July 26, Gibraltar

After a fun filled two hour bus ride, the Abbey Road group left Spain for a brief period and entered a territory of the United Kingdom. We spent the afternoon wandering through downtown Gibraltar, and then proceeded to explore the rock itself. The highlight of the trip was interacting with the monkeys that dwelled on the rock. They were quite personable, and there were some incredible photo opportunities.

July 23, Ronda

This Saturday, the group went on an excursion to Ronda, a town similar to the previously visited Arcos de Frontera, except for the fact that it is slightly larger. In Ronda, we all spent time shopping in European clothing stores, conversing at delicious cafes, and taking photos. A main attraction there was the bridge, which was built out of stone and brought cars over a steep valley that was extremely lush and quite breath taking.

July 18, Noche de Actividades

Another week has flown by! This Monday was kicked off with our usual morning classes that are filled with new vocabulary and grammar. After lunch and fun evening classes, everyone prepared for activity night in which each person can sign up for an activity of their choice to spend time with their friends in the Abbey Road program. Some kids went to an open air concert(Cadiz offers a few concerts a week during summer) in which musicians performed classical music compositions. Other kids that were in search of a more laid back night chose to attend a yoga class on the beach led by an instructor from Spain, or they relaxed at "Spa Night" in which people did their nails and enjoyed conversation.

July 16, Los Toruños

Like all saturdays in Cadiz, today was an excursion day. At 10 am the group met up to take a bus to Los Toruños, a beautiful national park that offers many beautiful sights as well as recreational activities. After arriving, the group relaxed at the beach and enjoyed the picnics that our host families kindly packed for us. Then, we biked to the largest wooden bridge in Spain with knowledgeable guides that taught us about the ecosystems inside the park, and we kayaked in a marsh, which was a great way to cool off after a day filled with activities. Eating delicious gelato with the entire Abbey Road group brought the day to a close.

July 14, Corridas de Toros

A new crowd of Abbey Road kids joined us today! I am sure that they are extremely jet lagged and are getting settled right now, but we did get a chance to briefly meet while those of us staying for a full month had a break from class. They seem awesome, and we cannot wait to get to know them. Tonight was really unique too! The kids staying for four weeks got the opportunity to attend a traditional bull fight. It was gory and a little sad, yet the fight was extremely interesting, and attending the event was a once in a lifetime experience.

July 13, La Cava

After a typical morning of engaging classes, the Abbey Road kids got a real treat: we got to watch a traditional flamenco show in an establishment called La Cava. Three very talented dancers, a guitarist, and a singer took the stage after everyone wished Hadley, one of our friends on the trip, a happy 18th birthday. Although we all expected the trip to be interesting, it completely exceeded our expectations. The dancing was incredible, exhilarating, and it really displayed Spanish culture. Unfortunatley, tonight was our last night with the kids who went on the two week program, but there was no better way for them to conclude their journey to Spain!

July 9, Arcos de Frontera

Today all the Abbey Road kids got to visit Arcos de Frontera, a city about an hour away by bus. Once we arrived, our professors gave us a brief tour of Arcos, which is also known as the white city because all the buildings are painted white to keep cool, and then we all explored in groups with our friends. Everyone stopped at a local convent where nuns baked and sold delicious cookies. We also got to see many pottery shops and buy some souvenirs to bring home.