Summer 2015 - Went to Spain.
Here's some picks then a not very interesting or detailed summary of the trip.
Took the best group a teacher could ask for. Best part was watching my students and mom and Joe experience the things I had 4 years earlier. The magic of the Alhambra was probably the best. No major problems. I should have written more about it then. It went so well that I cannot don't want to do another one. Plus looking back at my phone notes, nothing goes perfectly. Here are some things I jotted down:
Days leading up to the trip - had texts from students about what time we were meeting to depart for airport (we had discussed this / they had gotten emails) uhhh really?
Some kid having issues with exchanging money b/c the bank had los his $ and debit card. Ummm?
No sleep night before b/c of weather, Richard Parker meowing and helloooo, I 'm about to take 13 teens to Europe.
Travel day- delayed in Atlanta b/c of weather. One got sick on the plane (vomit sick) oh god please don't be really sick. Only 1 lost luggage in when we got to Barcelona. It arrived 1 day later. Drove to Sitges (near Barcelona). Walk around / fight jet lag. One kid in tears b/c jet lag is real and hits people in different ways. But, "NO you can't go back to the hotel"
Directing people to restaurants is not my favorite part of this trip. It's like leading a bunch of lost lambs. This gets better along the trip. But at first, they are like new born babies needing help with every step. Finding restaurant, ordering, paying, where are the bathrooms etc.
After lunch, walk on beach. Joe and Kendedrick lead the pack while I wait on Lily. The beach is a nude beach, duh.
Student: "Uhhh Mr. Sabatier."
Joe: "Let's just keep walking until we find a spot. It will end"
Student: "Ummm I don't think it's ending"
Joe: "Ok whatever we'll just stop here"
So the kids got to see some boobs. Not a ton. I'd say just the right amount to really start the culture shock.
Later that night back at the hotel a student thought they'd lost their medicine. Turned the room upside down, told the hotel staff, all but accused the hotel staff to only discover the meds in her bag the next day. Jet lag is so real.
Day 2: Barcelona walking tour in Park Güell and then a bike tour. One of the highlights of the trip. Got to ride all over the city. That night, fun flamenco show. 2nd night in Sitges. Kids walked by beach and played in the rain while adults had wine nearby. Twas perfection. Everyone more at home in Sitges and appreciate how slow and quaint it is compared to big city life of Barcelona.
Day 3: Valencia. Oh I needed so much more time in Valencia. Wanted to show them so much more. Night time hang in the pretty river bed park near the buildings.
Day 4: Drive to Granada. Gypsy cave dancing. Another highlight.
Day 5: Alhambra. Got a little weepy eyed when everyone gasped at it's beauty and some of the views. Yeah, I'm glad I did this trip. Got to see lion room which was under construction last time.
Sent kids on scavenger hunt on their own that afternoon. Very necessary as they were still way to clingy and questiony to me like "Where's the bathroom" in places I've never been. Ummm ASK SOMEONE I DO NOT KNOW! By the end of the trip they were flying on their own though. Proud of my baby birds. The other group with us was from Montana and the adults were super annoying. 1 downside of this kind of trip. The other group from like Indiana or something was fun and our kids became friends. So that's an upside.
Drive to Costa del Sol. Beach hang a few times. We buried Joe. Great tapas dinner. Fun "dance club" (aka small pub with a dance area where our director, Rich, knew the owner. Highlight for sure. Lots of dancing until midnight.
Day 6: Some went to Morocco. The rest of us day tripped it to Mijas. Took a donkey ride around the small town.
Day 7: Head to Seville where we had a pool and the hotel was kinda fancy and large. I think after this I quit keeping up with days. Next was Cordoba for just a few hours then Madrid.
Last time I drove through Spain I remember looking out at the landscape and thinking how bad I needed those rolling hills and bull billboards. I needed them to heal me and fulfill me and put me back together after just going through a big break up and life change. This time I could just smile out the window and say hey thanks for that.
Madrid: Not our favorite. Museums, bus tour, and exhausted travelers = sleepy time. But after we headed to El Parque de Retiro and just chilled and that was wonderful.
Departure day: The night before some of us adults went to a bar. Joe, KJ and Rich stayed out later. I woke up to Joe at my door, sitting in the hallway. He looked up and had a busted lip. He had leaned on a table and knocked it over. A pint glass had whacked him in the face. Oh lord ok get up we have to go wake up the kids it's 5:45. One mom barely woke up in time. One student had puked over the night. Ummm, are do you feel like puking now?? Oh god. Ok come one. Let's go. Long wait for check in at airport. Everyone makes it through security except for a kid with a souvenir sword thing. Joe and kid have to go alllllll the way back to bag check. No cell phones. Legitimately scared they wouldn't make it to the plane. Then the mexican kid got pushed to a different customs line in America. Uh, everything ended up fine but geeez. It all went well, but like I said, nothing goes perfectly and so that's why I'm ok not doing one of these for a while. That and then in summer 2016 there were 2 terrorists attacks in Paris and Brussels. Sooooo, yeah, that's not going to happen to me and someone else's kids on my watch. But this was a goal. A professional goal. I don't have many of those so feels good to accomplish this.
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