Living in SpainA three-week immersion in Salamanca

Itinerary

Overview
Spain is a wonderful destination for those who dream of learning a second language and discovering another culture. Discover this nation’s allure for yourself on a three-week, authentic introduction to living overseas.

Reside in your own apartment in Salamanca, a historic city in the Castilla y León region near Madrid. Salamanca offers the conveniences of a metropolis and the intimacy of a small university town. Nearly every region in Spain has a different dialect, but residing in this region, you will learn to speak Castilian Spanish, the country’s standard dialect. Enjoy language instruction combined with an immersion into the customs, history and cuisine of Spain, courtesy of your Lifestyle Guide.

Join your fellow participants for tapas every Friday night and catch up on the events of the week. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage towns of Ávila and Segovia, delve further into Spanish culture and history during other informative and entertaining excursions, and more. Celebrate your accomplishments with a graduation dinner. This program also includes two nights in Madrid. This unique adventure includes an extensive meal program, first-class accommodations, a Spanish cell phone and ample independent leisure time to pursue your individual interests.

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2013 ITINERARY
August 31-September 1 - U.S., Madrid, Spain
Depart the U.S. for Madrid, Spain. Upon arrival in Madrid, transfer to the Hotel Wellington. Attend a welcome reception at the hotel this evening.

September 2 - Madrid, Salamanca
Enjoy a morning highlights tour of Madrid, including the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor. (See more details on Madrid under our Additional Tour Details link!)

After lunch, depart for Salamanca. Upon arrival, check in to the Exe Hall 88 Apartahotel. After settling into your apartment, attend a welcome briefing with your Resident Director. You will also be given a Spanish cell phone* to use throughout your stay. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.

* Each cell phone will have a EURO 10 credit that can be used for local or international calls. You may purchase additional time as needed.

September 3 - Salamanca
After breakfast, get to know Salamanca. Begin with a lecture on contemporary Spain and life in Salamanca, then explore the Old City on a guided walking tour with your Travel Director. Locate shops, pharmacies and other essentials. Enjoy lunch at a Salamanca restaurant, then tour Lingua Globe, your Spanish school. Meet your Lifestyle Guide, and take your placement test and first Spanish class. Afterward, visit a local market with your Lifestyle Guide and hone your grocery-buying skills.

September 4-5 - Salamanca
Each Monday through Thursday, experience Salamanca through your language lessons, excursions with your Lifestyle Guide, and independent explorations. (See more details on Student Life in Salamanca under our Additional Tour Details link!)

On Wednesday, trace the route of the Spanish language during a lecture. After your Thursday lesson, enjoy lunch at a Salamanca restaurant, then journey by local bus with your Travel Director to explore some of Salamanca’s beautiful gardens.

September 6-7 - Salamanca and Castilian Cuisine
An extra language lesson on Friday helps orient you to your new setting. This evening, enjoy a tapas dinner as you trade stories of your first week with your fellow travelers. On Saturday, learn about Spanish cuisine during a cooking demonstration and enjoy a delicious tasting. (See more details on Castilian cuisine and Spanish culture regarding meals under our Additional Tour Details link!)

September 8 - Ávila, Castilla
Venture to the World Heritage town of Ávila on Sunday. Take in a lecture on the history of the Castilla region and enjoy lunch at the town’s parador. (See more details on Ávila under our Additional Tour Details link!)

September 9-13 - Salamanca, Villamayor, Hacienda Zorita
Through your lessons, continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca. Monday night, gather for a delicous dinner at one of Salamanca’s top restaurants. Attend a lecture on Tuesday to learn about literary Spain. On Wednesday, journey to Villamayor, a village famous for its stonemaking. Then travel to picturesque Hacienda Zorita for a lesson on Spanish wine, a tasting and dinner. On Thursday, eat lunch and practice your Spanish with university students. Meals with locals provide a great opportunity to practice your language skills and learn about the lifestyle. Follow personal explorations on Friday, then join fellow travelers at a café for tapas, drinks, and camaraderie.

September 14-15 - Segovia, Zamora
On Saturday, visit Segovia and its Roman aqueduct, a World Heritage site. A traditional Castilian- Leonese lunch of suckling pig will be served in a historic restaurant. Then on Sunday, travel to nearby Zamora, a charming medieval city on top of a rocky hill. Enjoy lunch in the town’s parador, a 15th-century Renaissance palace. (See more details on Segovia and Zamora under our Additional Tour Details link!)

September 16-19 - Salamanca
Through your lessons, continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca. Learn about regional handicrafts on a visit to local artisans on Monday. A lecture on Tuesday will showcase the brutal and powerful story of General Franco. On Thursday, savor dinner hosted by a local family in Salamanca.

September 20-22 - La Alberca, Candelario
Enjoy Friday and Saturday at leisure. On Friday, join fellow travelers at a café for tapas, drinks, and camaraderie. Spend Sunday exploring the villages of La Alberca and Candelario. Sunday night, celebrate your Spanish journey at a graduation ceremony followed by a farewell reception and dinner, and enjoy an engaging performance of traditional Spanish tuna music. (See more details on this traditional style of music, as well as La Alberca and Candelario, under our Additional Tour Details Link!)

September 23 - Madrid
After breakfast, depart for Madrid. Upon arrival, check in to the Hotel Wellington and enjoy the day at leisure in Spain’s capital city. You may choose to visit the Prado Museum, take a walk through Retiro Park, or simply reflect on your time living in Spain as you relax at a café on the Plaza Mayor.

September 24 - Madrid, U.S.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

2014 ITINERARY
March 8-9 - U.S. to Madrid, Spain
Depart the U.S. on your overnight flight. Upon arrival in Madrid, transfer to the luxurious Hotel Wellington. Attend a Welcome Reception with your fellow travelers.

March 10 - Madrid, Salamanca
See the highlights of Madrid, including the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor. After lunch, depart for Salamanca. Upon arrival, check in to the Exe Hall 88 Apartahotel. After you settle in, attend a welcome briefing with your Travel Director to ensure you are fully informed about the program. You will be given a Spanish cell phone to use throughout your stay. Join your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception and Dinner at the hotel.

March 11 - Salamanca
Attend a lecture on contemporary Spain and life in Salamanca, then explore the Old City on a guided walking tour with your AHI Travel Director and a local guide. Locate shops, pharmacies and other essentials. Enjoy lunch at a Salamanca restaurant, then tour Lingua Globe, your Spanish school. Meet your Lifestyle Guide, and take your placement test and first Spanish class. Afterward, visit a local market with your Lifestyle Guide and hone your grocery-buying skills.

March 12-13 - Salamanca
Experience Salamanca through your language lessons, excursions with your Lifestyle Guide and on your own. After your Thursday lesson, enjoy lunch at a Salamanca restaurant, and then journey by local bus with your Travel Director to explore some of Salamanca’s beautiful gardens.

March 14 - Salamanca
Your extra language lesson on Friday helps orient you to your new setting. Learn about Spanish cuisine during a cooking demonstration and enjoy a delicious tasting.

March 15 - Salamanca
Enjoy a tapas dinner as you trade stories of your first week with your fellow travelers.

March 16 - Ávila
Venture to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Ávila. Take in a lecture on the history of the Castilla region and enjoy lunch at the town’s parador.

March 17-18 - Salamanca
Continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca.

March 19 - Villamayor
Journey to Villamayor, a village famous for its stonemaking. Then travel to picturesque Hacienda Zorita for a lesson on Spanish wine, a tasting and dinner.

March 20 - Salamanca
Eat lunch and practice your Spanish with university students. Meals with locals provide a great opportunity to practice your language skills and learn about the lifestyle.

March 21 - Salamanca
Enjoy the day at leisure. This evening, join your fellow travelers at a café for tapas, drinks and camaraderie.

March 22 - Segovia
Visit Segovia and its Roman aqueduct, a fascinating UNESCO World Heritage site. A traditional Castilian-Leonese lunch of suckling pig will be served in a historic Segovian restaurant.

March 23 - Zamora
Visit Zamora, a charming medieval city on top of a rocky hill. Enjoy lunch in the town’s parador, a 15th-century Renaissance palace.

March 24 - Salamanca
Continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca. Learn about regional handicrafts on a visit to local artisans.

March 25 - Salamanca
Continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca. Enjoy a lecture that showcases the brutal and powerful story of General Franco.

March 26 - Salamanca
Continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca.

March 27 - Salamanca
Continue your immersion into the language and culture of Salamanca. Savor a dinner hosted by a local family in Salamanca.

March 28-29 - Salamanca
Enjoy the day at leisure. On Friday, join your fellow travelers at a café for tapas, drinks and camaraderie.

March 30 - La Alberca, Candelario
Enjoy the day exploring the villages of La Alberca and Candelario. Celebrate your Spanish journey at a Graduation Ceremony followed by a Farewell Reception and Dinner, and enjoy an engaging performance of traditional Spanish tuna music.

March 31 - Madrid
Transfer to Madrid and check in to the Hotel Wellington. Enjoy the day at leisure in Spain’s capital city. You may choose to visit the Prado Museum, take a walk through Retiro Park or simply reflect on your time living in Spain as you relax at a café on the Plaza Mayor.

April 1 - Madrid to U.S.
Depart Madrid for the U.S.

* Note: The information presented is preliminary. Itineraries, included features and schedules are subject to change. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking.

* Each cell phone has a EURO 10 credit that can be used for local or international calls. You may purchase additional time as needed.