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Switzerland and Spain – World Cup Soccer

Backpack Europe, Barcelona PCE, European Discovery, European Escape, European Experience, ON TOUR European Escapade, Spain Language No Responses »

Jun 012010

Last but not least, Group H.

Switzerland

Sweitz, La Suisse. This amazing little country has four official languages and though it occupies an area smaller than most U.S. states and has a population that is less than Manhattan, they manage to produce some incredible soccer talent. Training at higher altitude gives this team the ability to show up physically fit and make up for some of the imbalance they have compared to the more talented European teams like Portugal, Spain and England. The Swiss are considered minnows but for the past four World Cups that they have participated in, they have been a tough competitor. In 2006, they became the first team in the history of the cup to be knocked out without having conceded a goal (they were eliminated in the 2nd round in a penalty shootout with the Ukraine).

You can visit Switzerland while skiing or snowboarding in miraculous Zermatt or Tignes or gazing at breathtaking Interlaken on many of our programs in Europe including our European Discovery, European Escape, European Experience, European Escapade, Backpack France and Switzerland and Backpack Europe programs.

Spain

Can La Rojo be stopped? When you think of soccer skills, everyone seems to think of Argentina and Brazil and thoughts of Pele and Maradona come to mind but since 2007 the best team in the world has truly been Spain. The winner of the 2008 European Cup, Spain oozes with talent. Up front they have two of the best in Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Barcelona’s brand new signing David Villa (both of whom would be the starting forward on any team in the world). But it is in midfield where Spain just cannot be compared. Names like Xaxi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, David Silva and Pedro are enough to make any team unable to sleep at night. These guys play for teams like Barcelona, Valencia, Real Madrid and Arsenal and can move the ball like it is a part of their body. If there is one weakness with the Spaniards, it could be their defense. But when you are this good going forward, who needs defense!

With 360° Student Travel you can travel throughout Spain on our Language Immersion program called the Spanish Spectacular or spend your summer in Barcelona on our Pre-College Enrichment: Barcelona program.

The Westcoast Blogger

Spain, Skiing, Summer, and Snow – 4 "S's" That Don't Normally Go Together

Spain Language No Responses »

Oct 222009

It’s the middle of the summer. You’re enjoying the beautiful weather in Madrid, having a blast on 360° Student Travel’s Spanish Spectacular and all of a sudden you have the urge to go skiing. What do you do?

Obviously, go to Xanadu featuring Madrid’s largest indoor ski and snowboard slopes. It may seem like a dream but Xanadu is one of Europe’s largest shopping centers (think Mall of America) with over 250 stores including movie theaters, restaurants, go kart tracks, a bowling alley and more. All of that fails in comparison to the gigantic indoor dome with enough room for beginnings and expert skiers to hit the slopes in the middle of the summer.

xanadu

This oasis is complete with faux pine trees and outcrops of rocks. There is even a real chairlift. Want to see more? Check out their website here.

The New York Times did a great article on the complex when it first opened in 2003. That can be viewed here.

Want to experience this in person? Join us on the Spanish Spectacular.

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The Westcoast Blogger

"Adios Amigos" – The Spanish Spectacular

Spain Language No Responses »

Jul 212009

The Spanish Spectacular bids us farewell.

The Westcoast Blogger

Dear Parents of the Spanish Spectacular,

As the program draws to a close, we can now look back and reminisce about all the good times we’ve had together and the lifelong friendships we have developed. Over the past few days, we have had so much fun, it’s hard to believe the end is nearly here!

On Friday, we visited the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter and Park Guell, which was designed by Antoni Gaudi. There, we saw two flamenco dancers put on a show and took pictures next to the famous lizard decorated with ceramic tiles. Later that night, we went to a discotheque on the boardwalk of the popular beach of Barcelonetta. This was by far the best club we have been to on the entire trip in Spain. Not only that, but we got to meet up with the students of the Barcelona Pre-College Enrichment Barcelona Program.

On Saturday, we went to the Salvador Dali Museum in Figures, which is close to the border of France. The museum was both interesting and entertaining, as the whole museum has a surrealist theme, with the art and exhibits that play tricks on your mind. Savannah and Jenna liked it so much that they asked to spend some extra time inside. For dinner, we went to a nice restaurant in the walled city of Girona, which is very close to Figures. Afterward, Kristen P., Holden, Lauren, Kristin D., David, Spencer, Savannah, and Steve all bought crepes at a local shop. There was an old couple working there and we got to see them prepare the crepes right in front of us one at a time. They were muy sabrosos (very tasty) and melted in our mouths!

Later that night, we had a talent show with some excellent acts. Andrew C. began the “Spain’s Got Talent” show with a performance singing “A Whole New World” with the counselor Jasmine. It was a tough act to follow, as they had everyone laughing during the whole song. Steve and Annie came up to show their weird talents of interesting body motions. Andrew S., David, and Spencer got everyone laughing again with a dance they performed. Two other groups performed dances as well, one with Sam W., Julia, and Rachel, and the other with Lauren, Kristin D., and Candace. At the end, Stanton sang a couple of songs while playing his guitar, even getting the audience involved. It was great entertainment for everyone involved!

The following day, Sunday, our group got to meet up with the Barcelona Pre-College Enrichment group for a second time to watch a bullfight and go out for dinner. Our program director Rob did a great job explaining how a corrida de toros (bullfight) is really a work of art with occasional music and a dance by the toreros (bullfighters). We learned that when a bull is valiant during a bullfight, the crowd can appeal to the president of the bullring to let the bull live, which actually happened while we were there. It was a once in a lifetime cultural experience for many of us.

After having dinner with the Barcelona Pre-College Enrichment group, we went to Montjuic where we saw a beautiful light show in the fountains located right in front of the royal palace.

For our last two days, we will be spending time at the beach, going to an amusement park, and having a farewell banquet. This has been such a wonderful experience for everyone that it will be hard to say goodbye to our new friends. It makes it easier knowing we can stay in touch throughout the year and talk about all our fond memories of our Spanish Spectacular Program.

Adios amigos!

The Spanish Spectacular Staff

La Corrida del Toros … or as We Call It, A Bullfight – Barcelona PCE

Barcelona PCE No Responses »

Jul 212009

Barcelona PCE talks about their latest adventures!

The Westcoast Blogger

Que fin de semana! What an incredible weekend we spent as our last in Barcelona!

On Friday night we got all dressed up to go out for dinner in a beautiful part of the city: the Olympic Port. Filled with hundreds of sailboats, and lined with palm trees, we dined alongside the boardwalk and enjoyed the gorgeous evening sea breeze. Micky and Darren splurged on authentic Mediterranean lobster, while Amanda enjoyed some vegetarian Spanish paella. Then it was off to OLIMPIA, an appropriately named Dance Club right in the heart of the port where we partied Barcelona style until the wee hours of the morning! We met our fellow 360 Student Travelers on the Spanish Spectacular and enjoyed mingling with new friends for the night. We even got to experience the nightlife in Barcelona by taking the metro home after midnight, while the majority of the locals were on their way out!

We had a leisurely Saturday morning to recuperate from all the dancing we had done the night before and gear up for a busy weekend ahead of us. We hopped on a hired coach to Port Aventura: Barcelona’s neighboring Amusement park! We arrived in the late afternoon while the sun was still strong and the park was still bustling. Carly, Deni and Rosie bee-lined it for the high-speed, foot-dangling rollercoaster, while Pauline, Jen and Emma opted for the tamer ride options! Ellie and Alana braved it through their first rollercoaster rides EVER while Matt, Ben and Luke chilled out with Ben & Jerry’s ice cream treats between rides to settle their nerves. While night-time settled in and the park grew dark, we stuck around for the grand finale fireworks show, which amazed us as we watched from an old Pirate Ship on the water. Then it was back to into the city way past our bedtime, as we all fell asleep on the bus ride home after an exhausting but exhilarating day at Port Aventura.

Sunday was off to an exciting start as we cruised up the windy roads of Montserrat by bus. Montserrat meaning ¨serrated mountain¨ is an absolutely gorgeous mountain range just outside the city of Barcelona which attracts many locals and tourists all year long with its amazing hikes and spectacular vistas. We started things off with a stroll down the mountain side to an old monastery, where we stopped to take pictures of the incredible landscape and the serene structure. Nicole was the first one back up to the top when we settled down to grab a well-deserved bite to eat at the local lunch spot. Then we had some free time to explore the town of Montserrat, and it’s Cathedral. Soon enough it was back into the city to catch ¨La Corrida del Toros¨ or as we call it: a bullfight! Although we were super excited to see what all the fuss is about. We joined up with the Spanish Spectacular program again, and Rob, their tour director, shared a ton of information with us about the history and cultural significance of the Spanish bullfights, while the matadors below gave us a show. Then we headed to a nearby restaurant for some amazing Spanish influenced food. We all practiced our Spanish menu skills by ordering our meals in Spanish, and before we knew it, it was time to head out again to catch the Mon Juic Fountain Show at the Placa Espana uptown.

The bus dropped us off at the bottom of Placa Espana and we raced up to the top of the steps just in time for the giant fountain to light up and the classical music to start blasting. Harrison, Stacy, Christin and Jess, one of our tour leaders, found a great spot to catch the show from atop a few neighboring steps. We were definitely wowed by the fountain show, and once the crowds parted we stuck around to chill in the Placa as Austin and Dylan strummed their guitars, and we all sat around singing.

Yesterday it was back to school for our last week here in Barcelona. We spent the morning exploring the Barrio Gottic (Gothic Quarter) with our Spanish teachers and learning how to order different tapas and foods at local restaurants. In the afternoon, some of us hung out on the Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona’s famous shopping strip filled with Gaudi’s buildings, such as Casa de Ojos (House of Bones). Loren and Steph explored the museum and rooftop of La Pedrera! Sara, Lisa, Jared headed back to the DiR, the fitness club near our residence to get a workout in, while Mike, Cale and Justin lounged by the pool in the late afternoon sun.

This afternoon we’re headed back to the Parc Cituadella, down by Barceloneta beach to kick the soccer ball around and check out all the cool statues dispered throughout the greenery of the enormous park. We rode through it on our bike tour the first weekend here, which seems like months ago now. It’s hard to believe it’s coming to an end so soon, as we have only 3 more days of classes left before we pack up our things and say goodbye to Barcelona before a few relaxing days in Sitges… and then home! We have a LOT planned for this week, so we’re definitely looking forward to some R & R coming up this weekend.

Hasta Luego Todos!

A Variety of People and Street Performers – Spanish Spectacular

Spain Language No Responses »

Jul 192009

Here is the latest from the Spanish Spectacular!

The Westcoast Blogger

After leaving Granada, everyone was excited to go back to the beach. The beach in Alicante was gorgeous. Jenna, Andrew S., David, and Kayla had fun body surfing on some of the bigger waves. The best part of our time at the beach was the speed boat that took us to an area of the Mediterranean away from the main beach where we could swim and snorkel. Dare and Annie, among others, jumped off the boat to get a glimpse of the crystal clear seabed. This was a trip favorite for many people.

We were in Alicante for 2 days, just enough time to soak up the well known beach town and all the rich history and culture that come along with it. We got a chance to walk up part of Mont Benacantil, see El Castillo de Santa Barbara, and learn about how Alicante got started. Andrew C., Sam W., Ricki, Lindsay, and Ariel all had a chance to take some amazing pictures of the whole city and the beaches in Alicante. The views were breathtaking.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, we were well rested and ready to explore the city. We got dropped off at Las Ramblas, which is the main strip in the old section of town by the beach. Everyone enjoyed this, as we walked by a variety of people and street performers.

The following day, Tuesday, the kids had their first day of class in Barcelona, while the 3 weekers (Dana, Dare, Sarah, and Arden) went with their counselor Steve to visit Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia, both of which are beautiful works of the world famous architect Antoni Gaudi. Everyone met up together for a bike ride throughout Barcelona. Those that went on the bike ride got to learn about how 5 of the 6 beaches were man made for the 1992 Summer Olympics and the World Forum. They got to ride through the Olympic Village and along the beach. Zach had a great time zigzagging back and forth and going in circles all over the place.

At dinner that night, we got to eat at an authentic style Spanish restaurant. Everyone got the chance to prepare a special style of bread called “pan de tomate”. We were given a garlic clove, which was rubbed into the bread, followed by a tomato that was to be squeezed over the top of the bread, and finally a little bit of olive oil that was poured across the top. It was amazing! The following night, Lauren K. got to show her parents what she learned when making the pan de tomate the night before.

On Wednesday, we spent the afternoon at the beach. Everyone had a lot of free time to enjoy the sun, go swimming, or walk around to some nearby shops and restaurants. It was very relaxing for Kate, Sammy G, Savannah, Tori, Rachel, and Candace to spend most of their time sun bathing, while Spencer, Dare, Amy, Kristen P., Kristin D., and Holden decided to explore nearby and chill at a restaurant. Also, Stanton got to go for a run with Steve along the beach for a couple of miles. He is doing a good job staying in shape the summer!

Hasta luego,

El Spanish Spectacular