Workshop at the host school: sustainable tourism (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday)

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After the city tour, everyone went back to their host families. We had dinner with them and talked a little bit more. The day was long and sometimes tiring, but also very exciting and full of new experiences.

After our visit to Tres Cantos, we returned to the city center, back to Puerta del Sol. From there, some of us went on an exciting tour of the Real Madrid stadium, where we got a closer look at the history of the club, the stands, the dressing rooms, and even the pitch. Finally, at 7 p.m., we all gathered at the famous Chocolatería San Ginés, a traditional place in Madrid well known for its delicious churros with hot chocolate. Sharing this sweet specialty together was a very enjoyable way to end the day and gave us the chance to reflect on all the experiences and impressions we had collected.

At 15:10 we visited the Palacio Real. We had a guided tour, and the guide spoke Spanish. Because we learn Spanish at school, we could understand quite a lot. Sometimes it was difficult, but we were surprised how much we really understood. The palace was very big and beautiful. We saw many rooms with paintings, gold and old furniture. The guide told us about the kings and the history of the palace. It felt special to be there, because it is such an important place in Spain. At 16:50 the tour ended.

At 17:30 we started the city tour. First we went to Plaza de España. There we saw the statue of Cervantes with Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. The square was full of people and surrounded by tall buildings. Then we walked to the gardens near Plaza Real. It was calm and nice, and we enjoyed the green space after the busy square.

The last stop was the Templo de Debod. This was one of the highlights of the day. It is an Egyptian temple that was rebuilt in Madrid. We also had a wonderful view over the city from there. Many people came to take pictures. At 19:10 the city tour finished.

We walked through the city all afternoon, and our guide told us many interesting things in Spanish. Thanks to our Spanish lessons, we could follow a lot of what he said. In the end I was a bit tired, but very happy.

Monday, 29 September 2025, was the second day of our exchange program in Spain, and it turned out to be a very special one. On this day, the students of BG/BRG Judenburg visited the Spanish partner school, I.E.S. Jorge Manrique, for the very first time. We were all excited and curious to finally see the school from the inside and to meet our Spanish exchange partners in their own environment. At the beginning, some of us were still a bit nervous, but the Spanish students welcomed us very warmly, which made it easy to start conversations and get to know each other. We exchanged information about our schools, daily routines, and hobbies, and it quickly became clear that although we come from different cultures, we also have a lot in common.

In the afternoon, we had some free time which we could spend individually with our partners or in small groups. This gave us the opportunity to relax, explore the surroundings, or simply enjoy the Spanish atmosphere. Later, we all met again for one of the highlights of the day: a flamenco dance workshop. A professional teacher introduced us to the basics of this famous Spanish art form. We practiced the characteristic footwork, clapping rhythms, and graceful hand movements. At first, the steps seemed complicated, but soon we managed to follow the rhythm and enjoy the music. The passion and energy of flamenco left a strong impression on all of us, and even those who were hesitant at the beginning joined in with enthusiasm.

All in all, our second day in Spain was both exciting and enriching. Visiting the Spanish school gave us the chance to build new friendships, and the flamenco workshop offered us an unforgettable cultural experience. It was a perfect mixture of learning, cultural exchange, and fun, and it made us look forward even more to the days ahead.

Later that afternoon, at around 4 p.m., we met again at Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s most famous squares, for a guided city tour. Our guide showed us many of the city’s main attractions and explained their historical background. It was fascinating to see Madrid’s impressive architecture, lively streets, and vibrant atmosphere. In the evening, we returned to our host families, had dinner, and shared our first impressions. The day had been long but exciting and full of new experiences.

Monday, September 29th, was our first full day in Spain and one of the most memorable ones. We visited our partner school, I.E.S. Jorge Manrique, in Tres Cantos. Although some of us were a bit nervous, the Spanish students welcomed us warmly, which made it easy to start talking and get to know each other. We exchanged information about our schools, daily life, and hobbies, and quickly noticed that despite some cultural differences, we had a lot in common. In the afternoon, we had free time to explore or spend time with our exchange partners before joining a flamenco workshop. A professional dancer introduced us to the basics of this traditional Spanish art form. The rhythm, energy, and passion of flamenco were truly inspiring, and everyone participated enthusiastically.

On Tuesday morning, we met again at Sol station and took the train to our partner school in Tres Cantos, where we worked on a project about tourism together with the Spanish students. Afterwards, we started filming short videos on the topic, which turned out to be a lot of fun. In the afternoon, we visited the Royal Palace of Madrid. The guided tour was in Spanish, and although it was sometimes challenging, we were proud of how much we understood. The palace was breathtaking, filled with art, gold decorations, and magnificent furniture. Later, we continued our city tour to Plaza de España, where we saw the famous statue of Cervantes with Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. We then walked through nearby gardens and ended the tour at the Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple rebuilt in Madrid. From there, we had a beautiful view over the city — a perfect ending to a busy and fascinating day.

Wednesday was dedicated to culture and fun. In the morning, we took part in a cooking class at our language school. Divided into two groups, we prepared traditional Spanish dishes — paella and tortilla de patatas. It was great to cook together and learn new Spanish words related to food. Afterwards, we shared the meal we had prepared, which made the experience even more enjoyable. In the afternoon, we went to Retiro Park for a scavenger hunt. Working in teams, we solved riddles, followed clues, and explored different corners of the park. It was a creative way to learn more about Madrid while practicing Spanish. In the evening, we had some free time for shopping and enjoying the lively city atmosphere before heading back to our host families.

On Thursday, we met again at Puerta del Sol and traveled to Tres Cantos to visit our partner school one last time. There, we presented the videos we had created about sustainable travel. It was interesting to see how everyone approached the topic differently but with the same goal — to promote more environmentally friendly tourism. Later, we returned to Madrid and some of us joined a tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. We got to see the stands, the locker rooms, and even the pitch. In the evening, we all gathered at the famous Chocolatería San Ginés to enjoy churros with hot chocolate — a delicious Spanish tradition and a perfect way to end a week full of unforgettable experiences.