Extracurricular activities 21.03.2016 - 27.03.2016

We love the activities! We enjoy it and we discover more about Salamanca, keep improving your Spanish! :)

Monday 21, Scala Coeli - 6.25 pm: come with us to discover our beautiful city from “La Clerecía”, you will enjoy the amazing sights of Salamanca!

Approximate duration: 30 min.

Tuesday 22, Workshop cards - 5:45 pm: In “Atentamente” shop you will make your own postcard, you can chose the design you want! a new funny and creative activity!

Approximate duration: 1h

Wednesday 23, Chocolate with churros - 8:30 am: A typical Spanish breakfast, start the day with full energy!

Approximate duration: 40min

Maundy Thursday 24: Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday and Thursday of Mysteries) is the Christian holy day, falling on the Thursday before Easter.

Good Friday 25: Good Friday is a religious holiday, observed primarily by Christians, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. 

From Thursday to Sunday, Trips – We have some great destinations for this bank holyday’s excursion!

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 31.08.2015 - 06.09.2015

August is already ending, but we are ready to welcome September with a lot of fun activities!

Monday 31, 5:30 pm: Guided tour – Accompanied by teacher Lorena, we will go to visit the principal monuments of Salamanca.

Approximate duration: 1h

Tuesday 1, 5:00 pm: Scavenger hunt – Cultural and photographic gymkhana. Come discover really interesting things about Salamanca.

Approximate duration: 1h30

Wednesday 2, 6:00 pm: Merienda – Let's go have an afternoon snack (merienda) at Café Bar Mandala. They offer a wide range of juices, coffees, cakes, tapas, ice-creams... 

Approximate duration: 1h

Thursday 3, 6:50 pm: Tapas – The casetas are opening, come and taste their pinchos and experience the atmosphere of the Feria. 

Approximate duration: 1h
Take a look at this article to see the concerts scheduled for the Salamanca Ferias y Fiestas 2015.

Friday 4, 6:20 pm: Scala Coeli – We will going up the Clerecía's towers to see the panoramic view.

Approximate duration: 40 min.

Saturday 5 y Sunday 6: Excursions – We have a range of trips for the perfect end to the week! Please ask our secretary for more information.

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 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.

Activities 9.3.2015 - 14.3.2015

Spring is around the corner and you can already feel it. Enjoy the nice weather and keep practising your Spanish outside the classroom with our fun activities:

Monday 9, 6:00 pm: Monument – Come enjoy the spectacular views from the towers of La Clerecía – Scala Coeli . Approximate duration: 40 min.

Tuesday 10, 7:45 pm: Language exchange – By popular request, the language exchange is back. The perfect opportunity to meet people and improve your Spanish speaking skills. Approximate duration: 1 h 30 min

Wednesday 11, 7:30 pm: Cookery class – Do you want to surprise your friends a family with a delicious paella once you are back home? Well, the first step is to learn with a Spanish teacher ;-) Approximate duration: 1 h.

Thursday 12, 5:50 pm: Workshop: celebrations and music in Salamanca – By the always joyful Carmen, one of our teachers. Approximate duration: 1 h 15 min.

Friday 13, 7:45 pm: Tapas tour – Taste mouth-watering tapas in some of the best bars of the city centre. Approximate duration: 1 h 30 min.

Saturday 14: Excursions – Several destinations available. Further information at the reception desk. 

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

And don't hesitate to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun (that is guaranteed) but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you learn in class.

Activities 19.1.2015 - 24.1.2015

This week you will have the chance to contemplate a spectacular view over the city from the towers of La Clerecía, learn how to cook paella and converse with Spaniards in a relaxed ambiance in a language exchange. But there is more. Check all the activities we have prepared:

Monday 19, 17:00: Monument Scala Coeli: We will climb the towers of La Clerecía to delight ourselves with its spectacular panoramic views over Salamanca. Approximate duration: 45 min.

Tuesday 20, 18:30: Cookery class – We will learn how to cook a delicious paella. Approximate duration: 1 h.

Wednesday 21, 18:15: Cinema – Come with us to Cines Van Dyck to enjoy a film of your choosing at a reduced rate. Duration depends on the film you choose.

Thursday 22, 18:50: Exhibition - We will visit the exhibition "Destierro/Des-cielo. Unamuno, de París a la República. 1924-1930" on the famous writer Unamuno, very connected to Salamanca. Approximate duration: 45 min.

Friday 23, 19:45: Language exchange - Practise the Spanish you have learnt in class at our language exchange. We will go to a bar where you will meet Spaniards who are learning English. Approximate duration: 1 h.

Saturday 24: Excursion - Sevilla, Granada or Portugal, which one do you prefer? Further information at the reception desk. Don't forget to sign up by 14 h on Wednesday.

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

And don't hesitate to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun (that is guaranteed) but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you learn in class.

Being on a clock in Salamanca: 36 hours in the city

Some people think that being a tourist is a very relaxed activity and for some it actually may be. However, if you want to see ‘all there is to see’ and you only have a limited period of time, sightseeing might become a race and thus almost a sport in its own right. Do not be fooled, walking around and up and down the city (depends on what city you are visiting) is no easy task. A friend of mine came to visit me this weekend and unfortunately she could only stay a day and a half. Salamanca has a lot of things to offer, more than you can visit in 36 hours (unless you want to be sightseeing from 8am to 10pm without stopping for food).  The 2 things you simply must visit are the Cathedrals as well as Plaza Mayor. However, visiting these two doesn't mean that you've seen it all, it simply means that you won’t be chased by ghosts when leaving the city. 

I prepared a small ‘plan’ of basic things that in my opinion should be on anyone’s list. I didn't want her to feel overwhelmed, after all, she came here to relax and not to run around trying to do it all. The places I suggested were: Ieronimus, Scala Coeli and El Huerto de Calixto y Melibea (if you'd like more information about this garden have a look at our earlier article here).

Ieronimus is a permanent exhibition through the medieval towers of the Old and New Cathedrals where you can become familiar with their construction and history as well as with the interior of the cathedrals as seen from the inner platform. Also worth mentioning are the amazing views you can enjoy from the surrounding terraces and the towers themselves. 

Another exhibition, Scala Coeli, invites you to discover the two towers belonging to the ‘Clerecia’, a building directly opposite to ‘La Casa de las Conchas’ (The House of Shells). The view from the towers is breath-taking and you can see the New Cathedral from a slightly different perspective than you are used to. You will also get to see one side of Plaza Mayor which you are not accustomed to (you might not even realise it is Plaza Mayor at first). 

And as you might be a little bit exhausted after climbing all of the stairs (although it’s totally worth it), you might want to go have a look at Casa Lis, a Museum Art Nouveau and Art Déco, where you can see some interesting collections of glass and porcelain dolls and have a coffee at a quite unusual and charming café. And if you are only in town visiting there’s a well-stocked gift shop which has a different assortment than the rest of the tourist shops.

Although it is nice to explore the city by wandering around, sometimes it is just not possible and then you need to have a ‘plan’ or at least a doable list of things you would like to see and activities you’d like to do. I think that if you only have a limited time to spend in Salamanca then these things should be on your list. However, most importantly, do not forget to enjoy your time (relax) and feel Salamanca’s atmosphere. After all, that’s what travelling is about. 

Activities 11/08/14-17/08/14

We have another great timetable of activities planned for you this week. Come and soak up some Spanish culture with a trip to see a Spanish film on Tuesday or a paella and tapas cooking class on Wednesday. Enjoy one of the best views of Salamanca from the top of the clergy tower on Monday, or come and sample some of the local tapas delicacies in some of the best bars in the centre of the city on Thursday. We are making use of the national holiday this Friday by offering you an excursion to visit three cities of Portugal on a two night trip, as well as a trip to France on Saturday and the chance to relax on the beaches of Portugal on Sunday. Plenty to keep you busy this week!

Monday 11th: Cathedral Visit. We will visit the 'Scala Coeli', going up the tower of the cathedral to enjoy the great views it offers over the city from above. Meeting place: Tía Tula, 18:45. Approximate duration 45min.

Tuesday 12th: Cinema. We will take you to see the Spanish film '3 Bodas Más' (Three Many Weddings) at a local cinema. Ruth, a young researcher in a university, attends the weddings of her ex-boyfriends who were the 'men of her life' at one stage, but without finding the soul mate she is looking for. Is there something bad about your ex getting married and inviting you to the wedding? Yes, if it happens to you three times in a month, and you don't know how to say no, and if the only person who is persuading you to go is the new man in your life. Meeting place: Tía Tula 19:45 (we will take you to the cinema). Duration of the film, 94min.

Wednesday 13th: Cooking class. We will go to learn how to make the famous Spanish dish Paella and one other tapas dish, and afterwards we will eat what we have made. Meeting place: Tía Tula 18:45. Approximate duration 1h.

Thursday 14th: Tapas tour. We will go to 2 or 3 of the best tapas bars in the centre of the city to try some of the typical Salamancan tapas on offer. Meeting place: Tía Tula 19:30. Approximate duration, 1h30.

Friday 15th: Excursion. We will be running a trip to Portugal visiting the cities of Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais. The trip includes 2 nights in a hotel and breakfast each morning. For more information contact reception. It is important to let the secretary know if you are interested by Wednesday 13th at 14:00.

Saturday 16th:  Excursion. We will be taking you to the French Sierra to experience some of the culture there for the day. For more information contact reception. It is important to let the secretary know if you are interested by Wednesday 13th at 14:00.

Sunday 17th: Excursion. We will be taking you to the city of Aveiro in Portugal to enjoy a day relaxing on the beach. For more information contact reception. It is important to let the secretary know if you are interested by Wednesday 13th at 14:00.

*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 beforehand. Minimum 3 people for each activity unless otherwise stated.

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.

Activities 13/01 - 17/01

Monday, 13th of January, 17:30: Movie: EL ORFANATO /THE ORPHANAGE Guillermo del Toro (2007) A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend. Location: Tía Tula - Film Duration: 100 min

Tuesday, 14th of January, 19:30: Night walk. We will walk through the beautiful streets of Salamanca to observe the stunning pictures that the monuments in the dark will give us. Location: Tia Tula - Approximate Length: 45 min. 

Wednesday,15th of January, 16:45: SCALA COELI. Climb the towers: a unique Stairway to Heaven, you can enjoy spectacular views of the city from the top. Price: 3,75€ Location: Tia Tula - Approximate Length: 45 min.

Thursday, 16th of January, 9:00: Breakfast: CHOCOLATE CHURROS We are gonna have breakfast in the cafetaria: El valor, the typical chocolate with churros Price: 4€ Location: Tía Tula - Approximate duration: 1h

Friday, 17th of January, 20:30: TAPAS route. We'll go to different bars in the centre where we enjoy the Spanish custom of eating tapas Price: + - € 6 Location: Tia Tula - Approximate duration: 1h30

Remember to sign up for the activity at the reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend that our students participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.