Mary Ward Goes to Spain!

Our last day! (And what a day it was!) Our day started like all the others with breakfast and a hop onto a bus to bring us into the main city centre. This time we were dropped off at Madrid’s “Central Park” called Retiro. We wandered through the beautiful greenery and made our way to the Crystal Palace. We stopped for several photo ops and enjoyed the walk around the pond.  After he park we. Made our way to Madrid’s School of Architecture where we saw the World Press Photo Exhibit.  We viewed many thought provoking images from around the world. Then we walked, winding though and around many little side streets and made our way over to our lunch time stop. We enjoyed a quick little break and then off to the two more museums in Madrid, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza - we spent several hours gazing upon and admiring many influential and key artworks from many important Spanish artists.  We saw works from the likes of Picasso, Durer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Edgar, M...

Our first full day in Madrid started off with a small bus tour driving around to see the main attractions of the city, everything from a bull fighting ring to the city hall - and of course palaces!   After the driving tour - we were dropped off for an official tour of the Royal Palace.  We were taken through only a few of the 2800 rooms that this palace boasts.  We got to see the royal dining hall and chambers that the current king still uses to this day.  After this tour we went and had a quick break for lunch before heading out to see some amazing art.  After lunch we went to visit the Prado Museum - home of many famous paintings from several Spanish artists, including works from Goya, Bosch, Velazquez and many others.  With only an few short hours to visit these amazing pieces of art we made sure to go and see the top ten must see artworks at the Prado before leaving for our very own Flamenco dance lessons! Our students showed once again they are made of...

Well today marks the half way mark of our trip!  Besides spending the better part of the day travelling across the countryside, making our way to Madrid - it was also a very special day because we got to celebrate not one but TWO birthdays! Happiest of birthdays to Charlize and Lucas who are celebrating their 16th birthdays today! Hooray! At about mid day we made a little pit stop in the town of Zaragoza.  This town is the location of the of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. It is at this very spot that the mother Mary appeared to St James to give him words of encouragement as he continued to spread the good news of Jesus.  We got to enter this holy place and touch the stone where the mother Mary appeared. After our moment in the church, we had a quick break for lunch and then back onto the bus for the last leg of our journey. Rolling though the country mountains, the views were scenic and the ride was just the right amount of relaxing we all needed.  We arrive...

Well it was our last day in Barcelona and it was jammed packed with tons of great sightseeing and art exploring. Our day started nice and early with a bus ride out to Figueres, the town where Salvador Dali was born and lived.  We went and visited the Dali museum - certainly a highlife in our art adventures so far!  After the museum, a stop into Esglesia de Sant Pere for some prayers, and then back on the bus to Barcelona. When we arrived in the city, we had a quick break for lunch and met up with our tour guide, Marie - who took us through the many gorgeous alleys in the gothic area.  Winding in and out of the small lane ways - looking up at gorgeous buildings and laundry hanging everywhere - oh what a site to see!  The students were tasked to a gothic area scavenger hunt before saying goodbye to our tour guide. After visiting the gothic area - it was off to the Picasso museum for one last taste of art before going out for a little shopping and dinner.  After di...