This morning is an early start at 7.30 and it is very cold.  Today we drive to Barcelona.

Samuel once again gives a talk and today it is on the education and health system.

It is compulsory to go to school from the age of 6 – 16. No home schooling is allowed.

After senior you can do two year bachelor course which is very difficult and then you go to university and do four years. However, medicine and architecture are six years.  University education is free/no student loans. Generally one goes to the closest university.  If you have to travel you rent during the week, catch a train home on Friday and return on Sunday with prepared meals from Mum and Grandma to get you through the week.  Apparently Tupperware is very big over here for that reason.

You do pay for books which is about 600 – 1000 euro per year.

Sport is not encouraged and there are no sporting scholarships.  There are scholarships available for those whose parents are unemployed or just cannot afford to send their children to university.  However, these students have to do better than a pass to remain in uni. –

A masters degree costs between 6000 – 60000 euro depending on the course.  Phd takes five years and you go onto to be a professor. A high school teacher needs to have a specialist degree plus a degree in education.  A primary school teacher gets about 1600 euro a month, high school 2000, a principal 2800 and a professor up to 5000.  They get 14 pays a year.

They do have tech school which are like our TAFE system.  Once again you do very well if you are a plumber, electrician etc and you can use this as a stepping stone to go to university.

The health system is similar to ours.  Everyone has access to a doctor but the standard consultation is 6 minutes and there is no co payment.  Medication for chronic illnesses costs nothing.

Pharmacies are not big here but quite lucrative to own.  One can earn between 300000 – 2million euro but if you work at the pharmacy only 1600 euro per month.

Hospitals are no frills but everyone has access for urgent surgery, cancer treatment etc.  Hip replacements and similar types of surgery you go on a wait list.  There is free dental for extractions only.

There are private doctors and dentists.  It is strange but they only accept cash if you consult with them on private basis.  There are private hospitals but the public hospital have better equipment.

An anesthetist would earn about 6000 euro, nurse 2000 and nurse assistant 1000.

The only place to have a comfort stop was Saragossa where we visited Plaza Del Pilar one of Spain,s grandest squares and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.  Legend has it the Virgin Mary appeared to St James.

We arrived in Barcelona safely.  In the afternoon we did a walking tour of the Gothic quarter and the food market just off La Ramblas with the guide.  We looked at the Roman area and then the Jewish area.  It is now full of interesting shops.  The streets were wide enough to fit two horses. Most of the streets were one way.  The Roman aqua duct brought water from many kilometres away to the city.  After the walking tour the bus took us around to some of the landmarks such as the exhibition centres from 1920’s, the beach area, the huge monument of a fish by Gehry who designed the Guggenheim museum, the accommodation from the Olympics.

We then went across the road from our hotel to a former bull ring that has been converted into a shopping centre. We had dinner at one of the restaurants that is right at the top with great views across to the National Museum.

Madonna of th ePillar

Louise looking good

Check out the tiled roof

Picture when your not to take picture

More tiled roof

Old City wall with Aquauduct

ABC

This is where they sharpen their knives

Where Columbus was received after his trip

Slim door

One way street sign

It was an umbrella shop