Spanish civil war tour with guide Nick. Robin was immediately introduced as minor celebrity due to great uncle having died as Spanish civil war brigade volunteer. Favorite parts of tour:

Jane: Spanish photographer who survived holocaust and testified at Nuremberg, smuggled negatives out of camp (Francisco Boix.)

Kat: learning about role of women in war and their struggle for equal rights.

Robin: Spanish republicans actually liberated Paris as first troops into the city. The German commander had to surrender to a "lowly" Spanish republican solider. The reason the Spanish unit ended up with honor is that had been fighting for so many years that they were the most battle-hardened of the French resistance. De Gaulle was trying to beat the American troops into Paris for obvious reasons.

Julie: nick told us that spaniards routinely come on the tour and repeat Franco propaganda about damage in walls of St. Maria de Pi church, even 40 years after his death. Franco told the public and holes in stone were from anarchists shooting priests which really it was shrapnel damage from Italian fascists bombing Barcelona from the air, thereby killing orphan children who were living in church orphanage. The power of propaganda is unbelievable.

The tour was intense history lesson, essentially a four and half hour history lecture. Girls were well behaved and attentive, though it was pretty long for them. Robin was asked to provide a biographical sketch of his great uncle, a nice moment of family remembrance and pride in their anti-fascist ideals. The French government did not recognize their contribution until decades latter.