On the hunt...La Busqueda
Today, the students had a big assignment in their classes. They were placed into groups in order to complete the best scavenger hunt ever! Their assignment sheet was to find out about all the historic or cultural places or facts from San Sebastian. The one catch was that they had to go out around town and ask random people in the city these questions without showing them what was on the paper. This was such a great way to get the kids interacting with the locals and speaking with them in Castellano (Spanish). They took pictures of each other as they took turns asking the questions. They all returned within the hour with the biggest smiles and great little stories of their adventure around town.
Churros con chocolate...delicioso!!!
We started off the afternoon with a trip to the local aquarium where the students had the chance to pet creatures like star fish and sea cucumbers. After spending a bit of time with Nemo's and Dori's brothers and sisters, we took a short walk to the Parte Vieja (Old Town) to share heaping plates of churros and chocolate. The kids made a point to comment on how these churros were definitely different, but better than the churros we have in the States. The chocolate is literally melted cups of dark chocolate...heaven! Once the churros run out, you fill your leftover chocolate cups with steamed milk to making drinking chocolate. What a comfort food! We all left with full bellies and chocolate covering our mouths!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Bonjour Francia...
St. Jean de Luz - Everyone was so excited on our rather quick bus ride to St. Jean de Luz, France. We lucked out, it didn't rain today!!! It was definitely a bit chilly with the wind at first, but we warmed up as soon as we dove head first into our crepes with chocolate. St. Jean de Luz is known for their hand-made espadrilles. These are the types of shoes you now see everywhere in the States, but mostly in wedge style. They have them in every style, color and design imaginable. Most of us all bought at least one pair. Grabbing some chocolate from the local delicatessen or chocolate shop (they're everywhere in the French Basque country!!!), made our short trip to Biarritz a very happy one.
Below - espadrilles!
Biarritz - Biarritz became more renowned in 1854 when Empress Eugenie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais). The British royal family regularly took vacations in Biarritz: European royalty such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and Alfonso XIII of Spain were frequent visitors. Biarritz has always been one of France’s most welcoming towns. A century ago, thanks to the Empress Eugenie, the little whaling town became a fashionable summer resort that, through the years, has stayed open to the outside world without ever losing its identity. Today, Biarritz is undoubtedly the only town where you can see neoprene-clad surfers with their boards under their arms crossing paths with business men in suits and ties carrying towels. A funny image, yet so common...
We began in Biarritz with the most amazing views from the giant lighthouse at the highest point overseeing all of the city. Even though the sun hadn't yet come out, the views were incredible. We were all in awe. The pictures just don't do it justice. After a long afternoon of shopping and lots of chocolate and crepes, we were all tired and content on the ride back to San Sebastian.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monte Igueldo
Of course this old 1960's amusement park is tiny compared to the gigantic roller coasters and outrageous theme parks that we find in the States, but it always makes all of us (directors included) feel like little kids again. The kids had the biggest smiles on the roller coaster (Montana Suiza) and they couldn't get enough of the old-timey bumper cars. Hands down, Monte Igueldo has the absolute best views in all of San Sebastian, and there are many to be had. This was the perfect day to ride the trolley car up to the amusement park, laugh together, and then just relax and take it all in. We couldn't have asked for better weather!
Below - taking the funicular up the mountain, then some pics from our photo shoot from the view at the top!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Clases de Surf
The majority of the students opted to participate in the surf classes today. Even though the water was too cold for the rest of us, we all had fun watching and taking great pictures of the day. Some were able to stand up, but most just smiled as they coasted in with the tide. However, now that they have had the proper instruction, maybe they'll all be able to stand on their boards during the next lesson on Thursday.
Make sure you check out all the fantastic pictures at the bottom of this page. Open the slideshow to view them all.
