Dear Parents,

We are officially off on our European adventure and awaiting for our first flight to Toronto!  Students efficiently and seemlessly navigated security and we were through so effortlessly and upstairs at Gate 13 within minutes.  Thank you for being so punctual this morning- this was probably the quickest we have done our check-in, goodbyes, and security check points!  I can just tell these students are ready to experience France and Spain! More soon!

Update- We have now landed in Toronto for the second leg of our flight plan! All has been going smoothly, students are in excellent spirits, and the peer bonding has been lovely to see!  You would also be happy to know that the majority of the students are currently proudly supporting a Canadian company as I am observing an exponentially high level of Tim Horton's right now- bagel sandwiches, iced capps, pizza, etc.  I have assured them that they get a full meal on our next flight to Paris, but I suppose it is hard to resist the temptation (and they are teenagers afterall).

It is such a wonderful experience to observe these excited (and potentially slightly nervous) faces, especially as for many this is the biggest travel adventure to date.  I am really proud of the preparation that these students have placed into this trip- from methodical packing, to weekly meetings, to bottle drives, and to taking the initiative to significantly contribute to the financial aspect of the trip.  This trip is truly off to one of our best starts yet!  

Time to start prepare for boarding- next update from Paris tomorrow!

Bonjour!

We had such a lovely first taste of Paris today!  Our flight from Toronto landed at approximately 11 am Paris time and it felt fantastic to freshen up slightly in the airport bathrooms before greeting our incredible Tour Director Patty (Pat-tay) just outside the gates (but please note that we have yet to shower as of yet- we are currently on the coach bus to the Moxy hotel).  As we have mentioned before, this is our fifth European Adventure with Patty (Jacquie and I) and so she is very near and dear to our hearts and always goes above and beyond to ensure the best experience possible for our students.

We started our Paris experience by being dropped off in the Latin Quarter (which is just beside the Notre Dame Cathedral).   This area is also home to the Shakespeare and Co bookstore, the Seine River waterfront,  many local creperies, and endless souvenir shops.  Students were given about an hour of free time to ensure that they purchased some lunch and it was great to see them all have the independence and confidence to do so.  I even saw many students head back to our meeting location just outside Notre Dame with their first (but certainly not the last) dish of gelato.  I conducted some quick research and it appears that mango, strawberry, and pistachio are currently the preferred flavours.  It was a very successful first round of free time on the tour- these students are more than meeting our expectations about responsibility, punctuality, and respect.

We are so fortunate that Notre Dame has just opened back up for viewing after close to five years of reconstruction after the devastating fire back in 2019 (which we had just been in three weeks prior).  The cathedral was the most stunning I had ever witnessed- the limestone and marble have never looked better.  In previous years when we have visited this church the walls have been a darker grey colour with exposure, but today they were a brilliant white with all the elaborate and vibrant hand painted walls and features on breathtaking display.  Be sure to check out some of these images in today's image folder above.

Finally, we closed off our epic first day of Paris at Montmartre- probably my favourite place in this iconic city.  Students had a chance to explore the Sacre Coeur church (Sacred Heart), admire the Saint-Pierre Carousel (operating since 1879), visit some of the local shops, observe some of the local artists in action, and just take in the beauty of this artistic hilltop hub.  It was a quick visit to this area, but enough for students to take many pictures, walk the icon front facing stairs, and just have a moment with the scenery and hilltop energy.  Our dinner was served at a local restaurant just outside of the main Montmartre area and then we gave the students a few final moments to purchase a final snack or item before we made our way back to the coach bus for travel back to the hotel.  This final stop had some of the most entertaining purchases of the day- at a quick glance I saw a student with an entire coconut, a student with a new soccer ball, and several students with variations of chocolate delicacies.

It’s now time to finish off this bus ride and have the most epic shower after thirty hours of travel and exploration!  Tomorrow is a busy full day of activities in Paris so hopefully students can have a good night's sleep (many already have their heads slumped on a bus window) and come back recharged and cleaner in the morning.

Bonne Nuit!

Disclaimer: Please excuse any grammatical errors- it is 12:37am and we have just arrived back at the hotel after an action packed day in Paris.

Side Bar: This Moxy hotel is incredible- the best amenities and an impressive spread of food each morning.  Students have more options than they can possibly choose for breakfast, in addition to a pool table, funky rooms, and a great vibe.  I will miss this VIP treatment!

Today we definitely made the most of what Paris had to offer! Our morning was spent back on our coach bus (be sure to check out one of the pictures of how nice/new it is) doing a guided tour with the lovely and knowledgeable Veronique.  Veronique has years of guided teachings behind her so we learned many interesting facts about the history of Paris, in adding to witnessing the notable sights of Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Les Invalides, the Champs-Élysées, and of course the iconic Eiffel Tower!! The moment the students first saw the Eiffel Tower today was absolutely magic!! Lots of “ooooOOoooooh’s” and “aaaaaaAAAah’s.” I did my best to try and get each student in front of this World’s Fair landmark- but hopefully your own child shares a few of their own as well.

At the conclusion of the driving bus tour, it placed us perfectly at the Arc de Triomphe and the craziest intersection of the world “Etoile” (star) as twelve roads join to form this chaotic circle of driving.  From here, students had ninety minutes to find a place to have lunch and explore some of the consumer portions of the Champs-Élysées.  It was wonderful to see many of the students make the collective decision to enjoy one of the many outdoor cafes to order local cuisine. Again, I conducted some research, and we’ve already had some students diving into the world of escargot! I’m proud of them for independently choosing to push and extend their culinary palettes. During this time I was also able to check out the new Louis Vuitton Flagship store and get a couple of my favourite tasty macarons from Laduree.  In case you were curious, a four hundred and eighty euro Louis Vuitton key chain just wasn’t in my budget today…

The coach bus came and picked us up again at the Arc de Triomphe and delivered us to the Musee D’Orsay.  This converted train station museum was enriching, mesmerizing, and refined.  There was plenty of room to maneuver (especially in comparison to the Louver), and we were easily able to navigate between the Van Gogh, Monet’s, and Renroir’s.  To maximize the students' experience, I made a laminated list of the top five pieces for students to check out (linked here) and so time was utilized well to take in the Impressionist art.  I think in years to come students will still be reflecting back on the time they were able to see the “Starry Night” and “Poppies.”  See if you can spot some of these art pieces in the picture folder today!

We then navigated chaotic Paris traffic again in the coach bus, and the driver took us to a restaurant called “Bouillon.” Students were given a generous portion of sausage and mashed potatoes and rumour has it that this is a very popular restaurant in Paris.  This meal was well received by most.

Then it was time for two epic trip moments- the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River Cruise- and we made it to the top!!!  Due to the chaotic traffic we switched plans slightly and took the metro to the Eiffel Tower.  Within a few minutes students quickly learned the ways of the Paris metro and were shown how to watch for the stops on the maps. Thankfully when we arrived at the Eiffel tower, the line was only about fifteen minutes to purchase the lift tickets and about ten minutes for the elevator itself.  Students were thrilled to make it to the top (and so were we)! They took the photos, admired the landmarks, and let the fresh Parisienne air rustle their hair.  I have no doubt this will be a core memory for these students- it was so exciting that we could make this happen tonight.

We then made a mad dash (Amazing Race style) across the road for our 9:30pm Seine River cruise booking.  This is a one hour tour of the main city portion all lit up, including the Musee D’Orsay, the Louver, Notre Dame, and of course the Eiffel Tower up nice and close again.  The boat cruise is always a reflective and peaceful way to end our time in Paris together and we were able to see the tower sparkle and twinkle on the hour again (in our case 10pm)..  I have no doubt there is excessive Eiffel Tower content on all mobile devices tonight (mine included).  

It’s safe to say that we have fully maximized our day in Paris, arriving back at the hotel more than sixteen hours after we left it.  In the event that you haven’t heard from your child today- they are officially exhausted and are most likely fast asleep before I finish typing this, lol.  Luckily, we are in transit tomorrow to Bordeaux so students will have some time to rest their bodies and squeeze in a little driving nap if they would like. 

Today was a great day- these students are thriving with our travel adventures.  Time to take a nap before I greet them all again in the morning!

Bonne Nuit

I am going to really miss being spoiled by the Moxy hotel in Paris! All the chaperones and students have had an abundance of food at our fingertips and top notch hospitality! We have even had the most comfortable beds even if our sleep over the last couple days has been limited. 

We said goodbye to hotel Moxy at 8am and boarded the coach bus for our lengthy drive to Bordeaux.  The silver lining of the drive today is that students are having a bit of time to relax, listen to music, have conversations, and check out all their incredible images from the heart of Paris. 

About four hours into the drive south we stopped at the most fascinating, intricate, and elegant castle called Chateau de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley.  I think we all fell in love with this architectural wonder at first sight! The combination of its architectural beauty, historical significance, and picturesque setting create a romantic and enhancing atmosphere (move over Hallmark movies). A significant aspect of Chenonceau's history is the influence of the women who owned, built, and expanded it. This is why it's often called "le Château des Dames”- The Ladies Castle. Notable figures include Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis (who have an interesting love tale with Henry that you should look up if you have a moment). It’s a stunning example of Renaissance architecture, known for its elegance and grace. A defining feature is its unique position spanning the River Cher, with a gallery that arches gracefully over the water. Students thoroughly enjoyed touring this site, navigating the garden labyrinth, and envisioning what life was like in the French countryside five hundred years ago.  I love how the students are really taking in these rich historical experiences and leaving with an assortment of interesting information tidbits.

Back on the coach bus in the early afternoon to make our final descent into Bordeaux. On board the bus we played some French Trivia in Chaperone groups for prizes (mmm…chocolate!), students had to explain the difference to Patty between a castle and a palace for a prize, and we tasted some delicious and traditional French biscuits courtesy of Mrs. Ryan. It is safe to say that French knowledge has increased substantially since the start of our trip.  The other great aspect of travel days on the bus is that the lovely bus driver (Adrian) stops every couple of hours at a truck spot and students just love burning through some Euros on snacks.  The top snacking items today were definitely Pringles and Orange Fanta soda (there is full confidence in counting and spending Euros now amongst our group).

We made it into Bordeaux around 7pm and enjoyed a nice little dinner at a restaurant called “Au Family.” Students continue to extend their food palettes and remain a positive outlook on trying new things (I don’t think many students actually realized that our meat portion was duck tonight- they will probably find out when they read this blog entry and then potentially give me a dirty look in the morning).  Sorry kiddos- but sometimes I can't control the offerings!

Students are now off to get settled into our new hotel for the night and we have gifted them the luxury of not having to leave the hotel until 9am tomorrow morning. We have an exciting day of sand dune sliding ahead of us tomorrow!

Bonne Nuit

P.S. This piece of art "Dune Du Pilat" was on the restaurant wall tonight so I recreated our own version with Google Draw. Dimensions print best at 8" x 10"- a bonus little souvenier for your kiddo! Simply download as a. jog and upload to your favourite printing place!

We are all feeling slightly more rested this morning after having until 9am this morning to be ready in the lobby at the hotel. The lobby of the hotel this morning was almost a main attraction- there was a claw game (where we had MANY small plush winners at 2 Euros a piece), air hockey, and an arcade style Mario Kart game.  It is definitely obvious the new found level of comfort between the students and we have many new friendships forging.  It is so lovely to see these new connections and students having so much fun with one another.

Our bus driver Adrian is still with us (we have had him since Day 1 and will have him until Barcelona) and he drove us one hour until Dune Du Pilat!  This is the largest sand dune in Europe (approx. 100-115m tall) and students had the time of their lives running around in the sand, rolling down the hills, creating epic content, and some even ventured down towards the beach area where they found an abandoned WWII bunker.  I especially love the image of a particular student who is lying on the dune with an excessive amount of sand in both their mouth and nose after attempting to run down the dune (feel free to check out the images to see who this is- if it is your child- be proud!).  I had to give myself a little pep talk while climbing the dune, as it felt like I was making minimal vertical progress with each step and my calves were feeling the burn! Luckily, the students seem to have endless energy for the slopes of the dune and it is evident that this will be a trip highlight.  Again some quick research- for 99% of the students the top two experiences so far have been the Eiffel Tower and the Dune Du Pilat.  The majority of us walked back down the dune with our socks and shoes off and it felt like a refreshing and therapeutic spa experience.  There are MANY images from the Dune Du Pilat stop in the Google Drive folder above so be sure to check them out and be thoroughly entertained.

Patty is always conducting local research to provide the best experiences possible for the students and she found a quaint beachside town called Arcachon for us to have lunch and explore for close to two hours.  We found a lovely market with fresh bread, meats, cheeses, fruits, and oysters and students were thrilled with the offerings of this town.  A group of our students even cleverly constructed some large gourmet sandwiches in the market by visiting various stalls and collecting bread, prosciutto, and fresh cheese (they even kindly had the meat man slice their bread and help them piece it all together).  Our chaperone group is absolutely thrilled that these students are strategically navigating their free time and making the most of the vendors, stores, and markets around them.

Back on the bus we went for the two hour drive to Biarritz.  Biarritz is an elegant seaside town on southwestern France’s Basque Coast that is known for surfing, its stunning beauty, the attraction of elite individuals, and the historical journey from a small whaling resort to a fashionable destination.  Students had close to two hours to explore the local shops, get gelato, visit the beach, or take photos of the charming architecture.  Students are quickly realizing that the smaller coastal towns are where things are at.  They love the scenery of the ocean, the calmness of the streets, and the peaceful and unique vibes that Biarritz has to offer.  Today was probably the most ‘shopping’ the students have accomplished so far this trip, but certainly not an unreasonable amount.  A few of the shopping highlights include a couple new hoodies, keychains, t-shirts, and items for loved ones back home (sorry no spoilers here!).  

Now we are back on the bus and heading to the hotel where we will have a later dinner- hopefully no duck will be served tonight.  I think we might get our first complaint of the trip if they do.  Tomorrow we travel to Pamplona via San Sebastian- I have no doubt it will be another epic day on the coast!

Bonne Nuit

Goodbye France and Hello Spain!

We departed our hotel just outside Biarritz this morning at 9am to travel further south to San Sebastian.  An interesting little moment occurred on our roadtrip travels this morning where our bus was randomly selected for a safety search.  We had an officer come on board, check seat belts, check Adrian’s paperwork, and visually inspect aspects of the bus. The great news is that we have a brand new coach bus and that safety is top notch, but our driver was missing a couple of the “official” European labels (one for the location of the First Aid Kit and one for children being on board) and I believe the coach bus company will have some lighter pockets today as a result of this (but not to worry- this does not financial impact our group).

With the addition of the random safety inspection this morning, we arrived in San Sebastian in about an hour and a half.  Unfortunately, the weather was not favourable for this breathtaking coastal town today, as it rained quite significantly for the duration of the visit.  Patty led us to the old town of this world renown city and students had a couple hours to enjoy the elegant architecture and local tapa bars.  A unique aspect of ordering lunch in this city is that most restaurants are ‘counter service’ where you point at the tapas that you would like and then you settle up when you are done (I had a delicious croquette and a prosciutto brie wonder!).  A few students missed out on this tapa experience today because of the literal meaning of ‘bar’, lol.  They assumed that bar meant that they could not enter the establishment so they opted to find a place they were more familiar with.  But rumor has it a couple of the students had the best burger they have ever had today- San Sebastian is certainly recognized for the culinary experience!  I also want to mention how proud I am of the financial choices students are making- they are really being selective with how they choose to spend their money and the majority are choosing healthy and balanced options.  Today alone we saw students with a bag of snap peas, an entire pineapple, and a variety of fresh fruits.  

In the early afternoon, we boarded back on the coach bus with Adrian to make the drive to Pamplona.  Pamplona is nestled in the heart of Navarre and is a city rich in history, most famously known for its exhilarating San Fermin festival and the running of the bulls.  In Pamplona we met our engaging tour guide ‘Laird” and explored first hand the route of the bull running, the best watching locations, the official red starting line, and the corral in which they are kept until the fireworks ignite to start the annual event.  Students asked many thoughtful questions and learned many details about this annual sport.  It was quite the enriching experience and fascinating that we were able to experience the entire route.

After the tour students had an hour of free time to shop for some souvenirs and explore many of the side streets with many intriguing shops.  One of the most popular stops during our free time was the famous Cafe Iruna that is featured prominently in Hermingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises.”  This cafe serves as a frequent meeting place for the novel's characters during the San Fermin festival.  These details are most likely attributed to Ernest Hemingway’s frequent patronage of Cafe Iruna during his visits to Pamplona and the considerable amount of time he spent there.  So basically we sat in the same spot as Ernest Heminway today and ate chocolate covered churros- so cool!  There is a nice image of this cafe in the image folder from today.

We are now heading back to the hotel to have dinner and unwind for the night.  In the event that you happen to communicate with your child tonight, be sure to ask them one detail that they learned during their tour of Pamplona.  It was really nice to see their strong engagement during this guided tour and thinking critically about the details and logistics of the San Fermin festival.

Be proud of your child- everyone is remaining in great spirits, are enjoying living in the moment, and are now fully confident in spending those Euros to acquire souvenirs and delicious food items.

Buenas Noches

P.S. I wanted to take the time to include the best verbal student statement from our bus travels today- “Having someone tie my shoe is my love language.”  So rest assured, all the needs of these students are being met, lol.

Hola Padres,

Just wanted to start out with a little note about how fabulous our dinner was at the hotel in Pamplona last night- it was definitely the best spread of the trip so far.  We had a primary course of spaghetti and salad (with the most drool worthy local tomatoes), followed by a secondary course of ham and french fries, and then a slice of layered ice cream and chocolate.  I assume most (if not all) students went to bed with a nice full tummy of good and nourishing food.

We left the hotel in Pamplona at 9am this morning to start our coach bus driving day to Barcelona (and yes, the lovely Adrian is still with us).  Two hours into the drive we stopped for lunch in Zaragoza just beside a stunning piece of architectural tapestry, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.  This is a stunning baroque cathedral that is home to an ornate design of mosaic tiles and holds deep religious significance.  Students had about ninety minutes to explore around, grab lunch, take pictures, and take in the modern urban life in this historic city.  The souvenirs continue to trickle into the bus, but students are now starting to expand their purchases to clothes and fashionable accessories which is great to see.  I personally enjoyed a delectable slice of raspberry cheesecake at a charming and cozy cafe called Dona Hipolita- picture the Central Perk cafe from friends but adorned with countless flowers, blue and white floral serving plates, and artful milk flowers in the foam of your cappuccinos. 

Back on the bus we went with another round of learning and quizzing from Patty- a PUIZ (Patty-Quiz).  The main focus was the difference between baroque and gothic style cathedrals and students have been articulating many insightful and relevant thoughts on these questions.  The students are learning a lot, having fun, and just love all the entertaining elements that Patty offers on our tour.  The students have quickly become her ‘lovely jubblies’ and ‘sweetie pies’ and I know they are going to miss hearing her voice and the continuous flow of interesting and intriguing tidbits.

The drive to Barcelona was about another three hours after leaving Zaragoza.  Students continue to love just spending time with each other and don’t mind a few hours of idle time to have conversations and look through images from our trip so far.  One of the main topics of conversation this morning was ensuring that students are using their Euro coins to purchase items in their free time (instead of just using a fresh bill every time) as I discovered that many are carrying around 20-30 euro in loose coins.  So we had a great financial literacy lesson on counting up the coins, knowing what you have available, and ensuring that they are not going back home with an abundance of these coins as they will very quickly be turned into souvenirs for most.  One of the students was hopeful that I would exchange a bill for their bag of twenty and fifty cent coins, but I politely declined the offer to accept this bag of fifty coins and encouraged them to start spending these instead, lol.

After a quick truck stop along the highway to use the washroom and collect more snacks, we soon made our way to a quaint beachside town called Blanes.  Students had a couple hours before dinner to organize their suitcases, explore the area, or make the small ten minute trek to the Mediterranean Sea.  Many, including myself, made the trek to the sea and it was stunning.  There was a lovely boardwalk, small cafes, and a beautiful coastline to enjoy.  Although the large cities offer the iconic attractions, it is often the small towns like this that capture the heart of students.  It was great to see students bring a soccer ball down to play on the beach, do handstands in the sand, and take the time to watch the sunset.  Some lifelong memories were made and students continue to connect with each other in such fun, supportive, and entertaining ways.

Back at the Hotel Bravo, we had a luxurious buffet spread of chicken, vegetables, rice, potato wedges, and fresh fruit and veggies.  It is always a perk when students get choice in their food options and they all customize a fulfilling plate of their preferences.  We have just sent them all off to their rooms to rest up for a full day in Barcelona complete with some flamenco dancing!! 

Buenas Noches

Buen Dia,

Many of our students make the decision to get up extra early to ensure the Blanes boardwalk again- this alone is telling of a dynamite group.  It is quite seldom for teenagers on our tours to walk up early on their own accord to spend time walking the beach and playing soccer with each other.  Our chaperone group was so proud of this extra independence and initiative!

Breakfast at hotel Bravo was served at 8am and there was a lovely selection of eggs, omelettes, fruit, yogurt, bacon, and pastries.  The chocolate pastries were especially noteworthy- still warm from the oven and the most delectable chocolate filling that really set the tone for the day (at least for me anyways).

We departed the hotel at 9am sharp to start our first day of exploration in  Barcelona.  Due to the popularity of beaches among these students, we decided to start with Barceloneta Beach (meaning little Barcelona).  Students had ninety minutes of free time to grab lunch, walk the beach, and grab a few souvenirs.  The most popular item today appeared to be soccer jerseys! I think this was a long awaited item for many of our students.  They really enjoyed this time along the coast of Spain and loved the scenery of super yachts, palm trees, and sunshine (our warmest day yet).

The coach bus came and picked us up today to take us to Park Guell to meet our third guide of the trip. Park Guell is whimsical and wonderful (almost giving off Whoville vibes), where colorful mosaics, organic architecture, and stunning views of Barcelona blend into a magical and unforgettable experience. This park is also a testament to Gaudi’s unique vision as it features iconic structures like the serpentine bench and the Dragon Stairway, showcasing his distinctive style (which can also be seen in the Sagrada Familia) and offering visitors a vibrant celebration of nature and art. Students were certainly drawn to elements of this architecture.

Back on the bus we went to explore more of Barcelona by tour bus. The modernism style of architecture is fascinating to view, especially the endless ornate railings and window details.  We stopped a few blocks from the Sagrada Familia and walked to take in this breathtaking unfinished basilica masterpiece of Gaudi.  It’s an interesting blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles with soaring towers, intricate sculptures, and many offerings of fruit to god (this is always my favourite part to look at- the colourful pieces are actually finished in expensive Italian glass).  Students were in awe of all the details and took many pictures to try and capture some of its original and intriguing beauty.  A little bonus on the walk back to the bus was the official exhibition and team store of Barcelona FC- there were numerous purchases made here- mostly soccer balls of various sizes.  

Now for the free time- it is safe to say that students always look forward to this time and have mastered the art of finding their favourite shops and brands.  There was a stand out theme of free time today- Brandy Melville.  I imagine if I was a female teenager again that it would be unreal to shop at this store chain in Barcelona.  There will be a number of new tank tops, scrunchies, sleep shorts, and tees in the suitcases tonight.  It was also adorable to witness some of our male students ensure that their sisters were also outfitted in Brandy.  I might have to cave tomorrow and get a Brandy Melville scrunchie just so I can temporarily feel a little hip and cool as well. 

Tonight’s dinner was something students were looking for as they were able to pre-order from an option of three different pastas or three different pizzas- the margarita pizza was the chosen dish of 95% of our travellers, lol.  The pizzas were a good size, delicious, and filled all the stomachs after our highest step count to date.  It's a little ironic having Italian food in Spain, but pizza always has a solid landing with our students so I’ll chalk it up to a win. 

Following dinner was our Flamenco evening!! Flamenco is a passionate and expressive art form from Spain, featuring guitar music, powerful vocals, clapping, and emotional dance styles.  Students enjoyed this dynamic show and the opportunity to sit and rest their legs after a longer day of exploration.   The performance was powerful, mesmerizing, and left students impressed with a memorable experience.

Buenas Noches

Buen Dia,

We have officially recovered from our tantalizing Flamenco evening and it is always nice to have a softer 9am start to the day.

Today was more of an unstructured day and so Patty put together another wonderful combination of the best ways to explore and experience Barcelona.  The first stop of the day was Montjuic, which is a scenic hill in Barcelona offering stunning panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.  It was fascinating to see just how much the Sagrada Familia stands out amongst the other historical landmarks in this city.

The students were then taken to Barcelona’s most iconic pedestrian street called the Las Ramblas.  This street is home to stunning street fixtures, shops, cafes, and even our Flamenco venue from last night.  Although students enjoyed the shops, they had a specific challenge today.  Patty worked some magic with EF tours and students were given ten euros each to source out an authentic Spanish food item for lunch from the La Boqueria market.  This  is a vibrant bustling hub of food vendors, specialized in cured meats, seafood, fresh fruit, and assorted salts and spices.  I don’t know how authentic all students got with this challenge, but o know many tried out some oysters, some chocolate covered strawberries on a stick, and empanadas.  Although slightly overwhelming with the volume of visitors, students navigated this challenge well and have a new found confidence in sourcing out new foods to try.  One student even came back scooping out a dragon fruit, not quite local, but we appreciate the focus on adventurous healthy foods.  

After our lunch challenge, Patty walked us to the old town to commence our Bike Tour.  This was epic and well worth the twenty five Euros.  Our first stop of the tour was the picturesque Parque De La Cuitadella- be sure to check out the images of the stunning fountain within the park! A similar style to Beacon Hill park with ponds and wildlife, but such a fragrant and surreal piece of scenery.  The second stop on the bike tour was the boardwalk along Barceloneta Beach and students were able to complete the entire conch shaped stretch with ease.  The final stop of the bike tour was the large sail shaped hotel at the end of the beach and this offered a stunning lookout point over the entire boardwalk.  Students really enjoyed the gentle pedal cruise and winding through the boardwalk and streets like a local.  And please be impressed- it is a 400 Euro fine to use your phone while on a bike, so I did my best to take as many images as possible on our short bike breaks.  

Back to the Las Ramblas we went and students had a few final moments to take postcard worthy pictures of culturally significant and specific details.  I have really been enjoying looking through the camera lens of students and they have certainly captured a variety of intriguing pictures. They also happily embrace all of these tasks and challenges on tour which makes me enjoy this group even more.

From the Las Ramblas we walked down to the pier to the popular MareMagnum shopping building/area to enjoy a traditional Spanish dinner of paella at the local Chipiron restaurant.  The restaurant has stunning water views and was the perfect way to cap off our time in Barcelona.   We are now heading back to the hotel to organize our suitcase for the train to Madrid tomorrow!

Buenas Noches

Buen Dia,

Today was our earliest start of the trip- 6:30am from the hotel to take the 8:55 train from Barcelona to Madrid and we had to say our goodbyes to Adrian since joining his bus way back in Paris (which now seems like a lifetime ago).  It was neat for students to take in first hand the hustle and bustle of a major train station and they navigated the security checkpoints and loading from the platform very well.  We snuck in a little math lesson alongside the trains- if our train is travelling 295 km/hour and the distance to Madrid is 680, approximately how long will your journey take? The answer- 2.5 hours.  On the train the students were sure to take advantage of the concession stand in coach 3 (we were coaches 6 and 7) and then take in some of the countryside scenery as we worked our way further South.

Our new coach bus driver Miguel met us at the train station and Patty gave us some “lovely jubbly” commentary as we made our way into the heart of Madrid. The bus driver dropped us off a few blocks from Puerta del Sol and students were able to walk into this highly populated open tourist area and see the iconic bear statue along with many beautiful pieces of Spanish architecture. The bear statue, "El Oso y el Madroño," is important in Madrid because it represents the city's coat of arms, symbolizing a historical agreement between the city and the clergy over land ownership, and it serves as an iconic cultural landmark.  From here, students had two hours of free time to grab lunch, to visit the Plaza Mayor, and some even ventured to the Mercado San Miguel.  The fellow chaperones and I walked to the San Miguel market and we worked our way through the mobs of people to sample some seafood tapas and chorizo Stromboli.  The students have certainly mastered the art of free time and always come back with entertaining food stories and souvenir purchases.  

After the free time Patty walked us over to the famous Prado museum (National Museum of Spain) where students had a bit of time to observe the extensive collection of European art, particularly Spanish masterpieces from the 12th to 19th centuries.  This museum houses works by iconic artists like Goya, Velazquez, and El Greco, making it a world-leading destination for viewing Spanish artistic heritage.  I think the piece that stood out the most to me was ‘Las Meninas’ by Velazquez- I would have taken some images of the art (or students enjoying the art), but there was a strict no photo policy in the museum (bummer).  I should also maybe confess here that a couple of students temporarily increased my blood pressure after going through museum security- about five minutes after passing through one of the students realized that they picked up the wrong Fanny pack by accident and now didn’t know where there’s was (did I mention we needed passports to get in?!?).  Thankfully, after a couple minutes of deductive reasoning, we reached out to our group and soon discovered there were just two that got accidentally swapped (phew)! Fingers crossed that is the last of the passport/fanny pack panics. 

Next came our first dinner in Madrid- the capital city of Spain with a population of about 3.3million.   It was nice to have our dinner back at the hotel tonight so students could relax, rehydrate, and just get organized with some of their purchases!  Spanish food is definitely treating us kindly and has been much more palatable for the students.

Buenas Noches

Buen Dia,

This blog post is bittersweet as it is our last full day of exploring on tour and potentially my last full blog post for my sixth and final trip (although I could rally in 2034 for when my own kiddo is at ROMS).  These EF trips are always a whirlwind adventure, featuring a brisk pace and limited relaxation time, but it is always a pleasure to be a part of these students' travel experience and core memories.  Thank you for taking the time to read my daily ramblings and thank you for entrusting us all with your precious treasures- they have truly been a wonderful, positive, respectful, and charismatic group of students.  

We had a nice assortment of breakfast items at the hotel this morning before our 8:30 am departure- croissants, fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, eggs, yogurt, and juices.  Again, students remain punctual, organization, and ready to tackle the day. 

The day started with our graffiti street art tour of Madrid- this was amazing! We had a two hour walk of the streets with a local guide providing engaging explanations, in addition to an opportunity for the students to do their own spray painting on paper in a local park.  Madrid’s street art science is a vibrant and dynamic expression of urban creativity, transforming the city’s walls into an open- air gallery. From large-scale murals to intricate stencils and thought-provoking graffiti, it showcases a diverse range of artistic styles and social commentary, adding a unique and colorful dimension to the city's character.  I think students really enjoyed the artistic expression this morning and you will find the assortment of graffiti masterpieces in the image folder today.  I believe the favourite for many was the corner monkey depiction with vibrant colours on the left and darker recycled textured materials on the right.  It is so much a wonderful and dynamic illusion when you take a few steps back and pause to take it all in. 

Students then had an hour to grab some lunch at one of the local cafes.  I am in awe of their culinary choices and am so proud that they mostly prefer to have a dish that is local or new to them.  I observed a group of students acquire the most delightful food today- a scrumptious açai bowl, a stack of pancakes drizzled in chocolate, and a group of four split a giant paella complete with octopus and various other seafoods.  Most of the students put my lunch to shame today!

We then walked a few short blocks to the Royal Palace of Madrid, which is quite the juxtaposition from our morning street art tour.  The Royal Palace of Madrid is an impressive and expansive palace with 3400 rooms, renowned for its grandeur and artistic treasures.  While it is not the permanent home of the Spanish monarchs, it is used for official state functions and ceremonies, showcasing the rich history of both Madrid and Spain.  The meticulously designed rooms are difficult to articulate in words, but our guided tour of just twenty of the ornate rooms left us all in awe.  Students were fascinated to see the throne, the porcelain room, the dining hall (seats 121 people), and a selection of speciality rooms (billiards, piano, etc).  Be sure to check out all the stunning room images, grand entrance way, and chandeliers in the image folder from today.

Back on the bus we went for a guided bus tour of Madrid.  Students were able to see the most notable streets of the city including the Gran Via, comparable to Rodeo Drive, which is home to the high end shops and five star hotels.  All the facades on the buildings are intricately designed in Madrid and have me longing to spend one evening living way above my pay grade.  We were also able to observe a number of monuments, statues (many being Greek Gods), the outside of the Prado museum, the outside of the Reina Sofia museum (Picasso), Parque de Madrid, and the Independence Plaza.  One of the bonus items on the bus tour was a quick stop to take a photo of the Real Madrid FC stadium- this perked many of our boys up. Although students typically enjoy these bus tours to familiarize themselves more with the city, I found many were dozing off today and just couldn’t keep their eyes open, lol.  It’s safe to say that we have worn out all your children, so please don’t have too many ambitious plans for this week- they may need to sleep for twenty-four hours when they get home (we have also had a few with germs this past week).

After the bus tour students had their last remaining two hours of free time around the Puerta de Sol and the Plaza Mayor.  We are definitely at that time in the trip where some students have two hundred euros left and some have zero.  There was one last stop to Brandy Melville today and a final opportunity to purchase souvenirs.  Many students will have some strategic and methodical packing to do tonight in preparation for our departure.

Our final dinner was a fabulous musical and fine dining experience.  While we ate our salad and bread there were two live Spanish musicians- one on a mandolin and one on a guitar- serenading and hyping up the students.  It was quite the jovial atmosphere and set the stage for a grand finale for our trip.  Many of our students were moving their heads to the music and singing along if they knew the words (especially to La Bamba!!).  There was a happy, loud, and vibrant vibe in the restaurant tonight. They continued to play while we dined on gourmet meatballs and rice.  And the grand finale?!? An enthusiastic round of ‘Happy Birthday’ for our birthday boy traveller today.  It’s not everyday that you have a birthday party in Madrid with twenty nine of your closest travel friends. It was the perfect way to end this travel adventure together, especially with the addition to the sunset over the Royal Palace as we walked back to the bus. 

It’s now back to the hotel for our final sleep and packing.  Thank you again for raising such lovely humans, for believing in our abilities to lead them across two countries, and your unwavering support in this journey together. I hope all our travellers are exiting this trip with an abundance of new memories, friendships, travel insights.  

Buenas Noches

P.S. Please be sure to keep checking the status on our Air Canada flights to ensure you are kept apprised of any potential travel adjustments.