When AB goes to Spain, you'll never know what they might find (or learn)...
We’re in Madrid! Everyone has just checked into their rooms and as we write this, are getting all dressed up to see the flamenco show! We have dinner reservations tonight and then tickets to see the show. We plan to leave around 5:30am tomorrow to get to the airport! We’re sure the students will have their cell phones out and ready to call you in NY to give the update, but we plan to be back at AB around 6pm.
¡Hasta mañana!
Welcomed with mostly sunny skies, students arrived this morning for our last day in Galicia. We had a fun and exciting trip planned that would take us along “Costa de la Muerte” (Death Coast) to Finisterre, what used to be thought of as the edge of the Earth.
On the way to Finisterre, we made a few stops at local sea-side towns. Our first stop was in Muros, a small fishing town on the coast, where students took pictures of fishing boats and a gorgeous landscape. Another quick stop was to see the Horreo de Carnota, which is the largest hórreo in Galicia. Traditionally, hórreos were like silos, meant to contain the corn for animals and built on stone pillars (to keep the grain from getting wet in this very rainy area).
After a couple of hours of traveling along the Death Coast (named because of the numerous shipwrecks that have happened along the rocky terrain) we arrived at the edge of the world! The students found a great place to sit for lunch and ate their sandwiches overlooking the expansive Atlantic Ocean. After they ate, many wandered around the area to check out the lighthouse, the sunbathing lizards, and the amazing scenery.
En route back to Santiago we made two additional stops. In Muxía we pulled over to get a glimpse of the Death Coast and to admire two rocks. Legend has it that the first rock we saw can determine if a person is innocent or guilty of a crime. If the person is able to move the rock he is innocent. If the rock stays still, he is guilty. Many of the students tried to move the rock, but we didn’t see any motion –hummm….. The other rock lies atop the “guilty/innocent rock,” and the legend of this rock is that if you have back pain you should crawl under the rock and your back pain will be cured. Many students crawled through the space, so you can ask them how their backs are when you see them on Saturday! Our last stop of the day was a little bit into the town of Muxía, where students had free time to look around and take some pictures before heading back to the school.
Once we got back, María and Gema, the Spanish teachers in charge of the exchange, pulled everyone into a classroom for a little surprise! Our students were each given a group picture and wrote a small note of thanks and appreciation to their Spanish student. When the Spanish arrived, they did the same for the American students, and in a very nice ceremony, María called the student pairs up one at a time to exchange their photos and notes with each other and hug goodbye. It was a very emotional experience for many of the students, and it was very obvious to see that many of them had formed extremely close bonds with each other in just under two weeks!
Tomorrow we leave for Madrid, and in the morning, students will have to say their final goodbyes to their host. As María said, it’s not really goodbye, just see you later. They will be in the US before we know it to make many more memories together in Acton and Boxborough!
It was bound to happen eventually. We knew better than to think that we could come to the region of Spain that is know for its rain (amongst other things) and make it an entire 10 days without having to deal with more than just a sprinkle or two. Today was the day.
We met at 8:30, as usual, to begin the scavenger hunt around the city. With questions like “why is one of the main streets that leads to the Cathedral named “Franco?” and “When did William Shakespeare die? Who died on the same day?” the students spent about two hours roaming the streets (and dodging a few raindrops) to get the answers to their questions.
At 11:30 we met at the school once again, this time substantially damper than earlier in the morning, to head to the Museo Galicia Digital – a museum that allows visitors to experience Santiago de Compostela and Galicia through technology (including internet and 3D video). It definitely complemented what we have seen and done over the past week.
Once we finished at the museum we trekked back through the rain to the high school to wait for the Spanish students to finish the day. Just as school was wrapping up the rain stopped and the sun start to peak out. A promising sight, especially since we’re headed to Finisterre (aka: the end of the Earth) tomorrow.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the road is called “Calle Franco” because French pilgrims would traditionally walk down this road as they traveled to the Cathedral (the road is not named after the dictator Franco, as many people might think). And William Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 – the same day and year as Miguel de Cervantes, author of the Spanish masterpiece Don Quijote de la Mancha.
Students arrived early this morning to spend a full day in school with their Spanish counterparts. Many of them were in classes with Spanish friends that they had met, and others had the opportunity to meet some new people! They were in classes from physical education to ethics, and it seemed as though they had enjoyed the experience. After class, they all met up with their host students and made plans for the evening. They have the rest of the day to rest, spend time with their host families, and get ready for the Santiago scavenger hunt tomorrow!
As we have traveled from place to place the past week, we have been amazed at our luck with the wonderful weather. Rumor around the city today was that it was going to be a beautiful day. With this optimistic perspective, the students arrived at La Salle this morning and hopped on a bus to La Coruña, a city one hour from Santiago de Compostela. Although a little foggy, we all had high expectations of what the day would hold. Our first stop was the aquarium, where students were able to check out all of the marine habitats in and around Galicia. They saw sharks, eels, many species of fish, hermit crabs, frogs, and even stingrays! At noon, we all met at the entrance of the aquarium to watch the seals eat their lunch. They were adorable, hopping up to the platform, taking their fish, and sliding off.
From the aquarium, we walked along the boardwalk that hugs the beach, and arrived at the Domus Museum (Museum of Man). We ate our bag lunches while overlooking the beautiful turquoise ocean, and then spent an hour wandering around this interactive museum. There were so many exhibits! From booths that featured the evolution of man, to imitations of how the heart and brain work, there was so much to see! Needless to say, we had a great time, and had to be ushered out at the end of the hour!
From the museum we had some time to walk around before we got back on the bus. Many chose to sit on the beach and enjoy the sunshine, while some went to have a snack, and others did some shopping happening before our bus ride home. We returned back to the school just as our host students finished their afternoon session of classes. With another day’s activities complete, the students found their Spanish hosts, and they were off for more adventures with their Spanish counterparts!
Today featured some of the best scenery that western Galicia has to offer. After meeting at 8:30 at the school, we boarded a bus and traveled about an hour to the seaside town of Baiona. While we were there we had some time to walk around by the beach and stick out feet in the water. From there we traveled another half hour to the town of A Guarda, which is known for the Celtic ruins and the church dedicated to Santa Tecla.
Our tour guide took us through the ruins and explained how most people in Galicia in the 1st century lived in small dwellings, called castors. Until the Roman invaded the area, the residents would use a system of fires (1 bonfire = everything is okay, 2 bonfires = invaders are on the way) to communicate from one village to another. From the ruins, we walked up a steep hill, and started the route that is dedicated to Santa Tecla. Along the route were Celtic inspired crosses with the Catholic Stations of the Cross. At the top of the hill, we were able to enter into the small chapel of Santa Tecla. While there, the guide told us how people tried to kill her because she refused to marry (in order to be a nun). After trying to kill her in a bonfire (rain put out the flames) and by putting her in a well of poisonous snakes (lightening struck the snakes and killed them), they decided to let her go and live out the remainder of her life as a nun. From the chapel, we climbed yet another hill to see the amazing view. While some students entered the museum dedicated to the Celtic ruins, others enjoyed the scenery, which included a view into the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the River Miño (which separates Spain and Portugal) and Portugal on the other side. With this view as our backdrop, we enjoyed our picnic lunch before heading into Portugal.
We crossed the River Miño, and with little fan flare we were in Valença, Portugal. In Valença we had time to see the fortified wall of the city, walk around and do some shopping, and have some ice cream. We loaded back onto the bus, and headed to the school to meet our host students this evening.
And so beings our first (and only) full weekend in Spain. Our students have a lot planned with their host families over the next couple of days: trips to local cities, horseback riding, a sleep over/slumber party at one of the Spanish student’s houses (some of the girls want to make sure that The Notebook in Spanish is just as good as it is in English!), going to the beach, having a bbq, and further exploring Santiago de Compostela. With all of us going in different directions, we will take a short break from the blog, but will be back on Monday to post about our day in La Coruña, the capital city of Galicia. ¡Hasta pronto!
Until then, here are some videos and pictures:
If you ask a Spaniard about Santiago de Compostela, he will surely tell you about the Camino de Santiago (the religious pilgrimage) and the Catedral de Santiago. Today, with a comprehensive visit to this magnificent site, we got to see first hand what all the fuss is about .
For a region of Spain that is well knows for its rain, we were all surprised yesterday when it was sunny and about 65 degrees. This morning, we all showed up at the school toting our umbrellas and donned in raincoats. With drizzle lightly covering our heads, we navigated the narrow streets of the old section of the city and found our way to the Cathedral.
The building itself is impressive, dating back to the 12th century. It is the destination for pilgrims who come from around the world to visit the remains of Jesus’ apostle, St. James the Great, which are located in crypt below the main alter. With small capillas (chapels) along the walls of the cathedral, there is always something capturing your attention and provoking thought and intrigue.
After a guided tour around the cathedral by Xoan, one of the teachers from our intercambio school, and visiting the crypt of the cathedral, we climbed the medieval stairs of what was once the living quarters of the archbishop of the area to the roof of the cathedral. If you weren’t winded from the climb up the steep steps, the view that awaited you upon arriving at the roof was truly breathtaking. With close up views of bell towers, local convents and symbols that represent the city, the rooftop tour is truly a wonderful (and recently new) addition to visiting the inside of the cathedral.
After the cathedral visit, we had a little time to wander around the streets of the old quarter, have a coffee or do some shopping before heading to the Pobo Galego museum. This museum is dedicated to Galician heritage, history, culture and language (Gallego – somewhat of a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese). From the museum we came back to the school, had some down time, and then headed home to spend the afternoon and evening with our host families.
It was another full day of being absorbed in the language, culture, food and atmosphere of Spain and Galicia. Tomorrow’s adventures will take us to Baiona, Santa Tecla and Valenca, Portugal. So pack up the picnic lunch, and let’s hit the road!
But first, below are some pictures of today’s activities. There are a few videos too, but unfortunately they cannot be posted on the blog website. To check out the videos, click on the following YouTube links:
Enjoy!
After a restful night, our students spent their first full day in Santiago going to school with their compañeros at El colegio La Salle! When the students arrived at 8:30, everyone was excited to talk to each other about their first nights in their Spanish homes. They couldn’t speak quickly enough, telling stories about what had happened, what they had for dinner, and how nice their Spanish families are! It was so great to see them so excited that they were able to use their Spanish and impress their families.
After the story swapping, our host teachers, María and Gema, briefly went over the itinerary for our time in Santiago, took us on a brief tour of the school, and then sent us off to classes. Our students broke up into groups of two or three to attend classes, and got to see how Spanish students spend their school days.
After classes, our students headed out with their Spanish compañeros to spend the afternoon together. For the rest of the day, our AB students will be shadowing their compañeros, and accompanying them to whatever activities or social events they go to on a typical Wednesday afternoon.
We will meet up as a group again tomorrow morning, where we’ll do some sightseeing in Santiago and spend the day getting to know the city!
To show you were we were today, here are some pictures of the school. Also, we had problems loading pictures for the first couple of days of the trip (the time in Madrid), but have fixed the problem. If you’d like to see some pictures from our time in Madrid, have a look at the blog entries from those days. Enjoy!
We made it! The bus pulled in to Santiago de Compostela at about 9:00pm. After a long day of riding the bus and enjoying the scenery, the students finally met their Spanish hosts!
We started the day off in Madrid, packing up and hitting the road for the long trek to northern Spain. After two and a half hours on the bus, we landed in Salamanca for some delicious food! We did some sightseeing and shopping around the area before we met for lunch at a very typical Spanish restaurant. Everyone got to choose what they wanted for lunch from a selection of potatoes, pork, ham, tortilla española, salad, soup, chicken, and of course dessert!
After five and a half more hours of bus time, and two stops along the way, we arrived at El Colegio La Salle. The parents and host students were all there and eager to meet everyone. One by one, María (one of our host teachers) called up the Spanish student and their American pair to shake hands and meet in front of everyone. It was such an incredible experience to witness all of them finally meet the student that they had been communicating with. They said goodbye and headed home for some dinner and to get settled in their new Spanish homes!
The students are all excited to get to know the city (and their host students) more and more! I’m sure there will be much to share tomorrow about their first nights in Santiago!
¡Buenas tardes a todos! We just finished our first full day in Spain – complete with sightseeing, tortilla española, art, and of course, some more amazing memories. The group is getting along so well, and we even got a compliment from a waiter at dinner tonight who couldn’t believe how polite and well-mannered the students were!
We started the day off in Sol, the plaza in the very center of Spain, and walked around the Plaza Mayor to take some pictures and do some shopping. We walked across the city to have lunch at Casa Mingo, where most of us had their famous roasted chicken! Everyone tried some Spanish desserts as well, torta de almendras and torta de sidra. We took the train to Atocha, the biggest train station in Spain, and went to see some modern art in the Reina Sofía Museum (including Picasso’s Guernica).
After some more time to walk around, have a few snacks, and do some more shopping, we all met for dinner and had a great spread of traditional Spanish tapas. We ate sardines, croquetas, salad, ham and cheese, meatballs, calamari, and of course, some more Spanish bread. After dinner we brought out a birthday cake to sing Happy Birthday (in Spanish, of course!) to our two birthday girls and one birthday boy on our trip! Everyone got to have a little cake and the whole restaurant appreciated our singing voices! We have just arrived back at our hotel and are ready to get some sleep! ¡Vamos a Santiago mañana!
