Our Erasmus Trip to Monzón and Barcelona 

Our Erasmus journey began on Monday the 20th November 2025, when we flew from Vienna to Barcelona. From there, we took a bus to Monzón, where we met our host families for the first time. Everyone welcomed us warmly and we quickly felt at home.

On Tuesday, we went on a hiking trip to Alquézar, a beautiful old village surrounded by mountains. We explored the narrow streets of the old town, walked along the river and admired the breathtaking views. Back in Monzón, our host families prepared delicious meals for us and later in the evening, we went out to explore the city together with our friends and host students.

Wednesday was spent discovering Monzón itself. In the morning, we visited the town hall, where we even met the mayor. Afterwards, we climbed up the small mountain to visit the castle of Monzón. It was very old and full of history and from the top we had a wonderful view over the town. The host students showed us where they lived and pointed out some funny landmarks from above.

In the afternoon, we visited the local school. The students proudly showed us around. It wasn’t very big, but it had some unique rooms we don’t have in Austria, such as a small theatre and even a hospital room for nursing education. Later in the evening, we met again in town to play paddle tennis, which was so much fun. Afterwards, we had a little party in one of the host girls’ garages. They had cleaned and decorated it and everyone brought food. It was such a cheerful and friendly evening!

On Thursday, we went on a day trip to Zaragoza. We visited the impressive Basilica del Pilar, took a guided tour through the city and saw some ancient buildings. At the big market, we admired all the local food and later we had some free time for shopping. For lunch, most of us met at a big shopping mall and ate at an “all you can eat” Asian buffet with sushi. It was delicious and really funny and we all ate way too much!

Friday came too soon and it was time to say goodbye to our wonderful host families. We took the bus to Barcelona, where our group split up some visited a Gaudí museum on La Rambla and others went to Camp Nou, the famous football stadium and museum. It was fascinating to see so many football-related exhibits in one place. We took lots of pictures, watched a short film on a big screen and of course, visited the fan shop.

In the evening, we went to see the Sagrada Família. Even though we couldn’t go inside, it was breathtaking the church looked magical in the dark, with the stained-glass windows glowing in many colors. Afterwards, we enjoyed a traditional Spanish dinner with paella and other local dishes at a nearby restaurant. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect.

On Saturday, we spent the morning at the beach in Barcelona. We even met a man from Vienna who gave us a fun yoga session for free on the sand. Even though it was slightly raining, we had a great time together. Taking pictures, laughing and walking by the sea. After a last meal and a few final moments at the beach, we headed back to the hotel and then to the airport.

When we finally landed back in Austria, we all agreed that it had been an unforgettable week. The Erasmus trip gave us new friends, wonderful memories and a better understanding of Spanish culture. Even though it’s just a memory now, we know that whenever we return to Monzón, there will be people happy to welcome us back.

Sarah K. 6b