June 13 - First full day in Madrid!
As you likely know, this trip serves as the fieldwork trip for the Advanced Humanities Institute, an interdisciplinary, advanced seminar for students of all academic interests and backgrounds who are interested in exploring the humanities of the past and the future. Most of the students on this trip have just finished their first year of this program, in which we study human thought and creation from antiquity to the present, with an added emphasis on developing each student’s awareness of themselves as a human creator of culture for the future. Like that class, AHI organizes the fieldwork trip to resemble a trek through the history of creation, beginning with the most ancient past and ending with the most recent. Yet rather than the whole globe, we focus on the history of culture in a specific country.
Today’s journey took us to so many wonderful places, and we all had such a wonderful time. Discussions ranged from the serious (the legacy of colonialism, the ethics of displaying human remains like a mummy of a young woman) to the much more light-hearted (statue-inspired future prom hairstyles, so many jokes I can’t remember them all). It was a completely full day of the best kind of travel – full of learning, joy, and delicious food.
Read below for reflections from students, we’re all off to bed to rest for our first day trip tomorrow – we’re headed to Toledo and
Reflections by Lily Reid and Leila Vetrini
The official first day in Madrid (we did a lot today!)
We started our morning by taking the metro to the Museo de América, a museum that focuses on the history, art, and cultures of the Americas. While walking through the exhibits, we saw artifacts, artwork, and models of historic buildings. We also learned about Indigenous civilizations through displays of ancient objects and architecture and got a better understanding of the historical connections between Spain and the Americas.
After our first two stops, we hopped back on the metro and made our way to the National Archaeological Museum. Before exploring the exhibits, we grabbed lunch at the museum café, where the options ranged from sandwiches and tacos to traditional Spanish tortilla. The museum itself was incredible, with artifacts spanning thousands of years and countless civilizations. Among the Roman collections, highlights included funerary monuments and artifacts from each area of the Roman household, offering a glimpse into everyday life in the ancient world. The prehistoric galleries featured fascinating burial sites and descriptions of early human rituals, while the Greek collection showcased a multitude of religious objects. The Egyptian section was equally impressive, featuring a beautifully preserved sarcophagus and even an actual mummy. Outside, we admired replicas of the famous Altamira cave paintings, whose remarkably lifelike depictions of Ice Age animals and mysterious abstract symbols brought prehistory to life.
After visiting this museum, we went on a bus and walking tour around Madrid and got to see some of the city’s most famous landmarks. We passed by the bullfighting stadium and the Real Madrid stadium before stopping at Mercado de San Miguel. The market was packed with people and full of local food, making it a fun place to walk through. We then visited Puerta del Sol which is a popular square in Madrid before heading to the Royal Palace. We ended our tour in Plaza de Oriente, where we enjoyed the beautiful views and admired the architecture surrounding the palace.
To end the day, we headed to A Petit Oh! for a hands-on tapas cooking experience. Under the guidance of Chef Gloria, we prepared an assortment of classic Spanish dishes, including patatas bravas, torrijas (a dish similar to French toast), fried chicken, bread with goat cheese and tomato confit, and patatas alioli (like a parsley mayo potato salad). While both the cooking and the eating were highlights in their own right, one of the best parts of the evening was getting to know Daniel, another chef at the restaurant. Between chopping, frying, and sampling our creations, we talked about everything from sports (Knicks in five!!) to favorite foods. After a quick stop at a pharmacy on the walk home, we headed back to the hotel, exhausted but excited for our next adventure in Toledo tomorrow morning!
