Costa Brava

On Sunday and Monday Ines and I went to a few seaside towns in the Costa Brava. Ines son David was swimming in a town called Cadaqués. We drove on a very windy road to the town of Portlligat, which is well known with tourists as another of Dali’s houses is situated there. It is a small house, but has interesting features, including two oval white eggs perched on top of the roof of the house. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to look around the house because visitors had to buy tickets in advance; however I looked around the town and got some nice photos near the boats. Dali had a boat which was named after his wife Gala, which can still be used for rides today. It was very windy though and a lot of the photos taken were of me frantically trying to move my windswept hair out of my face. I managed to pick up a good few photos though.

After that we were on the way to Cadaqués and when I arrived my jaw dropped. It is a stunning seaside town with a large church in the centre. David had finished swimming and was pleased as he had come third in the competition. He was waiting on the medals and then I wandered around the shops. Once David got his medal, Ines and I walked around the town, up the charming streets and to the church where we got a great view of the town. It truly is magnificent and the water is so blue!

On Monday after school, Ines, Julia and I then headed to Palamós, as it was a really hot day and because it is my last few days in Spain, I wanted to make the most of it. Julia and I went swimming in the sea, sometimes I wanted to swim alone but Julia wouldn’t let me! She kept saying that she’ll miss me when I go home and that she doesn’t want me to go. I will miss all her family but we will definitely keep in touch and will visit each other in our respective countries.

Enjoy the photos posted below and stay tuned for my last blog post about my adventures in Spain.

Rachel xxx

Final excursion!

On Monday (13^th June) the school went on a final school trip to museums and then to local beaches. I went with first and second grade classes and their teachers. We set off from the MaxiDia supermarket at 9 o’clock and the bus was full of excited children. Firstly we travelled to a town called Púbol where the Castell Gala-Dali was. Salvador Dali was born in Figueres, which is a town about an hour from where I’ve been living. He had several houses around the region of Catalonia and one house he bought was a castle (or stately home) for his wife Gala Elúard Dali. She was a Russian heiress who married Dali in 1934 and they remarried in 1958.

An interesting fact about this castle is that Dali specifically bought it for Gala, it was her home and he could only visit if he was invited. It would be great for her because if she argued with her husband she could retreat to her home and he wouldn’t bother her until she wanted to speak to him again. Their marriage as far as I understood was a good one, although she had a string of extramarital affairs, however they were married until Gala’s death in 1982. Dali died in 1989, but his houses and museums in this part of Spain attract visitors from all over the world and his art has sold for millions (I don’t know why - I’m not particularly fond of his art, but well, each to their own).

The castle was gorgeous. It very much had the Dalisian style, but because this was Gala’s house most of it was very tasteful. She had a lovely blue silk four poster bed which I wouldn’t mind sleeping in! The guide who took us around the castle was very friendly and had a great rapport with the children. I had a laugh with my colleague Silvia and we took a selfie in the mirror above Dali’s bathtub. Then we went out to the garden and saw the carriage and the two cars Dali and his wife owned (one was a blue Cadillac). Then we went to the bottom of the garden and saw what was a swimming pool and is now a fountain. When the castle was turned into a museum in 1996 they had filled the bottom of the pool with a lot of stones – this was to stop people from jumping in. It was interesting and the castle was very beautiful. Hopefully I will get a castle of my own – chance would be a fine thing!!

After this we were off on the bus and headed towards our next destination: L’Estartit. The kids were very excited about this and I chatted away to my colleagues until all of a sudden they started chanting: Platja! Platja! Platja! (Beach! Beach! Beach!) The bus driver turned round to park and one of the teachers joked that we were going home instead and one of the kids started to cry! However the bus driver parked and soon we were at the beach, slapping on sun cream and jumping into the sea and swimming against the waves. The weather was great, it was cloudy but very warm and the sun wasn’t beating down on us. After an hour it was time to return home and there were a few tired children sleeping on the bus home. I really enjoyed the day and the kids really enjoyed it too! Below are some photos I took of the Dali castle and ones of me enjoying my time in the sea!

End of Year Party

Where have the last eight months gone? It is crazy how it has flown by and I will soon be returning home to the UK. I’m feeling sad, although it will be good to be home, albeit not for long as I’m going to be working in a summer camp in England! Phew, I don’t stop.

This past weekend I went to Barcelona. My original plan was to visit a park with a labyrinth in it, I went with some other teaching assistants, however, due to metro stoppages and long distance walks, we decided to turn back to Plaça Catalunya where I met some other friends and we ended up going to a nice Irish bar.

I returned to Anglès at night, just in time for the Festa Final De Curs. This happens every year and it is a celebration. The dinner was held in the playground, but then it started pouring rain so everyone moved inside and had dinner in the classrooms. We had chicken, salad and then ice cream for dessert. After this, it was time to go to the old factory which is now used as an entertainment venue. There was a presentation about the 6th-grade class who were leaving primary school and moving on to high school. Although there were tears, I secretly think the teachers were happy they were leaving! Then the teachers were told to go up to the stage. I was sitting with my host parents watching the ceremony, but Alex pointed to his father and then pointed to me, as I was supposed to go up there. I went behind the stage and one by one, the students called the teachers out. One of my students called my name out and I received a scroll and a T-shirt. The t-shirt is in the first photo below and the translation says: ‘You have made us (teachers) sweat, but we will miss you.’ After this, it was time for the party and a one man band provided the entertainment. He spoke in Catalan, but I could understand what he was saying most of the time. It was good to see Alex and Julia having a good time. After the party finished Alex tried to show me a new dance move which I disastrously tried to copy. It was very funny and we returned home tired but in high spirits. After all, it was a ‘festa’. 

With my friends in Barcelona. L-R: Katharine, Delva and Becky

With the 'graduate'. The t-shirts I mentioned are pictured.

Alex took my phone and filled it with selfies! 

Of course, his dad wanted a selfie too!

Class of 2016!

Alex with his mum

Climb every mountain

Okay, well I didn't exactly climb a mountain. My host family took me there by car (lazy I know!), but it wasn't until quarter to five that we got out of the house. They wanted to take me up to the cross on the mountain which I can see from the house window. It was also a good for Toula the family's new puppy to get some exercise and run about in nature. The mountain is called Puigefrou and it overlooks the towns of La Cellera de Ter and Angles. From the top you can see other towns such as Amer and the city of Girona in the distance. The views were truly breathtaking and it was worth the bumpy ride to get up there (you can see the video on my blog's Facebook page).

When we left the mountain we headed to a part of the forest where people usually have barbecues in the summer and there was a small fountain with the freshest water I have ever drunk. Afterwards we headed to Vilanna, a little town just outside Angles, Sebastian the host grandfather knew places where we could pick special types of strawberries. We collected a lot and took them home to eat with yoghurts - delicious!!

I can't believe I'm coming to the end of my Spanish adventure. I will definitely return to visit this country in the future. Stay tuned for some more blog posts before I head back to my home country.

Until next time,

Rachel xxx