OVER the half term break, Business, Economics and Leisure studies students visited Barcelona for five days. 
Below is a dairy account of the trip:
A relatively problem-free journey (Only one passport issue –William Abell pretended to have lost his as we left the school gates.
Teachers unimpressed). We were a party of 18 – 2 teachers, 10 boys, 6 girls (all lower sixth formers) and most hoping for a few relaxing days in the Spanish sunshine with study visits to provide the interest.
Hostal Urbany accommodation quite near to the centre of Barcelona was pretty basic but the first evening meal on our arrival wasn’t too bad – chicken curry, rice and chips. The boys were always happy with chips
Day 1.
Our 1st visit on Saturday morning was to the Nou Camp stadium. The Catalan club (Barcelona FC) certainly knows how to make the most of its assets.
Just a few days after Lionel Messi had signed a new 11m euros-a-year contract we joined a long queue of people willing to pay 20 euros just to look at the club museum and the stadium and then browsed in the club shop to wonder who would actually pay well over 100 euros for a shirt, shorts and socks. Must be a bit of ‘value added’ and ‘branding’ for the BS boys and girls!
A coach ride to the Hard Rock Café at the top of La Rambla and a wander down the iconic street (with a bit of lunch on the way) culminated in an opportunity to have a bit of fun on the beach.
Dan had bought an overpriced (?) football but it gave the boys an opportunity to take on a few foreigners (including Dan!) whilst Alex Keeling and Callum McGough went for a paddle.
The water was too cold for everyone else in the whole of Spain without a wetsuit! Child protection issues meant that it was probably inappropriate to take photos of the 2 boys as they frolicked in the surf!
We walked back through some of the old town to collect the coach back to Urbany.
Supper was forgettable – meat and gravy … with chips – but (later in the evening) we managed to find a local ‘italian’ that was glad to see us (the recession looked to be having an effect) and enabled us to ‘turn in’ around 11pm without being too hungry. (The barman also showed us a bit of juggling which was fun to watch.)
Day 2.
We took the metro to town and met our guide, Sandra, for a (guided!) tour of the ‘Gothic’ parts of the city. We learned about the importance of our own St. George to the Catalunyans and the difficult relationships that Catalunya has with the rest of Spain. There are certainly parallels with the UK and Scotland.
There is a strong feeling that Catalunya would cope easily as an independent economy… Sandra sorted out a nice lunch café with a screen to watch a bit of the Barcelona-Getafe match (we had not managed to get tickets) then we took the metro to Pueblo Espanyol.
Only Lotta was inclined to spend any money there so quite quickly we headed back to ‘town’ to try to find somewhere to watch the England-Ireland rugby match!
Meatballs and rice for supper … with chips. After a short nap,we popped to see our new friends at the Italian bistro. A bit more pizza and more juggling by the barman provided the free entertainment for the evening.
Day 3 (Monday)
Our 1st visit on Monday involved an early start and a short coach journey to the F1 Circuit de Catalunya. Our ‘guide’ Alberto was a member of the marketing/hospitality department and knew a lot about the‘capacity utilisation’ of this fixed asset – the circuit is in use about 250 days a year!
Sadly, for us, there wasn’t much going on at 10am in the morning this day. Alberto had studied at the University of Glamorgan and claims to have enjoyed British weather. Apart from that he seemed like a normal bloke! (Again, we heard a view on Catalunyan independence…)
Then we went to the Torres winery (via McDonalds where Yves got into a bit of language trouble but Mr. Abell was able (!) to help him out …by speaking French!).
Torres is quite a well orchestrated visit. We found out something of the history of the business, the production process and the marketing of their wines. Obviously, it was nice to taste a bit and have the opportunity to buy some nice wines…with discount.
Our coach driver (also called ‘Torres’!) was happy to take us back to the Circuit to actually see a car going round. Obviously, it would have been better to have been to have been an F1 car but the bright orange F3 version also looked pretty fast – only about 5 seconds a lap slower than Sebastian Vettel. Lotta was quite impressed but she blotted her copybook by asking if there are ever any important races on the circuit! (Girls rarely listen properly.)
Torres (driver) dropped us at Salgade Famillial which is increasingly impressive – despite all the building work still going on. We had learned from Sandra that Gaudi had started it in 1901, but got hit by a tram and never got close to finishing it!
Currently it is about 60% complete and the target is to complete the final 40% by 2026 – the 125th anniversary.
We walked back to the hotel in time for supper … that included chips.
The students went to a shopping precinct for the evening and then earlier to bed. The busy days were beginning to take their toll on these youngsters.
For the teachers there seemed to be little difference from many normal weeks – on your feet all day, chivvying students, behaving responsibly, going to bed quite late etc…
Day 4 (Tuesday)
The visit to the Port of Barcelona was enjoyable and informative – according to Mrs. Rixon at least ! We had a video presentation -about the economic significance of the port and its development in the past 20 years – and a motor boat tour on the water when each of us actually got to steer.
The 2 guides were of differing quality but the short ginger one was very nervous and struggled a bit with the English language. It turned out she was a Chemistry graduate who could not get a teaching job but could have done the talk more easily in Spanish, French or Italian. We cannot be too critical, I think.
Tapas and small (?) beer for lunch for the staff. The students went for a German option. We blamed Yves.
In the afternoon we went, by coach, to Anis de Mono – a small liqueur business up the coast in Badelona. It was a relatively short visit – without a tasting opportunity for our (too) young students – but at least it gave us another opportunity to spend a few more minutes on the lovely beach.
Alex had another paddle and Chris thought about showing us what a good swimmer he is – but the cold water proved prohibitive. Brrr!
Back to hotel. Showers, naps, packing etc followed by an interim fines review before supper. (Luciann should have got an extra fine for turning up dripping wet!) Cheryl (N-L) topped the leader board at this stage and showed a real determination not to relinquish her position. Many of were surprised that Yves was not far behind…
Supper was quite nice as I recall. Something with chips, obviously.
In the evening we went back to the shopping centre and bumped into a BS/Ec group from Wellington School … but preferred to keep our activities more-or-less separate.
We left before them. It does not always seem necessary to stay out sooo late… and our last day was always going to need quite an early start. Not everyone had packed.
(On the way home Dan gave Lotta a lift (!) and Megan told us that she was having a fine time. Later that evening, Isabella and Callum joined the ‘Mrs. Rixon Appreciation Society’ that Cheryl had started earlier in the week.)
Day 5 (Wednesday)
An uncomplicated departure from the Hostal – just a few minutes late – meant that we arrived at our final visit only a quarter of an hour early. The Estrella brewery would not be every school teacher’s natural choice for a late breakfast option but the dry rolls at the Urbany would always provide a ‘soaker’ for an early beer!
The tour of the factory was (or should have been!) eye-opening for many of these students. Another tour guide struggled with the English language a bit but he redeemed himself by the quality of his information and the gifts at the end!
…130 workers/ 3m bottles per day /25 brands/ acquired water and fruit juice brands/ 500 distributors/ 43 countries etc..
(A few of us were amazed by the sight of the fork-lift trucks whizzing around the factory floor … without any drivers. Their movements are dictated by computers and GPS – a system developed in a collaboration with the University of Barcelona.)
At this point we were all pretty tired and there was quite a bit of ‘dozing’ during the last few hours of the trip… by most of the students and Mrs Rixon! Callum was guilty of ‘catching flies’ on the flight – just as he had 6 days earlier but Mr. Abell remained alert throughout!
Tour Review?
A very busy 5 and a half days? Quite a lot of study material. A few highs and lows. Lovely fine weather throughout. Accommodation fine. Food, not great, but fine. Flights… fine. Overall? Fine … at least!