Stephanie Momblan is a 20-year-old junior student at Florida International University pursuing a degree in history. Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, she intends to pursue a law degree in order to achieve her dream of becoming an attorney. The hobbies that she enjoys include reading, watching movies, and socializing with her friends. Furthermore, she enjoys traveling a lot, and this will be the very first time that she will be traveling to Spain, so she is very excited about the opportunity.
“España Encounter as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Madrid, June 11, 2023.
For the metro stop I chose, I traveled to Santiago Bernabéu, a Madrid metro station next to Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu. The station is named after the iconic stadium, a symbol of Madrid and Spanish football. It is the home stadium of one of the world’s most successful professional football clubs. Admittedly, I am not much into football, nor am I interested in any sports in general. I was only slightly interested when the FIFA 2022 World Cup was on since everyone was talking about it. I also know that Real Madrid is named after the Spanish royal family thanks to the lectures the professor gave. Other than that, I do not really care or have any knowledge of the sport, so my knowledge of Real Madrid is very limited. Despite this, I know football is very significant in Spanish culture and I could tell as soon as I reached the metro. I immediately saw Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu as soon as I got out of the metro stop and I thought that it was one of the largest, if not the largest stadium that I have ever seen in my life. Based on the size I can tell that many people visited the stadium a lot, which demonstrates the tremendous popularity of the team in the country. The fact that Spain is willing to invest in this large and beautiful stadium shows that Real Madrid and football are extremely valuable to the Spanish. The atmosphere around the stadium was full of joy and excitement, which further highlighted the importance of this team to Spain and its citizens. As I walked around, I could sense the passion and enthusiasm for football in the air.
Aside from the football stadium, there were also many great shops and restaurants around the area that caught my attention and strangely reminded me of downtown Miami. It is probably due to the fact that the buildings surrounding the metro are slightly more modern than the other buildings I have seen throughout the city, which seem to resemble more of the buildings that I have seen in Miami than the ones I have seen in Madrid. As a result of the Spanish architecture that has been used throughout the entire city, Madrid typically reminds you of Cuba or other Latin American countries because of the style of buildings they have there. Nevertheless, the area surrounding the metro seems to have similar architecture to that of Miami, which is why I think this part of Madrid is similar. As a part of my tour around the area, I visited a mall near the metro station and took a look around. I found this mall interesting because it reminded me of the malls in Miami. Everything was really modern and there were many big brands that were selling there, which was a complete contrast to what I saw in El Rastro in the morning. The prices in this mall were quite high, but overall, the experience was really interesting, and I was glad I had the opportunity to explore it. Overall, walking around made me think more about how Spain is very traditional yet modern at the same time. Spain’s duality between tradition and modernity makes the country so unique and fascinating. I’m glad I had the opportunity to explore both the traditional and modern aspects of Spain during my visit, which is why I highly enjoyed walking around the metro.
“Madrid as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Madrid, June 15, 2023.
In the course of my stay in Madrid, I observed a number of things that caught my attention. From cultural practices to food, there are several things worth noting that I found fascinating during my stay in Madrid. Nevertheless, if one thing impressed me the most, I would say it was the artwork created by Spanish artists at the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum. As a history major, I enjoy taking trips to museums and observing historical artifacts around the world. I especially love art museums because I think it is interesting to see the creativity of many different artists and how art has evolved over time. For this reason, the moment that the professor mentioned that the class was being taken to two different art museums, I knew it would be my favorite part of my stay in Madrid. In the Prado Museum, we saw many iconic artworks from the likes of Goya, Diego Velazquez, Bosch, and many others. My favorite Prado artwork would have to be, of course, the iconic Las Meninas due to the creativity and complexity surrounding the artwork. During the discussion, I enjoyed following up on the numerous different interpretations of the artwork, as well as how the artwork can be viewed from many different perspectives. I truly believe this is one of the most creative and complex artworks of all time and I am glad to be able to visit it in person. After visiting the Prado Museum, the class then went to Reina Sofia, where we saw more modern and contemporary art such as the ones by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.
I admit, I was never a huge fan of Pablo Picasso or Cubism since his work seemed like it could be done by a child. However, I must say, seeing his work in person was very inspiring and it definitely changed my perspective of him by the time class was done. One painting of his that stood out to me the most and left an impression was Guernica. The artwork, Guernica, was inspired by the bombing of Guernica. This bombing targeted regular civilians and used Nazi technology that would later be used in the second world war. It was considered a war crime by many people, and it gained a lot of global attention at the time. After learning about the bombings, Pablo Picasso was devastated and was asked to create a mural at the Paris World’s Fair to spread awareness of the war. As a result, he painted Guernica, which became one of the most influential anti-war paintings of all time. Looking at it for the first time, it was clear to me why that was the case. Never in my life have I had a painting provoke such uneasiness and gloom as Guernica. It was a stunningly emotive piece that captured the tragedy of war and the human suffering it brings. Although it was abstract, it provoked an emotion in me that could not be felt by looking at other paintings due to the insanity present in the painting. Overall, I enjoyed looking at all of these pieces of art and the conversations surrounding them were interesting and thought-provoking.
“Segovia as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Barcelona, June 24, 2023.
Out of all day trips the class has taken since arriving in Spain, I would have to say that my favorite is Segovia. In my opinion, Segovia was the most interesting out of all the trips due to its interesting architecture and the rich history surrounding the small town over the centuries. As you walk around Segovia, you can discover a lot about Spain’s past, as well as see how people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds have added many different influences to this town. During the lecture, I felt like I had been transported to another era, as I learned about influences such as Roman, Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and others. It was fascinating to learn how these influences have shaped the culture and architecture of Segovia. The city is a true testament to the power of diversity and its ability to create a unique and vibrant atmosphere. This statement is especially true when you visit the famous aqueduct of the town and learn about the vibrant history surrounding the structure.
When I first saw the structure, I was really fascinated by it since I had never seen anything like that in Miami. I believe it was the oldest structure I had ever seen in my life and the first Roman structure I had seen since this was my first time visiting Europe. Although I read about it in books, I was still amazed that people could build something so huge back then. It reminded me that even though people might not have been as advanced as we are now, they were not exactly stupid, and that they were capable of creating a great number of amazing things as well. The fact that the structure is still standing today shows how capable people were of creating complex structures. I was also shocked that the structure had no cement, showing how difficult and complex it must have been to build it.
Looking back at its history, it is clear why this aqueduct is an excellent representation of the town’s diverse and rich history. Segovia’s aqueduct has been the subject of many different rules and changes of power over the centuries, including but not limited to the Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Catholics, and it still stands today in spite of these changes. I believe this is a worthwhile representation of the town since it is really old and despite the changes it has gone through it still stands to this day. It is a great reminder of the town’s history and perseverance and is an iconic symbol of the town. Another thing I love about the structure besides its history is the tales behind how it was made. I particularly liked the one about the girl and the devil since it shows more of the town’s relationship with Catholicism, and I thought that random statue they put with the devil taking a selfie was funny. It just goes to show how rich and interesting the tales and history behind the town are. Overall, it would be a pleasure to visit again in the future.
“Andalucía as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Barcelona, June 24, 2023.
I admit I have never been a religious person. I have always believed in a higher power, but I have never felt the need to practice any particular faith. I have been baptized in the Catholic church, but I never really attended church, nor I have ever really practiced the religion. In the past, I have been interested in religion, but generally, my skepticism and dislike of being told what to do without evidence have prevented me from joining any religion. During my stay in Spain, I learned a lot about religion due to the effects different religions had on the country. In particular, I learned a lot about Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam. As I mentioned earlier, I am not particularly interested in religion, but this trip really helped me appreciate the different religions. Especially the religion I was least familiar with, Islam.
During our trip to Andalucía, I learned a lot about Islam, a religion that I had never been familiar with until recently. I was surprised to learn about Islam’s historical and cultural importance in the region and became fascinated by Islamic religious customs and practices. I personally found that the most beautiful element of Islam in this region was the palaces and gardens created by the Muslims and Moriscos over the centuries. A suitable example of this would be the Alcazar of Seville. This stunning palace is a reminder of the incredible achievements of Muslim and Morisco architects and artists during Islamic Spain’s rule. It is also a testament to Islamic culture’s lasting legacy in Andalucía. In the beginning, the Alcazar was built as a palace for the Molem governor and was originally an Islamic structure. However, the majority of the art that remains today is Mudejar art. Mudejar art is a type of artwork that combines both Islamic and Christian influences to create a unique style of art.
This art was integral to the history of the Alcazar and can still be seen throughout the palace today. A clear sign of the Islamic influence can be found throughout Mudejar art because there are no representations of people throughout the majority of artworks, mainly because Muslims were not allowed to draw real people around them. Instead, bright colors and geometric patterns were the main focus, which I personally found to be very beautiful. In the palace, there is also a very gorgeous garden which also appears to be an influence of Islam. The garden was filled with fountains and various plants, such as orange trees. Gardens are important in Islam because they represent the paradise promised to believers in the afterlife. The gardens of the Alcazar were meant to be a reflection of this divine paradise. As someone who likes gardens, I found this aspect of Islamic culture to be very pleasant and I really liked how well-decorated everything was. Although there is also hell in the religion, I really enjoy the focus on heaven in Islamic structures and gardens seen to be a very good example of this. Overall, I really enjoyed learning about a religion that I did not know much about.
“Barcelona as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Barcelona, July 5, 2023.
In terms of how I would rank Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona as my favorite cities to stay in Spain, I would have to say that Barcelona would be my favorite city. Barcelona was definitely the richest and most interesting which is why I consider it my favorite city out of all of them. Seville was a close second for me, as I enjoyed southern Spain’s traditions and Mudejar architecture. Madrid had some interesting historical sites but overall, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations and in my opinion not as good as the other places that we visited. In Barcelona, you feel like you are almost in a different country with all of its unique architecture, traditions, language, and culture. Barcelona really stood out for me, with the distinct flavor that set it apart from any of the other cities that I have experienced. You can definitely see more of this distinct flavor when you see the properties that were built by the architect Antoni Gaudí. The work of this artist is associated highly with the Modernisme movement, and he draws a great deal of inspiration from traditional Catalan patriotic sources in order to create his work. His works are very unique and recognizable, and a great example of this is the Sagrada Família. This church is one of the most iconic landmarks of Barcelona and truly reflects the uniqueness of Barcelona and the culture of Catalonia. The Sagrada Família is a stunning architectural masterpiece and is widely regarded as a symbol of Catalan identity.
When I first heard we were visiting the Sagrada Familia, I was rolling my eyes because I thought it was just going to be another boring cathedral that was not going to be any different from the other cathedrals that we had visited. Nevertheless, as soon as I got to the Cathedral, I was immediately proven wrong, and I saw how unique this Cathedral was compared to the other ones. The details and sculptures of the Sagrada Família were unlike anything I had seen before. At the front of the cathedral, when you first take a look at it, you will be greeted by statues depicting Jesus’, Mary’s, and Joseph’s lives. Inside the cathedral, you can find stained glass windows that tell the story of Jesus, and the ceiling is decorated with detailed and complex designs. I thought that the stained glass looked very beautiful and reminded me of a rainbow outside nature. On the inside, everything looks like it would have been a part of nature, which I thought was a really cool feature of this cathedral. The poles holding up the cathedral reminded me of trees and the bricks reminded me of rocks from mountains. Everywhere you turn, you feel like you are on the outside rather than inside. There is a strange similarity between this and the Islamic structures we observed in Andalusia due to the emphasis placed on nature itself, as evidenced by the gardens that they have. I really enjoy it when religions put an emphasis on nature so I really enjoy what Antoni Gaudi did with the cathedral. In general, the Cathedral was really unique, and it was my favorite out all the Cathedrals we visited.
“Sitges as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Barcelona, July 5, 2023.
Despite not being my favorite destination in Spain, Sitges was certainly very fun and interesting for the most part. I believe that out of all the places we have visited in Spain, Sitges was the one that most resembled Cuba. This is due to being near the beach and having similar roads and buildings. As I walked through the streets I felt like I was strolling through the streets of Havana but more developed which felt really pleasant. Considering that Cuba was once a former colony of Spain and that many of our ancestors were from Catalonia, probably even Sitges itself, having a resemblance to each other makes sense. All in all, I really enjoyed the small-town beach vibes I got from walking through the town as well as the nostalgia I had for Cuba. Aside from the striking resemblance the town has to Cuba, I would have to say that my favorite part about this trip was visiting the house of Santiago Rusiñol, Cau Ferrat. As a result of the magnificent art collection that we saw at the house of Santiago Rusiol, I believe that it was the most beautiful part of our trip to Sitges. Rusiol, who owned the Four Cats cafe in Barcelona, bought the home in Sitges and invested in several pieces of art there, including two El Grecos. He even purchased five Picasso paintings after he did his first exhibition at the Four Cats Cafe and it is all at his house, Cau Ferrat. In my opinion, I thought it was cool that it contained so many paintings from many influential artists.
As I walked into the house, I was amazed at how beautiful the house looked with all of these paintings. It felt like I was walking into a museum instead of a house. I could clearly see the passion he had for art in the way he had decorated the house. It was clear that he was an art collector and that he had taken great care in displaying the painting. I believe that my favorite part of the entire house is the living room due to the breathtaking beauty I saw as I entered. I love the entire living room style with the paintings and I believe that the fountain with the beach in the background makes the overall thing look better. I also thought Charles Deering’s house, the Maricel, was very beautiful as well. As I looked around there were a lot of things that reminded me of the Deering Estate and Vizcaya. This makes sense since this is Charles Deering’s house and James Deering visited this place a lot. A detail I thought was interesting about this house was that it had its own logo like most noble families have in Europe. This logo was also on the Deering Estate when we visited it. Although Charles and James Deering were not royalty, with the amount of wealth and influence they had they might as well be. Overall, Santiago Rusiol and Charles Deering’s houses were amazing and I am sure I will never experience a house as amazing as those ever again.
“Ida y vueta as Text” by Stephanie Momblan of FIU at Miami, June 15, 2023.
In general, going to Spain I saw a lot of similarities to Miami as well as a lot of differences. I would not say that Miami is fully Spanish but there are definitely a lot of things that were brought back from the Spanish and a lot of traditions from them that we still practice. Not only have we been transformed by Spain but Spain has also been transformed by us in the Americas. A lot of things we do as well as a lot of our traditions have also been brought back to Spain. Overall, as a result of years of colonization and exchange we can see a lot of similarities between the Americas and Spain as well as many differences. We can also see a lot of things that were brought back from one place but was completely transformed when it came to another. In my personal opinion, this trip was really life-changing and I really learned a lot about myself as a Cuban-American as a result of this trip. I saw the effects this exchange of cultures had on my own traditions and cultural practices and I really learned what parts of me are Spanish and what parts of me are not.
In Madrid, I believe that my favorite part of my stay there would have to be the Prado and the Reina Sofia. Although it has less to do with the cultural exchange between the Americas and Spain, I really enjoyed learning about the art there. I believe I really connected a lot with the Spanish artists there and I really appreciated art and art history. Learning about all these iconic Spanish artworks and Spanish painters have really helped love more of their part in art movements. I also surprisingly learned to like more of Picasso’s artwork despite not being a fan of them at first. I was shocked that he used indigenous and African sculptures as inspiration since that was not something I learned about until this trip. This just goes to show how other cultures can play a role in inspiring artists from different cultures. This is also another example of how often people of color are often erased from history since this should be an important part we should learn about his artwork but we were never taught.
Another part of this trip that I also enjoyed was Seville. I thought it was interesting how so much of our history is connected to Seville and how many of the causes of important historical events happened there. I also liked that we were taught about all parts of the history of Seville, whether it be good or bad. In Seville, there was a monopoly on the ships that can go from Spain to the Americas and the majority of the sailors that went to the Americas, went through Seville. To sum up, the exchange between the Americas and Spain pretty much happens in Seville which is incredible. If someone wanted to go to the Americas, they had to do all their documents and get a ship in Seville. On the dark side, the slave exchange also happened in the city, which sent thousands upon thousands Africans to go to the Americas to die or become slaves. Due to the monopoly they had on ships as well as their participation on the slave trade, this pretty much made me he city super rich and many people in the town attribute this to Columbus. They even have his coffin in the Cathedral because they believe he made the city super rich. I find this to be super interesting because while in the Americas we may view Columbus as a colonizer and the person who started the genocide of indigenous people, they view him as a hero.
In the last part of our trip, our class went to Barcelona, which I believe to be the most different yet the most interesting out of all the places we have gone to. Catalonia was like its own country, with its own culture, traditions, and language. Masterpieces like Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família and Park Güell truly reflect the uniqueness of Barcelona and Catalonia and how it is truly different from the rest of Spain. Despite the uniqueness of Catalonia, there are still some places that remind of the Americas. Places like Sitges reminded me of Cuba due the buildings and how the streets are built. Overall, I thought this trip was very inspiring and I was happy to learn about the culture and the cultural exchanges between Spain and the Americas.
Miami in Miami 