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December 14th

After breakfast we visited Cardiff Caste. Unfortunately, it was a short tour because it was raining heavily. We were shown the beautiful rooms and we were led to the tunnels which were used during  World War II as anti-bomb shelters.

We did not have much time because we had booked a tour of the new Millenium Stadium, right across the street. We were shown the changing rooms, the press conference room, the field with its artificial light and recreated the moment when players enter the field.

When we returned back to the Centre we were advised that the rugby match had been  cancelled due to the bad weather conditions. The boys were very disappointed because they had trained very hard and were looking forward to the game with optimism.

On the other hand, the volley team faced the U-21 Welsh National Team and unfortunately lost 25-17, 25-18 and 25-20 after an unbelievable performance. The level of the Welsh was considerably superior, but our team nevertheless rose to the occasion. Once again Ezequiel Ibarra was the man of the match along with Hee Jung Lee and Tomás Rocchi. In spite of the strength of the Welsh, we consider that our boys improved their game significantly. Their coach, Roberto Fiondella, highlighted the fact the rugby team attended the match, cheering and supporting the volley ball boys.

Mónica Bruck

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Mónica Bruck, Head of the Middle & Senior Humanities Department, reports:

Monday, December 10th: Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and other Highlights

The day started with an early breakfast for the rugby boys who then had to attend a training session. At around 11 o`clock we all left on a walking tour from Westminster Abbey to Trafalgar Square. A group of boys decided to visit the amazing Abbey, the place of coronation of the English monarchs.  They visited the tombs of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I. Mary Stuart had been beheaded on the orders of her cousin Elizabeth. The former´s son, James I, followed Elizabeth on the throne. They also saw Sir Isaac Newton's  tomb and the tomb of the famous baroque composer Henry Purcell, among other highlights. Then we continued the walk to Buckingham Palace and The Mall to Trafalgar Square.

In the afternoon we visited the Natural History Museum with the students that had missed the previous visit. This museum is proof of the Victorian spirit of collecting, cataloguing and interpreting the natural world. The main museum building, “inhabited” by dinosaurs, enormous whales and all kinds of earthly creatures is as much a reason to visit as its world famous collection within.  The rest of the boys were given time to explore Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street up to Marble Arch.

That evening I accompanied a group of students to the theatre to see "War Horse", an award winning play about the wonderful relationship between a sixteen year old boy and his horse during the First World War. The boys really enjoyed the play. We had dinner and then returned to the hotel to get ready for the next day rugby and volley matches and the trip to Cardiff.

Tuesday, December 11th: Let's Play Some Sports!