing during the daily siesta time. He jokingly told me the siesta is the best invention since electricity. And now, four weeks later, I have to agree; I love the siesta. Sadly that means my writing has suffered.

30 minute siesta to rest and rejuvenate.

When I awake from my siesta, I feel refreshed and ready to continue on with my day. The siesta splits my day in two and makes me feel like I fit more into the day. The next several hours of the day are always very productive. While in Madrid I tried to spend this time of the day with Pedro working on music projects or we would go out exploring.

When was the last time you answered your body’s call for an afternoon nap? The equivalent in America would be the power nap—a rare luxury—something I am seriously considering instituting when I return home.

End of the Day

In America, the late afternoon hours are a sign of the end of the day. In Spain, there are still many more hours of productivity left in the day.

Between 9 and 10 PM when Americans are settling down for the evening and getting ready to call it a day, the Spanish are coming alive. This is the normal time for dinner. In my family home, dinner is followed by a late night movie, ending the day at midnight or later. (My tired body would normally fall asleep shortly after the start of the movie.)

Outdoor seating is common at restaurants in Spain.

For the young, or young at heart, the night is still early. Many nights Pedro would go out late with his friends. I have experienced a few late night evenings while traveling in Spain with Pedro’s family.

I haven’t experienced the disco or bar scene per se, but I have been privy to the familial connections that transpires at these outings. They aren’t necessarily drunken parties that the American news channels love to exploit. They are times to relax with friends and family over a light and long leisurely dinner, usually tapas (appetizers), and drinks.

Two More Weeks

Today’s post marks the end of four weeks in Spain. My time on the mainland is now complete, leaving Madrid and Pedro’s piano behind a few days ago. I have captured nearly 3,000 photos on my adventure.

Blogging on the Wifi in Puerta de Soller, Mallorca, Spain

I am currently on Mallorca, an island off the coast of Spain, on holiday with my family. I will return home directly from here two weeks from today. ¡Hasta la vista!

~ If this is your first time visiting my blog, you can start reading about my Spanish travels here.

6 Comments

by ardisanelson on July 21, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, My Trip to Spain, Travel Adventures

Tagged adapting to change, educational exchange program, living abroad, living in the moment, Mediterranean food, My Spanish Connection, relationships, siesta, Spain, tapas, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on July 21, 2013

https://ardisanelson.com/2013/07/21/espana-update-3-the-lifestyle/

España Update 1 ~ The Longest Day

I knew that dealing with a 9-hour time difference and jet lag would be a difficult process. I had watched Pedro do it twice before when he visited our home. Both times he was a real trooper, immediately attending welcome parties and staying up late on his first night in America to do a gift exchange with our family.

During the first few days of my stay in Spain, several times Pedro said to me, “Now you know what it felt like for me. It was horrible.” And now I agree.

The Longest Day

Actually I think I did quite well, all things considered. I managed to get 30 minutes of sleep, basically a cat nap, the night before I left. When my alarm clock went off at 3:15 in the morning, I felt ready for the day. I had dreamed of this day and meeting Rosa many times in the months, weeks and days preceding my trip. I hoped for lots of sleep on the plane and knew my adrenaline rush would get me through the day.

Approaching Madrid from the air.

The flight and my first days in Spain are a complete blur in my memory. What I can clearly recall is that it felt like the longest day of my life—and it was. By the time my head hit the pillow for my first night’s sleep in Spain, 40 hours had physically passed.

Touchdown Madrid

The anticipation grew as I negotiated the Spanish airport signs, long corridors and what seemed like an eternity waiting for my baggage to slide down the carousel. I expected long lines to get through Customs as well, but the agent barely gave me or my passport a second look.

I was so excited to communicate my first Spanish words to someone—even just a passing “Hola” or “Buenas dias” would’ve been enough to confirm I was on Spanish soil. But no, he was just pushing paper and not at all interested in the journey I had physically, emotionally and spiritually traveled to get to this time and place.

Navigating Barajas International Airport in Madrid

With Customs cleared and baggage dragging behind me, I knew my next stop, per se, was connecting with Pedro’s family. More importantly, it was meeting Rosa face to face for the first time. My camera was ready in hand and somewhere in Madrid’s Barajas International Airport, Rafa, Pedro’s father, was waiting with his camera perched to capture this moment for me. The only problem was I had no idea around what corner we would meet. And then it happened.

Meeting at the airport

Meeting Rosa

A large set of opaque sliding glass doors opened wide to reveal a group of people standing behind a gated area. I heard cheers and saw smiling faces. I think I even heard my name; and then I made visual contact with Pedro and his family.

Rosa was definitely excited. She was shouting my name in her thick Spanish accent and didn’t let the metal barricade keep her from rushing up to greet me. I reciprocated with the standard European hug, a cheek kiss on both sides of the face. All of our initial words and greetings are now gone from my memory, but the excitement of those first moments are still lingering.

First Hours in Spain

When I got to their home, all I wanted to do was eat and go to sleep, but travelers are recommended to get on the new time zone by forgetting the time difference and embracing the current hour of the day. My body knew it was after midnight back home, but at my new home the day was just starting. Ay, (Spanish for ‘oh my gosh’)! I dreaded the thought of getting through this day without sleep.

Pedro and family outside his former school.

My host family did allow me to take my first siesta later though. It was sandwiched between two walks in the neighborhood. On our first walk I was delighted as we toured the Catholic school Pedro attended from 1^st-12^th grade. The halls were lined with the framed first communion photos from previous year’s classes. What a treat to see Pedro’s young face and proud moment plastered on the school wall along with some of his friends, who at this point I only knew by name.

Our second walk was to Retiro Park, similar to Central Park in New York City. I found my first geocache here—one I remembered Pedro telling me about two years prior. Now it was my turn to “log a smilie”. That’s geocaching lingo for finding a cache. My camera, and my feet, got a real workout on both of my outings.

My first geocache in Spain, Retiro Park, Madrid.

Priceless Memories

The real highlights of this longest day were the heart connections that confirmed my love for this family and why I traveled around the world to be here. My first was watching Pedro play the piano minutes after my arrival to their home. No words could describe the pride and joy that filled me in this moment—three years in the making. And then when Rosa joined us, well, the tears naturally came too.

Later in the day when I awoke from my siesta, Pedro’s music was filling the flat again, and my senses. Rosa and I had some quiet time together with his music playing in the background. It was all so surreal to me, like a movie soundtrack was playing in the background. It was priceless.

Pedro at the piano

After 12 days in Spain, I have adjusted to a new way of living and my beloved Spanish family. What I haven’t adjusted to though is how and when to write. I originally thought I’d be writing during the traditional siesta time, but I have fallen in love with my siesta. Today I have foregone it to finish this post that was started days ago.

There is so much happening, so many sights, and so much emotion. I am pushing myself hard to keep up with all we are doing. What my mind and fingers don’t have time to capture on the computer, my camera is capturing ‘on film’. That is enough to keep me writing and blogging back home for the months to come.

I am sending much love to my family and friends back home and beyond who made this trip possible. It is a dream come true. It is especially for them that I am writing today. Tomorrow I will siesta again.

Until we meet again, que tenga un buen dia. (Have a good day.)

Rosa & me beaming over Pedro’s music and the delight of finally meeting.

9 Comments

by ardisanelson on July 6, 2013 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, My Trip to Spain, Relationships & Family, Travel Adventures

Tagged adapting to change, educational exchange program, family, living abroad, living in the moment, music, My Spanish Connection, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, piano compositions, pilgrimage, relationships, siesta, Spain, spiritual journey, traveling abroad

Posted by ardisanelson on July 6, 2013

https://ardisanelson.com/2013/07/06/espana-update-1-the-longest-day/

WELCOME to my site!

I'm an author, writer, speaker, mentor & mom. I've struggled to find my voice all my life as I lived in the shadows of a mother with mental illness. Thankfully that was not the legacy that she handed down to me. It took a lot of recovery and deep healing work to rise above it.

I am thankful to God for Making Me Bold in the process. Now I use my writing and speaking voice to help others on their journey to turn healing into hope.
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