This year ’s educational school tour brought forty students and five teachers to the scenic and historic delights of Andalucia, the southernmost province of Spain. The group stayed in the centrally located town of Torremolinos from where we travelled to Gibraltar, Seville, and Granada.The hotel Tarik became our base from Saturday 15th March to Wednesday 19th, and served our purpose very well. The food and accommodation were excellent and the hotel itself is located on the beach front. The weather was beautiful and at this time of the year it could be enjoyed without the throngs which flock to this part of the world later in the year.

Gibraltar, everyone agreed was unique. This tiny principality clinging on to the southernmost tip of Spain is unique culturally, historically and scenically. Our guide gave us huge amounts of information and answered our questions with patience. We then had the opportunity to go sightseeing we travelled by cable car to the summit of the “rock” and the views were breathtaking. Most agreed however that the Barbary apes were the real “show stealers” in this neck of the woods.

Our time in Gibraltar also included a boat trip in the straits between Spain and Africa. We were told we had a 96% chance of seeing dolphins up close. Unfortunately, we fell into the 4% category and “flipper” was no where to be seen. The boat trip itself was however highly enjoyable. The following day we travelled north westwards to Seville, the capital of Andalucia. Our guide here again proved invaluable and brought us on a bus and walking tour of this historic city. The Alcazar (unfortunately closed) and the Cathedral were both visited. It being Easter, a huge religious festival was underway and our group got a unique view of Catholicism as it used to be and still is in this part of theworld.

Granada was next on our list. This beautiful city nestled at the foot of the snowclad Sierra Nevada mountains was both historic and scenic. Our group spent quiete a while negotiating the winding corridors and the majestic architecture of the Alhambra Palace. This coupled with it’s exquisite gardens, makes this one of Spain’s biggest tourist attractions. Granada, like many of the cities in Andalucia has a blend of European and Arabic (Moorish) influences which make the area unique.

Our last day in Andalucia was spent in Torremolinos itself when we did what 75 million people come to Spain for each year. We lazed by the pool and went to the beach. The hotel was very accommodating in this regard and didn’t enforce the “gone by 12 noon” rule that most hotels have. Indeed we were still there at 6pm where upon we left from Malaga airport.

I hope all who took part in this years tour enjoyed it and found benefit from their time in Andalucia and that it whets the appetite for travel which is, at the end of the day, the best educator.

Jerry Shanahan
(Tour Co-Ordinator)