Valladolid 2010 Fair and Fiestas.

The fiestas of Valladolid start on September 3 and run all the way to September 12. There is a fabulous program of activities, with an amusement fair, concerts, exhibits, theater shows, parades, contests, sports tournaments, markets, book crossings,  games, dancing, food and wine tasting and lots more.

The entire city celebrates, as there are activities in every neighborhood and many plazas and parks become stages for performances, dancers, magicians, singers and more. Many of our friends, such as Teo Vargas and Paco Diez and the Association of Mexican Residents,  will be performing in different shows or participating in various parades and competitions. This year, Valladolid will try to set a new Guiness record for the largest group of people waving flags on the evening of September 5.

One of the highlights of these fiestas is the possibility of going on a tapa and pincho tour as nearly a  hundred restaurants and bars open mini outdoor branches where you can taste some of their specialities and have a drink for only 2,50 €. This is a very popular option for lunch and dinner with friends and you can go from one place to the next sampling all kinds of delicacies.

Major national and international artists perform for free at the Plaza Mayor and you can dance the nights away with live orchestras and rock gorups at the park of Campo Grande.

Stay tuned to tweeter for our daily updates on the fiestas. This is our link: http://twitter.com/Spaincourses.

At the Francisco Pino school.

We began our work day with a visit to the Francisco Pino Early Childhood and Elementary School of Parquesol, Valladolid. When we arrived there, the members of the pedagogical staff of the summer program explained for us the program objectives, the student body they serve, the organization and main activities.

Reviewing materials

During our visit we were able to review the classroom materials of various grades, the work calendars and the space organization and distribution of the center.

Observing group activities.

We were also able to observe the work being done in various classrooms, with different age groups.

With Raul, Coordinator of the Summer program.

Raul, the program coordinator was a great host who showed us the entire center and answered our many questions and inquiries.

At the viewpoint of the castle.

After the visit, we travelled to Burgos. We began our visit at the castle, atop of the hill to enjoy the wonderful panoramic views of the city and its monuments.

In the cathedral.

We had a guided visit of the Cathedral, during which we were able to see the various chapels, comment on the restoration work currently in progress and enjoy the many art treasures kept in the church.

After this visit, we had time to take a walk around the city, do some shopping and see the main buildings in the old town.

At the House of the Shells.

We spent this day in Salamanca. We had a wonderful, sunny day during which we visited many different monuments and museums. We began our visit at the cultural center of the House of the Shells.

Inside the cathedral.

We climbed to the top of the tower of the cathedral and we enjoyed the views of the city and of the interior of the New Cathedral. We found the astronaut carved on one of the side façades.

At the University.

In the University we visited the historic classrooms and the library and the Schools Courtyard.

In front of the University.

Of course, we looked for the frog in the façade of the University and we visited the Casa Lis museum, with its splendid collection of Art Noveau and Art Deco objects. Without any question this is one of the finest collections of its kind in Spain, housed in a unique setting.

We enjoyed a great meal and we visited the Plaza Mayor and the shopping streets of the city. On the way home, we made a brief stop in Tordesillas to visit its picturesque Plaza Mayor and the Houses where the historical Tordesillas Treaty was signed.