It is highly unlikely that Catalonia will actually secede from Spain because, logistically, it is very risky, and they do not have the public support that is necessary.
This week, I took a bus to Portugal. When going on weekend trips, it is easiest to travel by bus. Also, in Portugal, we took a metro to get from our hotel to the center of the city. The first time I ever used a metro was a little scary, but it was actually very easy to navigate. Here, in Salamanca, I walk everywhere I need to go. It is a very small city so the longest I ever walk is 30min.
This week in Portugal, I visited two monasteries and churches. I loved how ornate the architecture and stained glass was in these buildings. Learning about the history of these places was amazing too. All the monasteries in Portugal were built about 500 years ago. To put that in perspective, the United States was founded 242 years ago. Back then, in most of Europe, women had two professional options, either get married or become a nun. Those nuns lived in the monasteries, like the one I visited. Although their homes are very beautiful, I am happy to have more career choices now.
On my way back from Barcelona I almost missed my plane becuase I stayed on the beach for longer than I should have. It taught me the valuable lesson of being proactive about leaving for the airport. Now, I try to get there at least an hour and a half before my flight.
