Day 1:
After some delays, we finally made it to Chicago and boarded our overnight flight to Madrid, taking off around 1 a.m. Despite the long travel day, spirits were high as we officially kicked off our trip. We landed in Madrid the following afternoon and hit the ground running, meeting up with our guides, Hailey and Oriol, and headed straight to a flamenco show, where we got our first real taste of Spanish culture. The performance was high-energy and an exciting way to start the trip.

From there, we went to our first group dinner, enjoying a traditional tapas-style meal. We squeezed in a quick practice to shake off the travel fatigue before heading to the hotel to settle in and get some much-needed rest.
 

Day 2:
After breakfast, we headed into the heart of Madrid for a guided walking tour of the city. Our guide took us through the city's most historic locations, including Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, and the Almudena Cathedral. Along the way, we learned about Madrid's rich history and culture while taking in the energy of the city center.

Following the tour, we had a few hours of free time to explore on our own and grab lunch. Some of us wandered through local shopping centers, while others dined in the lively atmosphere of the city center. We then travelled to the world renowned Las Ventas Bullring where we learned the history and intricate traditions of bullfighting.

After a brief rest, we competed in our first game of the trip against Madrid Select. It was a great opportunity to test ourselves and get our jet-lagged legs moving against international competition. We finished the day with a group dinner and prepared for our next stops — Toledo and Valencia.