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Another remarkable Pacifica International Trip has come to an end, and it was one for the books! Over 12 days, 23 students and 4 staff members journeyed to Spain and Portugal, hitting major cities along the way including Lisbon, Seville, Madrid, and Barcelona. 

A long travel day was well worth it when the group made it to beautiful Portugal and kicked off the tour by exploring Lisbon's stunning Old World districts, historical buildings, and places of worship. On Easter Sunday, the group had the privilege of experiencing a traditional Catholic Easter Sunday service at Sao Domingos Church. 

Moving on to Spain, this leg of the trip brought the group to Seville, a city known for Flamenco dancing, bullfighting, and stunning multicultural architecture. Our Tritons explored the City of Evora to reflect within the eerie and humbling Chapel of Bones and toured Mezquita, the great Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. In Madrid, the group completed a scavenger hunt inside the world-famous Prado museum, strolled through the Reina Sofia museum (home to an extensive collection of modern/contemporary Spanish art), and toured the breathtaking Royal Palace of Madrid. On an excursion to Toledo (the city of three cultures), the group toured the UNESCO World Heritage Site and marveled at its representation of the artistic and diverse Spanish culture.

The trip concluded in Barcelona where the students were tasked with a fun Catalan language challenge where they were tasked with asking locals for help in translating a list of words. Some highlights from this wonderful city also included visits to the Picasso Museum, the Barcelona History Museum, and a tour through the Sagrada Familia—the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world—whose construction began in 1882. 

This unique trip allowed students to embrace new cultures, interact with awe-inspiring art, and gaze upon grand and glorious structures that stand as a reminder of the glory of God. From touring historical sites to picnicking in local parks, learning about the history and culture of these countries was such a rich and fun-filled experience! Beyond the moments, the most profound things to come from this time were the memories made in between the excursions and tours. Our students developed new friendships, put foreign languages into real-world practice, tried local delicacies, and so much more. These young travelers stepped outside of their everyday norms to seek out a greater understanding of the world around them and made lasting memories in their high school years.