The engines roared and the Ascenders were gone, lifted out of Florida night and dropped eight hours later into Madrid’s gold afternoon. The city felt alive right away—busy streets, old buildings, people everywhere. They hopped on a bus with and just took it all in, pointing at fountains and big plazas, already planning where they’d go during their free time.
The hotel was nice and quiet, a good spot to accommodate the team. Dinners were fun—everyone talking at once, passing plates, laughing. Then it was ice for sore muscles and academic sessions before bed.
The tours were the real surprise. They walked through Madrid’s old center, saw the historic sites, El Prado Museum, and stood in the Plaza Mayor where everything felt legendary. The stadium visit was wild: empty seats, giant field, walking the same tunnel the pros use. Many of the guys just stopped and stared.
The game was a spectacle, where the Ascenders were victorious, 44-36. A close one with big plays and a loud crowd. But honestly, the score wasn’t what stuck. What stuck was the connecting of two cultures through the vehicle of sport, in this case American Football.
On the final day they took a bus to Toledo. Narrow streets, stone walls, a shop where Swordsmiths made swords by hand. They watched the hammer hit the metal, sparks flying. Some bought handmade goods to take home. Walking around felt like stepping into a history book, but way cooler because it was real. An evening capped off with an Awards Banquet, where the Most Valuable Travelers and Global Ambassadors with honored by Global Football President/Founder, Patrick Steenberge.
On the way home, looking out the plane window, Spain got smaller and smaller. But the trip didn’t feel small at all. The Ascenders left with new friends, new stories, and a bunch of memories no playbook could hold.
