One of our biggest plans for the day was the Real Madrid stadium tour, and it was great. Walking through the area and seeing everything up close made the experience feel even more special. It wasn’t just seeing a stadium—it was like getting a behind-the-scenes look at a place that means so much to football fans.

After the tour, we headed out for shopping in the afternoon, and that part was honestly so enjoyable. There’s something about exploring local shops—finding new things, trying to decide what’s worth carrying home, and just enjoying the atmosphere. We spent time browsing, getting ideas, and soaking up the vibe of the city streets.

And of course, we made today even more memorable with a sweet birthday moment for Carson Che’s 17th birthday! We had birthday cake and—because we’re in Spain—chocolate churros, which were absolutely delicious. It was the perfect way to celebrate after a long travel day.

After an exciting start in Madrid on Saturday, May 23, we woke up and headed out for our next unforgettable stop: Toledo—the magnificent “City of the Three Cultures.”

We took a short break for shopping, enjoying the Toledo vibes and picking up a few fun finds. Then it was time to return to Madrid in time for dinner.

We ended the day the best way, overnight in Madrid, already excited for what’s next in our Spain Experience Week.

Today was a day to experience the cultural side of Madrid: from bull-fighting rings to Flamenco!

This morning we visited El Retiro, one of Madrid’s most well-known parks. The area features statues, avenues, fountains, viewpoints, and colonnades. We also toured Palacio de Cristal and Palacio de Velázquez, a prominent red-brick-and-tile building dating to 1881.

After lunch, we visited La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, built in 1929. It is the most important bullring in the world, with a capacity of 25,000. While we did not attend a live bullfight, we did learn about the history and cultural role of bullfighting in Spain—how it developed, why it became such a well-known tradition, and how the spectacle is understood within Spanish culture today. As part of the visit, some students also had the opportunity to try VR bullfighting, which added an interactive way to experience what the event feels like.

In the evening, we enjoyed a tapas dinner and then attended a live flamenco show. The performance helped us better understand the tradition and its cultural importance. Tomorrow, we travel to Barcelona.

After lunch, we checked into our hotel fully and took time to relax after a long day yesterday. In the evening, we enjoyed a cooking class with , which everyone found fun and engaging. The group worked together throughout the lesson—students helped with cutting vegetables, preparing meats, setting the table, and completing the final steps so we could enjoy the meal we made together.

Tomorrow, we’ll continue exploring Barcelona.

Today, we visited FC Barcelona’s stadium, Camp Nou, in the morning. Camp Nou has seating for 99,354 fans, making it the largest stadium in Europe and the third largest in the world. The stadium first drew a crowd of 121,401 during the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Construction began in 1954, and the name Camp Nou means “new field.” We were not able to go inside the stadium due to construction, but we visited the interactive club museum instead.

After lunch, we had time to explore Las Ramblas (La Rambla), Barcelona’s main pedestrian area. It’s a well-known street that is busy with both tourists and locals, with activity throughout the day including street performances, cafés, and market stalls.

In the afternoon, we explored the city center and toured the Gothic Quarter, including the Cathedral and Plaza del Rey. We finished the day at the Picasso Museum, which includes an important collection of his early work and the full series of “Las Meninas.”

Dinner was at a local restaurant near the beach. After dinner, some students also had the chance to play football on the beach. We will overnight in Barcelona.

This morning was a chance to relax and do some shopping, our last full day in Barcelona before traveling back home to Macao.

Later in the day, we visited La Sagrada Família (the Church of the Holy Family). We had a guided tour inside Gaudí’s famous and still unfinished church. The project initially began with a neo-Gothic design, but Gaudí later took over and kept the original layout while adding his own distinctive style. The result is a unique masterpiece that leaves a strong impression on everyone who visits.

After lunch, we headed to Montjuïc Hill. From there, we enjoyed views over the city and the busy harbor. We started by exploring the Fundació Joan Miró, which includes works from throughout Joan Miró’s career. The foundation was initiated by the artist and opened in 1975, and it holds a large collection of his works. After touring the galleries, we also had the chance to admire Miró’s colorful sculptures on the rooftop terrace with views across Barcelona.

In the afternoon, we went to the Museu de la Xocolata (Barcelona’s Chocolate Museum). We learned about the history and cultural importance of chocolate, especially its connection to Catalan traditions. We also took part in a hands-on workshop, where we practiced techniques used in chocolate-making, and finished with a tasting of the treats we helped create.