SAS SPANISH TRIP

We spent Sunday north of Barcelona in the town of Figueres visiting the Dali Museum and then on to the UNESCO world heritage site of Gerona with its cathedral, medieval Jewish Ghetto and !st century Roman walls.   Here are some highlights from the day,

We went to a town called Gerona and the scenery was beautiful.  We climbed the Roman Wall, and the view of all the historic buildings was amazing.  It was nothing like I´ve ever seen before.  We visited the old Jewish Community of Gerona and a man playing the flute beautifully enhanced the historic atmosphere of Gerona.  It was wondrous  and majestic.

Erica

I´M PLAYING EGYPTIAN ¨cardgame¨. I´M BEING HIT. DARN YOU DIANNA. OUCH. But Spain is fun. ;D It´s really really really really really pretty. And um... we got lost. we climbed the walls. Btw, the wondrous and majestic was from Dianna, not Erika.

Angela

Man, I thought this wasn´t going to be awesome, but it actually kind of is. The architecture and scenery are amazing. Getting lost is exciting. While some people are freaking out, I get to practice my Spanish. It makes me feel accomplished. And smarter than the freaking'out people.

Dianna.

The Salvador Dali Museum was very interesting, the architecture was so new and fascinating. He really has a thing for eggs...and lips. Not together though. The buildings and streets around the city are so beautiful

Tina

OkIe dokie. TodAy was pretty fun. we went to figuera. the architecture and buiLdIngs were very colorful and beAutiful. we saw New thinGs and boUght lots of Yummy food. Sightseeing wAs REally fun, altHOugh many of The shops were closed because it is sunday and lunch time.

Pei Si

Today was absolutely AMAZING! We had so much fun window shopping as well as taking pictures of the amazing architecture. But sadly, it was literally window shopping because all the shops were closed due to the day being Sunday.

Sharon

Good homestay family, yummy tortilla, amazing architecture, good museum, hot italian boys, interesting stores.....what a day!

Lilian Xia

Cool cathedrals, very nice homestay, she is very hospitable and very fun and bubbly.

Eric Estrada  (aka Donnelly)

Loved Salvador Dali, the museum was like walking into an alternative world or something. I basically had 8 meals today.

Amanda Chung

highlight of the day - watching cute kids on bikes, Dali's bread-studded museum, buying very cool magazines.

kim

Today was cool. The bus ride was long. I had awesome ice cream. I really don't know what else to say. Oh, I took insane amounts of pictures (≥250)

alvin

Ran around alot today  ( Sra Leyden for Alex as he wrote a cryptic message that was obviously in secret code and did not enhance our understanding of today's trip)

Today was fun. We walked alot and saw a big monastery.

carson

Today was fun.  I got to walk around in the old city of Gerona.  I spoke Spanish to the shopkeepers in order to buy ice cream.

Levin

Today was fun! I spoke some Spanish to two old ladies who talked to us in the town square.

Jon

Well, tomorrow we visit St Sadorni and El Poble Espanol.. a kind of mini-Spain geographical and cultural attraction.  More later,  Hasta luego,

Sra Leyden

We arrived safely in Barcelona after two breakfasts, one on the Shanghai to Munich Flight and one in the Munich International airport.  Make that 3 breakfasts as we also got one on the Munich to Barcelona Flight.  In the airport we had the good luck to see the professional soccer team from Sevilla arrive for their match this week with one of the Barcelona teams.  Kind of exciting to see Spanish football celebrities.  In spite of 3 breakfasts the students were hungry for lunch at 2pm which is just the beginning of the lunch hour in Spain. We had an all you can eat buffet lunch at a popular cafeteria-restaurant in Barcelona.  Then we split into two groups headed by one chaperone each.  Sr Castro took his group on a harbor walk over to the Barceloneta Beach and then up the famous boulevards of Las Ramblas to the Plaza Catalyuna.  Sra Leyden took her group to the Picasso Museum (student choice) and then up to the Chocolate Museum (her choice.. the entrance ticket is actually a chocolate bar) and then up to the Palace of Justice and Arch of Triumph and over to Plaza Catalyuna.  The weather was fair and comfortable walking temperature.  All of Barcelona was out strolling along with us!

We met up with host families at about 8pm and the students are now in their homestays eating dinner and getting ready for tomorrow.  We will go to Figueres to the Salvador Dali Museum and Gerona, a UNESCO world heritage site.. all to the north of Barcelona.  We hope the weather cooperates.

The students are enjoying the beautiful streets of Barcelona with interesting shops and distinctive, graceful architecture. Many brave ones have already used their Spanish to ask directions to la Plaza Catalyuna or purchase items from the Picasso Museum gift shop.  They have had plenty of energy to get through the day and it has been a joy seeing the city with them.

Hasta luego!   Sra Leyden and Sr Castro

If you have not already handed in your airport taxi authorization forms to Sr. Castro and Sra Leyden do it immediately,  We need these by Thursday 3pm latest as we pack them in our luggage.

Make sure you have a set of photocopies of your passport and credit cards to keep locked up in your luggage in case of emergency.

We are not a sports trip so we have no required uniform however if you would like to wear an SAS polo shirt while travelling or pack an SAS sweatshirt or jacket please do.  If we all bring an SAS logo shirt or jacket we can take a group photo for yearbook or other publicity purposes!

Don't forget to pack your final trip document in your carry on so you have all the trip information you need!

There has been some interest in going to the beach especially as Barcelona and Valencia are coastal cities.  This will really depend on the weather which is still quite cool.  However, let's live optimistically.  If you think you want to visit the beach (weather permitting) pack a towel in addition to your bathing suit on the top of your main suitcase.  When we arrive you can take it out and put it in your daypack. That way we are prepared.  A wonderful travel towel is the microfiber towels sold in Decathalon.  They are light weight and absorbent.  Much easier to carry around then a bulky cotton towel.  Please be aware that we may not be able to swim and perhaps a picnic, walk or if possible a bike near the beach might be more in order.  We are scheduled to visit a beach area in Valencia for a picnic.

The sites -  Sr Castro sent out a variety of links to the places we will visit.  Can I suggest that you take sometime to get on internet and check a few sites re:  The Dali Museum in Figueres,  The Museum of Science and Oceanography in Valencia, the roman ampitheatre in Tarragona,  the city of Girona, the coastal communities of Rosas y Caduques,  the wetland area of La Albufera in El Palmera near Valencia,  The Sagrada Famila cathedral in Barcelona , El Poble Espanol in Barcelona.  I think if you know a bit about what you are going to see you will have more interest and quesions.  It will enrich your trip!

The Suitcase -  are you packing yet?  don't forget money belt, day pack and all the other good stuff on the lists.  Any questions you can send an email.

Hasta Luego!   Sra Leyden

As specified in my email to the Pudong Campus, Rita has agreed to meet us tonight for a quick dinner at Zentral in the Mega Fit Mall.  You can find out what you want to do in Barcelona!   Hope to see Pudong students there!  I will meet at the same time with parents.  Hasta luego, Sra Leyden

Rita Jimenez will not be able to meet with us to talk about Barcelona but Sra Leyden will be happy to meet with any Pudong parents that want to go over details again prior to the trip.  Please refer to the email sent out and RSVP if you would like to meet with her at 10am on Sunday March 14th.

Don't forget to have parents sign the airport travel authorization form distirbuted to you via hard copy and/or email.  We need this turned in by Monday March 15th on each  campus.

Start checking the five day weather forecasts on Barcelona and Valencia prior to packing. This week they had a big snowstorm in Barcelona.  Let's be prepared.

We are still waiting on confirmation of a Pudong meeting with Rita Jimenez at 10am on Sunday to talk about her native Barcelona.

Keep working on your  Shanghai life and family photo albums and travel survival phrases.

Hasta Luego!

We have 15 days to go.  Time to think about spending money.  Students will want to buy snacks and souvenirs and will also be responsible for some metro fares when we have free time in Barcelona.  We recommend between 150 and 300 euros depending on what souvenirs will be purchsed.  150 euros is more than sufficient for snacks and small gifts.

International ATM cards (not Union Pay) but Visa, Cirrus etc are accepted in Spain.  I use my HSBC card all the time.  In Pudong there is a currency exchange booth in the Jin Qiao Megafit Mall which can change Yuan into Euros if you would like to have Euros immediately in your pocket before leaving.

I suggest you go to some websites and see what typical crafts and products come from Barcelona and Valencia so you can plan your shopping.  I personally will buy excellent quality Spanish olive oil and turrones - a spanish nougat made with honey, almonds and egg whites - from the local supermarkets!  There is also fantastic chocolate... after all the Spaniards were the first to import cocoa to Europe.

Hasta luego,  Sra Leyden

We need to meet to make some trip preparations and review some materials.  The meeting will be held in Pudong at 12:45 on Thursday Feb 4th in HS Room 319.  You must bring your lunch to the room.  Please plan on pre-ordering a sandwich for that day.  Sr Castro will soon be posting his meetings on the Puxi campus.  Watch for them!

REMEMBER THURSDAY FEBRUARY 4th HS ROOM 319 at LUNCH 12:45

SAS school trips have the option to offset the carbon fuel used in flights by contributing to the Million Trees Project through Roots and Shoots, a network of school environmental clubs.  25 yuan buys one tree to help with reforesting Inner Mongolia.   Our round trip flight to Barcelona would be worth 225 yuan or 9 trees per person.  If you would like to contribute to the Million Trees Project by purchasing 1-9 trees please put your chosen amount in an envelope and submit to Sr. Castro or Sra Leyden.  This is optional and out of the goodness of your heart and your concern for our beautiful planet!