Essay Sample on Cultural Exploration: Madrid, Spain

Cultural exploration entails exploring and interacting with different cultures distinct from one's culture. In my lifetime, I have had the luck to interact with various cultures mainly due to my parents various cultural backgrounds. Majorities of my relatives reside in distinct regions of the world with different cultures primarily because of employment opportunities and personal choices. However, in my exposition, I will discuss my cultural exploration in Spains capital, Madrid, and Seville. As a student in one of the leading institutions in the country, I was among a group of students selected to visit Spains cities, Madrid and Seville, on an educational tour. Despite my background interacting with different cultures, I was happy I would get to discover new cultures and their practices thus expanding my cultural exploration interests.

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Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is among the largest cities in the European Union, harboring numerous cultural, economic, and political values of Spain. As an American student, I had preconceived notions of what Madrid was going to be like; most of my preconceptions were from an American viewpoint and the history classes I had back at school. However, interacting with the locals gave me a different conception of the city; I understood what I thought was right or wrong from the perspective of Madrids residents. Cultures are different, and every culture wants to be superior to another regardless of the options available such as soiling another cultures practices. When visiting Madrid, Spain, diverse cultural values are evident from the way people do things, interact with each other, and the foods they eat. Personally, I love cultural attractions and art. Visiting the city stole my heart with the numerous attractions present including but not limited to the Reina Sofia and Museo del Prado, which have various arts on display, the El Rastro Market, and the Segovia Castle built in the 13th century.

Moreover, I got to taste some of their meals on offer, and I would recommend anyone visiting or planning to visit the city to pass by Chocolateria San Gines for their delicious churros and hot chocolate; the establishment has been in existence since the 1890s. Their meals are different from the 'normal' in my culture and the people very friendly and cool.' To enjoy the famous traditional Spanish cuisines, I would recommend anyone to try eating the paellas at the Case de Valencia especially the Arroz Senyoret; paellas filled with fresh seafood. Additionally, one can visit the La Corral de la Moreria, one of the art restaurants in the region for meals paired with Flamenco. The Taberna Tempranillo is the other attraction in the city offering Spanish wines and traditional meals such as tapas. On average, the cost of meals in a day may range between $25 to $50 depending on ones appetite and desire to try different dishes.

Our next destination was Seville, approximately 500 kilometers from Madrid. Using rail transport costs an average of $30 to $80 depending on the time of travel. Anyone planning to visit the city should have a bucket list to cross. The bucket list should include a visit to the Bellas Artes Museum, Taberna del Alabardero, Museum of Flamenco, Plaza de Espana, Alcazar, and the Mercado Lonja del Barranco. The places offer a comprehensive cultural history of the city and Spain in general. However, despite the difference in location of the two places, the cultural practices are similar and visiting the two cities gives one the viewpoint from Spains perception. Social transmission is one anthropological idea that captivates me. I adore the possibility that traditions, history, and feelings can be shared and communicated through stories over time, and the visit gave me an opportunity to experience social transmission at play.