Tabarca Island

Thursday was another really tough day! We took a boat out to Tabarca Island for some snorkeling and beach time. The small island has restaurants and a beach, but not much else. It's a great place to relax away from the crowded beach in downtown Alicante. We did a little snorkeling and relaxed on the island. We really needed some down time after our two days of company visits!

More Visits....

On Wednesday we headed to a Spanish chocolate factory. Valor Chocolates is a very successful chocolate company that has been in Spain since 1881. The entire place smelled like chocolate chip cookies. We got to sample some chocolate and see the factory floor. And of course, we got to buy some chocolate.

After that we went to Benidorm, a popular tourist destination in Spain. People from all over Europe vacation in Benidorm and we heard a presentation on the tourism industry there. We got to walk around the city and take some pictures.

The Hard Work Begins

Tuesday was our first day of company visits. We first visited OHIM, the European Union's

office for trademarks and designs. They gave us a really interesting presentation and we learned a lot about the European Union and the issues surrounding trademarks and designs. And of course, we had to have a coffee break with a

beautiful ocean view.

After that, we headed to Pikolino's, a well-known shoe brand in Spain. They also gave us a

great presentation and we learned a lot about doing business in Spain and around the world. They even showed us their nap room! That might be something that the students will try to bring back to the U.S.

We're Here!!!

Everyone arrived in Alicante on Thursday July 1. We jumped right into things and headed downtown our first night. The students had a great time getting to know the downtown area, El barrio, the port, and the beach. With plenty of free time for the rest of the weekend, everyone got a chance to get to know Alicante and enjoy the beach and night life before the hard work starts.

On Monday, we met with some Spanish students to have a team competition. The teams worked together to answer trivia questions about Spain and the United States. It was a great way for the students to meet some Spanish students.

That evening, we climbed the Castle of Santa Barbara, a castle that overlooks Alicante. It was a tough trek but the view at the top was worth it!