Term Abroad (Extended): Week 15

Hi chums!

I have just finished my final week studying in León and am now at home in the good ol' UK.


Life

Not much happened this week apart from getting ready to go home. I was really sad to leave León but I am happy to be home and spend some time with my fam!


Language

So this week I unfortunately had to do a presentation as an assessment for my oral classes. We each had to do a presentation about an autonomous region of Spain, so I chose Catalonia, and luckily it wasn't too horrific!

Travel

On Wednesday we set off to Gordoncillo to see the vineyards and to do a wine tasting (I don't drink so I just watched and chilled). It was really interesting to see how wine is made and to walk through the vineyard.



After that we went to a small town nearby and visited a bullring and had some dinner. It was a really cute trip to round off all my travelling and sightseeing whilst I've been in Spain.



*     *     *

This will be my last weekly term abroad post. I have had the most amazing time and have loved being in León. 


Love as always,

Emma
xxx

A Weekend in Segovia

Hi chums!

This past weekend I went to Segovia, which is north-west of Madrid. Even though it's not massive there is still a few major things to see, the first being the aqueduct. 


The aqueduct is so impressive and was even more fun to see after studying it in my History of Art classes. There is always a good crowd of people around the aqueduct so I had a fab time people-watching.



On Saturday I arrived mid-afternoon, so after visiting the aqueduct I headed to the cathedral.




You can pay to go up the cathedral which is well worth it - and if you're a student you get a discount so it's really a win-win situation!




There are so many cool buildings in Segovia so I literally had my camera out all the time. One of my favourite buildings I saw was Casa de los Picos (below).





The thing I was most excited to do was to visit the Alcázar de Segovia. This palace is supposedly what Sleeping Beauty's castle was based on so my inner-Disney was freaking out.


I went to visit the palace on Sunday and had the best weather. The palace is so pretty and I really enjoyed going inside and taking a tonne of pics.




The rooms of the palace have a medieval and kind of gothic-style feel to them. It definitely gave me major sleeping beauty vibes and I was just waiting to bump into Prince Phillip. (update: I didn't *sniff sniff*)




The views from the palace were amazing and you can also pay to go up the tower where you get even better views.





This (below) is a view of Segovia and the cathedral from the palace tower.



After I left the palace I headed back to the centre. I had no idea where I was going but I just kept looking for the cathedral which is so crazy massive you can't even miss it.






In the afternoon it was so hot so I sat on the grass by the aqueduct and chilled for a bit until I had to go to the station to catch my train.


Segovia is so beautiful and I'm glad I got to visit before I left Spain because I has been on my list forever.

If you ever go to Madrid and have a spare day, I would definitely recommend checking it out. You only really need one full day here, to do the palace, cathedral, aqueduct and to wander around, but it is well worth it!

Love as always,

Emma
xxx

Term Abroad (Extended): Week 14

Hi chums!

This week was my second last week and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone! I have been super busy this week which is what I love.


Life

This week I watched a film called Ocho Apellidos Vascos and the actress looked so much like Kendall Jenner at certain angles it was unreal.


Language

So we are 3 weeks in now and I have finally got my gym card!! Every time I've been to the gym I've had to wait in line to ask if I could get it but the machine was always broken and I was so embarrassed to ask them again and again. But it's all ok now, folks! Help has come in the form of a plastic card with a horrific picture of yours truly.


Looking back on it though, even though it's been a pain it has made me speak way more than if I had got it on the first day. Instead of slipping past the man or woman at the front desk, swiping my card with finesse and cruising through the turn style (ok, so I probs would have awkwardly stumbled through after swiping my card wrong several times and then being stressed because someone was waiting behind me), I actually had to face my worst fears and talk to someone. Such horror, but I did it!

Travel

This week I did two trips, the first was with the uni and we went to see some monasteries close to León and then later we had a picnic-dinner by the river while the sun was setting.




The second was a weekend trip to Segovia. I arrived mid afternoon on Saturday and left in the evening on Sunday. I had an amazing time wandering round and taking loads of pics.


The real highlights for me were the aqueduct and the Alcázar de Segovia. Both are so amazing and I'm so glad I got the chance to visit them.


*     *     *


Only one more week left now - ahhhh! I'm really looking forward to my last five days of classes but I'm not gonna lie I am mildly stressed out about packing all my stuff up and moving out on Saturday. But it's all good. I'm definitely calm. I think hope!

Love as always,

Emma
xxx

A Sunday in Salamanca

Hi chums!

Since I've been on my term abroad in León, I've really, really wanted to go to Salamanca. 


I've been to Salamanca three times before, ironically all in the same year (2015): a weekend with my Span fam (au pairing) in July, a two week Spanish language course in August, and another week at the same language school in October. So I think it's safe to say I really like it there!


This trip was organised by the Centro de Idiomas at the Universidad de León, where I am currently studying. They are really good with organising trips, so last Sunday around 30/40 of us all got a bus to Salamanca.


We were dropped off at the Roman Bridge and headed across to explore the city.




We visited a garden which I had never been to before, but I would really recommend checking it out if you go to Salamanca - especially in summer because the flowers are beeeautiful!












Next stop was the cathedral and university buildings which are all built in this old yellowy stone and I am OBsessed.



On the 'fachada' (above) you are meant to try and spot the frog. Traditionally if students found the frog then they would do well in their exams. Unfortunately due to bad eyesight and general overlooking and ignorance I had to be shown where the frog was (I guess my exam future isn't looking too bright right now...!!!) 





A trip to Salamanca isn't complete without visiting the Casa de las Conchas aka. the coolest shell wall you ever did see. 


After an hour or so of walking around we finally made it to the Plaza Mayor. Of all the cities I've been to in Spain, I think my favourite Plaza Mayor is the one in Salamanca. It is so pretty and also looks amazing at night when it's all lit up and magical.




Whilst most people pulled up a chair to watch the World Cup Final of France vs. Croatia, I went up the cathedral because why not.


I've been up the cathedral twice before but it never gets old! The building is amazing and the views are fab.







The very last stop of the day was la iglesia de San Sebastian. This is a cute little church on the edge of the main part of town.




After a long and super fun day we hopped back on the bus and started the drive back to León - I'm pretty sure I fell asleep before we even left Salamanca!

I have just one weekend left in Spain now before heading home to England for a while. I have my final trip planned, so be sure to check out blog posts on that next week.

Love as always,

Emma
xxx

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