Valencia – Fiesta de Disfraces!

I’m doing a Spanish course in Valencia and really loving it! One of the great things about the course is that, as well as the lessons, the school organizes lots of lots of activities – excursions, guided walks, dance lessons and LOADS more! They really help you settle in and make friends.

Last weekend the school organized a “Fiesta de Disfraces” (“Costume Party”) in a bar near our school.

The theme was ‘the seventies’. As announced on the notice boards in school, all the students had a free entry and received a free drink if they wore a costume. Thanks to that strategy, there were LOTS of students in costumes, creating a really great atmosphere of ‘the seventies’ in the bar.

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Free tapas in Granada!

I’ve just come back from 4 weeks studying in Granada and it’s by far the most stunning Spanish city I’ve been to! I really loved every minute there. It’s unlike anywhere else – You realize this from the minute you arrive, with the incredible Arabic palace “La Alhambra” towering over the city, and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains behind – You just know you’ve arrived somewhere special!

There is also the stunning Albaicin area, the old town, in which there are a series of old narrow streets with typical old buildings and Moroccan stalls and Moroccan tea houses….where you get a real feel for how Granada would have been right back in the time of the Arabs.

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Walks along the beach after Spanish!

Malaga gave me my first introduction to Spanish culture, proving to me that it is a gorgeous city, full of wonderful surprises. The city has everything I imagine of Spain, and more! Not only does it have beautiful beaches, friendly people, and a laid back seaside atmosphere, but there are also historic buildings, famous cathedrals and museums, and an amazing night life to explore throughout the city!

My classes in Malaga ended in the early afternoon, so I had the rest of the day free to visit the nearby city center and learn more about my host country with my new friends. The Spanish day conveniently is much longer than I am used to, with dinner at about 10pm, so after school I got to enjoy my lunch, siesta, a walk around the city to view the beautiful buildings and architectural styles that were so new to me, and a cultural activity (cathedral or museum), and then the nightlife! Plaza de la Merced is where all the students and locals start the night- just a great place to talk with your friends, relax and have a drink or a laugh before you start your night full of salsa dancing!

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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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I’ll really miss Valencia!

My stay in Valencia has been a fantastic experience at all levels. For me, Valencia has been the perfect city in which to combine studying, cultural enrichment and a GREAT quality of life!

The climate is agreeable all year, helping you feel good. Also (perhaps because of the climate) the Valencians are very pleasant, happy and dynamic.

I have really enjoyed taking advantage of the offerings of such a big city (the culture, spare time and going out) and the other aspects of Valencia like the beach (enormous, with kilometres of soft golden sand!) and the nature. It has truly been an incredible experience for me. The 5km of the old river have been transformed into a garden in which you can walk, study, skate or practice sports – everything is possible. What impressed me most of all is that all this can be enjoyed in a coastal location, with a wonderful beach and a short time after the ski season has finished!!!

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Barcelona – City of contrasts!

After living and studying Spanish in Barcelona for almost 3 months now, I am really starting to realize that this city has it ALL!

It doesn’t matter how, when or who you are in Barcelona, the city always has lots of things to offer!

People from all over the world meet up here, studying, working, travelling and most important of all; creating the international, cosmopolitan atmosphere that you can’t find anywhere else! It is truly the city where two extremes get along perfectly, where you can go from the trendy, bohemian neighbourhood of Raval to the more posh and elegant Eixample in 5 minutes. Where you can have a 2 euro shawarma for lunch and a glass of Dom Perignon champagne in the evening. Where the old Catalan traditions are mixed with modernistic architecture into a glowing, colourful melting pot!

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My Pleasant Retreat to Madrid

I  can confidently say that studying Spanish in Madrid was the best decision of my life! There was so much to experience in this miraculous city that I found it difficult to decide what my after-class activities would be every afternoon! Thankfully, though, everything (including the school) was easily accessible by the very efficient Metro system in Madrid.

One of the first few days that I was in Madrid I decided to enjoy the beautiful weather outside by exploring the park that is just minutes from the school… El Parque del Buen Retiro (Park of the Pleasant Retreat).

This park was magnificent – I spent so much time there! It had everything imaginable to enjoy a sunny afternoon…from beautiful gardens and peaceful little café’s to artistic, amusing street performers and a pond filled with people paddling rowboats. It was the perfect retreat for me because I would go jogging there in the cool of the early morning. In the afternoons I could chill out there and sip on a refreshing drink under the café terraces. One day I even had my fortune told in the park (which left me feeling quite optimistic afterward).

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An American in …MALAGA!

You have got to love Spanish public holidays (‘fiestas’)! Yesterday was Dia de Andalusia… and let me say that it was a great day, spent with lots of friends at the beach. But let me say something else and get it over with… I LOVE this place. Absolutely love it. Sorry mom and dad… I am never coming home!

We started the day off with a nice American breakfast. Dillon’s parents have been so kind to bring us some pancake mix… and Vermont’s Best Maple Syrup. It was nice to sleep in, and awake to the aromas of an already cooked and delicious breakfast. Now that I think about it… Malaga could really use a Pancake house. It might be one of the only things it is missing. If only I could finance that…!

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On Top of the World in Malaga!

My experience in Malaga was breathtaking from day one! I’ve just returned from Malaga and I already miss its amazing beaches, the bustling and intimate city center, and the incredible location of the mini-campus where I took classes during the day and also had my accommodation in the comfortable on-site student residence.

Upon arrival, I left the airport terminal and uttered enough Spanish to catch a taxi, where we then drove up a curvy, windy road up a mountain. I was really excited because I knew, within a few moments, I would have a spectacular view of the city and the ocean! The sun shone bright on the cliffs to the left and finally I glimpsed the beautiful vista del mar (view of the ocean)! Far below the cliffs leading into Malaga, you see a long row of exotic palmeras, the palm trees that have come to characterize many Spanish cities that boast a wonderful tropical climate.

And finally, just before the taxi begins to descend into the city, I see a boulevard stretching for miles, filled with people running, walking, cycling, and taking in the last minutes of a sensationally sunny day. I couldn’t help but feel like Leonardo DiCaprio soaring over the bow of the Titanic! I didn’t think I would see another great view like this until I was heading back to the airport on my way home.

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Great times in Granada!

Serene yet full of life, ancient and truly awe-inspiring … how I loved Granada! I had the best time there! When I visited Granada, I soon realized that I had landed in one of the most beautiful cities in the world with perfect weather, fantastic friends and a unique atmosphere like no other – it was my dream city.

Granada is definitely a city of two sides, which, as a lover of history and Spanish traditions, but also as a young student who adores the feel of a big busy city, was perfect for me! There was the rustic historic side of the town, up around the Albacin and the Plaza Nueva you could find cutesy souvenir shops, tea houses and – my favorite of all – the Arab baths. Then I could head 20 minutes down the road and find myself in Granada’s bustling commercial centre, with excellent shopping and restaurants next to shiny, clean, marbled plazas, and the refreshing splashing of public fountains.

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