Trenton It is sometime in March or April during spring semester at UNF. Nine o’clock a.m. on a Wednesday I sit in one of Building 51’s lecture halls ready for Dr. Kaplan’s lecture on Roman Imperial administration of Western Europe or something to that effect. But before he can begin another professor I vaguely recognize… Read More Sharing Memories
Sarah Jane It’s difficult to imagine that only a few weeks ago we were in Spain and missing home. Now the situation is completely flipped after a few hot showers and long naps, I’m home missing Spain. In the beginning of the trip I was so anxious about traveling abroad for so long that I… Read More Missing Spain Already
Maureen Looking back on our three weeks in Spain it seems like everything went by so fast. Even though by the time we got to Santiago I was feeling a bit homesick, I remember thinking that it did not feel like we were gone for almost a month. At the same time, when I’d look… Read More What’s Next?
Brianna As this chapter of my life is slowly drawing to an end, I embarked on a life changing study abroad trip. It was meant to be ‘going out with a bang’ and a trip to Europe would certainly do the trick. When I signed up for this particular study abroad, as a second choice… Read More End of the Line — Once More but Slowly
Weslee When looking back on this past summer, I am going to remember the friends and new experiences that have entered my life. The excitement that I felt throughout the trip has yet to burn out. I now want to return to Spain and explore the towns some more and spend time with the locals. It… Read More I am Left with Wanting More
Monica Monday morning everyone is leaving Santiago, except me. I walked with everyone down to the lobby to say goodbye. After they left for the airport, I got some more sleep and ate some breakfast. I packed my luggage and walked to the albergue I would be staying at for the next two nights. I… Read More Finding New Confidence in an Old City
Savannah Now I am back home. For the last stretch of the trip, I began counting down the days until I could be here again. I tried to enjoy myself as much as possible (and I did!) but I missed all the people I left behind, and my cat. Once we stopped moving, and settled… Read More Bringing Back the Boon
Group 2 — Maureen, Savannah, and Weslee Today was the finale to our experience here in Spain. We completed the Camino and spent the last couple of days in Santiago, basking in the afterglow of our accomplishment and immersing ourselves in the history and culture of this historic city. But today, we punctuated our Camino with a visit… Read More Looking Home from the End of the World
Group 1 — Brianna, Jessica, Monica and Trenton Having had the previous day to ourselves to unwind after finishing the Camino, we began today by refocusing on what we originally came here for, the Cathedral of St. James. We had all of course seen the breathtaking facade, taking ample time to take it in upon… Read More St. James Under Wraps
Group 3 — Chad, Nadia, and Sarah Today was our first real day in Santiago! It’s been such a long wait and incredible journey to make it here and today it pays off with a free day to explore the city. Our first goal of the day was laundry! We all smell less than desirable… Read More Exploring a New City
Group 2 — Savannah, Maureen, and Weslee Today’s hike was about average length for us. Though there were pretty sites, the scenery was not particularly breathtaking. The terrain was neither difficult nor flat. But from the cool, crisp morning in O Pedrouzo, we all sensed the uniqueness of this embarkation. This is the end, we… Read More Approaching the End Together
Group 1—Brianna, Jessica, Monica and Trenton Today marked the penultimate day of our Camino. With 60 miles already behind us, Santiago and our journey’s end suddenly felt that much more real. However, as pleasing as dreams of our fast approaching destination may have been, a much less pleasing reality settled in during breakfast. The stress… Read More Wobbling Toward St. James
Group 3 — Sarah, Nadia, and Chad Today was Day Four of the Camino, a majority of the group walked to Arzúa. The walk has become routine at this point, however, waking up early is something we will never get used to. The longer we walk the less we focus on the physical aspect of… Read More The Beat Goes On
Group 2 — Savannah, Maureen, and Weslee CaminoDayThree1 Today we finished our third day of hiking the Camino. Each of us hiked separately: Maureen with Nadia; Weslee with Chad; and Savannah with Trent, Bri, and Dr. Sheffler. It was a shorter hike so some of us bounced between groups a bit. After the first two… Read More Sorting Out the Camino
Group 1 — Brianna, Jessica, Monica and Trenton We started our day at a ripe six in the morning. The hotel we were staying at didn’t offer breakfast until seven so we decided to skip out on it until we got to the first cafe we saw. We thought it would only be a half… Read More Driving Hunger
Group 3 — Chad, Nadia and Sarah We all woke up as early as possible to catch breakfast and left Sarria between 5:45 am for some and 6:45 am for others. Right off the bat, we found that not having a map and just following the arrows and scallop shells was one of the most… Read More Aching Muscles, Sore Knees, and Blisters
Group 2 — Maureen, Savannah and Wesleee Today was our last day in León and our last day before beginning the Camino proper. Since the start, we’ve been taking buses and trains from city to city, staying multiple nights in each place. But now the real pilgrimage begins. Our slow pace has been fun and has allowed us… Read More Moving Again
Group 1 — Brianna, Monica, Jessica and Trent Once again we find ourselves waking up to a new destination ready for exploration. After our time in Burgos we had assumed we had a fairly good idea of what León would be like, but it proved to be a very different but equally stunning city. Something… Read More Another Day, Another City
Group 3 — Chad, Nadia and Sarah After a quick trip to the Museo de Evolución Humana, we departed Burgos for León. It’s sad to leave, but we are excited to see a new city. Every time we go somewhere new it’s a brand new adventure, not to mention trying to get there is always fun. … Read More Trials and Tribulations Redux
Group 2 — Maureen, Savannah and Weslee Today was a great reminder of travel’s demand for flexibility. Our class meeting and museum visit were postponed so that an ill classmate could visit the clinic with one of the professors. He is now on the mend. We were, however, able to visit the Catedral de Burgos this afternoon as… Read More Arguments in Stone and Bronze and Gilded Leaf
Group 1 — Brianna, Jessica, Monica and Trent Another early day in Burgos began with a reminder that while we may be in Spain, we are still in school. Dr. Sheffler’s lecture and accompanying discussion was a welcome reminder of the theories behind the reasons for pilgrimage and how landscapes are shaped by people and institutions. It was interesting… Read More Kick Off those Sunday Shoes Featuring Old School Dance Off
Group 3 — Chad, Nadia, and Sarah We visited La Cartuja, an active Carthusian monastery founded in 1442 by King Juan II King of Castile and León. The construction took place on Queen Isabella of Castile (la Católica). Elaborately carved alabaster tombs contain the earthly remains of Juan II and his wife Isabella of Portugal. A number of… Read More A Place of Rest and a Day off at Last
Group 2 — Maureen, Savannah and Weslee We visited Covarrubias, an early Castilian city. Everywhere was the seal of the Castilian kings. Adán gave us a guided tour of the Colegiate Church. Inside we saw an art gallery with late medieval religious depictions of St. Michael, St. Sebastian, St. Cecelia. There was an abundance of Marian representations. All… Read More Oppressive Heat, Missed Vespers, a Wedding, and Baby Heads
Group 1 — Brianna, Jessica, Monica and Trenton When the day began with the news that our van had broken down it seemed like it would be another one of those days. But when the new bus arrived with more seats then we could ever need it was pretty hard to complain. After picking up our first stamp at… Read More An Ominous Beginning Redeemed
Group 3 — Chad, Nadia and Sarah After many travel trials, we made it to Roncesvalles and stayed in a lovely hotel called La Posada de Roncesvalles. For our first activity we hiked over rolling hills to the Roland Monument near the border of France. While we were there we saw a twelfth century hospital next to an… Read More Roman Pottery, a Medieval Hospital, and Franco-era Bunkers
By Sarah — Group 3 I can’t wait to get going to Barcelona. The trip has been rough so far with our flight cancelation but luckily the group grounded together has been really cool! I did most of my packing the weekend before due to a family emergency but I still got it all laid out… Read More Rough Start
By Savannah Group 2 Today, June 23, 2019, the day before I leave, I find myself rushing around in a panic tying up every loose end I can think of. This is not to say that I have not prepared myself adequately. There is just the matter of those that depend upon me for care:… Read More Caring for those Left at Home
By Trenton Group 1 As I write this I am less than four days away from setting off on our trip. Aside from a few minor things I am otherwise largely physically prepared to go. Most of the gear I’m bringing I had to buy specifically for the trip. For this I relied on a… Read More What am I Packing for?
By Monica Group 1 It is the night before we depart for the country we have been learning so much about. I am getting quite nervous for Spain. I think my nerves come from the fact that I am going to experience many ‘firsts’ on this journey. For example, my first flight ever will be… Read More First of Many Firsts
By Maureen Group 2 Personally, preparation for this trip came in a few. Step one was getting mentally ready to commit to traveling abroad. It’s my first time traveling internationally and my first time being away from home for this long without close friends or family accompanying me. A large part of me kept questioning… Read More A Rosary, A Shell, and a Glove
By Jessica Group 1 The Camino was something I was very excited for so I started packing well in advance. My family shared my excitement and were very helpful in my process. I first bought my hiking boots while visiting my brother in Colorado in May. My dad had been wanting me to invest in… Read More New Shoes for the Camino
