Wednesday, June 11: Intercambio, Cathedral Tour

Each day seems even better than the last. During morning classes, the students had their first official “intercambio de lenguaje” with local Spanish high school students who share the same building. Lots of fun and laughter on both sides. After “la comida”, we headed back to the “Casco”, the historic center of the city. We visited the Cathedral, built between 1720 and 1820. The Cathedral boasts several architectural styles: baroque, rococo, and neoclassical. The Cathedral is designed in the traditional Italian cross layout with 16 smaller chapels along the inner walls of the church. After a tour of the church, we descended to the crypt below. Several prominent figures, both clergy and lay persons, are buried in the crypt, including one of Spain’s most famous composers and Cádiz native, Manuel de Falla. Upon exiting the shadows of the crypt, we made our way up the winding ramp of the Cathedral’s bell tower to the Campanella at the top. The panoramic views were stunning and provided several fantastic photo ops. The students were looking forward to their first (and only) “early dismissal.” We finished our afternoon activities around 6:00 p.m., and then the students headed off to shop before hitting the beach. The group is coalescing well. They are supportive, inclusive, and getting along great. They are even including Mrs. Brown and Mr. Girard in their photo-ops!