spain
On your GIA trip you will be able to get to know Spain from the inside out as you will be involved with the locals, working alongside them on one of two projects based in Barcelona or Navarre.
The home of siesta, fiesta, and flamenco may need little introduction but this large European country is so much more than that. It’s a country with a fascinating history, displayed in the Roman, Arabic, Jewish and Iberian architecture across the towns and cities. It’s a country with four official languages and many more regional variations. A country of vibrant, vivacious, welcoming people who are always ready for a chat.
The first GIA trip will see you travel in the north, to the former kingdom of Navarra to stay in a historic castle that was once home to the Kings of Navarra. This will be your base as you travel daily to a rural animal sanctuary, helping to care for a variety of animals rescued from the streets or unloving homes. After lunch each day, you’ll have the chance to explore historic villages and the city of Pamplona, famous for the annual ‘Running of the Bulls’. Once you’ve shown the animals some love, it’s time to head into the Basque Country and learn to cook like a local and admire the stunning city of San Sebastian.
You’ll cross into neighboring France to see the epic medieval city of Carcassonne before heading back down to Spain, stopping en route for a spot of kayaking on the French Mediterranean. Last but not least is Barcelona where you’ll get to be big kids, trying your skills on a massively fun inflatable ‘knockout’ course, as well as enjoy a flamenco show in the city. You’ll be spoilt for choice on food too, from the Basque pintos to French cuisine and Catalan flavours, you certainly won’t go home hungry.
The second GIA trip in Spain is a marine conservation project based in Barcelona. One of the major issues confronting Barcelona’s marine life is disposable wipes, along with other non-biodegradable items. These have caused a build-up known as a “fatburg”. This causes 75% of the bottlenecks in the sanitation system in Barcelona and has had huge ramifications upon the sea turtle population who are no longer able to lay eggs. On this trip you will be assisting a non-profit diving club in a variety of projects to reduce sea pollution and support underwater conservation efforts.
Please note: for the marine conservation project, students will require PADI certification or a trip extension to receive proper training (1 week minimum) before the project.
But it’s not all work and no play. You will be flamenco dancing, cooking up a Spanish feast, painting tiles, cycling around cities and much, much more. Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to head down to the beautiful city of Seville and explore a different Spain from the region of Catalonia. And we hope that at the end of the trip it will be more like ‘Hasta Luego’ than Adios!
