Extracurricular activities 21.09.2015 - 27.09.2015

A new week and new activities with Tía Tula. Here there is all the information about the opportunities to practice and improve your Spanish having fun:

Monday 21, 5:00 pm: Basketball – Come and play basketball in one of the city's basket field. 

Approximate duration: 1h30.

Tuesday 22, 6:30 pm: Visit to the cathedrals of Salamanca – Discover the history hidden behind the Salamanca's cathedrals while having a walk.

Approximate duration: 1h

Wednesday 23, 6:20 pm: Urban exhibition – We're going to the Barrio del Oeste and see the original decorations of its buildings.

Approximate duration: 1h

Thursday 24, 5:30 pm: Music workshop with Elena – Our teacher Elena will take us

Approximate duration: 1h

Friday 25, 6:20 pm: Photography Contest – Photography contest about Lights and Shadows on Salamanca. We will public on our social media the winner picture.

Approximate duration: 1h

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27: Excursions – Would you like to go to León and Astorga? Please ask our secretary for more information and take a look on this weekend programm.

Please don't forget that you need to sign up for each activity at the reception desk (in order to reserve your place). The minimum number of participants required fro each activity is usually three. Also, unless otherwise stated, the meeting point is Tía Tula school. Lastly, if there's no price mentioned in the description, the activity is free of charge. 

Try to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun, but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you have learnt in class. 

Extracurricular activities 24.08.2015 - 30.08.2015

A lot of inspiration for this week in Tia Tula: tapas tour, boat trip, sport… and even more! Join us because we're going to have fun :) 

Monday 24, 8:00 pm: Tapas tour – Here comes again, a great chance to meet people, practise what you learn in class and savor some delicious Spanish tapas.

Approximate duration: 1h30min.

Tuesday 25, 6:20 pm: Boat trip – Why not take advantage of the good weather and go ride a small boat along the river Tormes?

Approximate duration: 1h30min.

Wednesday 26, 4:30 pm: Horse riding – Horse riding in the Charro countryside. It's going to be a great experience!

Thursday 27, 7:30 pm:  Urban gallery - Do you know Barrio del Oeste? Its open-air urban gallery is a must-see. They are creating new pieces, so we may even get the chance to talk to the artists!
Approximate duration: 1 h.

Friday 28, 8:15 pm: Theatre in the street – We are going to see a performance of "El crimen de Fraile Luis" in Plaza San Benito.

Approximate duration: 1h
Take a look on other activities of Plazas y Patios.

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 – One-day or two-day excursions to several destinations. Further information at the reception desk.

Please don't forget that you need to sign up for each activity at the reception desk (in order to reserve your place). The minimum number of participants required for each activity is usually three. Unless otherwise stated, the meeting point is Tía Tula school.

Try to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun, but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you have learnt in class.

Extracurricular activities 22.06.2015 - 27.06.2015

Summer is here! 

Yesterday, 22nd of June, we welcomed it at 6:30 pm. We will enjoy this season until 23rd of September.

Moving on, we will show you all the extracurricular activities waiting for you this week.

You can find information in more detail below. It will be great fun!

Monday 22, 6:00 pm: Dramatised tours – We’ll discover some of the most beautiful corners of Salamanca through an exciting dramatized tours.

Approximate duration: 2h.

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Tuesday 23, 6:45 pm: Basketball – Come along and spend an afternoon with us playing basketball. Are you in?

Approximate duration: 1h 30min.

Wednesday 24, 7:30 pm: Cookery class – At this week’s cookery class we will learn how to make a refreshing gazpacho soup as well as mouth-watering croquetas.

Thursday 25. 6:00 pm: Billiards – We will do some cue sports with our Spanish teacher Alicia. May the best win!

Approximate duration: 1h.

Friday 26, 4:30 pm: Film – At the end of the week we will have an excellent opportunity to practice Spanish with an exciting film.

Saturday 27: Excursion – Aveiro, La Alberca, Lisboa, Sintra and Cascais are the destinations available for this week. Further information at the reception desk.

Please don't forget that you need to sign up for each activity at the reception desk (in order to reserve your place). The minimum number of participants required for each activity is usually three. Unless otherwise stated, the meeting point is Tía Tula school.

Try to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun, but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you have learnt in class.

Surfing in San Sebastian

Last weekend I decided to take a break from city life in Salamanca to visit the coast and do some surfing in the beautiful Basque region of Spain. I had been up to visit Paddy (the manager) at the stoke travel surf camp in June, and knew  straight away I would be back at least a couple of times whilst spending the summer in Salamanca.

The camp site is just up the hill from the small town of Zarautz (about 10km from San Sebastián) set with beautiful views over the beach and the coastline. The journey into the area is very impressive, with the green rolling hills of the Basque region you get some amazing views from both the bus and the train. 

A typical day consists of surf lessons, skating, table tennis, basketball, tight rope walking, cliff jumping, horse riding, eating good food and partying through the night! So plenty to keep you occupied aside from the main thing of learning how to surf.

If you are looking to visit some of the towns in order to experience Basque costal life, Zarautz is a great place to start! It is a popular tourist destination for both foreigners and Spaniards alike, with its population doubling in the busy summer months. The town is most famous for its 2.8km beach, the longest in the Basque region of Spain. At the end of the 19th century the popularity of Zarautz as a luxury tourist destination grew, with famous people such as Queen Isabella II visiting the town. A number of lavish buildings and mansions were built here around this time, though throughout the 70's and 80's Zaurautz became a more affordable holiday destination, with many of the grand buildings becoming public or being demolished.

Now the town is known worldwide as one of the best surfing destinations, with such a long beach there is plenty of room for surfers, and swell to suit all levels, from beginners to professionals, they even hold a leg of the world surfing championships here. You can find many great restaurants in Zarautz as well, with one of the top chefs in Spain (Karlos Arguiñano) having his own restaurant here.

Just 10km away lies the famous city of San Sebastián (or Donastia in Basque) Despite its relatively small size, San Sebastián is one of the most famous and popular tourist cities in Spain, holding events such as the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and it has been granted the European city of culture for 2016. One of the main attractions of the city is it's coastal location. San Sebastián has one of the best beaches in the region, and is also surrounded by impressive mountains and hills perfect for hiking!

The city is also famous for cultural events, holding the longest running jazz festival in Europe (Jazzaldia) in the last week of July, in which you can find many free concerts at different locations around the city. They also have a contemporary art and film festival called 'Street Zinema' as well as the 'Surfilm Festibal' showing impressive surfing footage, often in the form of shorts.

San Sebastián is perhaps most well known for its gastronomy. It has been said that it is the city with the most Michelin star restaurants per square foot in the world. Being close to the sea the seafood is naturally amazing here, and it is also renowned for having some of the best tapas, or 'pintxos' in the old part of the city.

As well as surfing, San Sebastián also has a top level football team, Real Sociedad, who formed part of the founding members of the top Spanish football division 'La Liga'. Aside from this San Sebastián also hosts the 'Clásica de San Sebastián' cycle race in early August each year, which is part of the world cup circuit.

So if you like the sound of giving surfing a try or experiencing the Basque region of Spain then get yourself up to Zarautz for some surfing and partying! Maybe I'll see you there to try and surf some waves and have a beer on the hill watching the sun set in the evening!

Activities 14/07-20/07

We have another great week full of activities for you to choose from. Take a trip to see one of the best views of Salamanca from the clergy tower on Monday, or come along for a friendly game of basketball in the sun after class on Tuesday. Come and immerse yourself in some Spanish culture with a trip to the cinema on Wednesday, or  with a paella cooking class and Latin dance classes on the following days. After a full week, enjoy your weekend in Valencia or head to the beaches of Portugal with either of the two excursions we have on offer.

Monday 14th: Visit to a monument: We are going on a trip to view the 'Scala Coeli', or the clergy tower to enjoy the fantastic views available there over the whole of Salamanca. Duration approximately: 40min.

Tuesday 15th: Sports: We will go to one of the cities many outdoor courts to enjoy a game of basketball. Duration approximately: 1h30.

Wesnesday 16th: Cinema. We will be taking you to watch the Spanish film 'La vida inesperada' (Life Unexpected) from director Jorge Torregrosa at a cinema in the city. In the film aspiring actor to be Juanito goes to New York in search of his dream. However without much success he spends his time moving from job to job to get by. One day he gets a visit from his cousin, who seems to have success in everything he does and has everything a man could want. However the coexistence of both brings the truth about each to the surface. Duration of the film 108min.

Thursday 17th: Cooking Class: Today we are going to learn how to cook the famous Spanish dish Paella, plus another tapas dish, then afterwards we will get to eat what we make! It is important to let reception know if you are interested in this class before Wednesday 16th at 14:00. Duration approximately: 1h.

Friday 18th: Dance Class. We will be going to learn the first steps  of the Latin Dance, which gives you the base steps for many of the famous Latin American and Spanish dances. It is important to let reception know if you are interested in this class before Wednesday 16th at 14:00. Duration 1h (minimum 15 people).

Saturday 19th: Excursion. This week we will be taking you to see the beautiful city of Valencia for two nights over the weekend (18th-20th). We will be staying in a hotel with bed and breakfast. It is important to let reception know if you are interested in this trip before Wednesday 16th.  For more information about prices and meeting points, please contact reception.

Sunday 20th: Excursion. This Sunday we will be taking you to the beaches of Portugal to spend the day relaxing in the sun and soaking up some rays. It is important to let reception know if you are interested in this trip before Wednesday 16th.  For more information about prices and meeting points, please contact reception.

*Note: Please contact reception for information about prices for any of the activities. If you are interested in any of the activities, it is helpful if you contact the reception to let them know. Minimum 3 people for each activity unless otherwise stated.

Basketball in Salamanca

I have played basketball for a few years back in England, but after almost a year of travelling around and being in places where it wasn't a popular sport, I was excited to come to Salamanca and try and seek out some opportunities to continue playing.  I knew the sport was big in Spain with some Spanish players, such as Pau Gasol playing at a top level in the NBA in America.

Compared to England where for most of the year we are limited to playing inside, I knew with the great Spanish weather there would be some opportunity to play basketball in the open air, and wasn't disappointed with what I found! Here in Salamanca there are loads of good quality outdoor courts to play and practice on.  The most popular that I have visited so far is in the 'Parque de los Jesuitas' not far from 'Paseo Canelejas'. Here they have four outdoor courts next to each other with good smooth ground and good quality baskets. You can often find locals playing basketball down here and it's really easy to get into a game with them! This gives you the option of just practicing on one of the rings (with so many there it is very rare that all are occupied) or joining in for a bit of a scrimmage with the locals! The setting of the courts is great, set at the bottom end of the park in between trees and next to some fountains, it's a very pretty place to play basketball. There is also a bar in the middle of the park and plenty of trees to relax under in the shade after a hard game out in the sun! Though this park seems to be the main place to go as it is the closes to the city centre, there are plenty of others dotted around the city, check out a map here  to see where the closest court is to you!

Salamanca has a professional Woman's team who go by the name of 'Perfumerias Avenida'. In 2011 they won both the national league and the European  championship, so there is obviously a high standard of basketball here in the city! They play their home games at the 'Pabellon Wurzburg', situated a little further out of the city centre but still within walking distance. Though at the moment it is off season for basketball, so it might be difficult to see a game over the summer, however if you are here over the winter months then a live basketball game always has a great atmosphere! As I previously said, basketball is a big sport in Spain, being one of the most popular together with football. Many cities in Spain have a team that compete in the national league, with Barcelona taking the title last year. If you want to get up to date on any basketball news in Spain, check out the official league website here for any news, transfers and fixture lists!

So if you do come and visit Salamanca and fancy a game of basketball, let me know! I am hoping to get a group together for a regular game every week, this Saturday is the first one so hopefully it will become a weekly event. Even if you haven't played before and want to give it a try, come on down and enjoy yourself!

Activities 30/06 - 06/07

This week we have lots of great things going on with the language school, why not join us for the cookery class on Tuesday and learn how to make the perfect Spanish omelette (it's harder than just egg and potatoes!) or to see the views from the Cathedral on Wednesday. Try your hand at basketball on Thursday at one of the many outdoor courts here in Salamanca, Friday come along to visit some of the best tapas bars in town and with two excursions to Segovia and the beach this weekend you aren't spoilt for choice!

Monday 30th: Tour of the Cathedral gardens. Come to visit the beautiful gardens of Calixto and Melibea and see the views they have to offer. Meeting place: Tía Tula 18:00. Duration 30 min.

Tuesday 1st July: Cookery class. Come and learn how to make the famous Spanish omelette together with another tapas dish. After we've made our dishes naturally we get to eat them as well! Meeting place: Tía Tula 19:30, duration 1h.

Wednesday 2nd: Cathedral Visit. We are going on a tour of the medieval towers of the cathedral that offers a look at the Old Cathedral with its impressive altarpiece and the New Cathedral from within. Meeting place: Tía Tula 18:30, duration 1h.

Thursday 3rd: Sports. Come with us for a friendly game of basketball at one of the cities many great outdoor courts. Don't worry if you don't think you are very good, it's only a bit of fun! Meeting place: Tía Tula 19:30, Duration 1h30.

Friday 4th: Tapas Tour. Today we will be taking you on a little tour of some of the best tapas bars around the city. Come and sample some of the local delicacies whilst practising your Spanish and having a drink or two! Meeting place: Tía Tula 19:30, duration 1h30.

Saturday 5th: Excursion. Today we will be taking people to Segovia Avila. Come to see a different city and a different side to Spanish culture for the day in Segovia. It is essential that you sign up before Wednesday 2nd July. For more information contact reception.

Sunday 6th: Excursion. Spend your Sunday lazing on the beach in Portual soaking up some sun! If you want a chance to get out of the city and feel some sea air on your face then this trip is for you! It is essential that you sign up before Wednesday 2nd July. For more information contact reception.

*NOTE: It is helpful if you make a reservation with the secretary first for any of the activities. Minimum 3 people per activity (unless otherwise stated).