Anna Groeling

The familiar chill of mountain air greeted me as soon as I stepped off the bus. For about the past hour and a half we had driven up narrow and twisty roads. The landscape, though very different, reminded me of […]

Pop quiz: How many official languages does Spain have? Many people may be surprised that this question even exists. Well, Spanish is surely spoken in all of Spain, right? What other languages are there? Spain has four official languages, the […]

The African and European continents were standing almost as if they were silent giants in the Strait of Gilbraltar. As I traveled by ferry, Spain held a soft but constant presence from the horizon, while Africa became more distinctive and […]

The following travel photos come from Chefchaouen, Morocco. The city’s name comes from the nearby mountain tops which resemble the two horns of a goat, and is known more by the locals as Chaouen. The word for goat is ‘chaoua’. Spanish […]

Each year, the Lotería de Navidad has a touching story to share under its slogan “El mayor premio es compartirlo” (The best prize is to share it). This 2015, its annual story came in a form different than its past ones: […]

Flamenco, a form of both dance and music, originates from southern Spain. It’s an art form and includes not only dance, but guitar playing, singing and jaleo (finger snapping and handclapping). A well-known Spanish flamenco artist, Paco de Lucía (1947-2014), […]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I woke up. My head was spinning not from lack of sleep, but from excitement and anticipation. This day would be a bit different from other days. My family had arrived in Spain […]

To-Do List: Acquire the ability to sleep anywhere (use fellow passengers as reference) Arrive safely in Spain Somehow, despite my skepticism, both came true. I could almost hear my own surprise as I called my family. Yes, I’m safe. I […]