Being Me on the Mediterranean Sea

"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.  The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."  Passage taken from "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin. 

Today I went kayaking with Irene from Holland.  She is a fellow student at the school, who like me has traveled here alone to study Spanish.  She is a life long learner and enjoys studying.  She scheduled 2 hours of private lessons for herself a day and is staying in an apartment that Sonja rents to her that is only a 12 minute walk to the school.  For only 15 euros each we rented a double kayak and paddled around the ""Cerro Gordo" to kayak into the cave.  This was a small cave where apparently as history goes, smugglers brought in contraband like cigarettes and alcohol as recently as thirty years ago and hid it there for it's recovery by boat. 

The school of La Herradura also sets up group  kayaking excursions for students of the school at Windsurf La Herradura that is located perhaps 300 yards down the beach from where the school is located.  You can't miss it as it is the only blue building on the beach.

Windsurf La Herradura also rents paddle boards by the hour.  I watched the sun set while paddleboarding one evening. 

www.spanish-school-herradura
email info@spanish-school-herradura.com

Espana Play Day

On display at the art exhibit at the Civic Center in La Herradura

FIESTA NACIONAL DE ESPANA

October 12th was a national holiday here -  "Fiesta Nacional de Espana."  It is the day that recognizes Christopher Columbus' arrival to the New World on October 12, 1492.  It was first celebrated in Madrid in 1935.  While most of Spain does not "celebrate" per se but rather enjoys a quiet day of not working, there is a military parade in Madrid every year to mark the holiday.  The parade is presided over by the king of Spain and also the prime minister.  Foreign diplomats are invited to attend and the Spanish air force aerobatics team performs for the crowd.

Here in La Herradura the beach was filled with families enjoying LA PLAYA.  I was caught off guard to walk into town and find that all the shops, supermarkets and stores were closed.  I was told that on Sunday everything would return to normal.  Not knowing that normal on Sundays meant that most business are closed as well, I found myself without shampoo for a day.  I don't think anyone noticed.

How nice it was to be 80 degrees and sunny for the Spanish holiday.

Estoy aqui!

Estoy aqui! (I am here!)

I am here!  For me the Spanish school of La Herradura is a destination.  The name of the school includes the location for a reason.  There is no better place to study Spanish than here in this coastal town in Spain.  The setting is stunning and absolutely glorious.  As I write this under the protection of a canopy on the patio of El Bambu restaurant on the beach I am overcome with a sense of gratitude for all that I am experiencing.

My view outward is of sunny, blue skies, sparkling waters, people relaxing on the beach, a fisherman with four poles with lines cast hoping for a catch with the coastal mountains framing the beach giving the town the reason for it's name - La Herradura (horseshoe).

My view inward gives me the a sensation of anticipation in contemplating all there is to learn here.  I came here to learn and practice my Spanish.  I intend to create my own immersion experience by being here alone in this little Spanish town set on the Mediterranean Sea.  My schedule is such that I will have group lessons twice a week and private lessons on the remaining days primarily en la manana leaving me with the afternoons for independent study and to practicing the language by talking to the people that I encounter during my day.  I am thrilled when I am successful in communicating an idea and in understanding what I am being told.  I genuinely hope to leave here more fluent than when I came - having taken my language acquisition to the next level.  We shall see.  I have three weeks to make this work for me.  Follow me on this blog and I'll keep you informed as to how things transpire.  Hasta luego!

For those of you at home who are reading this you may know that my nickname in Los Estados Unidos is "buena" as given to me by my dear friend Jane.  As I am in Spain now and the first person that I encountered here told me my name is "Carolina" in Spanish rather than simply Carol, you will note that I am now referencing myself as "Carolina". 


www.spanish-school-herradura.com
Email info@spanish-school-herradura.com