Weekends in Barcelona: Beautiful Beaches and Adventures Abounding

Friday afternoon, we loaded up two buses full of kiddos and their cargo, bound for the nothern reaches of the eastern coastline where Spain meets the border of France, and where the Balearic and Mediterranean Seas merge. Our final destination sits perched on the Gulf of Roses, also the name of the small town where we enjoyed beach life from an oceanfront hotel! Maximizing the adventure, we made a stop enroute at an ancient arqueological site, Ampurias (Empúries). This is an ancient Greek-Roman city that was founded approximately 2500 years ago. We had wonderful guides, dressed in the typical garments worn centuries ago, who led us through the amazing ruins. Their descriptions painted a picture so real you could almost feel yourself living the lives they described from days long ago. Click through the gallery to get a glimpse of our visit. 

Upon arriving at the hotel, students had a bit of time to swim in the refreshing waters of the ocean, after which we all enjoyed an enormous choice of options for our buffet dinner in the hotel, followed by a bit more free time to explore the small town, and enjoy the wonderous beauty of the Mediterranean sunset. 

Saturday morning, after a filling buffet breakfast, we divided into two groups, and one group enjoyed a guided tour of the Gulf of Roses, on a 3-story boat along the rocky cliffs, and anchored in beautiful coves. The top floor of the boat was open for those who wanted sun and the breeze, while the middle floor was covered and had tables and snacks for the passengers, and below deck was a special area in which both sides of the boat contained windows where we could capture the glorious beauty and sea life abounding under the surface of the clear blue waters. The other group, meanwhile, were having their own adventures in kayaking, paddleboarding and playing games with balls and Frisbees in the refreshing ocean waters. 

Sunday morning we checked out of our hotel and began our return trek toward Barcelona, but not before making two more stops en route. Figueras, the birthplace of the world-famous Salvador Dalí, captured our imaginations and interest because we were guided through Dalí's self-designed museum, after he purchased a local theatre in which to house his works. His tomb is actually located beneath the original stage of the theatre. After our short visit to the museum, we headed for the grounds of an ancient castle, Castle of San Fernando. Built during the reign of Fernando VI de España in 1743, it´s the biggest monument in all of Catalunya, and one of the most notable fortified complexes in the world. Students donned construction hats and were driven through the fortifications in Safari Jeeps. At one stop along the way, students entered a complex of tunnels that were neither very tall nor very wide where enemies had tried to invade the castle from the outside. At another stop, we were escorted several meters underground, where we embarked in rafts, floating in the still pure waters of the cisterns that diverted water from nearby aqueducts centuries ago. Amazing experiences! Beautiful beaches, and a truly memorable weekend was enjoyed by all!