Last month, we took 28 Year 13 students to Barcelona. Leaving London Stansted at 4.55pm we arrived in the Spanish city at 7.25pm on Friday 1st November. That evening we spent some time getting to know Barcelona’s old quarter. Over the next four days we got to experience: Tibidabo Amusement Park; the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (a museum of Catalan visual art); the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Park Güell; the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (Museum of Contemporary Art); Casa Battló, a building considered to be one of Antoni Gaudí’s best works; a flamenco show; a tour of Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona; and the Basílca de la Sagrada Família, another of Gaudí’s works, a stunning Roman Catholic church. On our very last day we had a more relaxed itinerary with some time spent at the sea front as well as shopping in the old quarter. We left Barcelona airport at 7.40pm arriving at London Stansted at 9.10pm and back at College at midnight!
Here are Millie’s reflections:
I had the most incredible time on the Barcelona trip; it was an amazing opportunity to learn about and embrace a different culture, practise my Spanish (I tried to order nearly everything I bought in Spanish) and also to become closer with my friends from college. My favourite activity was definitely visiting La Sagrada Familia, as it was the most jaw-dropping, beautiful piece of architecture I have ever seen, and the stained-glass windows were impeccable. The flamenco show was also very entertaining, and really showcased Barcelona’s beautiful culture. It was very energetic and I would love to go back and experience more flamenco shows, and just Barcelona again in general.
Here are Casper’s reflections:
I want to express my gratitude to both Mr Elphick and Mrs Wright for setting up such a wonderful experience for us all. It was truly amazing to be able to go on such an adventure with the group we had, whilst being able to do so in a balanced, independent yet guided fashion. You allowed us to have a blast and were beyond patient with us when we were typical lads. Truly a pleasure!
A cultural trip to Barcelona isn’t complete without a spark of creativity! Each day, our students were given a keyword to inspire them – by day three, they were coming up with their own! Using the prompts adventure, culture, friendship, odd and celebration, incredible creations emerged: song, sketches, videos and countless stunning photographs. Some combines visual storytelling with creative writing, showcasing their imagination in full force. With the help of Mr Elphick and Mrs Chávez, Mrs Wright had the joy of looking through them all and choosing a winner for each category. Barcelona certainly brought out the best in them.
Day 1: ‘Adventure’
Winning entry: Millie McAllister
Day 2: ‘Culture’
Winning entry: Ailish Jenner
Day 3: ‘Friendship’
Winning entry: Esme Chowles
Day 4: ‘Odd’
Winning entry: Millie McAllister
Day 5: ‘Celebration’
Winning entry: Laura Vogel
Here are Tommy’s reflections:
The 2024 DSFC trip to Barcelona was an incredible opportunity to experience a new culture and language, take in the city’s abundant culture and fascinating architecture, and most importantly enjoy an unforgettable time with friends.
The first full day saw a visit to Tibidabo Amusement Park, which involved quickly getting to grips with the metro system as well as a steep walk uphill and a journey by funicular railway! The tiring journey became worthwhile as soon as the city-wide panorama from the mountaintop Park came into view. The whole city was clearly visible, and you could pick out landmarks on the week’s itinerary and see them from a completely different angle – the Sagrada Família was far less imposing from 500 metres above than when standing in front of it! The rollercoasters and drop tower were also made to seem deceptively high and frightening – not quite the city viewpoints I’d had in mind, but a unique way of gaining one’s bearings nonetheless! Mr Elphick’s calm face at 50m high was of particular note, but would be later replaced by terror after a journey through Hotel 666 – certainly the most detailed and immersive horror experience I’ve been through. Even with my very rudimentary knowledge of Catalan, I could work out that the last actor wasn’t just being friendly, and the mock chainsaws brought the experience to a harrowing end. The day ended with a walk down the characterful Las Ramblas and a relaxed evening back at the hostel.
Sunday saw a visit to the MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya) located in the Italian-styled, eclectic Palau Nacional building. Much of the art was modern and abstract, but the older pieces provided a novel way of exploring Catalonian and European history – my highlight was definitely getting close to a portrait of Charles II of Spain, as his inbred state, inability to produce an heir and imbecilic decision making has been discussed in my study of History as a key reason for Spain’s decline and Britain’s rise as an imperial power. Later came a visit to Park Güell, followed by an evening in the Old Town – I sampled steak tartare for the first (and last) time and my whole group enjoyed a good meal and the night walk back.
The third day saw torrential rain, to the extent that while enjoying a morning coffee in a small local cafe, everyone’s phone suddenly went off with an emergency Civil Protection Alert – a unique experience, but thankfully the flooding didn’t affect the trip at all. The Museum of Contemporary Art was a personal favourite of mine, with a variety of abstract and fascinating exhibitions on Barcelona’s urban planning and income inequality, the impact of the Spanish Civil War, and a variety of photo and video pieces around womens’ social and sexual liberation. We then enjoyed 3 hours independently, during which my group explored the massive range of stalls in La Boqueria market. After another frantic dash on the metro, we then enjoyed an authentic flamenco performance, then spent a relaxed evening in the area around the beautifully lit Sagrada Família.
Our visit the next day to the Nou Camp Stadium turned out to only be a museum, as the stadium itself was being completely rebuilt – nevertheless, it was an immersive experience and followed up that evening by a few hours spent along Barcelona’s unspoilt seafront, which we revisited the next day in our small groups. Overall, the trip was an incredibly memorable experience that I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to join.
Click on any of the images in the gallery below to enlarge them.
