Spain 4-Week

We start our journey in Madrid, the capital of Spain. Our hostel is right off the Puerta del Sol and gives us easy access to the cosmopolitan inner city and the palaces of another era. During our stay we'll visit the world-renowned Prado Museum, stroll through the Plaza Mayor and Retiro Park, and take in an optional bullfight.

We leave the big city life of Madrid behind for more adventurous pursuits around the historic walled city of Segovia. We stop in the city center along the way for lunch and a chance to see the world famous Roman Aqueduct that is 2000 years old! After lunch, we continue to a small town outside Segovia where we will spend the next three days canoeing, hiking, and getting to know one another through teambuilding activities. This orientation period will help prepare us for our next destination, where we begin our service projects.

From Segovia we travel to the small town of Amayuelas de Abajo, a formerly abandoned Spanish town that has been reclaimed by Spaniards looking to create a sustainable community. Amayuelas provides an inspiring setting for many interesting projects during our stay. Our students break into small groups and work with Spanish community members on various tasks such as making adobe bricks for construction, building a fence or wall for livestock, making bread, or working in the greenhouse. Naturally, it is not all work and no play; in the late afternoons and evenings there will be time for exploration and activities, as well as a soccer game and "Spanish Olympics" with the locals.

After Amayuelas our group takes a day trip to Ávila before continuing on to a community just south of the Gredos Mountains (a few hours west of Madrid) where families are eager to meet and welcome you into their homes. For the next two weeks you'll be able to practice your Spanish (and sign language!) with your homestay family. Your confidence and language skills will improve with the help of informal Spanish lessons focused on supporting and enhancing your language learning and interactions with your family. We'll spend most weekdays working on community renovation projects such as sanding, painting, and fixing up a youth center or historical building. During several afternoons you'll enjoy swimming with local Spanish youth in the natural pools formed by water from the nearby mountains. During the weekend, our group will take an overnight trip to the Gredos Center to experience the mountain lifestyle of Spain. The farewell dinner and community celebration will bring to a close an unforgettable experience.

Next, our group flies to Barcelona! Prepare yourself for the fascinating buildings designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, including the Sagrada Familia cathedral which we will see on a leisurely bike tour around the city. We'll combine visits to the monuments and museums of this fantastic city with time to hang out and enjoy the beach. Enjoy a day trip spent sea-kayaking and basking in the sun on the spectacular beaches of the Costa Brava located north of Barcelona. A final celebratory dinner will provide the backdrop as we exchange laughter and stories from the past month. Make sure you save some Euros for last minute souvenir shopping on Las Ramblas! Although you are sad to be leaving, you know that Spain will be asking you to return for many years to come.