BARCELONA Itinerary 2015
Thu Apr 30: China Cities. (Evening airport check in approx. 21:30hrs) China Cities / Barcelona. (Flights to be advised) This evening, you will make your way to your home cities to check in for your flight to Spain. Overnight: En Route. Fri May 01: Arrive Europe. (Approximately 06:00hrs) Connect to Barcelona. (Flight to be advised) Barcelona to Tibidabo Park. (10:30hrs / 11:30hrs) Barcelona. (Tibidabo Park) Barcelona. (Barcelona afternoon city visit by subway) This morning you will arrive at a connecting airport and remain in transit while you connect to the continuing flight to Barcelona Spain. Later, you ll arrive at Barcelona International airport. Welcome to Spain - Here you will clear immigration, collect your luggage off the carousel and proceed through customs with your teacher groups to the arrivals hall. Here we will be met by our representative and transferred by our luxury coach to the hotel. We estimate to leave the airport by 10:30am and reach an interesting park high above the city, where you can have great views of Barcelona and the city we are about to explore. 10:30hrs 11:15hrs. Drive to Tibidabo Park - We will board our coach as our guide brings us to the Tibidabo Park, high in the hills overlooking the city. 11:15hrs 11:30hrs - We will proceed to visit the church. It is referred to as the Temple de Sagrat Cor. Built in 1806 and renovated in 1902; it is a Neo-Gothic structure with a bronze statue of the Sacred Heart at the top. After our tour of the cathedral, you can take a lift to the top of the church and check out the city at 575 meters above sea level! Here, you will enjoy beautiful views of Barcelona below. 11:30hrs 13:00hrs LUNCH BREAK You will have free time to take an amusement ride if you wish on your own, or enjoy the views of Barcelona below. You will also be able to buy an inexpensive lunch at this park. 13:00hrs 13:45hrs You will drive down from the mountain and to our hotel to check in. 13:45hrs 14:30hrs You will check into your rooms, drop luggage and proceed to the lobby as we have some afternoon sightseeing planned. Please be in the lobby on time our guide leads us walking to the metro station to board the subway to downtown.
14:30hrs 17:30hrs ARENAS DE BARCELONA AND PLAZA ESPANA- The first afternoon in Spain will be spent riding the subway with our guide and heading out to Arenas de Barcelona. This is a former bull fighting ring and in 2011 converted to the Las Arenas shopping centre in Barcelona. Don't miss a stroll on the free Arenas skywalk roof terrace with restaurants and panoramic views of Montjuic hill and Barcelona. Arenas is crowned by a domed theatre, concert and event space called "Cúpula de las Arenas." We will have some free time here to look at the curios and enjoy the skywalk roof before our guide leads us by subway and a walk through the city centre as we make our way to an early dinner for everyone. Inside you will see the transformation of the Old Bull ring and what it is today. You will also see the sculpture by Joan Miro in the Plaza de Espana before or after Arenas. 17:30hrs Our guide will walk with us to a nearby location where we will reach by 18:00hrs and join all our classmates in a welcome to Barcelona dinner at a local restaurant. 18:00hrs 19:30hrs We will enjoy dinner together at Barcelona Restaurant. 19:30hrs 20:30hrs We will walk to the metro and board the subway back to our hotel. We will arrive early so you can relax and get to bed early for a good night s sleep. OUR HOTEL The Hotel Altenas is a 4 star hotel in the center of Barcelona. Rooms are comfortable and the breakfasts are wonderful serving breads, butters and jams, eggs anyway you like them, meats, yogurts, fruits, juices, coffees and water. Overnight: The Hotel Atenas. (Triple rooms for students Dinner)
Sat May 02: Barcelona. (Full day touring Barcelona by public transportation) Breakfast at 07:00hrs / 07:45hrs. Please be in the lobby at 08:00hrs sharp as we meet our guide and depart walking to the metro and boarding the subway around Barcelona. 08:00hrs / 08:30hrs Proceed with our guide to the city center by subway. 08:30hrs 10:30hrs - The Gothic Area of Barcelona. The beautiful neighborhood known as the Gothic Quarter is so called because it used to be the Roman village and thus has some remnants of its glorious past. These days because of the constant modernization it is very possible to spot an ancient building right next to one built in the 90s. It is this mix of old and new that brings people from all over the world to stay in the Gothic Quarter. The narrow, winding streets create quite a labyrinth and means that it may take a while to get your bearings. I recommend that you should always look up and around you or you may miss some of the best bits. The Gothic quarter has many peaceful squares (plaças) where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. However one of the main attractions, right in the heart of the district is the huge Cathedral which has a stunning courtyard full of plants and oddly, geese. The Barri Gòtic is the oldest part of the city with Roman remains to be seen round Plaça del Rei / Plaça Sant Jaume. Many buildings have a medieval core, including behind the classical façades of the Town Hall and Palau de la Generalitat. The streets behind the Palau de la Generalitat constitute the medieval ghetto, the Call, where the old synagogue can now be visited. The Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Eulalia, La Seu), Santa Maria del Pi and the Basilica of La Mercè are the most striking of the churches in Barri Gòtic. This area has become the heart of Tourist Barcelona, so many apartments are now aimed at tourists that the locals have chosen or have been forced to move elsewhere. Enjoy the history and architecture as we stroll through the streets of Old Barcelona.
ROMAN WALLS - In about 15 BCE the Romans founded Barcelona, named Barcino. Although the capital of this area in the Empire was Tarragona (Roman Tarraco), Barcelona did have a harbor. Like most Roman new towns, it was laid out in a grid and fortified. Some of the original Roman walls are in Barcelona's Old Town (the Barri Gótic); here they are incorporated into the walls of the chapel of Santa Àgata, part of the former royal palace complex. Our escort will show you these walls. We will proceed with the two hours of walking through the Gothic Quarter, past cathedrals, ancient ruins, century old buildings. This is the section of Barcelona which will give you the feel for what old Europe looked like hundreds of years ago. Enjoy passing artists who also appreciate painting in this neighborhood. 10:30hrs 11:30hrs Free time in Gothic Quarter - One hour of free time to explore the tiny shops and the Las Ramblas area with your buddy. We will meet in the old town at a pre-arranged site. 11:30hrs 13:00hrs Lunch break - We will meet at a pre-arranged spot and all walk to a nearby location where everyone can find an inexpensive lunch to purchase and have your lunch break. 13:00hrs 14:30HRS Student treasure hunt Gothic Quarter & Las Ramblas area of barcelona. You will be put into teams this afternoon and given the treasure hunt map in English. Together with your friends, you will start and follow your treasure map to locate places as you walk. We will start the tour at the Placa Real, a block walk from Las Ramblas - Here are just a few of the clues: #1 You are standing in the middle of Placa Real. There are some beautiful street lamps that were designed by Gaudi find them and write here how many arms do the lamps have #2. Now walk to Las Ramblas You are standing at the lower part of Las Ramblas which runs north to the Placa de Catalunya. Just a bit further, on your left there is the main façade of the Opera House of Barcelona What is the name of this world famous theater? #3. Continue walking until you come to some colors on the sidewalks, when you see the style you will know who designed these PICASSO MIRO OR DALI Next clues numbers 4 through 13, you will just have to come to Barcelona to use your private detective skills.
14:30hrs 15:30hrs Picasso Museum. We will depart this area of Barcelona and travel by metro to the Picasso Museum. 15:30hrs 17:30hrs - The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is a key reference for understanding the formative years of Pablo Ruiz Picasso. The genius of the young artist is revealed through the 4,249 works that make up the permanent collection. Furthermore, the Museum Picasso, opened in 1963, also reveals his deep relationship with Barcelona: an intimate, solid relationship that was shaped in his adolescence and youth, and continued until his death. 17:30hrs 18:30hrs It is rush hour and our escort will lead us from the Museum By metro / subway to a nearby Monjuic fountains area where we will have dinner reservations. 18:30hrs 20:00hrs - TAPAS DINNER A sure treat for all tourists who come to Spain is to enjoy a Tapas Dinner. Tapas dinner together We will all be seated for our dinner in Barcelona with the famous snack type of dinner. We have chosen tonight s dinner to be Tapas. This is a gastronomic experience since you will be served many different dishes. Enjoy traditional tapas, such as asesqueixada (salt-cod, tomato and onion salad) escalivada (chargrilled eggplant - aubergines, peppers and onions) and fuet and llonganissa (cured sausage). It is also one of the best places for tastes of Spanish paella, usually sea food and rice. 20:00hrs / 21:00hrs Montjuic Fountains. Tonight we walk to and enjoy the Magic Fountains light show. 21:00hrs / 21:30hrs Back to the hotel and good night. Overnight: Hotel Atenas Barcelona. (Triple rooms Breakfast and dinner - BD)
Sun May 03: Barcelona. (Full day tour to Figueres 07:00hrs 19:00hrs) This morning fully rested, group 1 will have breakfast from 06:00hrs to 06:45hrs and then meet in the lobby at 06:45hrs. 07:00am We will board our Coach and depart through the city to the highway and our driver will head north through the suburbs and into the countryside as we drive to Costa Brava. Our first destination is Figueres and the Dali Museum. Last updated: We will arrive by 09:15hrs approximately. We will walk around to the entrance and await the opening at 09:30hrs. 09:30hrs 11:30hrs Two hour amazing tour of the Dali Museum. Our guide will lead us room to room and explain the wonderful explanations of this artist s important work. Salvador Dali and his wife Garda - Born in Figueres, Spain in 1904, Salvador Dali is known for his technical skill as a painter and the shocking quality of his imagination. His pioneering spirit was also accompanied by a reverence of tradition and a will for continuity. Dali consistently depicted the landscape of his homeland, one that became synonymous with the landscape of the imagination and of dreams. He forged in his long career a remarkable body of work, and his life demonstrates the richness of living creatively in every aspect of one's existence. Enjoy the unique and amazing art that is on display in the Museum. 11:00hrs 11:30hrs - Time to visit the Gift Shop is included in the two hour visit.
11:30hrs / 13:00hrs Dali Jewels - Our guide will move us to the next stop, next door to the Main Museum Dali s museum of Jewels, where we tour for an hour. This gallery shows the collection of thirty-nine jewels in gold and precious stones and twenty-seven drawings and paintings on paper that Salvador Dalí made in designing the jewels between 1941 and 1970. 13:00hrs 14:00hrs Lunch Break This hour is reserved for you to buy an inexpensive lunch. 14:00hrs 15:00hrs We will have one hour of free time to walk around the shops and the local Ramblas near the museum. The Rambla (boulevard) of Figueres is the heart of the capital of the Alt Empordà, its emblematic centre, on which the city's commercial world meets the leisure needs of the citizens. Banks and offices mix with sidewalk cafes and shops. Often, the centre of the Rambla is the scene for all forms of cultural meetings or Fires with relevant topics such as the wine fair in September. Also geographically the Rambla is truly the middle of the historical city centre of Figueres. Around the historic city centre there are other rings of districts, which originated from the 19th and 20th century as the city expanded in all directions. 15:00hrs 17:00hrs Beach Visit. After leaving Figueres we will stop at a secluded beach along the scenic Costa Brava. Students will have a chance to swim, if they like, or just enjoy the views from this idyllic spot on the coastline. 17:00hrs 18:00hrs Say goodbye to the northern area of Spain as we load our coach and drive back to the city. Our coach and driver will drop us off at a typical restaurant in the city. During one of our dinners in Spain, we will enjoy paella, a typical delicious meal of rice and meat or rice and sea food. 18:00hrs 19:30hrs After dinner our escort leads us to the Metro subway back to our hotel and walk back across the street for a good night s rest. Overnight: The Hotel Atenas Barcelona. (Triple rooms for students Breakfast, Dinner)
Mon May 04: Barcelona. (Half day morning private school & afternoon church visit) Breakfast is at 06:30hrs 07:15hrs). Please be in the lobby at 07:15hrs in school uniform. 07:30hrs 08:30hrs This morning we board the coach and drive to the private school. We will be welcomed by the students of Padre Damian, a private school in Barcelona. Load coach at 07:30hrs 08:30hrs, and drive to the Padre Damian private school. This morning we set off to a private school in the suburbs of Barcelona. Upon arrival around 8:30am, we will park at the front gates and wait for the teachers and buddy students to come out to the coach and collect each student. 08:30hrs - You will join your buddy and proceed into the school s theater room. 09:30hrs Introductions by Padre Damian School. 09:45hrs Introductions by Yew Chung teacher. 10:00hrs 11:00hrs Cultural performances by both schools. 11:00hrs 11:30hrs Student break on the playground with buddies. 11:30hrs 12:15hrs Students and buddies will have a 45 minute meeting room lesson on the history of Spain. 12:15hrs - 12:30hrs 15 minute washroom breaks. 12:30hrs 13:15hrs Students and buddies will have a 45 minute meeting room lesson on Global warming and importance of recycling. Spanish homes, businesses and individuals all participate in helping to reduce global warming by recycling. This class will enlighten Chinese students on how everyone in Spain is working to reduce Global Warming.
13:30hrs 14:30hrs Cafeteria Lunch together with your buddies. (Lunch is included) 14:30hrs 15:15hrs Return to Barcelona City Center. We will Board our coaches and say goodbye to our new Spanish buddies until the next day s visit as we travel back to the city center. 15:15hrs 16:00hrs - Reach Park Guell This important park is our next stop and a great place to learn about Gaudi art. Located in the city of Barcelona, the Park Guell is one of the most beautiful icons of the city. It's a work of Antoni Gaudi located in the upper part of Barcelona, which has wonderful views of the city. You can enjoy a fantastic green walk surrounded by a modernist works. 16:15hrs Reach the Sagrada Familia Our next stop will be the iconic church in Barcelona, Sagrada Familia, which is a large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona. It was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. (1852 1926). 16:15hrs 17:15hrs We will first visit the park opposite Gaudi s stunning basilica to give everyone a photo opportunity and then proceed inside with our guide to enjoy the exterior of the remarkable building. We will line up and visit inside as our guide walks us through the fantastic interior. La Sagrada Familia is one of Gaudi s most famous works in Barcelona. It's a giant Basilica that has been under construction since 1882 (that's not a typing error!) and it's not expected to be completed until 2026 (time for completion varies depending on different sources of information) Much controversy surrounds the building of the Sagrada Familia. Today new construction materials are being used which, some feel, Gaudí himself would not have used. When you visit the building, you will see the contrast in the stone color between the front and back of the building. Also the actual style of construction appears somewhat different between the new and old parts of the building. Inside the buidling are spectacular colors and architecture. The visit to the balcony is also included during our visit to the church. 17:15hrs 18:45hrs We will have free time for souvenirs or to walk around the complete Cathedral, while the guide escorts Group 2 inside. 18:45hrs 20:00hrs - We will proceed to our restaurant which is near Sagrada Familia for dinner together. Group 1 will dine at a different restaurant as Group 2. 20:00hrs 21:00hrs By metro We will return to the hotel for a good night s rest. Overnight: Hotel Atenas Barcelona. (Triple rooms BLD Lunch at school included)
Tue May 05: Barcelona. (Half day school visit & Afternoon Villa d Horte visit) Load coach at 08:00hrs and drive to the Padre Damian private school. This morning we set off to a private school in the suburbs of Barcelona. Upon arrival around 9:00am, we will park at the front gates and wait for the teachers and buddy students to come out to the coach and collect each student. 09:15hrs Yew Chung students will arrive and now proceed into school with your teachers to our meeting rooms and we will have an Art class focusing on the wonderful art of Gaudi. 09:30hrs 11:00hrs We will enjoy a Gaudi Art lecture by teachers from Padre Damian School. They will also supply the tools to have drawings made by each Yew Chung student based on some ceramic discussions and other works of art as influenced by Gaudi. (Don t worry if you are not a great artist, you will have fun creating your own work of art). 11:00hrs 11:30hrs You will go to the playground with your buddies for a half hour break. 11:30hrs 12:15hrs - We return to class where each student will have more art instructions. 12:15hrs 12:30hrs Washroom breaks. 12:30hrs 1:15hrs We return to class where each student will have more art instructions. 13:30hrs 14:30hrs Lunch in the cafeteria. 14:30hrs 15:15hrs Say goodbye to the Spanish students as we board our coach and drive back into the city, dropping us off at a village suburb of Barcelona. 15:15hrs / 17:30hrs Villa d Horte It is nice to experience the flavor of a neighborhood that retains the traditional, village-like spirit of Barcelona. This tour is the perfect way to escape the bustle of the main tourist areas. We will travel by public transportation and then walk with our escort through this village like town. As a different part of Barcelona, it is the third largest district called La Villa d Horte which was a separate village until the 20 th century and then became part of Barcelona. (Two entrances are included The Villa Gardens and the Hospital) Remarkable landscape and Labyrinth gardens will delight everyone on our afternoon visit. La Villa d'horta: Water was one of the main engines of prosperity for this village which became part of Barcelona in 1904. Many of the old laundries in front of the terraced cottages in the oldest part of Horta have been preserved. The old quarter still has a village atmosphere with its allotments, traditional bars and restaurants and small shops selling local produce.
The village s main activities were farming and laundering clothes and we can still see traces of these activities in the area s heritage. Due to the large amount of available land, Horta i Guinardó is home to a number of unique facilities that have provided services for the community (the Hospital de Sant Pau, the Vall d'hebron medical complex, the Llars Mundet hospital, sports grounds, parks and large green areas. Nearby we will walk and view the Saint Paul hospital, Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau. This modernista complex designed by Lluis Domènech I Muntaner is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city s iconic cultural landmarks. The Hospital de Sant Pau is a world-renowned medical centre and architectural landmark and was used as a public hospital for almost a century. 17:30hrs 19:30hrs Our escort will lead us to a restaurant for dinner. 19:30hrs 20:30hrs We will ride the subway back to our hotel for a good night s rest. Overnight: Hotel Atenas Barcelona. (Triple rooms BLD Lunch at school included)
Wed May 06: Barcelona. (Morning private school 08:00hrs 14:30hrs) (Afternoon La Boqueria cooking class) Breakfast at the hotel 06:30hrs / 07:30hrs. Load coach at 08:00hrs 09:00hrs. We will drive to the Padre Damian private school. This morning we set off to a private school in the suburbs of Barcelona. Upon arrival around 09:15hrs, we will make our way to our meeting rooms in the school. Yew Chung Students and Spanish Student 09:15hrs Yew Chung students will arrive and now proceed into school with your teachers to our meeting rooms and we will have a class focusing on Catalonia. The capital is Barcelona, the provinces are: Barcelona, Girona and Lerida and Tarragona. Best known apart from the capital, Barcelona is of course the Mediterranean coast. Costa Brava and Costa Dorada with ample beaches and mild climate doubtlessly are first rate touristic attractions. One shouldn't forget anyhow that Catalonia offers as well high mountain ranges, the Pyrenees in the north, the curious formations of Montserrat, the inactive volcanoes of Garrotxa, and a wide plain area in the region's center. 09:30hrs 11:00hrs Catalonia in-depth The Padre Students are all from Catalonia and the teachers will present a class today on Catalonia, so you will understand the culture of this region. 11:30hrs 12:15hrs. We will return to the classrooms for more lessons on Catalonia. 12:15hrs 12:30hrs Washroom breaks. 12:30hrs 1:15hrs We will return to the classrooms for more lessons on Catalonia. 13:30hrs 14:30hrs Lunch in the cafeteria. 14:30hrs Say goodbye to the Spanish students as we drive back into the city centre.
14:30hrs 15:30hrs We will arrive to the market for a cooking class and enjoy the activities this afternoon. 15:30hrs 18:30hrs La Boqueria Market Purchase ingredients for cooking class. Above the Boqueria market are private rooms which have been arranged for cooking classes. It is a perfect location from where we buy our fresh foods, in the market below. Upon arrival at the market, the cooking class staff will split the group into teams, where you will go with a cooking class teacher through the market, with clear instructions of what needs to be purchased.
The cooking class staff has the money and you will help pick out what we need to cook up an incredible Paella dish this afternoon & evening. What a fun afternoon buying the ingredients that your cooking class teachers have given you! After completing the list, we proceed to the upper levels of the market where we will then prepare the vegetables by washing and cleaning, getting the spices ready, chopping the onions and getting the paella meats or fish ready. At the end of the experiment Guess what is for dinner? After it is cooked we dine on the dinner we completed. 18:30hrs 19:00hrs After our cooking class and early dinner, walk back out through the market where you can buy some desert or right outside the market on Las Ramblas we will go together with your teachers to buy an ice cream and enjoy another short walk along Las Ramblas. 19:00hrs 20:00hrs Return with out guide by subway to our hotel for a good night s sleep. Overnight: Hotel Atenas Barcelona. (Triple rooms BLD cooking class lunch included)
Thu May 07: Barcelona. (Full day touring Barcelona city by public transportation) This morning rise early for breakfast, we will have breakfast from 07:00hrs 07:45hrs. Please be in the lobby read to depart by 08:00am. 08:00hrs 08:30hrs - Our guide will meet us in the lobby and we will set out walking with our guide to the metro where we will board the subway and ride a short distance to downtown. 08:30hrs 09:30hrs - Our first visit will be to the Maritime Plaza of Barcelona. The morning sunlight is the perfect time to visit this beach front area and admire the art work by various artists. ARTIST: Rebecca Horn. The Cube Barcelona - The sculpture L Estel Ferit (The Wounded Shooting Star) consists of four twisted cubes, stacked seemingly at random. Most people refer to this popular landmark as the cubes, and it is a clear reflection of Barcelona s penchant for ground-breaking art during the Olympic period. However, its symbolism is inextricably linked to the past of the Barceloneta district. The Fish Sculpture - It has become a symbol of the post-olympic Barcelona. The big goldfish seems to float above the Mediterranean Sea. The sun is reflected on the golden scales of the fish-shaped sculpture that dominates the coastline and beaches of the Olympic Port of Barcelona. Designed by Frank O. Gehry Also, along the beach are many sandcastle builders who have built some very interesting architecture monuments out of sand, only to last a short time. Nonetheless, still a sight worth seeing. Columbus statue Nearby, we also will walk to the Columbus Monument, which stands at the end of Barcelona s Rambla, near the sea. You will take the lift inside the column to the viewing gallery at the top, 60 meters above the ground. The Christopher Columbus Monument was built in 1888 in honor of the renowned explorer and discoverer of America. It consists of a statue of Columbus standing on a tall column.
09:30hrs 10:00hrs We will walk to the nearby Plaza Espana and continue to the foot of the Montjuic fountains. 10:00hrs 10:30HRS MONTJUIC MOUNTAIN - We all ride the escalators to the top. Montjuïc, which means Jewish Mountain, is a useful point of reference when, like me, you haven't got the best sense of direction. It lies opposite of Tibidabo and has become a tourist attraction in itself. The top offers fantastic views over the city and now also holds the military museum. The stunning Palau National makes a beautiful backdrop to Plaça Espanya and is also known as MNAC, a museum which has the largest collection of Catalan art in the world. The museum is well worth the visit, and not to worry there are escalators the whole way up if you can't manage the many stairs. 10:30hrs 12:00hrs Once at the top, our guide will escort us inside. The Museum Nacional d Art of Catalunya is located in the Palau National Museum of Montjuic. We have one hour to view the highlights with our guide, then we will have one half hour of free time to walk around outside and admire the gardens and views of Barcelona below. It was constructed for the International Exposition of 1929. In 1934 it opened its doors as the Museu d'art de Catalunya, bringing together the medieval collection. Subsequently, in 1995, then as the Museum Nacional d'art de Catalunya, the new rooms of Romanesque art were inaugurated, and in a successive way the public presentation of the collection was extended, a process that ended in 2004 with the integration of modern art. Our guide will give us some time to see the exterior of this beautiful museum before we all enter and explore the works of art. Medieval Art, Gothic, Renaissance, Modern, Drawings and Photography are all on display throughout the different floors. Our guide will take us through the highlights. 12:00hrs 12:30hrs The Olympic Stadium and the TV Tower Nearby, we will walk to view the TV Tower; an odd shaped building to catch your eye. Then we will walk over and enjoy the Olympic stadium and see where the Spanish athletes train for track and field. You can also continue to see views of Barcelona below.
12:30hrs 14:00hrs Lunch break. Nearby, we walk over and enter the small Spanish village. Here you will have free time to buy some inexpensive lunch on your own account. The Spanish Village This Barcelona attraction is a small Spanish village with different quarters that replicate the style of houses and architecture from different parts of Spain. Called Pueblo Espanyol (Spanish for Spanish village) we will reach by 12:30hrs and have 90 minutes of free time to walk around and buy lunch and then meet at a specified place. 14:00hrs 16:30hrs Dance class for Yew Chung students - Our guide will set a spot where everyone will meet inside this village. Be on time please as we have dance lessons appointment. See last year s Yew Chung Classmates in the picture to the right. We will now participate at the Spanish village dance class where we will learn how to dance with our own private Flamenco Dance teacher. Yew Chung students will learn how to Flamenco dance. Can you picture yourself dressed up as a Spanish Flamenco dancer? 16:30hrs 17:30hrs Free time to walk around Pueblo Espanyol to window shop for a curio to take home. 17:30hrs 19:30hrs The professional Flamenco Dance performance and dinner. After our dance lessons and free time, we will then move to take our seats in the Flamenco restaurant where we will enjoy dinner and then watch the professionals dance and perform. 19:30hrs 20:30hrs We will walk back to the escalators and make our way down to the foot of Montjuic, where we make our way back to the hotel. 20:30hrs 21:30hrs Our guide will walk with us back to the metro and board the subway as the guide escorts us back to our hotel for the evening. Overnight: The Hotel Atenas. (Triple rooms for students Breakfast and Dinner)
Fri May 08: (Half day touring Barcelona city by public transportation) (Afternoon Barcelona Miniature City by coach to the airport) (Evening flight departure times to be advised) 07:30hrs 08:00hrs All baggage is gathered at reception and stored for the morning. Breakfast 07:00hrs / 07:45hrs. This morning enjoy breakfast. Later, please be in the lobby of the hotel to meet our guide at 08:00hrs sharp. We will walk to the metro and board the subway and travel downtown. 08:00hrs / 08:45hrs You will ride the subway to downtown Barcelona and the center of the city. Here we will catch a train to our next place to visit. 09:00hrs / 10:30hrs La Pedrera also known as Casa Mila. - La Pedrera (1905) can be found at No 92 Passeig de Gràcia at the junction with Carrer Provenca. The word "Pedrera" means "Quarry" however the original name of the house was Casa Milà. This is another masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí and was designed as a fashionable home to the wealthy Milà family. The name Pedrera was used locally to describe the building because of its stone like appearance and the name stuck. Up on the roof top Next, we cross the street to continue our tour and visit another Gaudi masterpiece.
10:30hrs 12:00hrs. Casa Batlo. The outside will surprise you, and you will fall in love with the inside! Casa Batlló, the masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí, invites you to visit a monument that is much more than a building; it is an artistic legend. Hidden behind the exceptional modernist facade, which mirrors a calm sea, a whole world of surprises and refined architectural details is waiting inside Casa Batlló. The definitive must-see benchmark of modernism, invites you to take a look inside. This architectural work by Antoni Gaudí will amaze you with its radical design and with the great array of visual solutions used. In every nook and cranny, you will discover something surprising, details which could not fail to enthrall all those who love the fantastical. 12:00hrs 12:30hrs Proceed to Barcelona Zoo - Our guide will lead us on a short walk to the nearby Ciutadella Park. Here we will enter the Barcelona Zoo. 12:30hrs 13:00hrs Lunch Break at the Zoo Here you will be able to buy an inexpensive lunch on your own inside the zoo at one of the food outlets. 13:00hrs 14:00hrs We have free time to explore the zoo exhibits and meet Snowflake. We will continue our visit of the Zoo where Dolphins, Zebras, Lions, Komodo Dragons, the descendants of the albino Gorilla Snowflake and many more animals wait for you at the Barcelona Zoo. We will visit the legendary Noble Floor (the former residence of the Batlló family), the Loft (the former store rooms and laundry rooms), the Roof Terrace with its mythical Chimneys (where you will see the famous backbone of the dragon slain by Sant Jordi, or Saint George), and the fabulous building well (once the communal stairwell). The tour finishes with the splendid entrance hall and the main staircase. After our last architectural museum for the day, we will come out to the main street Passeig de Gràcia is in itself, a wonderful walking area for its many splendid Spanish buildings that are delightful to look at.
14:00hrs 14:30hrs We will meet at the entrance of the zoo. Everyone will be at the entrance at 14:00hrs sharp. We will walk into the Ciutadella Park for a world classroom photograph. 13:30hrs 14:30hrs Our escort will lead us to the metro station and we board the subway back to the hotel. 15:00hrs 16:00hrs Our coach is waiting for us and the driver will load our luggage as we say goodbye to Barcelona as we drive out to the airport area. We have one more stop. 16:00hrs 18:00hrs Our final stop before reaching Barcelona International airport will be at Miniature Catalonia, a park containing miniature representations of buildings and structures from the entire Catalonian region. Students will have two hours to explore this interesting park and will no doubt recognize some of the buildings (churches, factories, ports, and other sights) we visited during this last week. A perfect re-cap of our World Classroom trip to Barcelona. 18:00hrs 18:30hrs We will board our coach and drive over to the International airport Here you may buy some dinner at the airport. 19:00hrs We will check in and clear security at the airport and then board our early evening flight to Europe. Dinner is served on board. On arrival, we will all make our connecting flight to our China Cities. Overnight: En Route. (Breakfast included today) Sat May 09: Europe / China Cities. (Approximate times 00:55hrs / 16:30hrs) Very early this morning we re-board our connecting nonstop flights to our China Cities arriving this same afternoon.
Included in the tour costs are the following: Private coach transfers throughout as per itinerary. Travel by metro on most days as listed in the itinerary. Hotels as listed including taxes. Breakfast and dinner daily. Some lunches are included and are marked with an L in the itinerary. (School lunches and the cooking class lunch) All sightseeing as per itinerary including entrance fees as per itinerary. School classes as listed in the itinerary. Cooking class fees and ingredient fees as listed in the itinerary. Funicular train cable car rides if applicable. Spanish guides speaking fluent English during all tours. Flamenco dinner and dance performance. Flamenco dance lessons. Not included in the tour costs are the following: Just a few lunches on some days where the students may purchase inexpensive lunches. International airfare which is provided by the school. Travel insurance provided by the school. Weather Overview for Barcelona Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters. However, the weather is moderated by westerly winds from the Atlantic, and the city sits on an elevated plateau. These factors combine to produce slightly cooler temperatures and higher precipitation than Spain s more southerly coastal resorts. Barcelona is also cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than areas further inland, as is to be expected from a coastal location. From March till May, is almost as wet as autumn but increasingly warm and sunny. The average high temperature climbs to 16 C in March, 17 C in April and 20 C in May. From mid-april sunny days can see temperatures reaching 20 C. Night times remain cool, only getting above 10 C in May. The sun comes out for longer and longer, getting up to eight hours per day in May. Fog often develops and the wind can bring a cold edge to warm days.