Summer Tour 2025 – Part 6

By Jerome

After a nice lunch at the hotel, we headed back to our rooms for an hour-long siesta. [Chat GPT: Siesta is a Spanish period of rest in the middle of the day when it’s too hot to work.] We could relax, sleep, read or basically do anything that involves relaxing and not moving too much, like… dropping Labubu head toys on your friends from the top bunk – right, Archie bro?!

Later, when we were well-rested, we changed into our Sunday uniform, took our robes from the cupboards and walked to Montserrat Abbey. There we changed into our robes and put on our Montserrat caps, kindly given to us that morning by the abbot. Unfortunately we couldn’t wear the caps the way we really wanted to – with the brims at the back like American rappers! I guess that wouldn’t help keep the sun out of our eyes. The rehearsal went smoothly and though it was warm there was always a breeze and it fanned our robes in a nice way.

Ok, so here’s a riddle for you: before the concert that night, one of the boys took his mum’s advice and had a shower! Can you guess who it was? He had clean hair and felt super fresh while the rest of us… well, we’re just normal boys after all! The concert went really well, though. It felt a bit strange singing outdoors but also beautiful and completely unique. The breeze acted like our own natural wind machine and the crowd was lovely and welcoming so even though it was a late start at 9pm we didn’t feel tired and enjoyed every minute.

The next morning we packed our bags and set off for Barcelona where we visited the Sagrada Familia, a basilica designed by architectural prodigy Gaudi. The building is due to be completed next year – given that construction started in 1882, it’s about time!! If it is finished then it will coincide with the 100^th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. [Hats off to him – my Lego creations don’t even last a year….] After lunch we did a little shopping, popped giant bubbles and had a HUGE war with some local pigeons (who may have won). Then we got on the metro to go to the beach. There we played FOLLEYBALL – volleyball with a football – paddled in the ocean and took turns throwing each other into the sea! Supper was excellent pizza from a beachside restaurant – life is good when you’re eating delicious pizza by the sea with your friends.

The next day was our last on tour – sad! We visited the really cool Gothic quarter of the city, did some essential shopping (friendship bracelets, key rings and puzzles) and were allowed to buy our own lunches at a gigantic market. I opted for a fresh sandwich with the best chorizo ever! Later, we returned to the hotel where the Bigs premiered their finished horror movie, the one they had filmed at Headfort school. It was creepy… and amazing! Then the Bigs ran some games for us (Sleeping Lions is the best) before it was time to go the airport.

This tour in three words: fun, busy, AMAZING! Thank you to everyone who made it happen. We boys are so lucky to be part of the best choir ever! Ok, we might be a bit biased (just a teeny bit) but hope you agree too. Thanks for reading and… BYE! ;D

To be continued…