Summer Abroad

Montserrat

Today we went to Monserrat, a many-peaked mountain near Barcelona. We visited a monastery there dedicated to La Moreneta- the Black Madonna. This Romanesque sculpture in wood from the late 12th century has always been considered as one of the most celebrated images in Spain. Legend tells that the Benedictine monks could not move the ...

Buon Giorno Firenze!

Everyone knows what the David looks like from its countless depictions in books, drawings, and movies, but witnessing it in person is an entirely different experience. It is arguably the most famous statue in the world, which is why it serves as the perfect introduction to the city of Florence. Shortly after hopping off the bus, we collected ...

Ciao, Firenze!

Our last week in Firenze has been a relaxing one, but it has also come around and left much too quickly! I have settled right into the Florentine lifestyle to the point that I feel right at home. I don't even break a sweat anymore while walking around in mid-ninety degree weather; it just feels comfortable. Although I am reminded that I'm not ...

Graffiti Art

To close off an amazing experience of art in Florence, both my art classes were given the opportunity to let loose and use our creative sides to make graffiti art. We were taken to a magnificent underground tunnel filled with intricate graffiti designs that clearly took a lot of skill. Each piece had a clear message that it was trying to ...

The Palazzo Pitti

As our time in Florence is drawing to a close, I have been trying to squeeze as much in as possible. On Tuesday, I chose to go to the Palazzo Pitti, where we were amazed by the theatrical costume section and the Boboli gardens. Looking at the costumes was an incredible experience! The detail and elegance of the costumes were surreal; all of ...

Our Last Week In Florence

Unfortunately, my time in Florence is running out... Today was my last day of fashion class, and I can’t believe that class is over and how much I learned in such a short amount of time! I learned how to draw the human body in detail, the way certain types of fabrics fall on the body, and how the light hits the body in certain areas. I also ...

Our Final Days In Firenze

It is bittersweet, but it seems that we are heading into our last few days here in Florence. While a month felt like it would be an eternity at the beginning of our trip, this last week has made me realize that, although I have been able to do so much in these last few weeks, I desire to continue doing more. Every opportunity to explore my ...

Farewell to Cadiz

It's official! Session 2 in Cádiz has ended, but the extension to Sevilla and Córdoba has begun! Abbey Road students spent one last day together and they sure had a blast! On Tuesday, July 23rd, our group of students was taken to AQUALAND, an aquatic park in El Puerto de Santa María, just about 30 minutes away from Cádiz. The ...

Rome

Week 2 of our trek across Europe was in Rome! Day one of our stay consisted of a road trip to Pompeii! It was like we were actually walking through a present-day Roman city... All the buildings were mostly made to look like they would after being buried in ash and covered in lava for hundreds of years. We sat down to do a class reading, and it ...

Museos de Barcelona

There are many world-famous museums in Barcelona. I never thought of myself as the kind of person who would enjoy visiting museums, but the museums of Barcelona changed my mind. I've visited museums featuring modern and classical art, history, science, nature, crafts, and sports. The beauty and history of Barcelona are fascinating and ...