6.1 Spanish A Level and Enrichment trip to Barcelona
By 6.1 (Year 12) students Will and Iggy
After a rather stressful departure due to the closing of Heathrow Airport, we touched down in Barcelona, itching to get out into the city. We saw the breath-taking Sagrada Familía, the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world and designed by Antoni Gaudí, before heading to Park Güell, which is a huge complex of parks, gardens and architectural elements in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. Immersing ourselves in this new culture and practising our Spanish allowed us to soak in the city’s incredible atmosphere and make it an unforgettable experience.
Another of the impressive places we visited was Casa Batlló, one of Gaudí’s masterpieces located in the heart of Barcelona, where we experienced the imaginative modernist design of the early 20th century. One of my favourite places was La Boqueria food market off La Rambla, where hundreds of market stalls sell a huge variety of Spanish dishes, such as Jamón ibérico, fried sea food, tapas and paella.
On Sunday we went to the Picasso Museum, where we explored 22 rooms which capture a timeline of his art. Several of us also used the descriptions of each room as Spanish reading practice and I enjoyed trying to translate with my friends. I found it difficult to understand people who spoke Catalan because, while having similarities, it’s incredibly different from the Castilian Spanish that we learn. However, my friends and I were able to pick up bits and pieces, as well as falling back on Catalan Spanish when needed. We also went through the Arc de Triomf, which was very intricate and impressive.
Having a couple days immersed in Barcelona felt hugely important, and we felt so lucky to be able to enjoy this opportunity given to us by the School, as well as getting such a great balance between education and time spent with friends in a beautiful city.
