We are just about a month into our GW program and so much has already happened. Last week, we undertook our long weekend excursion that the program planned to Extremadura. Extremadura is not one of the typical destinations for people visiting Spain but I looked forward to being able to see a different side of the country that is often overlooked. As Marida Angeles who is one of the directors of the program says, “there is more to Spain than just Madrid and Barcelona!”
We left Madrid by bus at around 8:00 am and set off towards Carceres. On the way, we stopped at a finca in Serrejon where pigs and cattle are raised. We were able to tour the land and see the large amount of skill and effort required to operate a farm. In particular we saw how the famous jamon iberico pigs are raised. After touring the finca, we had a lovely lunch outside the main estate house where we were treated to a fine three course meal. After setting off again we reached Caceres in the late afternoon. We dropped off our bags and headed straight for the old town center. The town itself is much older than Madrid and was founded by the Romans and then controlled by the Visigoths, Moors, and lastly the kingdom of Castile. This was evident in all the different architectural influences. Despite the history, many in the group were excited since Caceres is where Game of Thrones was filmed!
The next day we drove to Merida, another town famous for its Roman ruins and archaeological discoveries. We began with a tour of the incredible Roman theater and amphitheater. The theater is so well preserved that the town still holds public events there. Additionally, when touring the amphitheater we learned that gladiators fought there and that town was mentioned in the first Gladiator movie! After walking around the city looking at even more Roman archaeological sites we were given free time to explore the city on our own. I chose to visit the Visgoth Museum before meeting back up with friends to visit the Museum of Roman Art where we saw some truly stunning artifacts and tile mosaics. For lunch, we visited the local Parador. Across Spain, there are a series of hotels and restaurants in preserved historical sights run by the Spanish government. In Merida, the parador was located within the Convento de Jesus which was built in 1725 due to the need of hospitals during epidemics and war with Portugal. After our late lunch, we headed back to Caceres. By the time we got back, it was about time for dinner and a group of us headed into town in search of food. Having eaten so much local food, a friend and I figured that it was okay to take a break and treated ourselves to a poke bowl before meeting up with the others. Having been on the move the whole day I opted to try and get some sleep and left at around 10 to go back to the hotel. On my way back, I stumbled upon the rear of a Spanish armed services band in parade formation. I decided to investigate and went around the block until I came across a large crowd outside a church. All of a sudden a huge float emerged out of the church and the band began to play. It was a surreal and breathtaking spectacle, so I followed for a few more blocks. I was glad I embraced my curiosity and was able to have that experience.
On our last day, we left Caceres and drove to an olive oil factory. There we toured the production facilities and learned all about olive oil. My favorite part was being able to try their local olive oil and sliced bread. I must have eaten about 5 slices. After that we drove into a more hilly part of Extremadura to visit the small town of Robledilla de Gata, tucked away on a hill close to the Portuguese border and that of Castile and Leon. The village was something out of a fairytale. The landscape combined with the old charm of houses was quite marvelous. After a thorough walking tour we stopped at a local restaurant where we were treated to dishes that highlighted aspects of local ingredients. After a long bus ride, we finally arrived back in Madrid at 10pm. I am so incredibly lucky to have had such an unique experience. I cannot wait for the next adventure that the program has planned for us.
Gael Barker
Fall 2025
GW Madrid (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major