Students in Madrid

Each spring break, first-generation college students in the university's Regents Scholars program at Mays make their way to sites overseas for weeklong cultural tours. A group of freshmen spent a week in 2007 strolling through the famed Prado Museum in Madrid and the aged country castles of nobles and kings in Segovia and Toledo. What did these students find?

Rene Fernandez was awed by a trip to the largest bullring in Spain
Angel Escobar was captivated by the beauty of the Spanish countryside and its monuments
Belinda Flores recalls the moment she picked out a tune on a violin outside Madrid's famed Prado Museum

Bullfighting in Madrid

by Rene Fernandez ’10

Fernandez sits in the audience of a Madrid bullfighting ring with fellow Mays students Ashley McDonald and Terrance Hadnot.Spring break was an awesome experience, as I had the opportunity to travel to Spain and visit the cities of Madrid, Toledo and Segovia. Of all the cities, Madrid was the most outstanding. Madrid was a city rich in culture, tradition and contained amazing historic architectural structures.

One of my most memorable moments in Madrid was going to see my first bullfight at Las Ventas, which is the largest bullring in Spain. A series of six bullfighters competed to see who could slay the bull with the most grace and the least number of sword strokes. In theory, the beast is conquered in one painless stroke of the sword, yet in reality that is not the case. That is what separates the amateur bullfighters from the professionals, and the people respond accordingly.

Fernandez captures a photo of friend and fellow Mays freshman Ashley McDonald just as the matador faces down a bull in the ring behind her.If the bullfighter fails to slay the bull in one or two strokes, the crowd responds in anger and boos the bullfighter. However, if the bullfighter is successful, he is awarded with the ears and tail of the bull as well as the admiration and applause of the crowd. The conquered bulls are then taken from the arena to be cooked and eaten - nothing is wasted. I am glad to have been able to attend the bullfight, which is an important traditional sport in Spain.

In all, I loved my spring break experience in Spain. I am proud of the new friends I made during the trip, the rich art and landmarks Spain had to offer, and the opportunity to take part in new things. From the museums to the bullfights, my trip to Spain will remain embedded in my mind. I have to thank Mays Business School for the grand opportunity bestowed upon me to experience a new part of the world.

Castles in Segovia

by Angel Escobar ’10

Escobar takes a columnar approach at Templo de Debod, an early 2nd century Eqyptian temple rebuilt in Madrid.The most amazing thing about traveling to Spain is enjoying its beautiful landscapes. When I traveled to Spain with the Regents Scholars, we visited Madrid, Segovia and Toledo. These cities were full of historic monuments and beautiful sights.

Madrid is full of pretty places and is green everywhere. There one can find amazing monuments such as the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum; but, if you like nature, there are two huge parks - the Retiro and the West. Inside the Retiro Park we visited the Crystal House, which is the resting place of one of the Spanish queens, and saw a lake where you can ride boats. In the West Park, there are also amazing things to find, like an Egyptian temple that was given as a gift to the Spanish government.

Escobar gets a stunning shot of the Alcazar, the royal palace in Sevilla, Spain.In Segovia you find the best landscapes of the three cities. The Alcazar castle, which dates back to the Muslim occupation of Spain, is located there atop a cliff. From there, you can see for miles around the Mediterranean flora and the rest of the city. The scenery we enjoyed in Segovia is incomparable; there is a forest, a river, a majestic cathedral and the Alcazar as a backdrop.

Toledo is also a nice place to visit. If you want to experience the past, Toledo is the place to go. The historic part of Toledo is protected by the government. All the construction is old style to blend with the historic monuments, and the use of cars is forbidden to maintain the historic stone streets. In Toledo, there is a gothic cathedral and narrow passages between the buildings. Toledo has an old atmosphere; one can feel as if they were back centuries ago.

Overall, what I enjoyed the most in Spain was the landscapes. I liked all monuments and the beautiful parks in Madrid, the sceneries in Segovia and the old atmosphere of Toledo. Spain is definitely an exciting place to visit.

Making music in Spain

by Belinda Flores ’10

Traveling abroad is a unique experience. I feel that this once in a lifetime opportunity only comes around to a lucky few. Upon learning I had been selected, tears of joy filled my eyes as I knew that one of my dreams had just come true. Traveling to Spain expanded some of my cultural and educational horizons in many different aspects.

One of the best parts of my trip was definitely the day we had a tour of Madrid. It was late afternoon and the tour was coming to an end at the prestigious Prado Museum. We were given a choice as to how we would spend the rest of our day. When we reached the far end of the museum, I could hear music from afar but I could tell it was a violin with another instrument.

Ever since I have played violin, music has held a special place in my heart. Upon looking around, I saw two men playing instruments, one on violin and one on guitar. I immediately brought along a friend of mine to see their performance. When they finished the piece, I kindly asked the violinist for permission to take a photo with him.

He misunderstood my question and before I knew it, he was placing his violin on my shoulder in playing position. I was so nervous the whole time he was doing that because it was not even what I had asked. As he was fixing my arm for the photo, I mentioned I knew how to play violin. We had a small conversation on what type of music I played and where I was from. Then, all of a sudden he asked me to play a tune for him. My jaw dropped! I was even more nervous when I was put on the spot like that while my peers were watching and listening.

As I started, I was trembling. When I was through, he complemented my skills, got his violin back, and began to serenade me with some Mexican tunes. Little did I know my friend had recorded my entire experience! I felt like I was on top of the world because something amazing and musical had just happened to me on the second day of my visit in Madrid, Spain!

Although this was one of the most memorable times I spent in Spain, I loved visiting the cathedrals in Toledo and Segovia because they made me feel proud of who I am and reflect on a certain purpose in life. I will definitely never forget how Spain has impacted my cultural way of thinking and feeling.