Monday, 02 February, 2015

After weeks of submissions, quizzes and exams, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) Student Representative Council (SRC)waved goodbye to autumn semester by organizing a student trip to the wonderful city of Barcelona.A total of 14 students from both UOWD and other Dubai universities enjoyed experiencing the history, culture, nightlife and colour of the city during the five day long excursion.The group began their trip by exploring the city independently. Some enjoyed the sights and sounds of Las Ramblas, the popular high street where tourists can shop till they drop, whilst the food-lovers amongst the group made an immediate beeline to the food market where varieties of chocolate, candy, meat and fresh vegetables could be purchased. Others experienced the city’s public transport by making use of the local trains to get from one place to another. Day two began with a visit to Park Guell, a public space designed by the famous architect Gaudi who used mosaics in most of his work to create a piece of art rather than a property. Next stop was the famous Sagrada Familia, the yet unfinished iconic Cathedral of Barcelona which is expected to be completed by the year 2026. The church features intricate details of Christianity in its architecture, the religion followed popularly by the city’s locals. The day ended with a trip to Camp Nou, one of the world’s most well -known football grounds which is home of the famous Barcelona Football Club. In the evening, the students learned to make the traditional Paella dish for dinner, which was served alongside a sweet chocolate cake.The trip continued with visits to places such as Montserrat, a hill offering spectacular views which also housed a Christian Monastery on top. This was particularly enjoyed by the group’s budding photographers. The students also enjoyed a short city tour around town.The final day involved an action-packed and adventurous hot-air balloon ride to see even more astonishing views of Spain, including being able to see high mountains that were topped with snow. Crash landing on to a field was also an experience! The day of thrills continued with a Segway tour around the city and ended with the vivid and beautiful world of Flamenco dancing.The students found it hard to say goodbye to Spain - an amazing land with wonderful people. “You cannot even begin to imagine how five days went by so fast; it was all such a blur. On the last day, it felt like we were all leaving our own home. That’s how much we loved Barcelona” says Nishtha Rengarajan, one of the students who was took part in the trip.The students would like to thank UOWD’s SRC, the tour operators and the tour guides for a brilliant opportunity. They look forward to future expeditions of a similar caliber!