S2, S12: Exercise & Sport

We are in Barcelona and we’ve kept busy! One day one, we visited the Olympic Village and Museum of Barcelona. The Olympics were held here in 1992 making me the only person in this group who actually members watching the Barcelona Olympics. Whatever.  For those of you old/cool enough to remember, this is the Olympics to feature the dream team, arguably the greatest basketball team ever. assembled. That’s right Gen Z!!  Importantly, this was a time in which Spain had been freed of the fascist government of General Franco and was ready to demonstrate their new fancy democracy to the world. In an effort to demonstrate their inclusive culture, the Barcelona Olympics was the first to hold the Paralympics and featured a Paralympic archer who shot an arrow to light the torch. The Barcelona Olympics was also the first international event to ban smoking outdoors, which is not a small thing in a country like Spain, where you smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. 

While many cities that host the Olympics tend to overspend their budget by building massive facilities that sometimes go unused following the event (Qatar, cough, cough) Barcelona decided to retrofit an existing early 1900’s facility to host their event. The stadium is now is the temporary home of the Barcelona football club and hosts many other concerts and sporting events. It’s also now  home to one of the most amazing gardens I have ever seen. It’s like a jungle! Ironically, Guns N’ Roses just held a concert here last week…Welcome to the Jungle indeed! 

In the evening, we were fortunate to go on a two hour biking tour of the El Born neighborhood and the iconic Barceloneta beach area. Those who know me know this is one of my most favorite activities. It’s the best way to see a city in my opinion. It’s also a great way to lose a student so this brought me a bit of anxiety. (Keep your hands on the wheel Ellie!!) This would not have been possible in Madrid. While Madrid is a very walkable city, it is definitely not bike friendly. Well, Madrid streets resemble wide sidewalks, Barcelona Streets include lanes for cars, buses, bikes and sometime trams! It’s an urban planer’s dream. After our bike ride, we felt it best to partake in beach festivities and enjoyed a pitcher of deliciousness that combined some sort of mango juice with cava, which is the Spanish version of champagne. Magic in a glass after a hot ride.

On day two, we took a day trip to the Santa Maria Mountserat Montasery. This is considered to be one of the most important areas of the entire Catalonian region as it is the site in which a statue of the Virgin of Montserrat was found in 880 (not a typo).  In 1025, the monastery was founded which still is active today with about 70 monks living in the abbey. Catalonians are a proud people who speak their own language (Catalan) that combines Spanish, French and Italian. Many Catalonians would prefer to separate themselves from Spain as they feel they could easily sustain themselves. There is an ongoing beef here that likely will not be resolved anytime soon. 

After a 3 to 4 mile hike around the region, we stopped for lunch at a nearby restaurant. This was not any restaurant but rather a picturesque farmhouse located on an olive farm. This is a place you would see on the movies. I wasn’t sure if I was in Spain or but the Italian countryside.  We were presented with multiple Mediterranean courses which included fresh vegetables, delicious breads, cured meats, paella, crème brûlée for dessert, and espresso of course. 

One might think after a full day of hiking in the sun and filling our bellies to the brim, these kids would sleep on the hour long bus ride back home. One would be wrong! The students decided to serenade us by singing the entire catalog of the a cappella soundtrack from the movie Pitch Perfect. This is a unique group of humans. They all seem to enjoy each other’s company and genuinely care for each other. As Ice Cube would say, today was a good day.

On the front steps of Olympic Stadium. “Do you know where you are?!? You’re in the jungle baby!!”

The Olympic torches used to transfer the flame for the Games.

The Stadium Olympic torch lit by a Paralympic archer in ‘92. Where did the flaming arrow land?

The W hotel on the Barconelets beach. Looks like a sailboat eh?

The statue of the Virgin from 880. People were smaller then. 

The president of FC Barcelona just so happened to be at the monastery celebrating Barcelona’s 125th anniversary. It’s common for fans to walk 46 km from Barcelona to this annual festivity.

One of the many crosses hung on outlooks in the region. 

Students enjoying a hard earned lunch at Masia Vinyanova. This place is just magical.