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.

Today we had a very different activity in the Seminar’s program. During our visit to the Jorge Guillen Early Childhood and Elementary School, and thanks to the kindness of the Summer Program Coordinator, Martha Gutierrez, the participants in the Seminar, instead of observing the activities, led them, sharing a little bit of their country of origin with the children in the program.

Nallely Ruiz telling a traditional story.

For example, Nallely Gutierrez, from Veracruz, Mexico, told a traditional story, shared with the children phrases in various indigenous languages and taught them how to play the traditional Mexican lottery game.

Playing Mexican Lottery.

Lilia Gomez, from Queretaro, Mexico, taught different songs and games to the groups she visited. The “rabbit” game was very successful among all.

Lilia Gomez explaining a game.

Libertad Ruiz, from Queretaro, Mexico, shared games and songs with all the groups. The “chicken” song will surely be heard among the children for the weeks to come…

Libertad Ruiz leading the "chicken"

Josefina Arellano, also from Queretaro, Mexico, taught the children all the steps needed to dance the “Marcha de Zacatecas”.

Josefina Arellano leading the "Marcha de Zacatecas".

Thanks to the excellent coordination of Martha Gutierrez and her team, the activity was a great success. We are very thankful to them for their hospitality and enthusiasm.

Participants in the program with Martha Gutierrez and Guadalupe Vidal.

We then proceeded to the El Peral Early Childhood and Elementary School where there was a great surprise waiting for us. The Summer Program Coordinator, Nuria Pinacho, showed us the brand new facilities of the school that are truly outstanding. We were able to see the children enjoying their recess time and returning to their classrooms to carry on with their regular activities. And, at the end of the visit, one of the youngest groups sang for us the traditional birthday song of “Las Mananitas” that they had prepared especially for us. So, they had the first half of the song and the participants in the Seminar sang the second half and, then, altogether, we sang the complete song.

Participants with Nuria Pinacho.

This was a truly interesting and enriching visit and we are very thankful to the team of leaders and Nuria for their kindness.

In the afternoon, we visited Peñafiel, to see the castle, the Wine Museum, the Plaza del Coso, the church of San Pablo and the picturesque streets and plazas of that town.