Rock Creek Trip to Spain, 2023

19/06/2023

Our last full day was indeed full! We started with a walking tour of Lisbon, learning about Portugal’s history of exploration and navigation. We sampled the national pastry, saw another castle and another church. We admired the beautiful tiled buildings and sidewalks. Then we dipped our toes in the Atlantic Ocean before having a few hours to explore on our own. After our last dinner together, we said goodbye to our wonderful driver Tiago and returned to the hotel to pack.

18/06/2023

Today we drove from Madrid to Lisbon. We stopped at the Roman ruins in Mérida before continuing on into Portugal.

18/06/2023

Yesterday we went to art museums in the morning. We started with the famous Prado in Madrid and did a scavenger hunt, looking for details in the works of old masters. Then a group of us ventured down the street to the Reina Sofia, a modern museum. We were limited on time, but we saw Guernica, a Picasso masterpiece which we discuss in Spanish II. We could not take pictures in these museums.

In the afternoon we took a day trip to Toledo, a walled city an hour away. The pictures here are from that excursion. We ended the day with dinner in the center of Madrid and some last minute shopping. Today we are in route to Lisbon.

17/06/2023

If you want to follow us in real time, this app traces our steps, and Mr. V frequently uploads pictures of our adventures. Check it out!!

Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid, Toledo, Merida, Lisbon

17/06/2023

Wow! Our first full day in Madrid was a busy one! We started with a visit to the bull ring, learning about the spectacle from our guide Carmen. Then we explored the royal palace and after lunch had time for strolling through the attached gardens and nearby streets. We took a flamenco lesson and therefore could fully appreciate the complexity of the dance when we watched a performance by professional dancers. Finally after dinner on our own in the Plaza Mayor, we returned to the hotel exhausted, but some students still had energy for a card game with Mr. V. Today, we visit art museums and take a day trip to Toledo.

16/06/2023

We have fewer pictures from yesterday’s travels, since we spent most of the day traveling from Barcelona to Madrid, with a stop at the Zaragoza Catedral. Today we leave bright and early from our hotel to explore Madrid.

14/06/2023

On our last day in Barcelona we started at the post office and toured the Gothic Quarter, which is in the oldest part of the city. As we took a walking tour, our guides explained that the Barcelona city walls had been built by the Romans about 2000 years ago, and we saw small remnants of that wall. We also visited the Barcelona Cathedral. After the history lesson, students competed in a scavenger hunt to review the history, and they had to practice their Spanish to do it!! Students had free time around lunch to shop, and some boys even returned to the beach and rented bikes. Later in the afternoon we took an hour long cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. Finally, we went by metro back the the Sagrada Familia area to eat dinner and buy our last souvenirs of Barcelona. We leave for Madrid tomorrow bright and early!

13/06/2023

Busy day for our Rock Creek kids in Spain! We started with a trip to a Barcelona beach so the students could swim in the Mediterranean and explore shops along the beach. Then it was on to Parque Guell and the cathedral of Sagrada Familia, both masterpieces of the architect Gaudi. We ended the day with a traditional Spanish dinner. Tomorrow will be our last day in Barcelona.

12/06/2023

In Atlanta yesterday, we ate at the Varsity, thus the silly hats. We then chased the sun across the Atlantic, arriving at 9 a.m. after a 9 hour flight. Students were tired but hit the ground running! We met our guide Joy who lives up to her name, and we explored Barcelona, looking at Gaudi architecture, visiting a market, and eating tapas, paella, and flan. Tonight we are staying at a hotel in the country, with mountain views. I’ll report on more adventures tomorrow.

11/06/2023

On our way to Barcelona, but a long layover in Atlanta allowed us the chance to visit Olympic Plaza.

06/06/2023

In just a few days, 17 Rock Creek students and 3 teacher-sponsors will be leaving for Spain and Portugal. Check in here to see photos and reports from our adventures!