Spanish Training Camp

A year has come and gone since Caleb’s last gymnastics training camp in Bulgaria.  This year we had a change of scenery as we went to Girona, Spain.  Having learned from last year, a couple moms and I took over the planning of the trip to make sure we had a hotel with a pool, reliable transportation to and from the gym or activities, and a planned schedule.  The feedback was very positive and everyone seemed happy with how things turned out.

The only downside of the whole trip may have been that it didn’t turn out to be a training camp.  Spain’s temperatures for that week were higher than normal so the gym got unbearable by noon.  Training ran for 3 hours in the morning before the boys broke for lunch and then we went out to tour and explore.  Having a plan in place made these afternoons enjoyable and stress-free . . . for the most part.

DAY 1

On our arrival to Girona, before our rooms were even ready to be checked into, the boys checked out the pool.  We knew from the start, the pool had been a wise decision as it would be a highlight for the entire week . . . for the boys, parents, and accompanying siblings.

Novotel’s Pool

After finally getting settled into our rooms and having some down time in the afternoon, we ventured out to the Costa Brava region where we went to Lloret de Mar, a nearby beach.

Saint Joan’s Castle

The boys were excited to swim in the Mediterranean and to just be at the beach.

Did I mention that Cami got to come along on this trip as well?!  She, however, was not a big fan of the sea or even the salt water.  I don’t blame her.  I’m not one for open water either.

Not a Fan

The biggest highlight became the fun boats some of the parents rented.  Some had slides, but others were just paddle boats.  Most of the boys took turns going back and forth from the boats to get the full experience.  Caleb, however, was just happy to help paddle rather than try the slide.

Sliding into the Mediterranean

Sitting on the sidelines, Cami thought the boats looked like a lot of fun.  When another group of parents rented another boat, Cami went out with them.

Cami Ventures Off

I was a bit nervous, but I know how Cami is in a new situation – very cautious – so I knew she wouldn’t do anything crazy.  Plus, I made her promise to wear a life jacket on her way down while one of the dads waited for her beneath.

Cami Down the Slide

One trip down the slide, just for the experience, and Cami was done.  Where was I?  Hanging out with some of the other wonderful moms on the shore.

Jo, AnneMarie, Dawn, & Lisa

The coaches and older boys had a good time at the beach as well.  It’s definitely one activity that spans all ages and stages.

Older Gymnasts & Coaches

To top off the evening, we had made plans with a restaurant to host our large group.  It happened to be a seafood restaurant, but they were very flexible and served pasta for all those kids (and adults) who weren’t keen on seafood.  Most of the adults enjoyed the seafood variety – mussels, clams, calamari (which I did try), and paella.  I guess you couldn’t come to Spain and not at least be served paella.

Paella

DAY 2

Our second day in Spain was when training began.  The boys had a great time at the Salt Gymnastics Club, until the temperature indoors got too hot.  Then they were back at the hotel for lunch and pool time.

Zach & Caleb

Cami was in her element.  After a little bit in the pool to get used to it and test her confidence, she was doing flips off the side.  The pool ended up being her favorite part of our trip!

Cami Flips into Pool

It was great to see the older boys, younger boys, and some of the coaches spending more time together this year than last.  When it was pool time, they were all there playing together.  When it was touring time, we all went together, etc.  These trips are starting to seem like they are more about the bonding than the training or touring.  It is so great to see them get on well for 24/7 for a complete week.  Honestly, we had no issues with boys or siblings.  It really was amazing and fun!

Lined up at the Pool’s Edge

Jumping In

One of the dads got a team building activity going in the pool.  The kids had to test their balance as they walked on top of the parents’/older gymnasts’/coaches’ hands.

Caleb Tests His Balance

They really couldn’t get enough of it and continued until it was time to leave for our excursion.  The hand-holders left feeling a little bruised and sore after a few missed steps, but it was great fun for everyone.

Cami Has a ‘Go’

Being in Girona, but staying in a secluded hotel, made it a necessity to get out to see Girona’s City Centre.  As Evgeni (the boys’ head coach) used to live in this area, he was the natural tour guide  (I use that term loosely, as there wasn’t much commentary – just blind following).

Group in Girona City Centre

Colorful Buildings

Team on Girona’s Steps

I loved walking through Old Town Girona.  The buildings and streets are beautiful and have such a wonderful feel to them.

Team at Girona’s Cathedral

As we walked, the boys couldn’t help themselves from breaking out some gymnastics moves.  Duncan, a past gymnast who stayed for a few days, went half-way down the cathedral’s 86 steps on his hands!  The further he got down, the more and more tourists we saw videotaping him.  He reached the bottom with a round of applause from everyone in the area.

Duncan

Caleb Doing Circles

A Uniform Plange

In the Square of Sant Feliu there is a lioness on a pole.  The legend says that if you go to Girona, you have to kiss the lioness’ bottom as a wish to come back to the town.  Cami wasn’t quite high enough to reach it’s bottom.

Cami with the Lioness

We ended our tour of Girona by walking along the old city wall built in Roman times.  It is possible to walk the entire length of the walls and climb the towers to see the beautiful panoramic view of Girona.

Beautiful Part of the Wall

Cami on the Wall

Climbing a Tower

The view was really beautiful when we climbed up the towers.  We seemed to hit it at just the perfect time for great lighting!

Girona’s View

Cathedral of St. Mary of Girona

The kids were all troopers as we walked and walked.  This last break was greatly deserved and then greatly rewarded with a pizza dinner.

Resting in City Centre

DAY 3

After the standard morning of training, we left for an afternoon in Figueres.  We also began our souvenir shopping.  Cami picked the white fan (the pink one was gone by the time we made it over to the stall) and chose the bright red one for Hannah.

Spanish Fans

Figueres is also the birthplace of Salvador Dali, the artist.  It is here that Dali designed his own museum, which he renovated from an old theater that was bombed in the Spanish Civil War.

Outside of Museum

Dali definitely had an imagination – this museum was amazing!  It wasn’t just paintings, but 3-D exhibits with a different look from each angle.  It was truly an experience.

Main Courtyard

Boys in Courtyard

I had only been introduced to Dali from shirts that kids used to wear, but I did find some works that I was familiar with!

The Persistence of Memory

How fitting that Dali is buried in the basement of his museum, amongst his creations.

Dali’s Crypt

After submitting the boys to some culture, we took them to a new beach.

Michael, Caleb, and Tom

With the tide coming in, it was the perfect time of day for body surfing!

Caleb Body-surfing

After experiencing the beach before, Cami was more aware of what to expect.  She took a quick dip in the water and hung out digging in the sand for the rest of the time.

Happy as a Clam

DAY 4

This was the boys’ day off from training so we took a day trip into Barcelona.  Chris told me it was his favorite European city so I was excited to experience it.  However, I think we only saw a ‘tip of the iceberg’.  It will definitely be a city that we will have to come back to as a family to tour!

Barcelona

Our bus driver was wonderful  – she dropped us off at a location to tour for awhile and then picked us back up to take us to a different part of the city.  It was great, especially with keeping track of everyone.

Cathedral La Sagrada Familia

Our first drop-off was to see the Cathedral La Sagrada Familia.  This is Antoni Gaudi’s best known work.  This cathedral has been under construction since 1882 and is financed by private donations.  The plan is for the cathedral to be completed in 2026.  I can only imagine what an amazing celebration Barcelona will have for that event!

Team in front of Cathedral

We did not stand in the eternal queue to go in, but the outside was amazing to see.

Cathedral

Entire Group in front of Cathedral

Each little inset has a different theme or scripture story that it is based on.

Passion Facade

Nativity Facade

Sanctus Tower

Younger Boys – Cathedral

As we were driving to our next destination, the bus driver stopped on the side of the road to point out the Olympic Stadium.  As we asked more and more questions, she told us to just go in . . . so we did.

Barcelona Olympic Stadium

We never did make it to the London Olympic Stadium so it was neat to see this stadium and imagine what it was like there.

Caleb & Cami at Stadium

Our Wonderful Bus and Driver for the Week

Our next scheduled drop-off was to eat our sack lunch in a park area.  Afterward, we walked a little ways to where the National Palace is.  The National Palace was built for the 1929 Exhibition in Catalonia and inside it is the largest art museum in the area.

Palau Nacional

The view of Barcelona from the National Palace is pretty amazing.  In the large fountain in front, they put on light shows on certain nights, all set to music.  We weren’t there on the right day.

Barcelona from Palau Nacional

Our last and final stop of the day was Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most famous street with street performers, and lots of tourist shops.

Las Ramblas

We were given a few hours to just roam and do our own thing on Las Ramblas so we hung out with some friends and enjoyed roaming the little streets.  We did run into an LDS missionary while there.  He was touring with his parents who had come from Brazil to pick him up from his mission.  Maybe we can’t have these gym trips without running into missionaries at some point either!

The Market

We had to stop and watch these street performers.  They were really good and fun to watch.  One of the ladies from the audience even got up and started dancing to the music right in front of the musicians.  Maybe she was hoping for tips too!

Spanish Music Group

DAY 5

This was a day most of us had been looking forward to – parent watching day at the gym.  So far we hadn’t seen where the boys were going in the mornings and wondered about their experiences.  So, today we got to accompany them and see it all first hand!

Salt Gymnastics Club

The gym was recently refurbished and it looks amazing!  The equipment is all top-notch and in great condition.  What a treat (and what a big difference from last year’s Bulgaria camp)!

Floor Area

Bars/Rings

Parents don’t get to watch any training sessions here in London either, so it was really enjoyable to watch what happens during practices and what new things the boys are working on.

The Initial Line-up

Warm-ups

Caleb’s Ring Dismount

One of the older boys on the trip is actually a circus performer.  He performed in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony as one of the dementers.  It was fun to watch what he can do on the rings and the climbing rope.

Cornelius on Rings

True to the prediction, the gym was pretty stifling by noon.  The boys took a lunch break and then reconvened at the public pool next door for some water conditioning.

Conditioning Poolside

The group created such a scene doing water aerobics/ballet moves on the rope that others tried to join in as well.

Conditioning in Pool

DAY 6

On the last day of training Cami and I tagged along to take some group shots at the gym for memory’s sake.

Entrance to Pool and Gym Area

Team at Salt Gymnastics Club

Once the team started their practice, Cami and I walked over to a nearby mall to walk around to get some final souvenir items.  Then we made it back to the gym in time to see the final line-up.  The boys really did enjoy working out in a new gym, with fewer distractions, and being together as a team.

Final Line-up

To celebrate our fun week in Spain, we took the kids to a nearby water park to cap off our final hours together.  It worked out that two of the parents had had birthdays that week so we went as two parties to get a great discount.  Along with the discounts, all those in the group got a free t-shirt and the birthday parents got a mascot stuffed animal.  What a great surprise!

Water World in Lloret de Mar

Everyone had such a great time at the water park.  I admit that I was a little hesitant, but Cami and I had a great time hanging out and trying out fun slides.  Caleb had a great time enjoying his freedom, going around with his group of friends, using the buddy system.  We did catch up to them from time to time and they were having a blast.  As we were packing up to leave, we realized the boys had had their picture taken by one of the photographers around the park.  What a great memory for these four good friends!

Michael, Caleb, Tom, & Dylan

First thing the next morning, we were packed up and ready to get back on the plane, headed to cooler London weather.

Some great memories were created and lasting friendships made during our week in Spain.  I’m so glad they are able to have these experiences . . . I hope they realize what a treat they really are!