Weekend  in Motion

Every Sunday Madrid has an outdoor market in the La Latina neighborhood. There are endless pop-up shops and food places to try which makes it a great way to see and try a lot of different things in one day!

There are tons of sightseeing opportunities to visit right in Madrid. You could go to places such as the Royal Palace or the Prado Museum. If history isn't your thing, you can also go spend a nice day outside at El Retiro Park. 

Madrid has an abundance of things to do in the evenings! Our recommendation would be to attend a flamenco show. There are also lots of great restaurants in the city for any type of cuisine you may want.

We began our journey by catching the nearest metro at Moncloa, riding a few stops until we reached Canillejas. From there, we transferred to another line and continued for about six more stops toward Avenida de América. The real adventure began when we called an Uber for the final leg of the trip—an unforgettable ride up winding roads that led us to the top of the mountain.

The entire experience felt like an exciting quest. Along the way, we passed breathtaking landscapes, panoramic views, and dramatic mountain peaks that made every turn feel like a postcard moment.

As soon as we reached the summit, our jaws dropped in awe. The panoramic views were absolutely breathtaking, rolling hills, and endless sky stretching as far as the eye could see. We couldn’t help but pause and soak it all in, snapping hundreds of photos to try and capture the magic of the moment, and truly, the pictures didn't do it justice.

Soon after, we met up with José, our instructor from FLY Parapente. The entire experience felt surreal. From start to finish, it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, one we’ll never forget.

As the day came to a close, it was time to head home. We left the mountain around 8:30 PM, still buzzing with excitement. On our way back to the residence hall, we were treated to the most breathtaking sunset. casting a warm glow over the mountains and valleys below. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable adventure.

Train: The train station is a 30 min metro ride from El Faro. The train takes around 2 hours but tends to be the most expensive option. 

Bus: There are different bus stations around Madrid, so make sure you look at which one your bus is departing from. The ride is about 4 hours with one 20 min stop at a gas station

Rental Car: If you have a person in your group with an international license you can rent a car. Some people in the group rented a 9 person van and had a blast driving it. This is similar timing as the bus unless you decide to stop at different places. 

Hotel: There are a few hotels in the area that range in price. You can also look around in the area north and south of Valencia to see if there are any hotels there. 

AirBnB: A large group in our class rented out a 9 person house and a few people also rented small apartments. This was easy and cheap for us so that we could direcetly contact the owners if there were any issues and it hoenstly got us closer to the beach. 

Beach: Our group wanted to go to a beachy destination. The beach is beautiful, but the sun is strong. We were all burnt to a crisp, so make sure to bring sunscreen. 

The city: Valencia is a beautiful historical city with a bunch of activities. Our group spent the evening climbing to the top of the Cathedral, shopping at the Central Market, and walking through the City of Arts and Science. There are also so many different restaurants in the area that have great food. Try finding a place with Paella because Valencia is know for it.