Do you know the meaning of "Siesta"?

Siesta in Spain refers to the time taken to relax in the afternoon, usually after lunch.  It is an afternoon rest or nap normally taken between 2:00pm and 5:30pm. In Salamanca, as well as in other parts in Spain, it is normal for some shops to close during this time as this is also the time to have lunch.

 

It is thought when there is siesta that working time is short. But in fact, one works on average 4 hours in the morning and another 4 hours in the afternoon sometimes even more, which is at least 8 hours daily.

 

To follow the rest of the European countries, in January 2006 large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona abolished siesta for public government offices and other public offices. And that is why in the larger cities there is only a short break for lunch.

 

It is said that human productivity increases throughout the day and reaches its highest levels at midday. Then, between 2:00pm and 3:00pm it decreases. At about 4:00pm in the evening it rises again and remains constant for several hours. At the end of the day it begins again to drop gradually and will reach its minimum levels at 2:00am to 3:00am in the morning, when one is asleep.

 

Personally, I think having a siesta impacts positively on the human body. It can be used to recover from the fatigue accumulated during the day and increase performance at work in order to be productive with the remainder of the daily activity.

I think it creates a healthy lifestyle for the body and spirit.

 

 

Noriko, student internship in Tía Tula

Salamanca’s Fiesta de la Virgen de la Vega!

Every year on the 8th September Salamanca celebrates the Feast of the Virgin de la Vega. It began long ago by the Roman Bridge as a simple agricultural and livestock fair but it has now changed into a time of Celebration for its Patron and is a tradition that has endured centuries.

Legend has it that the Virgin helped Salamanca  to defend the assault of the troops who wanted to invade in 1706 during the War of Spanish Succession. A statue representing the Saint was recovered from the former Monastery of Vega and was placed on the high altar in the Cathedral of Salamanca. la Virgin de la Vega has been the patron Saint of the city since 1618 and shares this patronage with San Juan de Sahagun. There have been several miracles and favors attributed to her intervention.

The festival will start on September 7, and on the 8th will be the feast of the Patron. During the festival there will be many shows in the streets, concerts, parties for citizens, students and tourists to enjoy. This year the many celebrations include: Etnohelmántica Festival, Street Arts Festival, Medieval Market, Fair Day, bullfighting etc. 

An explosion of music, fun and laughter!!

Valeria, Intern at Tía Tula.

Flamenco….Bailar!!

I attended the Azabache Flamenco show in the Palacio de Congresos with some of the students from Tia Tula to view the Flamenco themed performance. We loved it!!  For me, it was the first time I’ve seen Flamenco performed in Spain and it was fabulous. The dancer performed with such a joyous expression and passionate movements you couldn’t help but be drawn into the performance. The singers and the band were excellent and we all had a great time!

 

The performance lasted for an hour and a half and at the end the lead singer’s two sons came on stage. Afterwards the lead singer and his two sons gave an impromptu performance together, with the younger son aged about 10 years, singing lead! We were captivated! He was excellent and the audience encouraged him with cheers and applause! It was a great moment.

 

I hope I can attend another flamenco performance during my time in Salamanca because I definitely enjoyed this one!

 

Debra, student in Tia Tula

Second Edition of the cultural program “Plazas y Patios”.

This year, for the second time, the cultural and tourist program “Plazas y Patios” will take place during the summer and it will focus on the fifth anniversary of the New Cathedral.

 

The program began this Saturday, June 15th and will last until September 1st. The shows will be staged at the Patio Chico, the Courtyard of Schools, the Patio of DA2, Plaza de Anaya, Plaza Juan XXIII, the interior of the Cathedral, the Garden of Santo Domingo and the Cave of Salamanca. There will be performances in music, theatre, markets, audiovisual projections and tours of the Cathedral. All these activities are free and will take place on weekends.

 

The program was presented by the Mayor of Salamanca last Tuesday during a press conference. He announced that there will be a total of 28 events, divided into four sections: "scenic squares and courtyards," "music of squares and courtyards ", "audiovisual projection" and "monastic Market".

 

Last year 30,000 people enjoyed these activities and this year even more people are expected.

If you want to know about all the activities planned, please visit the Tourist Office located in Plaza Mayor or the Liceo Theatre box office for a copy of the program. You can also access the program through the following link: www.vcentenariocatedraldesalamanca.es

 

The plays offered to the public will be: “Salmántica el año trece una catedral merece” on June 21st and 29th and also on July 6th, 13th and 20th at Plaza de Anaya, at 20:00. “Lo que cuentan las piedras” will be on every Saturday in August at the Patio Chico, at 20:00. “Suena que algo piedra” every Friday and Saturday from July 5th to August 31st at 21:00, 21:30 and 22:00, “Y que cumplas muchos más” on Saturdays and Sundays in July and August at 12:45 and "Happy Birthday" on July 27th at 20:00 in the Plaza de Anaya.

 

The music will also have a lot of importance this year with various types of music: jazz, roots music, classical music and contemporary music.

 

In Plaza de Anaya during the period June 25th and 30^th there will be a daily monastic crafts market. The market will offer for sale sweets and spirits from over 30 monasteries of Castilla y León, Cantabria, Navarra, Asturias and Galicia. Additionally, every Friday and Saturday from June 15th to September 1st the video "500 years is nothing" will be screened on the facade of the cathedral in Plaza Juan XXIII.

 

Tía Tula encourages you to take advantage of your free time to attend these activities!


Claire, Intern at Tia Tula

 

Festival of San Juan de Sahagύn

On June 12, 2013 Salamanca will celebrate the feast of their patron Saint, San Juan de Sahagύn. The patron Saint of Salamanca and the town of his birth, in both places he was known for carrying out his humanitarian aid work and major miracles.

As part of the city’s celebrations En esta ocasión, los festejos comenzarán el día 11 de junio, casi al mismo tiempo que finaliza el Festival Internacional de las Artes (FÀCYL 2013), con un concierto del famoso grupo Love of Lesbian , que tocarán a partir de las 22:00 horas en el Multiusos Sánchez Paraíso. a concert will be held featuring the well-known band Love of Lesbian. This concert will be held at the Paradise Multipurpose Salamanca Sanchez on June 11 at 22.00. Also as part of the celebrations atA las 22:45 horas tendrán lugar los tradicionales fuegos artificiales en los alrededores del Puente Romano. 22:45 on the night of June 11 there will be a Firework show around the Puente Romano. La empresa valenciana Pirotecnia Global Foc estará a cargo de este espectáculo que durará, aproximadamente, 20 minutos. The show will last for 20 minutes.
 

On June 12 several sports activities take place: the International Trophy Salamanca City Athletics, "Urban Quarter Mile West" Neighbourhood Making - Making city! and Day of the Dugout.

 

Latter activity will allow all stakeholders to practice free and safe canoeing on the river Tormes between 11:30 and 15:30 hours and 16:30 to 20:30 hours. For further information please visit the website link http://www.salamancaciudaddecultura.org

Say good bye to the summer and hello to the party in Salamanca

We leave behind the month of August and at the same time the summer. Farewell to the summer! Yes, but before saying hello to the new academic year, we are going to enjoy the parties in town that take place in this month of transition which is normal and the routine during autumn and winter.

(The idea with the academic courses and the normal and routine in autumn and winter, it´s if we speak about the classes in the schools, institutions or university; in the Spanish School, like ours, you know that we have courses perpetually because there are classes that run continuously and others that  start nearly every week.)

Salamanca celebrates (in honor of its Saint, la Virgen de la Vega) its fundamental local’s parties during the second and third week of September (specifically this year, the officials dates - the non officials lengthened - are from the 7^th to the 15^th of this month.) : firework, concerts, cattle market,  bull runs, music in the street full of people and stands with snacks and drinks with the famous Feria de Dìa - from the 6^th to the 16^th – the stands turned up nearly in the last years, in the flag – like a small city – of this parties.

You can see for example on the following link the full program of festival and fiestas of Salamanca for thisyear 2012.

We are working on integrating some activities of those parties in our next program of extracurricular activities; we invite you to participate in it, in order to realize all you could do.

The city is precious those days, with all the students that comes back to it, and with all that atmosphere of party, you deserve to experience it and fully enjoy it.

See how many pinchos (snacks) of the festival you could try before they actually leave.

We will try to incorporate some of the activities of these parties in our next school programs, we invite you to participate. The city is beautiful during these days, with all the students returning and with all the festive turmoil  that it makes it well worth living it and enjoying it to the fullest. 

See how many pinchos you can eat before the casetas are packed away...