Today started off like any other normal day on an NETC tour…the students got their wake up call at 630 and we were down for breakfast at 730.  We stopped to take a picture in the stairwell of the hotel as the spiral staircase provides a perfect backdrop for what we would think to lead to a perfect day. :^)  After breakfast we took the bus to the AVE (Spanish for “bird” or “high speed train” (that one is Andrea’s joke)) to head for Barcelona.   The train ride was very uneventful as most everyone (Andrea and I, and maybe Lauren*) slept.  We rode this train with the other NETC group (of 45 high schoolers) we were originally supposed to travel our tour with.  It was a sight trying to get all of the luggage for everyone loaded and unloaded, however, being the well-oiled middle school machine that we are, it went flawlessly thanks mostly to your kids forming an “assembly line” quickly.

We arrived at our hotel, the hotel Tryp Apolo, shortly after noon.  After a smooth and efficient check-we headed off to the subway to go to lunch and the Picasso Museum where the students were able to view some of the earlier works of Picasso, showing "his growth as an artist and morph into a cubist."

This is pretty much where the smoothness of the day came to a halt for a little bit, for as we boarded the very crowded Metro on our way to lunch and the museum, we were so busy with keeping the students corralled that I was PICK-POCKETED (of all things).  After reminding the students frequently to keep their passport holders (often times also holding money) around their necks, dumb me still had mine in my pocket.  It was stolen as we entered the subway car.  I realized it as soon as the perpetrators left the subway car just as the doors closed.  Luckily the kids were corralled the way we had taught them, so they were not affected or in harm’s way.  While the students went to the Museum with Andrea and Pauline, I took a cab back to the hotel and cancelled my debit card and back-up credit card and will be getting my new passport at the embassy in the morning.  The students were very surprised at how quickly and easily these “thieves” move (very much like magicians :^).  They were also very supportive, and their loving character came out when they wanted to buy us lunch and offered us some of their your money if we needed it :^) (luckily, there was no money in my passport holder).  What an amazing group!  This also served as a first-hand life lesson for them, and me too…that now I should listen to Andrea I guess.  The students were also surprised at how positive we were during the whole situation when I stated with smiling enthusiasm “sure I got pick-pocketed, but I got pick-pocketed IN BARCELONA!!." :^)

I rejoined the group after their trip to the Museum and carried on with our incredible journey through the city.  We spent a couple of hours shopping at Las Ramblas (the 16^th street mall of Barcelona, only 10 times longer, and with local artists selling their work) and watching the street performers (living statues).  You should know that the kids picked out some very thoughtful gifts for you.  At the north end of Las  Ramblas is a circular square (please, just go with it) called Plaza Catalunya.  We had some quality downtime relaxing in front of some fountains and the students talked about what they have been enjoying about the trip (mostly food and shopping* :^)  The square is full of pigeons that the students enjoyed feeding, chasing, and terrorizing (ahhhhhh….middle schoolers*).  On one corner of the circular square was our restaurant for dinner, Navarra.  We had a tremendous meal starting with Risotto as the appetizer (with bread), a main course of glazed porkchops and fresh veggies, followed by a dessert of tiramisu sprinkled with cocoa and topped with kiwi.

Afterwards we had a leisurely stroll down Las Ramblas again on our way back to the hotel.  The students should now be in bed and sleeping very soundly (as angels should).

Tomorrow, we are off to see more of Barcelona on a sight-seeing tour around the city by bus with a local native, Eva.  Our tour will include the Royal Palace, the Olympic stadium, Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Parc Güell.  We will also be going to a Flamenco show after dinner. 

Again, Buenas Nachos.

(*indicates joke by Andrea, as she wants some credit for humor too)*

(**indicates combined effort to make you laugh)**