Weight of the World

Just hanging around in Zaragoza,

holding up the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Where in the world is Mr. Melody?

What a picture perfect postcard moment

in the Plaza de Pilar in Zaragoza with

Mr. Melody and friends.

Exploring ancient Roman ruins in Zaragoza.

No pick-pocketing permitted

On the bus ride to the Barcelona airport Saturday morning, Rolf the Red Bus guide, informed the tired travelers that this was his first tour group to not have someone become a victim to pick-pockets. The students heeded the guides many warnings and were vigilant about protecting their belongings while out and about in Spain.  Now lost or misplaced items is a different story...

Dinner and Dancing

Pictures and videos were not permitted of the performance

but check out the happy faces

around the tables at the Flamenco Show.

Lakers Looking Sharp

Heading into the Flamenco Dinner Show

off to the beach!

A group gathered with Mr. K before heading off to the beach in Barcelona. Check back for some fun polar plunge pictures.  Still to come, Zaragoza performance pictures and many candid photos of the kids having a blast in Spain.  Also, information coming soon on how to access all photos taken on the trip.

Stay tuned, Laker Band Fans...

Muchos Gracias, Chaperones

A HUGE thank you to the trusted and faithful leaders of the trip...

Class of 2011

The Juniors on the trip gathered with the directors

to mark their final band trip as a Laker.

Unlike the seniors however, they have the opportunity

to march in the Blue and Gold one final season.

A popular pose on the trip... OLE!

Siblings in Spain

The siblings on tour included two sets of twins and a set of triplets.

Was not able to catch these sisters in uniform

so this is on dress up night before the Flamenco dinner.

Adios Seniors

Upon the completion of their last

Laker Marching Band performance ever,

 the seniors gathered with their directors

at the Parc Guell in Barcelona.

Performing in Barcelona

The buses from the first flight have left the airport headed for the HS!

Touchdown MSP!

Early flight group to MSP has boarded. These kids are tired and ready to sleep in their own beds tonight.

Cleared immigration and customs. Now just waiting for the short flight home.

Back in the US of A! On the ground in Atlanta. Heading to customs. Kids are excited to be almost home.

Final Evening in Barcelona

The kids just enjoyed their last dinner together after a fun filled week in Europe.  Tonight stories, poems, songs and raps were shared as "secret persons" were revealed.  Much laughter and some sentimental happy tears made it an evening to remember.

The kids are now packing up and cleaning their rooms, some needing more attention than others :)
There is a mucho mucho early wake up call as the buses need to have the band at the airport by 7:00am... there may be some sleepy travelers on the flights home tomorrow.

The kids had a fantastic week performing at three unbelievably awesome locations, touring some very old and historically cool European venues and they certainly experienced lots of quality group time as a band.

Please check back for lots of pictures to come from the Laker Band's most excellent adventure to Spain.

Adios, hasta manana.

a Polar Plunge

Spanish style.  Most of the kids returned to the sea today, or more specifically THE BEACH!
Rocks were skipped, toes were dipped and some brave Minnesotan teenagers took the plunge.
The sun and sand were glorious, what a wonderful way to end the week.  Watch for many pictures to come of the Laker Polar Plunge team.

a beach teaser

Yesterday while taking a bus tour around the city, the buses stopped at the beach.  The guides allowed 10 minutes for this stop before moving on.  In those 10 minutes, the kids played frisbee, took fun pictures, dipped their toes in the Mediterranean, gathered rocks and shells... just had a blast making the most of their brief visit to the sea.

As they were reluctantly walking back to the buses, one of the students commented, "How cruel is that? Take a group of kids to the beach on Spring Break after a long winter in Minnesota and only give them ten minutes???"

No worries,they have the option to return today.

Last full day in Spain

Today the band has some a.m. touring and then this afternoon small groups will be heading off to various venues in Barcelona including the beach, the Picasso Museum and the Hard Rock Cafe.

Tonight is the final dinner where secret persons will be revealed and stories will be shared. The kids are having an awesome adventure and all is going well on this side of the world :)

OLE!

At the close of the Flamenco show tonight, the Lakers cheered loud enough and long enough for two of the dancers to return for an encore, which apparently is not typical for this venue.  One of the dancers then told the crowd that the kids were an excellent audience and muchos muchos gracias.  A Japanese couple from Canada at the show said the kids were exceptional and added that music students usually are upon learning they were a band on tour in Spain :)

Well Done!

In the words of Mr. Koehlmoos... Well done, Laker Band, well done!

With an unbelievably spectacular view in the Parc Guell nestled in the hills of Barcelona at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, the Lakers gave an absolutely stunning performance to a crowd of approximately 500.

Now it's off to celebrate with the dress up night dinner in a Spanish village with a Flamenco Show.

Check back later for lots of awesome pictures!

ZARAGOZA!

Warming up behind the Basilica before entering the Plaza de Pilar