three more days!

[norcald]

Yes, the time is finally here! A year a waiting and working has finally paid off, three more days until I leave for Spain! I am going to Salamanca for a month for a language immersion program with ISLA. Any tips/advice, or what to expect before I leave? If any one has been to Salamanca, tell your best expirience there :D C yah

Mitch

[Realaficionada21]

I lived in Salamanca for 9 months and liked it very much.

Tip #1: Almost all of the buildings near the Plaza Mayor area are made of the same color stone. Pay attention during your first travels in that direction so that you don't get lost!

2. The plaza mayor has about 9 entrances/exits, try to rememer which one you used.

Some bars/clubs I visited were:
Camelot (old convent turned night club)
Chupiteria (where there is an amazing variety of shots to choose from)
Azul y Blanco (or maybe Blanco y azul - buy a drink and have a free dance lesson)
Amadeos (I think that was the name!)

There are so many others I don't even remember the rest of their names. There is one that is very tall and kind of like a jazz club, but people were always smoking hashish in there. I think the name had something to do with a bird.

B.B.I.G.G. - internet cafe, nice atmosphere, good hours, decent pricing (I think they have a big orange awning and the are located at the end of Comuneros, I think.)

Movies are cheaper on Wednesdays (there is one called Cine VanDyk, one near the Plaza Mayor with blue painted ceilings and sparkling white lights, and one in the train station which is very nice)

There are a couple of bowling alleys (One is near the Champion, a grocery store, close to the Plaza Mayor. The other is in the train station.)

Rua Mayor has some outside dinning and is the road that leads you to one of the University of Salamanca campuses. It is also wher Crossonteria Paris is and they have the best pan de chocolate ever (or any pastry really). And when it was there they only cost .90 euros.

Pan Y Company is a Spanish version of a fastfood restaurant if you are looking for something cheap.

There is a place called Leonardo's (I think) that is open late night if you are hungry after dancing. You put money into this machine on the wall and then hand the cooks your ticket. It isn't the cleanest place I have been too but when you are hunger, you got to eat!

You can also stay up for Churros y Chocolate after dancing. The chocolate is bitter though and only tastes good while dunking you churros in it. (In my opinion.)

If you are planning to go to any libraries, be prepared. Some don't allow you to check books out, some don't allow you to bring books in, some you have to wait in line in a narrow hallway while two attendents search for the books you are looking for!

Sorry that I can't think of anything else. It has been about 5 years since I have been there. There is no metro, but there are buses. Depending on where you live, almost anything is in walking distance.

Where are you staying in Salamanca? There is a Spaniard in the forum that is from Salamanca, maybe he can help you out. (I don't know his name of hand though:()

[norcald]

thanks for the quick response! Lots of bars huh, im already excited! As to where I am staying, I am not quite sure yet, I will find out when i get there, but, I am staying with a host family :D

[Realaficionada21]

A host family is the best way to go! Yo will learn so much!

By the way, I don't really drink I just put the bars in there because many of them have dancing. Please don't think that I am a lush.;D Salamanca is famous for their night life, "la marcha". And the town just may have more bars per person than Madrid. Plus it is pretty safe to walk home afterwards or the taxis aren't too expensive.

You are lucky that you are going now. It will be warm. Try walking home from a night out with friends in 0 degree weather!!!

[timg]

Excellent, Mitch! You'll have a blast! At least I hope you do... :)

[richardksa]

And please tell us about the immersion course. I have thought about one myself, but don't know if it would be a waste of money. Not because the course is bad, but because of my own short-comings in vocabulary retention. I would love to know if such a course would be the answer.

[norcald]

hola todos! salamanca is AMAZING! i am so glad that i chose ISLA! the whole town is very walkable and there is so much history in such a little walkable place. its great, me and my friends leave our houses at 11 and dont get back until very late. bars and discotecas start filling around 4! The classes are great, all the teachers are very hands on, and it is only in spanish, so that forces you to learn. i think i have learned more in two weeks than two years at school! (of course thats a bit exagerated but you do learn tons) there are also excursions on the weekends, and in fact, this weekend i am going on an excursion to san fermin and pamplona to see the running of the bulls, and expirience thebiggest fiesta! well i am off, take a shower, do some deberes, then off to enjoy the night! Hasta luego

mitch