Author: Evan Meyers | Major: Computer Science and Spanish | Semester: Summer 2025

the cycle

My name is Evan Meyers, and I am a junior at the University of Arkansas Honors College and the College of Engineering. I am pursuing majors in Computer Science and Spanish with a minor in Mathematics. I am studying abroad through the Universidad Nebrija Direct Enrollment program at the University of Arkansas, where I am taking Spanish courses in Madrid, Spain. Semana Santa is a holy week in Spain that takes place during the days surrounding Easter Sunday and lasts for an entire week. During Semana Santa, students are given the week off from class and can use it to travel, worship, or relax however they choose. During my fourth month abroad in Spain, I used this time to take a vacation to Italy, Croatia, and England. This trip took around forty hours to plan and included five friends I’ve made while abroad. The first destination for the trip was Rome, Italy. My friends and I departed from the Madrid airport early in the morning and arrived in Italy around two and a half hours later. Once we arrived, we took the Leonardo Express Train to the city center where we walked around seeing sights like the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. Although we flew into Rome, we planned to stay in Florence for three full days, so after exploring for a while, we took another train to head north. Our accommodation in Florence was excellent and only about three blocks from the famous Duomo Cathedral. While in Italy, we were shocked by how good the food was. Not only was each dish delicious, but the prices were more than reasonable considering the quality of the food. On the first full day in Florence, we waited until sunset to hike up to an area overlooking the entirety of the city. Watching the sun light up Florence’s historic architecture was unforgettable. One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to the Boboli Gardens and lying in the flowered fields with my friends while we rested from a long day of walking. While we gathered our strength there, the sun cast a warm glow over the trees and flowers, and little children ran around laughing and playing. That moment felt so much like a dream because everything was so perfect and peaceful. After leaving Florence, we flew to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Several famous scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed in Dubrovnik, so I was excited to go and visit those locations. Within the city, we stayed in an area called Old Town, which resides within castle walls and was filmed for parts of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. Other than sightseeing with my friends, one of the main activities we did was hiking up a nearby mountain for a panoramic view of Dubrovnik and the Mediterranean Sea. Although long and intensive, the hike was well worth it and was a great bonding experience for our group. After the trek up the mountain, a few of us ventured down to the city’s rocky beach to feel the water and admire the nearby islands. We only stayed in Croatia for one full day, but for us, it was the perfect amount of time. From Croatia, we flew to London, England. Our first stop was the Horniman Museum, where we visited their butterfly conservatory. It was really interesting to see so many different species of butterflies flying around me as I learned about each of them from a conservatory worker. One of my friends in my group is from London, so during our time there, we stayed inhis family’s home. When we arrived, his mom had prepared fish and chips for us. It was my first time having the dish, and I liked it so much that I ended up eating it three more times during my short time in London. The first night there, we dressed up in soccer attire and went to a pub to watch Arsenal play against Real Madrid. The atmosphere was electric and made for a memorable experience. On the first full day in London, we explored some of the major sights like Big Ben, Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. Seeing them in person was surreal and deepened my appreciation for the city. The next day, we started by almost perfectly recreating the iconic Beatles photo at Abbey Road. We then visited the Natural History Museum, where we learned about dinosaurs, birds, and the way the Earth was formed. The rest of the day was reserved for London’s giant park called the Heath, where we walked around for nearly four hours before having dinner in a historic restaurant called The Spaniards Inn. The next morning was our last in London, so we went to a cafe for breakfast and then made our way to the airport to fly back to Madrid. All in all, my Semana Santa trip is one of the most memorable things of my time abroad so far. I had an amazing time with my friends, exploring new places and trying new things. I’m also very happy with the number of incredible and unique photos I captured during the weeklong trip. With these photos, I will always remember the wonderful experiences I’ve had abroad.