May 12th was a whirlwind. While I\u2019m in Ireland for this program, I somehow found myself falling in love with\u2026 Spain. I know\u2014it sounds wild. But yes, a spontaneous day trip to Alicante turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of the whole journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day started painfully early\u2014we woke up around 1:00 a.m. and camped out in the airport before catching a flight. By morning, we were walking through Alicante\u2019s sunlit streets, enchanted by gardens, fountains, and statues. I tried my first ever a\u00e7a\u00ed bowl (matcha, chocolate, pistachio\u2014unreal), and it was everything I didn\u2019t know I needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014or like I was living inside a video game. It was cheap to enter, too\u2014everything in Spain was, surprisingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We capped the day off with local tapas (I finally learned it\u2019s not a type of food\u2014it\u2019s a style of eating), churros with thick chocolate, and drinks with Rueben\u2019s friends who are studying abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The beach, the castle, the cathedral\u2026 even the random club at 3am (don\u2019t ask) made the trip feel like a surreal, beautiful blur. Less than 24 hours in Alicante, but I swear\u2014I could\u2019ve stayed forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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