More than Port in Porto!

There were lots of things I was looking forward to when I started planning my trip to Porto. Sunshine, historic medieval streets, beaches, markets, finally improving my Portuguese to improve and, of course… lots of yummy port! I hadn’t expected to also fall in love with the rolling hills of the city, the hub of activity along the river Douro, the quirky honest locals and… above all… try tripe (the local specialty) and sort of like it! I had a fantastic time in Porto!

I loved skipping out of my Portuguese school every day to find myself right there smack bang on the banks of the Douro river, in the heart of the city ready for a hectic afternoon of meandering through the beautiful cobbled streets, idling in local cafes with my classmates and practicing my Portuguese or heading out of the city to the beach and busy afternoon of relaxing by the sea.

Porto really did have a little bit of everything I could have wished for.

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Cuenca – ‘The Athens of Ecuador!’

Cuenca, Ecuador is the most amazing place to study Spanish! It was such a welcoming city, I found I could learn, study, make friends, and practice my Spanish, all with ease. It’s a unique part of Ecuador with history so special that it has been chosen as a Unesco World Heritage Trust Site!

There are so many things to see and do in Cuenca, including admiring the amazing views of the Andean Mountains which surround the city! Cuenca is also a bustling university city, so I was always sure to find both international and local students amongst its streets mingling among the locals. The city had an awesome atmosphere – a real mix of old and traditional and youthful and modern everywhere I went.

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It’s like being at home – but 100 times more fun!!

I’ve been studying Spanish in Bariloche and Santiago de Chile for the past couple of months and am really loving it! I had already been at the Santiago school for about a month and because I really liked it there, I decided to try out the school in Bariloche too.

My expectations of the school and of Bariloche itself were pretty high, as I had heard so many great things about it, and well, both the school and Bariloche have exceeded those expectations!

First of all, the city is beautiful, the views from the tops of the numerous mountains and the sun setting over the lakes are images that I will never forget.

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My Munich-tastic time in Germany!

Before I arrived in Munich I had heard great things about the city. I had heard countless tales of its beautiful architecture, about it being a fabulous bustling hub containing every traditional image of Germany you ever had. I heard friends brag about the amazing countryside of Bavaria, the beautiful fairytale-like castles, and breathtaking scenery across mountains and lush green forests galore. And above all, naturally, I had heard about the beer and the sausages! Although I have to say that being neither a massive beer nor sausage fan, it was these most famous of all German things that probably excited me least! 😉

But the truth is, despite all these great things awaiting me in Munich, when I arrived at the airport, all my anticipation, curiosity and excitement was overwhelmed by the butterflies flying around in my stomach! I didn’t speak a word of German and here I was, in the middle of Bavaria, about to plonk myself in the home of a kindly German family and somehow take a bus and find my German language school and find someway to ask for a glass of water, let alone finding something to eat… I found myself thinking “How exactly did I get myself into this?!?”

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Flamingo Beach – Sand and Salsa!

Flamingo Beach was, for me, the most perfect place imaginable to learn Spanish! An exotic paradise with beautiful pristine beaches, tiki charm, and an unbelievable atmosphere. No wonder the people that lived there were so warm and friendly!

The 5 minute walk to the beach from school was just the icing on the cake. We were on the gorgeous Guanacaste coast, and Flamingo Beach was just one of many amazing beaches I got to visit. We were so lucky; we even had our own pool at the school, so I would regularly go to class with my bathers all ready to jump in as soon as my lessons ended!

Studying Spanish in Flamingo Beach gave me the chance to enjoy the great outdoors with the natural beauty of forests, and stunning coastline on my doorstep. I saw so much amazing wildlife and all kinds of weird and wonderful plants and flowers!

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Playa del Carmen – Learning Spanish in Paradise!

Look no further than Playa del Carmen, Mexico (or “Playa,” as the locals call it) in deciding where to take your Spanish language course abroad! I couldn’t have dreamed of a better experience than one immersed in the language, culture, and adventure in the magnificent Riviera Maya. I just returned from my Spanish course at the school in Playa, and words are not enough to describe the splendor of this place – you must live the experience yourself!

Playa’s excellent location also offers a wide variety of one-day trips around the region — including Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Cancun, the Mayan ruins at Tulum or Coba, the ecological water parks Xcaret and Xel-ha, and Hidden Worlds Cenote Park, which gives you the unique opportunity to do some swimming, diving, and exploring one of the largest collections of freshwater, underground caves in the area! If it is adventure that you seek, you are sure to find it in and around Playa.

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I can’t believe I’m in Argentina!

Hi!.. In the beginning of January I decided to come down to South America to learn Spanish. I didn’t know which country.. I was looking for a place where I will would feel comfortable and where it would be easy to meet people and with lots to see and do… So, I booked a flight and in a couple of weeks I was in Argentina!

I’ve now been at the school for 9 weeks and it’s been simply great! The second week I was here, lots of us went to Iguazu Falls on a trip organized by the school. It was an amazing trip and the waterfalls were like nothing I had ever seen before!… right in the middle of a jungle and a really incredible sight.

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Sorrento has EVERYTHING!

Summer is here! ..and where else can you find a place like this, with a relaxed but vibrant atmosphere at the same time with all kinds of great things to do, – swimming, sunbathing, thermal spas, walking along one of the best promenades in the world (It really IS – the views are spectacular!), shopping and eating excellent food and drinking fabulous wines…. gasp I think I need a full stop, but there is just SO much to do here…

But not only this, I am studying the Italian language in the best school in Sorrento. The school organises visits to ice cream factories as well as cookery courses to help us poor mortals knock up a decent pasta dish when we go back home..to mention just a few of the things on the activities programme… This is the ideal place to learn the language, but also all about the food and have a great time at the same time AND impress your friends with all that you have learnt once you get back to your own country… That is if you ever leave again!

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Good food and good Surf in San Sebastian!

What can I say about San Sebastian- it’s simply amazing! I loved its diversity, and the beach and old town, with beauty and traditional Spanish cultured mixed into one. The beach is surrounded by stunning green hills which give it a fantastically picturesque backdrop. Then all this is accompanied by great weather – perfect for my surfing class! – Simply AWESOME – I’ve never surfed before, but after San Sebastian I’d recommend anyone to have a go. It’s really GREAT fun!!.

I had an excellent time in San Sebastian. There were incredible local dishes and drinks to try, and markets full of local specialties and Basque goods. I was able to walk to either the beach or the old town center from the school, it was perfect!

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Cuernavaca – A trip I’ll never forget!

I just returned from my Spanish course in Cuernavaca, and I must say that whoever nicknamed the city as “The Land of Eternal Spring” was spot on! Not only does the city mix the old with the new – colonial buildings, remnants of Aztec culture, and the feeling of a vibrant, modern university city – but the delightfully warm year-round weather is a treat for anyone studying abroad!

With Mexico City just an hour away, the beautiful beaches of Acapulco just three hours away, and plenty of water parks and natural hot water springs nearby, you can bet that I took full advantage of the wonderful weather in Cuernavaca. If you’re looking to cool off one hot afternoon, I would highly recommend paying a visit to the picturesque Salto de San Anton waterfall, which is in Cuernavaca’s western city limits. It was incredibly relaxing to hear the water crash down while watching the cool mist waft across the canyon below.

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