Grade IX Trip to Spain and France

Mr. Bowcock
Towards the end of the winter term, the ninth grade — accompanied by Madame de Haugoubart and Mr. Bowcock — set off on a busy trip to Spain and southern France.  Half of the class is studying French and the other half Spanish, so this trip gave them an opportunity to practice their languages and to see some superb cultural sights.

Our schedule was jam packed.  We flew to Madrid and then went to Granada, Barcelona, Nice, Monaco, and Lyon.  Despite heavy rain in Madrid, we forged ahead, exploring museums and eating tapas in the evening.  In Granada we visited the unforgettable Alhambra with the help of an energetic local guide.  That night we ate dinner in a cave converted to a performance space for lively Flamenco music and dancing.  In Barcelona we visited Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and climbed one of its towers.  We then flew to Nice where we visited the market, toured the old town, and even had a picnic on the beach.  A few intrepid boys swam in the frigid Mediterranean.  We traveled through France by TGV and had a good exploration of Lyon, especially the small streets and passageways (les traboules) running between the old buildings.  As we were in the center of French gastronomy, we enjoyed a delicious French lunch on our final day in Lyon.  It was a good way to culminate our travel and to celebrate such an enjoyable time together. 
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