Ripe for the picking

On Friday night I attended a BBQ of paella hosted by Sonja and Mouta (owners of the school) and some of the other students who are taking classes at the Spanish School of La Herradura,  Spain. 

It was located on a lovely farm in the mountains overlooking La Herradura.  There, Olaf (of Norway) grows avocados and olives.  He told me that avocados ripen after they are picked so he is able to harvest them whenever he chooses.  He said in the US and most places the grower will pick them as soon as they ripen on the tree but if you leave them longer they develop a deeper and richer taste.  I found it interesting to learn that they don't spoil on the tree and can be plucked at will without worry of spoilage from leaving them too long.  I think language acquisition is the same way.  If you have patience with the process you will develop a deeper, richer competence with the language.  If you leave it go for awhile as I did by taking 28 years off between first learning the language and the present day when I am actively using it - I found that it has not spoiled.  It is always there for the picking.

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La Alhambra- The Red Palace

As I mentioned earlier I first came to the Spanish school of La Herradura with my then twelve year old daughter Shannon as a chaperone for her 7th and 8th grade classmates.  Our group flew into Barcelona spending two nights there before traveling by plane to Granada.  On our second day in Granada we were met by Sonja and Mouta who provided us with a personal tour of La Alhambra.

One of the benefits of being a student at the Spanish school of La Herradura is that one can participate in organized excursions to places of historical and cultural interests such as La Alhambra. 

Built during the time that the Nasrid dynasty ruled Granada, between 1238-1492 La Alhambra was a palace intended to communicate the power and protection of a fortress while providing the residents - the Nasrid Sultans, top government officials, court servants and the royal guard with an environment consistent with an image of paradise.  Simple materials of plaster, timber and tiles were used,  however the intricate detailing and fine workmanship made it a extraordinary example of Spanish-Islamic architecture. Washington Irving wrote, "Tales of the Alhambra" in 1832 if you are interested in learning more about this fascinating place and period in Spanish history.



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email info@spanish-school-herradura.com