¡Hola familias y amigos!

Our Spanish amigos sent us off from Albacete, then we traveled north through the province of Castellón to the Costa del Azahar, the Orange Blossom Coast. We stopped for a visit to the  Oceanogràfic aquarium in València, then arrived at Peníscola, our final stop of the trip.

A popular destination for summer tourists, Peníscola overlooks the blue waters of the Mediterranean and is well know for its castle, which was built by the Knights Templar on the remains of a Moorish citadel and was the papal palace of Pope Benedict XIII during the Papal Schism.

We had a wonderful time touring the castillo, hanging out on the beach, and paddle boarding.

Our final days were full of reflection on the amazing experiences we’ve had over the past three weeks. Each group member gave a short oral presentation en español on an element of Spanish culture that stood out to them throughout our travels — topics included foods, focusing on different regional specialties and ingredients, Spanish fashion and style, street art, and the Spanish daily schedule, which includes a siesta and late nights.

We had a wonderful time getting to know Spain and each other!

¡Adios!

– Natalie, Joe, & Graciano