S2,D4: The Dichotomy of Spain

 Today we worked it. Our group completed a 6 mile, intense hike at the Royal Site of San Lorenzen de Escorial. This is the site of the former king’s hunting ground, summer home, and pantheon (burial site). Like most hikes, this experience was both grueling and eventually rewarding. With 20 students with varying degrees of fitness, you can imagine how easy it is to coordinate something like this. There is no way to make everyone happy. But we made it and only 4 students were bleeding by the end! 😳 There were some war wounds for sure but this group stayed quite positive and it actually brought the group closer together. I’m going to pretend this was my own Mr. Myagi style lesson. 

After the hike, we we sat for lunch in a traditional Spanish restaurant and maybe a couple vino tinto’s (red wine, spritz, ice…very refreshing).  Mr. Miyagi’s teachings can only get you so far. 😉 For lunch, I had a Spanish salad with tuna, meatballs with peas that reminded me of my Grandma Marie, and vanilla custard for dessert. I’m officially back! And a little tipsy! Feel free to nominate me for teacher of the year! 

With a little spark in our steps, we head to the Royal Monastery. This place is a little over the top if I’m honest! Apparently, the king needed his own personal basilica, library with a timeless book collection, multiple courtyards, and a pantheon. No pool though…just sayin’. 

The monastery is built entirely of carved granite stone which makes for cool breezes, even on hot days like today. The lighting through the windows is something from a painting. The painted ceilings themselves belong in their own museum.  And the outside grounds are just pristine, covered in wildflowers, hand made stone walls, and olive trees.  But what I find most interesting about this place is the feeling I get walking through the basilica and pantheon. You can feel the dark past of this royal story and at times almost a spiritual presence. It’s both creepy and beautiful. And that is a theme I’ve felt in Spain in general. So much history has seasoned the culture of this place like a perfectly prepared meal. It’s complex and so so good. 

20 brave hikers perched on the King’s throne. 

Courtyard in the Royal Site of San Lorenzen. 

Nothing to see here. Just a library with hand written books from the 1500’s and a beautifully painted ceiling depicting the many academic disciplines of the day. 

Stairway to Heaven.

The basilica. Amazing.