We are very proud to announce that “La Gaceta de Salamanca,” a local newspaper in Salamanca, recently published in November 2009 a letter written (in Spanish!) by a don Quijote student.

Here’s the letter as it appeared (in Spanish) in the newspaper.
(No corrections has been made to the Spanish; an English translation is provided at the bottom)

Hope you find it as amusing as we did!

A mi ladrón de bicicleta… ¡Muchas gracias!

Estimado director,

Llevo un mes estudiando español en Salamanca (en la esuela Don Quijote) y me he llevado un pequeño disgusto que me gustaría contarle. Vengo de Suiza para mejorar mi español en la ciudad más famosa del mundo por su idioma. ¡Y aquí estoy, en Salamanca!

Hace algunos días alquilé una bicicleta a “los amigos de la bici”, la dejé en la entrada de mi edificio… Pero el otro día desapareció.
Es extraordinario como un acontecimiento desagradable con los que en una situación normal nunca hubiera hablado. Pregunté a Miguel, lleva una librería no lejos de mi casa, si había visto una persona en bici, es tan raro en Salamanca… Hablé con la escuela donde estoy estudiando, y finalmente lo denuncié a la policía. De repente, me di cuenta de que nunca había hablado con tantos Salmantinos! No olvidarlo, estoy aquí para eso, practicar la lengua de Cervantes, de Contador (vencedor del último “tour de France”), del rey Juan-Carlos (esto tipo me gusta mucho, tiene clase) y también de Franco (éste está bien donde está).

Querido ladrón, le agradezco de todo corazón su estimada ayuda en mi aprendizaje. Espero que usted haga un buen uso de esta bicicleta. Hay un paseo que puedo aconsejarle: Empieza en el barrio de Pradillo, enfrente de la comisaría, bordea el río Tormes, cruza el puente romano, y se dirige hacia el parque de la Huerta de Otea ¿Quizás nos encontremos? Hago regularmente esté paseo… corriendo.

Cordialmente,
Marc SCHWITTER

_______________________________________________

To my bicycle thief... many thanks!

Dear editor:

I’ve been studying Spanish in Salamanca for a month (at the Don Quijote school), and suffered a small displeasure which I would like to tell you about. I come from Switzerland to improve my Spanish in a city famed around the world for its language. And here I am, in Salamanca!

I had rented a bicycle from “los amigos de la bici” a few days ago, left it at the entrance of my building… but discovered it missing the other day.
It is remarkable how this unpleasant event - which in a regular situation I would not have spoken to anyone - led me to ask Miguel, who runs a library not far from my house, if he had seen anyone riding a bicycle, an unusual sight in Salamanca… I also spoke with the school where I am studying at, finally reporting the robbery to the police. Suddenly, I realized that I had never spoken to that many Salmantinos before! Don’t forget, I am here for that, to practice the language of Cervantes, of Contador (winner of the latest “tour de France”), of King Juan-Carlos (I like this guy, he’s got class!) and also of Franco (this guy is better where he’s at).

Dear thief, I appreciate with all of my heart your esteemed help towards my learning. I hope you make good use of that bicycle. There’s a route I would like to recommend to you: Start off in the Pradillo neighborhood just in front of the Police Station, follow along the border of the River Tormes, cross the Roman bridge and head towards the park of Huerta de Otea. Perhaps we shall meet as I regularly make this route… running.

Sincerely,
Marc SCHWITTER

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Christmas course dates: 21/12/2009 to 3/1/2010

 Cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Tenerife, Valencia, Alicante, Granada, Marbella, Sevilla and Guanajuato (Mexico)
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If you are staying in

Toledo is found almost directly in the centre of Spain and is the capital of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha. The old city is located on a mountainside with 150 degree view, and surrounded on 3 sides by a bend in the river Tagus. The historic centre contains a beautiful and fascinating blend of Roman, Arabic and Baroque architecture. This is not surprising considering that the city was famed in the past for its religious tolerance, and was often known as "The City of Three Cultures" since it has been inhabited throughout the centuries by Christians, Jews and Arabs.

However, in more recent history it has been subject to conflict, particularly between the Republicans and the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. This principally took place in the Alcázar of Toledo, a stone fortification that was held by the Nationalists during the Civil War, and became a symbol of Spanish Nationalism. However, it now houses the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Library and Army musem.

Other remains of its multi-cultural past can still be seen today, such as the Roman aquaduct, the Cathedral, the Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca and the old Market street. This amalgamation of influences even attracted the famous Renaissance artist "El Greco" who moved to the city at the end of the 16th century when Toledo was one of the biggest cities in Europe.

Toledo is also famed for its production of swords, which seem to be available for purchase in almost every shop, in a variety of sizes and even foam replicas for children! And keep a look out for the coats of armour which also seemed to be on sale!

Toledo is less than half an hour from Madrid on one of the high speed trains, or a longer coach ride away from Salamanca. When we arrived by coach we were taken on a panoramic tour of the city, with the opportunity to stop and take some beautiful photos looking down at the river, and up at the historic centre and Alcázar. We then took a series of escalators up to the historic city centre, which seemed very bizarre in such an old town!

Toledo was a very interesting city and well-worth a visit!

As we’re approaching the end of October we are well into the autumn season. At this time of year many people start to think and talk about the upcoming festivities of Christmas. In other countries the buzz of Christmas can be seen from the start of September as all the shops fill up with Christmas stock. However Christmas in Spain is very different as no trace of it is seen until the month in which it is celebrated, December. The shop windows in Spain are decorated with minimal effort being made and very few people decorate the window or balcony. The traditional Belén (Nativity scene) that is set up in most Spanish homes in place of a Christmas tree is not brought out until the second half of December. This is because Christmas in Spain is less commercialized and focuses more on family and true spirit of Christmas.

Also being a largely catholic country Christmas time in Spain holds lots of religious connotations. The Belén that is set up in houses is sometimes, in some cities of Spain, made real-life and the locals make live belénes using real people to play the roles of the Virgin Mary, Joseph, Balthazar, Melchior, Gaspar (the 3 Kings) and a real baby as the newborn Jesus. This symbolic representation is also carried out in parts of Latin America, for example Christmas in Mexico, the procession of Las Posadas (The search for an inn) can be seen through the streets re-enacted by the people of the town.

In Spain the traditional Christmas dinner takes place on the night of the Nochebuena or Christams Eve. The Spanish consider it to be the biggest and most important meal of the year, hence celebrate the occasion in large family gatherings. The Spanish do not do things by halves preparing a feast is prepared with fish and shellfish usually as starters, then a roasted lamb or a suckling pig as the main, and this sometimes depends on the region.  The dessert is a mix of delicacies consisting of the traditional mazapán (marzipan cakes), turrónes (hard or soft almond based candy nougats)and polvorónes (delicate “dusty” almond cookies). Spanish champagne or cava is typically drunk this time of year, but plenty of fine Spanish wines and ciders are also uncorked for the celebrations.

Christmas day itself is quite a low-key affair in Spain and the majority of businesses are closed. However there are a few that stay open, mainly restaurants or bars in which many Spanish eat on the 25th December. Adults exchange gifts on Christmas day whereas the children wait till the 6^th January to get their presents from Los Tres Reyes Magos (The three Kings), with the exception of Catalan children who receive them from El Tió Nadal, a wooden log with a drawn on happy face.

Experiencing Christmas in Spain is a different experience and why not do it combined with a Christmas Spanish course to truly to get the most from Christmas!