More tales of Malaga!

When I first tried to find the Malaga school, I couldn’t find the road of the school on a map of the area. The reason was that I hadn’t been looking for a lovely little pedestrianised street, which is where you can find the school!

When I arrived the students were gathering outside the school buildings, chatting with their new friends before their classes started. I took some photos, but I had a little time before the school was expecting me, so I wandered down the road to the beach (literally no more than two minutes’ walk).

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Exploring Malaga

I really liked the Malaga by the beach school. Inside the elegant school building there was quite a ‘big family’ atmosphere, which I think was due to the small size of the school, relative to Malaga (Premium) at least. It is impossible not to be taken with the lovely gardens of palm trees surrounding the school – they provide plenty of shade so you can just relax!

The member of staff showing me around then gave me a confiding look and asked whether I would like to try a delicious fruit smoothie at a lovely little seaside bar that she knew. Naturally, I acquiesced, so we crossed the road from the school to the beach, and she led me to a little rustic bar with an open terrace overlooking the sea. I was spoilt for choice by their range of freshly squeezed fruit juice combinations, and we sat sipping our drinks while I went through my questions about the school, pausing occasionally to appreciate our peaceful surroundings.

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My last week in Costa Rica has begun

Hola amigos!

As I’ve written before, time flies here in Costa Rica and yesterday was my first day of my last week at the school in Playa Flamingo. Before I go back home to Europe I still, luckily enough, do have one week left of travelling on my own here in Costa Rica. It might be a good opportunity to practice my Spanish.

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Why Madrid is one of my favourite places in Spain…

If you’re like me and you’re not much of an urbanite, then you may not think that Madrid is the ideal place to study Spanish….however you’d be wrong – very wrong!

In fact, I think that Madrid is one of my favourite places in Spain. Let’s see, the people, the food, the shopping….wow! AND they have siesta time in the afternoon (which you have to admit is awfully civilised!)

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Join a student excursion in Malaga!

If you’ve planned a course in Malaga, don’t miss out on the excursions run by the school. Malaga is in such a beautiful part of Spain, and the excursions are the best way of seeing it! Our coach left from the Malaga (Premium) school at 3pm, and Victor the guide sat at the front of the coach with the microphone making everybody laugh.

Our first stop was the Caves of Nerja, which Victor explained had been discovered by some children playing in the hills relatively recently. These are some of the most historic monuments of the world, with archeological remains dating back to the Paleolithic Age (about 20,000 years ago). I don’t often visit caves and they were really not how I had imagined – there were certainly no tight spaces, but rather vast open halls with stalagtites, stalagmites, and columns. For example, the grand centre column in the Sala del Cataclismo (Cataclysm Hall) reaches a height of 32 metres.

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Arriving in Malaga for your Spanish course

I kept a diary during my Spanish courses in Malaga, and I had such a great time there that I thought I’d share my experiences with you!

I have travelled to Spain in the past but I had never been to Andalucia before. The excitement only hit on the way to the airport, but it was accompanied by a few nerves as this was the first time that I had really travelled alone. I think most students feel this the first time they go abroad on a language course, but don’t worry – you’ll be fine!

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Taking it easy in Nerja, Spain

What I really like about Nerja that even during high season with the influx of both Spanish tourists and foreign visitors, the town manages to retain its friendly, relaxed atmosphere.  If you’re looking for Spanish charm and a place to relax, then Nerja is for you!

It seems to me that the residents of Nerja enjoy the best of both worlds, living amongst a mixture of modern buildings and traditional whitewashed stone shops and businesses. Typically for a tourist town, there are lots of interesting shops that line both sides of the long pebbled streets selling local produce ranging from ornate sculptures to handmade jewellery. There are also family-run restaurants selling platos del dia (an inexpensive lunchtime menu, usually consisting of 3 courses including a drink), pizza, freshly caught seafood and home made ice-cream (which I would definitely recommend – especially the limón flavour!).

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Try something different in Tenerife

I’m really looking forward to summer in the Canary Islands and the long sunny days and the warm nights! I love to spend my time on the beach (sunbathing, swimming and surfing during the day and going out at night), but after some weeks doing the same thing, it becomes repetitive and I feel like doing something else. I feel like doing something different, and guess what, in Tenerife there are lots of things to do in summer!

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Discover the magic of Isla Magica, Seville!

I had a great time during my spanish course in Seville, especially during the weekend my family came to visit me!

After the classes, the school always organised something so we could get to know the city and all the great things it has to offer!

It was March, but it was already extremely hot in Seville and my family, my parents and my grandparents decided to visit me for the weekend. They were quite impressed when they heard me speaking Spanish!

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Going to San José – my course in Costa Rica

Hola mis amigos!

Another week passed by and I only have two more weeks of school left! 🙁

I’ve had a really great teacher this week and I really feel that my Spanish is getting better all the time. The weather is still warm and yesterday we even went sailing at Playa Conchal, which is a beautiful beach a little south of Playa Flamingo. On Monday we visited Playa Tamarindo after school but I found it to be too touristy for my tastes. Here in Flamingo it’s still possible to practice your Spanish with the locals. Bar Penca in Potrero is for example a great place to pratice your Spanish.

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