May 12th was a whirlwind. While I’m in Ireland for this program, I somehow found myself falling in love with… Spain. I know—it sounds wild. But yes, a spontaneous day trip to Alicante turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of the whole journey.
The day started painfully early—we woke up around 1:00 a.m. and camped out in the airport before catching a flight. By morning, we were walking through Alicante’s sunlit streets, enchanted by gardens, fountains, and statues. I tried my first ever açaí bowl (matcha, chocolate, pistachio—unreal), and it was everything I didn’t know I needed.
We wandered into a jaw-dropping cathedral where we climbed to the top of a winding stairwell. The panoramic view of the city and coastline? Absolutely worth it.
From there, we explored a buried city museum, wandered into a government building adorned with massive murals, and passed live street music and even a protest.
Then came the highlight for me: the castle on the mountain. Walking through its stone passageways and ancient artifacts, I felt like a kid on a playground—or like I was living inside a video game. It was cheap to enter, too—everything in Spain was, surprisingly.
We capped the day off with local tapas (I finally learned it’s not a type of food—it’s a style of eating), churros with thick chocolate, and drinks with Rueben’s friends who are studying abroad.
The beach, the castle, the cathedral… even the random club at 3am (don’t ask) made the trip feel like a surreal, beautiful blur. Less than 24 hours in Alicante, but I swear—I could’ve stayed forever.
