What did you set out to do at the start of this summer?
`I have been working since last Christmas without a break, so I decided to take a breather during the summer holidays. That was the only thing I had in mind for this summer.'
Why did you choose Spain?
`Actually, I was spoiled for choices: Northern Europe, the UK and Spain. I had to choose one of them and I chose Spain, due to the fact that I need a visa to travel to the UK. As far as Northern Europe is concerned, it tends to be cold. Also, a friend of mine told me that it is hard to find McDonald's in Sweden.'
Could you describe your trip to Spain?
`I went to Spain with two friends of mine from Germany. We flew to Barcelona and we chose a youth hostel close to the city center; it was kind of chaotic. Also, it was close to the notorious red-light district. There were more tourists than locals and the weather was pleasant. It looked to me as if everyone was enjoying life over there.
`On the first day of our stay in Barcelona, we took a tourist bus and saw pretty much all the important things. The architecture was peculiarly fascinating, especially the works of Gaudí - like nothing else I have ever seen! In the subsequent days, we spent a lot of time on Barcelona's beaches. It was relaxation at its best! The seafood was also really good.
`After a few days, we went to Madrid, Spain's capital city. It was more streamlined and orderly. We stayed in one of the best-rated youth hostels in the world, but it had some strict rules regarding check-in. We had planned our trip to Madrid so as to accommodate the famous bull-fighting in our agenda. It was really exciting but brutal, entertaining but dangerous.'
What was your most memorable experience in Madrid?
`I am a football fan and a big fan of Zinedine Zidane. Since he played for Real Madrid, I was really motivated to pay a visit to the club. I went to their arena and saw a huge gallery filled with trophies. It was a thrilling experience!'
Any strange incidents?
`Yes, one of my friends who accompanied me had a strange problem with the flight reservation for his return trip. We had booked cheap tickets online and we did not actually get a printed ticket. It works like this: you have to go to the airport, show your passport and get the boarding pass. But when my friend showed his passport, he was told that he had no reservation! Also, they did not tell him when he was scheduled to fly. So, he stayed a couple more days in Spain and came back to the Netherlands, buying an expensive ticket. So, my advice to those who buy tickets online is to note everything carefully.'
How did you feel when you returned to the Netherlands?
`I saw taller people with different hair color, but it felt like home. I feel rejuvenated and am ready to work!'
Zhuang in Barcelona
