Would you like to study Spanish this spring on the shores of the Pacific Ocean or on the warm waters of the Caribbean?

Now’s your chance! Learn Spanish and get to know Mexico at an exceptional price!

Mexico's awaiting! Don’t wait to sign up!

Request a FREE brochure and shout “¡Viva Mexico!”

Conditions:
- Offer cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires November 27, 2009.

Book your accommodation in our don Quijote Barcelona Residence before 27 November 2009 , and receive a 20% discount!

Contact a Course Counsellor.
Get a free brochure of our programs and prices.

Conditions:
-Offer applies to accommodation in don Quijote Barcelona only.
-Offer is cumulative only with "Living Spanish in Barcelona" offer.
-Offer must be requested at time of booking.
-Offer subject to availability. Expires November 27, 2009.

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!

City:
      Buenos Aires
 Course length:4 weeks, anytime in 2009-2010
 Discount:USD$100
 Enroll by: 29 October 2009
 Offer ends:29 October 2009

Conditions:
- Offer applicable only to our Buenos Aires school.
- Bookings and full payment must be received by 29 October 2009.
- Offer cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.

Get more details about this offer!