Extracurricular activities 8.06.2015 - 14.06.2015

About to welcome summer, here are the extracurricular activities we have in store for this week. Also, don't forget that the Fàcyl festival is still running (find the programme and a playlist with the music of the festival in this article).

Have fun!

Monday 8, 6:45 pm: Scala Coeli – We're climbing the towers of La Clerecía to enjoy some of the most spectacular views of Salamanca. Our student Debra wrote about her experience in this activity here.
Approximate duration: 40 min.

Tuesday 9, 7:30 pm: We are taking advantage of two of the scheduled activities of the Fàcyl festival: a traveling show (Fadunito) and a flea market (mostly about creative illustration) at La Malhablada. 
Approximate duration: 1 h.

Wednesday 10, 8:20 pm: Concert by Bye Bye Lullaby – This a unique opportunity to watch Salmantinian band Bye Bye Lullaby perform from the terrace of La Malhablada! If you feel like it, you can do so while you enjoy a refreshing drink. 
Bye Bye Lullaby are featured on our Fàcyl 2015 playlist on Youtube and Spotify: http://blog.tiatula.com/2015/06/facyl-2015.html 
Approximate duration: 1:30 h.

Thursday 11, 6:00 pm: Exhibition – We are heading to DA2 contemporary arte museum to visit the exhibition "Con la boca abierta".

Approximate duration: 1:30 h.

Friday 12, holiday: Today we are celebrating the saint patron of Salamanca, San Juan de Sahagún. Check out the festivities program (in Spanish): Fiestas de San Juan de Sahagún. Our suggestion: watch the fireworks from the Roman bridge at 10:30 pm on June 11th.  

Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14, Excursions – Plenty of destinations to choose from for a one-day or long weekend trip: Madrid; Santiago de Compostela; Lisboa, Coimbra y Fátima; Aveiro; Santander; La Alberca; Sevilla; and Granada. 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.

Skateboarding in Salamanca

I have been skateboarding for many years in England and as I'm sure you all know, the weather in England is far from perfect, and living in a small rural town in the north of the country there aren't any skate parks within skating distance (the best I get is a smooth driveway/car park at our village hall) Therefore when I knew I would be coming to Salamanca to study and work here at Tía Tula language school I was really excited to explore what the city had to offer in terms of skate spots. I'm sure I still have a lot more to discover but will try and fill you in on my findings so far!

Naturally the first difference to skateboarding in Salamanca compared to back home in England is the weather. Even if it does rain (which is rare) the weather changes quickly enough in the summer months that within a couple of hours everything is dry. Another benefit of being here is Salamanca is a small city, therefore most things are only a 10-15 minute skate away from each other. Further to this many of the streets are paved with smooth concrete or marble like slabs which make for a smooth roll around the city. I came with a cruiser board (mindless 24/7) which is such a great way to get around and see the city, as well as a normal set up to take to street spots and down to the parks.

Now, the skate parks that they have here are nothing like the ones you can find in some of the bigger Spanish cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, there are also many superior parks in England, however there a good crew of skaters in the city who can make any session into a fun one. The main skate park in the city is situated next to the river just next to the start of the 'Puente Romano' bridge. The park has some small metal features-a fun box, a manual pad and two small kickers, one of which is moveable and the other crosses a gap. They also have a grind rail and a couple of grind boxes, as well as a covered area with small stair set and down-rails leading up to it. Though it might not seem like much, I have never been bored skating here, and the obstacles are both good for learning tricks and for pushing your skating. Some are easy, such as the 2 set up to the covered area, whilst others are hard to skate-a steep flat bank next to the fun box and a bigger stair set near one entrance to the park. There are also some good skaters here, and I've already seen some good stuff thrown down (hard flip off the kicker and over the gap, blunt stall flip out on the flat bank...) The skaters who frequent this park are all very friendly and helpful, and there is no feeling of intruding on their session. Games of skate are a common thing at the park, I've played countless games against different people since I've been here, so get learning some strange tricks to catch people out with! The location of the park next to the river means it stays slightly cooler than other parts of the city, and with the water and some greenery it really feels that you have got out of the city (despite the park only being a ten minute skate from the centre). This is definitely the place to come to meet other skaters in the city, however don't expect it to be full all day. Due to the heat and the general Spanish way of life people don't usually start showing up until around 6 or 7 in the evening at the earliest, however due to the floodlights and the cooler temperatures sessions can go on late into the evening.

There is also another park I have found set in the lower end of one of the bigger parks of the city 'el parque de los jesuitas'. This park is smaller than the main one by the river, but has concrete features and some transitions so if you are more into ramps than street skating this could be a better option for you. The park has a couple of quarter pipes, a small concrete launch pad and some flat banks linked to one of the quarter pipes to act as a kind of fun box. This isn't the easiest park to skate which makes any tricks landed that bit more impressive. This park is generally quieter than the main skate park, though I'm sure with the right crew a good session could go down there. There are also basketball and football pitches right next to it, and a bar in the middle of the park if you feel like you need a bit of refreshment!

One of the best street spots I have seen is on the main shopping street of Salamanca, the 'Calle Toro' by the side of the church of 'San Juan de Sahagun'. Though right next to the church I have never seen skaters get any trouble skating here. The spot consists of consecutive 2 and 3 sets with well waxed ledges next to each one. This is a good spot for learning new tricks down stair sets and for trying to put lines together down the stair sets or with the ledges. This spot is easy to find and right next to a supermarket. Not that I've tried but I would imagine Sundays to be a no go as Spain is a very religious country, but I can't say for sure!

There are many other waxed ledges of varying heights dotted around the city as well. One I've spotted is on the Rua Mayor as part of a statue/monument. It has both a tall straight ledge and a curved one to try some tricks on.

In terms of equipment there are 2 main skate shops in Salamanca, both close to each other in between the 'Calle de Toro' and 'Gran Via'. 'First Love' seems to be the main skate shop, stocking everything you need to get set up and with a range of clothing from brands such as Element, DC and Vans. Check out their website here for more information and some videos and pictures. The other skate store nearby is called 'K-Lab'. Compared to 'First Love' it seems more of an all round outdoor extreme sports shop selling snowboard equipment and clothing as well as skate stuff. See their website here for more info and an idea into the kind of things they sell. A bit further out of the city you can also buy complete skateboards, penny style cruisers, long boards and skate clothing from brands such as DC and Hurley at the 'Corte Ingles' on 'Calle de Maria Auxiliadora'. This is a big department store and the sports section is on the 5th floor.

I hope that this gives you a good introduction to skateboarding in Salamanca. If you are a skater and are debating whether or no to bring your board, do it! Maybe I'll see you down at the skate park for a game of skate some time this summer!

¡Buenos Días!

Hi there! My name is Joe and I have just started the intern programme at Tía Tula in Salamanca, and have had a great time in my first few days! I am undertaking the intern programme here as part of my year abroad for my 3rd year of university studies. As well as gaining experience working in a different culture and in an office environment, I am here to improve my communication, marketing and of course my Spanish language skills!

I arrived on Sunday evening and was met at my student flat by the landlord and introduced to my other flatmates. All were really friendly and welcoming and I instantly felt at home. The flat is perfectly situated behind the church of 'San Juan de Sahagun,'  just off the 'Calle de Toro' (the street of bulls) which is the main shopping street in the city centre and less than a ten minute walk to the language school!

Tía Tula is a fairly small language school with small class sizes, and for that it reason it has a close 'family' feel to it. With lots of young teachers and students of all ages it's easy to meet new like-minded people! Everyone is very friendly and helpful and always willing to stop what they are doing to give you a hand if you have any problems. I haven't once felt bed for asking a question, even if it's something as simple as 'where's a good place to get breakfast?' (there is a great little pastry shop just across the road from the school that sells all kinds of amazing croissants!)

Though I have been here less than a week I already feel settled in Salamanca. It is a small city, thus easy to get everywhere on foot, with lots of impressive architecture, a rich history and a great nightlife there are all kinds of things to explore and discover here! The people here are very friendly and easy to talk to, and will always try and help if they see you struggling with a word or phrase. Further to this Salamanca has the purist form of spoken Spanish in Spain with no regional accent to confuse you!

I will be here for the next three months and will do my best to give you an insight into some of the fun things to do Salamanca that has on offer, as well as a bit of Spanish culture and history. Until then, ¡hasta pronto!