Day 6: Barcelona Training Trip!

Day 6: Barcelona Training Trip!
Welcome to Day 6 of our 2017 HAC / GCAC Barcelona Training Trip!
Today we're swimming our LAST double :)  Yahooooo!
The team point totals so far:  Superior Sunshine Sharks-22; Banana Negative Splits-14; The Water Cheetahs-9.  The winner of our LAST challenge will have 20pts so it's anyone's game :)
Tomorrow we have one swim and then we're off on an adventure to Girona and Besalu :) 

We just finished our morning run (coaches); we love the early morning bustle of the town! It's going to be a beautiful day!

The group is ready to roll :)

Pre-workout routines differ for everyone, it's fun to watch!!!

The sun is SO bright in the AM!

Hi Daniel!  They just devoured 6000m this AM... they are WIPED!

ogradyGOPROtime took a video instead of photos!  Best snapshot of the day!

Having some fun in the pool.  We'll take more underwater pictures tomorrow!

Before our second swim, we did an egg drop challenge with the groups!  Pack them however you want, the egg can't break!

They were dropping them from one floor up!

Some survived, like this one that was put into a jar of peanut butter wrapped in a blanket in a bag...

... or tucked into a Pringles can...

... while others, not so much.  (Little crack in the top, bigger crack underneathe.)

This one was sent down in only the peanut butter container... wasn't as successful :(

Our last evening swim; it was a tough practice for one group and a fun/recovery for the other!

The lanes on your left are warming down from their tough main set; the lanes on your right are doing a train!

Our final team meeting!  The kids reviewed their favourite sets, and complimented one another on their training.  We had a great time with our teammates and with HAC (as usual)!!!!  It's been an amazing experience overall :)  We're so happy all the kids got to experience the camp as we dive into LC season, and had a taste of Espana too :)  Lots of great memories!       [ Sorry about the blurry picture (sigh); this probably how most of the kids see the world after swimming 10K today :) ]

OK, do you see the truck with flashing lights?  EVERY NIGHT at 11:20PM, this truck comes around and picks up the garbage.  They pick up the recycling first around 10:00PM. But, seriously, WHY?!?!

Day 5: Barcelona Training Trip!

Day 5: Barcelona Training Trip!
Welcome to Day 5 of our 2017 HAC / GCAC Barcelona Training Trip!
Everyone swims twice today because we have the whole pool to ourselves, for the most part!!!
After lunch we had the dance competition, and boy was it a doozy!

Stretching before workout!

Reading the board before hopping in!!!

Briana's thrilled to have her bathing suits, now she can two piece like everyone else!

Almost ready to go, don't forget your water bottles!

Having a blast, suffering with everyone :)

Ogradydancingtime and Caitniss having a rest before the main set!!!

Daniel and Stacy are hanging tough!!!

After practice, Mckenna + Alisha + Jenna + Briana and I went for a walk thru town.  There's a cycling race called the Volta a Catalunya (http://www.cyclingstage.com/volta-a-catalunya-2017/riders-cat-2017/), there are buses + cyclists everywhere!

We wished we knew who some of these teams or people were lol!

There's a team from the UAE behind us; there are teams from all over the world!

We stepped inside a McD's but didn't order anything. You'll never guess what's on the menu there:  chicken wings + beer!

Typical sidewalk cafe, this one is in a plaza close to downtown Calella!

Time for the dance party; the videos are too large go upload unfortunately...  The moms got a kick out of them :)

The kids really worked hard in their groups to put it together!

The sun is super warm, but the wind has picked up again!

Daniel led the charge as he, Drew, Nolan and Ben bravely ran into the Mediterranean after.  Brr!

Hi Daniel, aren't you happy you joined us this year?  We are!!

Caitniss, Ogradykicktime, Avacado and Jessica looking like they're ready for dinner!

Talk about a fun kick set :)

... 26 swimmers, largest social kick ever :)

Happy Birthday Brennan!  (Birthday Swim!)

Day 4: Barcelona Training Trip!

Day 4: Barcelona Training Trip!
Welcome to Day 4 of our 2017 HAC / GCAC Barcelona Training Trip!
Everyone swims and had dryland this morning; this afternoon we're went on an adventure!!!  It was fun, and tiring... lots of walking and shopping!

Our crew!

Aren't they growing up fast?

We crushed another 5K today :)

Dryland time...

... we are in so much pain LOL...

The other group is sweating it out in the gym :)

We got back to the hotel and LOOK what we have :)  Yahooooo!  Brianner probably never appreciated her clothes so much!

On the bus on route to the Olympic Park!!!  Caitlin's a little tired from morning workout  :)

We've arrived and we're ready to explore!

This is the arena where they held the opening ceremony and the track & field events.  We only learned on the drive out that it was open, but we got to see in when we drove past it!

The Olympic Park, with an amazing view overlooking Barcelona.

Recognize this?  The Olympic Pool!  It still gets used for Spain's national meets!  (It's also 10 years older than McMaster's pool... NOT fair!)  This is where Tewsbury won GOLD in the 100m back with a OR time of 53.98!!!

This plaque commemorates the medalists in swimming from the games :)

Emmett, Daniel and Stacy hanging out before heading back on the bus... where we off to next?  Scroll down to see!

We are heading into downtown Barcelona!  If you tilt your head to the right, you will see the Christopher Columbus monument.  We could've got a shot of the front of it, but that entailed MORE walking.  We're rationing our steps per day :)

Reviewing the rules of the day..  no wandering off, watch your personal belongings, etc.

We were excited!  The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny but as soon as you hit some shade it was a little cool!

Notice the PALM TREES (yeahhhh); the beautiful building in the back is the Customs building for the port of Barcelona!

More palm trees, and some random building with great architectural design that looks important.  And old.  (Most of these buildings we walked past had plaques dating from the late 1800s.  I bet they didn't have great WiFi signals back then either.)

We arrived in the famous La Rambla shopping district, and saw lots of neat things.  There were some street vendors dressed up, and they would bless you if you gave them a tip!  I did for this lady, imagine how long it would take for her to get ready!

Jessica tipped this woman; some sort of alien queen... she was petrified LOL!

There's a church behind these two buildings!  Neat eh?

We just had to stop for some authentic gelado.  Jessica bought a sombrero, at least we won't lose her in the crowd!

This cool building now holds an art gallery, but I wonder what it might have been originally!

Another interesting church nestled in the city.  Very art deco :)

LOOK at that alleyway... gorgeous!  (Note the souvenir shoppe on the right; they had them all over the place, the same one!)

Daniel was the only one brave enough to drink from this cool/old water fountain!

More impressive buildings we saw during our journey; lots of older buildings mixed in with the modern construction.

I made up a new song, "These [Nikes] are made for walkin, and that's just what they'll do, one of these training camps these [Nikes] are gonna walk all over... Barcelona..."  Maybe the 'Rollin' Stones could produce it?  hehe.

Europeans KNOW how to shop.  And build shopping centers.  We were in this store called El Corte Ingles, a department store with 9 floors; each one with a different theme.  (It was awesome but I'm glad we didn't have more time to shop there because our suitcases are full enough as it is!!!)  The top level had a nice market and an aerial view of the entire city, including the square right below us.

Another shot of the view!  (Side Note: They have AMAZING fruit tarts here. They're perfect; the taste of the fruit isn't overpowered by sugar, the custard is creamy but not sweet, and their light & baked to perfection.  So delicious!)

We decided to feed the pigeons before we left!  They're so friendly!

This is a Gaudi house, the one in the middle!  (Look him up, his work is awesome!)

Hi Jenna P, Briana and McKenna!

La Sagrada Familia is super grande in scale and awe inspiring!  When all is said and done, after the initial construction of it began in 1882, it will finally be completed by 2032!

Hanging out after dinner before our evening chat... there are some cute soccer players (excuse me, 'futbol' players) on screen behind you ladies, put your phones down for a few! (You can tell these girls are from Canada... eh!)