A group of seven adults and 10 students just last week returned from their “Royal Madrid” tour of Spain. San Saba High School teacher Tracey Thomas led the group on the journey put together by Educational First Tours. Included on the tour were the Royal Palace in Madrid, the Prado art museum, day trips to Toledo and Segovia with tours through castles, cathedrals and palaces, with an extension to Barcelona seeing Guell Park and La Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family) church. The park and church were both designed by architect Antoni Gaudi and even though the church has been in construction for over 150 years, it still lacks about 20-30 years for completion.The group from San Saba rode on airplanes, subways, buses and even the high speed AVE train while on tour. They experienced Flamenco dance lessons as well as the typical foods of Spain such as gazpacho, seafood paella, lentil soup, churros con chocolate and roast suckling pig. One evening, the group dined at Casa Botin, considered to be the oldest restaurant in the world, began in 1725. MUCH walking every day was the norm as tour director, Luis Garcia, guided them in and out of interesting plazas, landmarks and cafes. One day afforded enough time to take rowboats out on the lake at Retiro Park, which is Madrid’s version of Central Park in New York. Another saw some at a beach dipping feet into the chilly Mediterranean Sea. Students taking the tour were Connor Arrington, Zack Davis, Marshal McIntosh, Jeffrey Hoyt, Tanner Weyerts, Karlee Cromer, Paige Faught, Kristin Jordan, Alexa Maxcey, and Ashley Pulatie. Adults who attended were Elizabeth Chambers, Kynda Jordan, Marcie Maxcey, Penny Pulatie, James McNeely, Mike and Tracey Thomas.